The Pen Symposium was first developed and ran at Summer Creek High School approximately six years ago by Dr. Ashley Gibson and her students for four years from 2015 to 2018. Xiana is the current vice president of Black Student Union (BSU) and has contributed a lot to it’s success. Establishing a Black Student Union in Kingwood posed challenges due to the significant gap. Xiana joined BSU because “being a minority in Kingwood made me want to create a space where we could exist within our school and help educate those outside of our community as well.” The presence of a more diverse student body over the years has allowed for open discourse without fear of community backlash or stigma. The BSU’s inclusive approach ensures that our events welcome all participants, fostering a space for learning, growth, and broadening perspectives.
One featured discussion at the Symposium focused on the social and psychological ramifications of assimilation and identity within ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse environments (PWIs). This involved presenting capstone projects and mini-dissertations, showcasing both professional and casual analyses. This is why the Pen Symposium is such a great opportunity; it allows students the freedom and security to explore topics they are passionate about and create awareness.
The organizers and participants were committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment at the Symposium, where everyone felt comfortable interacting and expressing themselves. The theme of this years Pen Symposium was “Amplifying Student Voices”. This environment facilitated the development of presentation skills and confidence in public speaking, particularly beneficial for minorities in larger schools, and additionally helped all students at KHS to share what they are passionate about with others. This commitment to equity and a level playing field is a testament to BSU values and the importance we place on every participant’s voice.
With around 70 attendees, the round table discussion format was one standout success, which encouraged open dialogue without fear of controversy. Like a Socratic seminar, this format allowed participants to express their thoughts freely.
Looking ahead, BSU is excited about the opportunities for growth and improvement. They aim to enhance our promotional efforts, diversify club offerings, explore alternative presentation styles, and maintain a broad range of topics to engage a wider audience for next year’s Pen Symposium. They are committed to making each Symposium better than the last, and we look forward to the journey ahead.
Make sure to be on the lookout for next year’s Pen Symposium, it will be an enriching and thought provoking experience you will not want to miss out on!
