Grand heist of imagination

Editor’s Note: This essay was submitted for the “Stories Matter” contest of the Marianas Writers Movement, an essay-writing student competition that focuses on stories of the Marianas, as part of the celebration of October as Humanities Month.

Stories, in any form of creation, films, pieces of literature, or even graphic novels, help build the mind of the audience.

“I do believe in the power of story. I believe that stories have an important role to play in the formation of human beings, that they can stimulate, amaze, and inspire their listeners.” That’s a quote from Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli and creator of award-winning films such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. Stories give us a way to escape from our unavoidable reality, inspire people, and build on their creativity to produce works of various art. Listening to or reading stories adds spice or excitement to our otherwise ordinary lives. Stories strengthen our imaginations, so we think outside the box and open up to a world of the endless mind.

Sometimes life may feel like a chore and when we feel as if we are suffocating because of certain events, we want to run away from it all. To distract us from stressful situations, stories filled with light-hearted characters or humorous circumstances can ease our minds. Everyone deserves to have an outlet for anxiety or pressuring moments in life. Narratives help us escape from the unescapable stress and give us a clear consciousness to think through these events.

Various media of stories can inspire others to create their charming literature and such. I have always been a romantic and thoroughly enjoyed several love stories in the form of graphic novels. These visual books inspired me to become an artist and design a comic with romance, drama, and comedy. Being surrounded by many inspirations of professional and successful stories can give one motivation. For every enchanting narrative, there will be aspiring writers. They will look for guidance and use these stories to expand their imaginations.

Well-written stories give us much amusement and can stray us away from the dullness of everyday life. If one were like me, an ordinary high school student, there is no time for adventure when we are bound to our homes doing homework. With the power of stories, either in a book that uses imagery or a movie that we perceive, one can imagine what it is like in those thrilling settings. Those backgrounds could be more than just foreign countries. Instead, they can be a make-believe land or world, such as a kingdom in medieval times with dragons breathing fire and birds delivering letters. With such captivating and intriguing worlds, staying at home and reading a book does not seem boring after all.

Overall, stories can be a distraction, inspiration, or a source of excitement. Life can be difficult, and everyone should have something they can get lost in to ease their stress. Intriguing narratives build on our imaginations and fuels our creativity. Lastly, they give a sense of adventure. Experiencing these situations, I can say that stories do, in fact, matter.

Alyssa Rae David is a student of Saipan Southern High School.