Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: National Writing Recipient Kyle Harper

Each week, Marple Newtown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. This week, we highlight Delaware County Christian School (DCCS) senior Kyle Harper, who received two silver medals for his poetry pieces "Mirror" and "Shards of My Daughter" and his short story piece "The Robbery of Hartford Gables."

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Kyle Harper

Whiz Kid's Age: 18

Whiz Kid's School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Kyle was among three high school students from the Philadelphia region to receive the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Award for his writing. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is an 88-year-old national program that recognizes outstanding creative teenagers and offers scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors.

Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a non-profit that administers the awards, will honor Kyle and other national winners at a special ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City on May 31. New York City Mayor Bloomberg officially declared May 31 as the official Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Day and in honor of the students' achievements, the top of the Empire State Building will be lit gold.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: "It was somewhat surprising and relieving at the same time but also justification to see that I was able to do this," said Kyle about receiving the high honor.

Whether it was writing comical short stories and journals in first grade to writing poetry on the side for spoken word/poetry performances, writing has always been a part of Kyle's life.

"I've always enjoyed writing," said Kyle. "I didn't know it was going to be my direction or passion but it's always been a part of my life and it's been increasingly more a part of my life as I grow older."

It wasn't until last summer when he decided he wanted to pursue writing. Kyle attended the Juniper Institute for Young Writers at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst last summer.

"At that point, I knew I enjoyed writing but it was the first time I immersed myself in a writing environment, and had so many inspirations come out and decided that this is what I wanted to do," said Kyle.

Although he credits everyone around him for their support and encouragement to pursue writing, Kyle notes, above all, his teachers at DCCS and his loving support from his parents.

"My mom had always told me that TV messes with your head but reading would actually open the world to you," recalled Kyle.

Kyle receives his inspiration from those around him and although he admits he had been blessed with a great life with hardly any hardships, he likes to put himself in other people's shoes. And, ultimately, help them through his work by inspiring them.

"Seeing people who are in a struggle and seeing people struggling, I always wonder what I can do to help," said Kyle. "I like to place myself in the shoes of people in bad situations and put myself out there and get out there inspiring people and helping people."

Some words of his own advice that keeps him trying to improve his writing more: "At the end of the day, anything you read should grow you. If my writing is not impacting a reader, then I'm not doing my job and it's not doing it's job."

Kyle will be attending Emerson College in Boston, MA, this fall as a writing/literature and publishing major and hopes to be a fiction author someday. Kyle also has his hands in poetry, particularly spoken word, where you can find him on some nights at Infusion Café in Mt. Airy performing.

Editor's note: Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.