Art can be made from anything: paper, pen, paint, molding clay, cameras, or even spray paint. It comes in several forms and connects people by fostering understanding, emotions, and inspiration. All individuals have the extraordinary ability to create art using their imagination and thoughts; without art, the world would be a dull place. Malden High’s Literary Society club strives to a spread art and get students to express themselves freely using art.
The Oracle is the second oldest literary magazine run by high school students throughout the entire country. Every year, the Literary Society curates an intriguing collection of student art work and personal writing to be incorporated into the oracle, work such as: poems, short stories, paintings, photographs.
While later in the school year, the club focuses on gathering artwork and literary pieces to include in the Oracle, their activities vary every meeting. “A typical meeting might include a fun writing activity, sharing of personal writing projects, and planning fundraisers and other events,” English teacher Nierika Nims shared.
“The Literary Society is about encouraging people to send in and allow us to hopefully publish their works, giving us a glimpse into the personal experiences here at Malden High,” junior Marisa Mantilla remarked.
A lot of artists may struggle with sharing their artwork, whether it is because there’s difficulty in finding ways to get it out to people, the fear of judgement and criticism, or even the worries of being misunderstood. To combat the issue, members of the club seek to help artists edit their pieces, offering constructive feedback, ensuring that the work submitted is the best it can be.
“The Oracle is a great way to help people who are nervous to share what they have with other people,” junior Jazzy Montes claims. One of the club’s biggest priorities is to help “elevate those who may not have an outlet they can find in their writings, or too shy to publish,” Mantilla added.
Sophomore Valeria Licona Cruz, who submitted several poems to the oracle in the 2025 edition, shared that “they were the first pieces I’ve ever submitted for others to read and enjoy.” Eager to have them published, she proclaimed that if “any of my writing can help those people feel seen and help them get a voice, I will be happy.”
The publication of the Oracle every year contributes to making Malden High a more colorful environment in which students feel free to express themselves through their art. When people read and observe the artwork submitted by others, it may spark an inspiration and confidence within them they otherwise might not have found.
“Writing is a powerful tool for self-expression–it is good for us and good for our world–and the Literary Society is a safe and supportive environment to grow as writers and people,” Nims concluded.
The Literary Society meets every Thursday after school in Nims’ classroom at Br478. For more information about the Literary Society or regarding how to submit art pieces, email Nims at nnims@maldenps.org, or join the classroom using the code: xy32tx30.
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