What is Real Beginnings?

Real Beginnings explores three avenues as a publication. It lets first-year students see their creative work in print. It helps students realize they are not alone while dealing with change and feelings during their first-year. Plus, the publication's theme, the first-year experience, gives faculty, staff, and family a glimpse of what

it's like to be new to life at EMU.A collaboration between Cellar Roots, Campus Life, the First-Year Writing Program, and Student Media, first-year students are asked to submit original creative work relating to the Real Beginnings theme-the first year experience at EMU such as leaving home, community life, first day of classes, etc. Students can submit poems, essays, short stories, photos and pictures of their fine arts (i.e. paintings, sculptures). Real Beginnings provides an exclusive opportunity for first-year students to be published and encourages students to reflect on their transition to college in a creative way. We hope the final publication not only celebrates art, but also gives the EMU community a way to view the college experience through the eyes of a first-year student.

Submission Process

Submissions must be original work reflecting the Real Beginnings theme: the first-year experience at EMU such as leaving home, new experiences, community life, first day of class, etc. There is no limit on submissions.

Written Text must be submitted in MS WORD or RICH TEXT format. Submit to real.begin@gmail.com OR Deliver submission(s) to Campus Life in room 3045 of the EMU Student Center. Delivered submission(s) must be on a CD or 3.5” floppy disk and each include a completed submission form and printed version of submission.

Fine Art/Visual Art must be submitted in JPG or PDF format and must be a photo representation of artwork—Real Beginnings cannot accept actual paintings, pottery, sculpture, etc. Submit to real.begin@gmail.com OR Deliver submission(s) to Campus Life in room 3045 of the EMU Student Center. Delivered submission(s) must be on a CD or 3.5” floppy disk and each include a completed submission form and printed version of submission.

Accepted pieces will be included in the 2009 edition of Real Beginnings, which will be available in March 2009. A public reception will be held to honor the student work included in this year’s publication. For questions, assistance, or more information, Email real.begin@emich.edu or call Campus Life at 734.487.2202.

Submit Your Work

Real Beginnings History

The First-Year Writing Program instructors and students were instrumental in the success of this project. Over 55 submissions by 40 students were received for the first publication. Works included poetry, prose, sketches and photography with topics ranging from student reflections on homework, the first day of classes, living on campus, to relationships. Many individuals submitting were encouraged by the First-Year Writing instructors in the English Department. The instructors of these courses talked about the project with their classes and helped market the idea to their students.

The first issues of Real Beginnings were released at a reception on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 in McKenny Union, Intermedia Gallery. The work of 32 students made up of poetry, prose, sketches and photography was published. A small committee of individuals including faculty, staff and students from Cellar Roots, Student Media, the First-Year Writing Program and Campus Life set the goals for the project and outlined the submission guidelines. They also made the selections for final publication after reviewing all the works for originality, relationship to theme, and aesthetic appeal. This group included Jennifer Armstrong, G.A. Cellar Roots; James O'Neill, Student, Cellar Roots; Gary Yee, Student-Campus Life; Logan Walters, Student, Campus Life; Linda Adler-Kassner, English Department, First Year Writing Program; Kevin Devine, Student Media; Ramona Meraz, Katie Holdgreve-Resendez, Melissa Ginotti and Glenna Frank Miller all from McKenny Union, Campus Life and Diversity Programs.

Over the last three years, Real Beginnings has received over 150 submissions from 122 first-year students and printed three editions of the multi-genre creative arts collection. A collaboration with Cellar Roots, Campus Life, and the First Year Writing Program @ EMU, first-year students are asked to submit original creative work relating to the Real Beginnings theme :— the first year experience at EMU such as leaving home, community life, first day of classes, etc. Students can submit poems, essays, short stories, mixed-media, photography and pictures of their fine arts (i.e. paintings, sculptures). Real Beginnings provides an exclusive opportunity for first-year students to be published and encourages students to reflect on their transition to college in a creative way.

Real Beginnings explores three avenues as a publication. It lets first-year students see their creative work in print. It helps students realize they are not alone while dealing with specific emotions and change during their first year. And, the publication’s theme, the first-year experience, gives faculty, staff, and family a glimpse of what it is like being a new college student. We hope the final publication not only celebrates art, but also gives the EMU community a way to view the college experience through the eyes of a first-year student.