The Power of Pen to Paper
February 12th, 2025
Writer: Emma Weiss
Editor: Sophie Graff
During my sophomore year of high school, my extended family and I took a weekend trip to Lake Placid. Our mornings were spent water skiing and tubing, while the afternoons were dedicated to exploring the town. On a cloudy Sunday afternoon, my aunt and I wandered into a cozy bookstore. We browsed the shelves, admiring their beautifully designed covers. As we approached the checkout counter, a shelf full of journals caught our attention. The empty notebooks were arranged by color in perfect rainbow order.
“Have you ever kept a journal, Emma?” My aunt asked, softly. I shook my head, responding with a quiet “no.” Without another word, she grabbed a purple journal. She explained that, in high school, she had used a journal to document her most memorable experiences – a story that immediately captivated me. That night, I opened the journal before bed and filled the first page with memories of our day in Lake Placid.
After the trip, I tucked the journal into the top drawer of my dresser, where it sat untouched for the next week. Then, after one emotionally exhausting day, my mom suggested I use the journal to write out my feelings. She encouraged me to treat it as an emotional outlet rather than a time capsule. Curious, I gave it a try and began writing nonstop. I poured out my frustrations, joys, and everything in between. To my surprise, putting my emotions into words was incredibly relieving. From that day forward, my journal became a safe space –a tool to help me navigate everything life throws my way.
The power of pen on paper extends far beyond processing emotions. In the fall, I enrolled in a philosophy class that enforced a strict no-technology policy. At first, I was frustrated– typing notes felt much more efficient. However, as the semester progressed, I realized something surprising: handwriting my notes with a pen and paper helped me to better absorb the material. Handwriting slowed me down just enough to focus on digesting the material, rather than simply copying it. Months later, I can still recall the key takeaways from that class.
There are countless ways to make use of pen and paper. To incorporate mindfulness and organization into your daily life, try journaling, creating handwritten to-do lists, or taking handwritten notes in class. Start small and focus on building consistency. Dedicate five or ten minutes a day, and start writing in your journal. If a blank page feels intimidating, use a prompt like, “Today, I feel… because….” For to-do lists, organize your tasks by priority: “Must-Do,” “Should-Do,” and “Nice-to-Do.” This helps you focus on what truly matters each day. Integrate your to-do lists into habits or routines you’ve already established, such as writing them in the morning after you wake up or in the evening as part of your wind-down routine. To better process course material, try mind-mapping what you’re learning to visually connect concepts and solidify those ideas in your mind. Don’t hesitate to use symbols or abbreviations—your notes are for you, so make them work helpfully and efficiently.
If there’s one takeaway, let it be this: your words have immense power. What started as a simple Lake Placid souvenir became a lifelong tool that helped me process emotions, navigate challenges, and engage with learning on a new level. Whether you’re journaling, creating to-do lists, or writing notes, the act of writing is a way to slow down and connect with yourself and the world around you. So, pick up a pen, find a blank page, and see where your words can take you.
Image Credits: Isabel Marengo
