Celebrating Storytelling: The LAS Story Slam

Our second Annual Story Slam took place on Wednesday this week. This event brought together students and staff for an unforgettable night of live storytelling! Hosted by the English department, this event wasn't just about telling stories, it was about encouraging creativity, developing public speaking skills, and creating cultural connections within our community.

Our two student hosts, Aya ‘27 and Tise ‘27, welcomed the audience with warmth and enthusiasm. What followed was an hour and a half fantastic stories that ranged from hilarious to thought-provoking. One of the best aspects of the Story Slam was its inclusivity. Regardless of language, everyone was encouraged to participate. Whether sharing anecdotes in English, French, Portuguese, Chinese, or any other language understood by at least a portion of the audience, members of the community were invited to embrace their mother tongue and share their experiences authentically!

Nine storytellers took the stage, including several students and members of our faculty: Xavi ‘28, Vivi ‘29, Jordan ‘28, Ripley ‘28, Tise ‘28, Mr. Meyskens, Mr. Tynan, Mr. Ponizy, and Ms. Rendle, who made a special return visit to LAS after teaching English at Savoy last year and helping to bring the Story Slam tradition to life!

Each storyteller shared a five-minute story. Some recounted a lesson they had learned or a moment of unexpected courage, while others shared an experience that made them see themselves in a whole new light. The fascinating stories were well-performed, unscripted, and from the heart. 

Several brave audience members also had their names drawn from a hat for the chance to share their own stories. These unscheduled storytellers brought a spontaneous energy to the room. Prompts like “Tell us about a time you helped someone even when it wasn’t in your best interest” or “Have you ever seen someone you’ve known your whole life in a new way?” encouraged students to think outside the box and reflect on their lives. We were also fortunate to have a really encouraging audience, who listened and learned from our brave speakers!

At LAS, we believe in building community through shared experience, and the Story Slam is an excellent example of that in action. For many of our students, this event is an empowering opportunity to find their voice, develop their public speaking skills, and feel heard by an encouraging audience. We’re already looking forward to next year’s slam, and we hope even more members of our community will consider stepping up to the mic!