Horner takes her message to Drake University in Iowa 

Greenville City Schools senior, Elizabeth Horner is taking her message of the importance of reading, writing and good communication, nationwide. 

Speaking at the recently concluded R3 Conference of NaFFAA, held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa October 7-9 2011, she thanked the organization for continuously accepting to hear young voices. 

“Every time I speak before a group, I always pray that I don’t screw-up my speech because I don’t want them having second thoughts about inviting a high school student to an event like this. I hope NOT … hearing younger voices could be a great way to encourage their interest and involvement in community programs…besides giving them the forum to develop their skills as they take their journey to adulthood”, Horner said. 

“I personally started to give short speeches at age 9, making my rounds to different schools, convincing other students why I love to read and how reading has been beneficial to me”. 

In her speech, Horner stated that she frequently visits and contributes to the fan-fiction website when she is not busy with school work.  

“It’s a place where would-be writers like myself can post stories related to [a book or TV] series.”  In scrolling through a list of reviews posted on the website about her work, “A shot of warmth, of homecoming, runs through my veins.”  

While Horner does not feel that she has immersed herself enough to understand different cultures, even her mother’s birthplace, the Philippines, she said that “discovering that someone from the Philippines, even without knowing my origins, thought I had contributed a story that was worthwhile, made me realize that differences in our upbringing did not create an impossible to surmount distance between us… We just have to find a way we could talk to each other, before we could commence sharing valuable ideas. It turns out Quidditch and Hogwarts and Professor Dumbledore, terms in the Harry Potter series, are part of a new international language.” 

Horner communicates regularly with friends around the world, sharing thoughts and ideas about books, and opinions about life in general through this fan-fiction web site. 

Horner thanks NaFFAA for opening her eyes about the birthplace of her mother and the Phil-Am Community in the USA… in part because the NaFFAA e-mails are in the language she understands, English. 

While Horner wants to learn the Philippine language, she, like other children and grandchildren of mixed race born in the USA, understands English better as it is her primary language. “It is easy to lose interest in things we ought to learn when one does not understand most of what is being said.” 

In order for a community or an organization to continue to grow, Horner said that it needs the insights of the youth too. The world is in the midst of a technological revolution and survival as a community or organization could depend on… young allies, equipped with techno skills and techno language, according to her. 

“At the same time, WE need YOU, our elders, to show us the lessons of history, since it is affecting our lives right up to this very moment. It is important that we understand the role the past plays in our future as we prepare to take our place as adults.”  Horner has done a lot of reading about European History, and wants to master American History, even visiting historical sites and viewing original documents.  She recently visited the National Archives because she wanted to see the original documents of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.  “It is important that we truly understand the importance of these documents. It is important that we uphold those chosen virtues --- “establish[ing] Justice, insur[ing] domestic Tranquility, provid[ing] for the common defense, promot[ing] the general Welfare, and secur[ing] the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”. 

“The question becomes: How do we get the adults and youth together for the betterment of the community or an organization? I think the first step is… to make the youth feel welcome… And I believe very strongly that we need to cultivate good communication infrastructure, and find a language that is unifying and can be understood…. We should also encourage debates of ideas for the purpose of learning and acquiring knowledge and not to judge one another.” 

Horner is the current President of the Greenville High School Debate Club. “The club used to have only two people, Paul Reitz and me. Today, we have grown to a full classroom”. 

This year, Horner will again be coaching the Greenville Power of the Pen team.  Last year, Christal Smith brought home the first place trophy from the regional competition.  We hope that we can duplicate that this year.  She is also working on getting a Creative Writing Club started at the high school building too. 

 “When I was in 7th grade, I drew this picture, for a class contest.  My mom’s initial reaction--- she thought it was strange, weird… because the shooting star is emanating from the earth, not up above, lingering in the cosmos. I believe that everything radiates from within. You should not reach outwards, when the star quality is already a part of you…!”  

She is calling all creative writers to join her in “using the power of the pen to make the world a better place… let us encourage each others’ input and worth in coming up with the grand plan that will help make our community great!”