Edvige Giunta, an assistant professor of English at New Jersey City University, is amazed by the impressive creative writing pieces her students produce every term. “They’re all very professional,” Giunta explains. “They take their work with great seriousness. I am consistently amazed with their work. They are all really terrific, powerful writers.” For students, writing is a therapeutic act, a chance for release. “I’ve always written, but never for anyone else to see,” said Faten Ewais of North Bergen. “I never thought about my writing ever being published. My writing has always been so personal.” “Writing has always been a way of escape for me,” said Annaliza Ronquillo of Jersey City. “It’s like I’m talking to myself without talking, writing to someone who isn’t really there. I’ve always relied on my writing since I was young. I don’t have many people I consider confidants, so I choose to write.” “I’ve always written for myself,” said Melida Rodas, who is also studying art at NJCU. “It was a way for me to deal with anguish and sadness. When I’m creating, either writing or with art, I’m filled with a feeling of finally being alive.” Last week, the university held an awards ceremony for the authors who contributed to a prize-winning journal of student writing entitled, “Paths: A Journal of Creative Writing.” It marked the fourth year that Giunta and colleague Charles Lynch coordinated the project, which enabled the students to see their work become published, and some received monetary prizes for their compositions in either poetry, prose and memoirs. The pieces are all very intense and express deeply personal feelings. The 99-page book also features many different cultures such as those of Colombia, the Philippines, Jordan, India, Puerto Rico and Italy, so it is also a diverse compilation. More than 50 students submitted pieces to be considered for publication in the journal. An editorial panel comprised of five members from the school’s English department reviewed the pieces and selected the ones most suitable for publication. The top prose and poetry writers received a $100 prize. Ronquillo won the top prose award for her piece, “She’s Leaving Home,” which dealt with her older sister’s emotional departure from their home at age 16 and is written from the eyes of the 8-year-old girl watching the family turmoil unfold. The tale is moving and priceless. Ronquillo also submitted a piece about her grandmother’s funeral in the Philippines. “When it came out, it was almost like seeing yourself in the mirror for the first time after an accident,” Ronquillo said. “There are good and bad things about it. I was kind of afraid to show my family. My father would kill me and I don’t know how my sister would react. I don’t even know if I can show them. But I’m very happy with the award.” Emotional tales H. Godfrey Hall of Teaneck won the top poetry award for his piece, “Effortless as Air.” Although not all of the pieces received awards, there are other works featured in the publication that are very moving. Ewais’s work, “White,” focused on her pending wedding day and how she wished her deceased mother could be there, while recalling the pain of her mother’s funeral. The piece was extremely poignant. “It was a relief getting it out,” Ewais said. “I was shedding tears while I was writing. When Paths came out and I saw my name, I wasn’t so sure I was happy that it was published. But after a while, it kicked in. I think it was meant to be. I think I was able to look at my inner self and take out the parts that were dormant for so long. For me, it was 10, 12 years.” Another moving piece, “Check Under The Hood,” written by Loryn Lipari of North Bergen, featured an emotional goodbye between a father and daughter, using a battered and banged-up Toyota that the two shared as a symbol of their separation. Lipari’s piece earned an honorable mention citation in the prose competition. “I thought it was pretty exciting to see it published,” said Lipari, who also submitted a poem that was published in the journal. “I assumed that I wasn’t going to win and I didn’t think it would get published. But I love writing and I feel like I can become very good at it. If I’m lucky, I can make a career out of it, because everyone should be able to make a career out of something they love.” North Bergen native Jessica Irizarry’s poem, “Shiver” is also featured in the publication. Rachel Oliveras of West New York and Janette Rodriguez of Jersey City also submitted poems that received honorable mention citations in the poetry contest. Many of the students read their works at the awards ceremony, as well as participating in a reading session at Barnes and Noble in Hoboken. Giunta said that she was very proud with all of the students that submitted pieces. “It really transcends the competition,” Giunta said. “It takes a lot of courage to take their material and create something positive. It really inspires me to go back into the classroom every day. I’m always amazed and they always exceed expectations.” Giunta added, “They definitely de-mystify the notion of being a writer. They all have the gift and all have the potential. It’s just up to them to let it happen and that’s the hardest thing. They really produce remarkable work.” “You come out of this, thinking you are a writer,” said Anurahda Lazarre of Jersey City. “And you now believe in it because of something like this.”