Finding Their Voice: LaGuardia Students Celebrate the Power of Writing
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (October 22, 2025) — Since 2009, the National Day on Writing has been observed each October 20 to honor the many ways writing shapes our lives—from text messages and journal entries to essays and poems.
This year, LaGuardia Community College/CUNY celebrated National Day on Writing on October 21 to accommodate the Diwali holiday. Students gathered in the Poolside Café around tables scattered with poetry prompts, colorful markers, and blank bookmarks, ready to explore the written word as a method of self-expression.
Samantha Lynn Ciccone, 26, attended with the Advanced Creative Writing Capstone Course taught by Dr. Sonia Alejandra Rodríguez. She transferred from Bronx Community College in search of a stronger creative writing community.
“LaGuardia is one of the only CUNY community colleges with a Creative Writing major,” Samantha said. “That drew me in.”
“I’m learning how to write self-compassionate essays,” added Samantha, who focuses on personal essays exploring self-discovery and mental health. She looks forward to publishing her work in Dreams & Memories, a student publication edited by the Creative Writing Club. After graduation, Samantha plans to continue her studies at Queens College and pursue a career as a professional writer.
The event—organized by English Department instructors Anastasia Figuera (Adjunct Lecturer), Deirdre Flood (Lecturer and Journalism Major Program Director), and Dr. Rochelle Spencer (Lecturer)—offered students the opportunity to participate in creative writing activities like blackout poetry, translation poetry, and letters to their future selves. Students also played tabletop games, crafted bookmarks, enjoyed refreshments, and visited tables hosted by the Queens Public Library and the LaGuardia Library.
For Lynnell Simon, 49, the event was a chance to reconnect with a lifelong love of writing. A Secondary Education major and mother of five, she recently returned to college at the encouragement of her daughters—one of whom is now a high school history teacher.
“When my kids were little, I used to write stories for them to save money,” said Lynnell, who is working toward becoming a high school English teacher
Gilbert Pichardo, 17, is already thinking about how writing fits into his future. A senior at Middle College High School and a Computer Science major through LaGuardia’s Early College program, Gilbert dreams of designing video games.
“I want to improve my creative writing so I can develop the kinds of story-driven games I like to play,” Gilbert said.
For Havva Gokce, 26, a Fine Arts major, Writing Day offered a new outlet for creativity. As an artist, she typically turns to sketching and painting to express herself. A native of Turkey who moved to the U.S. four years ago, Havva sees the world in color—and now, in words too.
“When birds sing, it sounds like they’re singing for you,” she said. “The wind makes me feel like I’m flying.”
Another student drawn to the event because of his passion for writing was Noel Frigillana, 44, a Pre-Health Science major in his first semester at LaGuardia. Noel, an aspiring Registered Nurse, recently moved to New York from Dubai, where he worked as a civil engineer for 17 years.
“Writing, particularly poetry, helps me process change,” said Noel.
Compared to the college in his home country of The Philippines, Noel appreciates the extensive resources available to LaGuardia students—from theatrical performances and art-lined hallways to events like Writing Day. “It makes you feel like you belong.”
National Day on Writing offered LaGuardia students a space to rediscover the value of their voices and share them with others. LaGuardia’s English Department empowers students to develop their unique voice, sharpen their critical thinking, and expand their creative potential through writing for college and beyond.
LaGuardia students can pursue majors in English, Creative Writing, Ethnic Studies, Journalism, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Throughout their studies, students collaborate with dedicated faculty who are both experts in their fields and deeply committed to student growth and mentorship. The department also hosts a variety of workshops, lectures, and special events throughout the year to enrich the academic experience.
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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