02 Dec 2020
BSC is extremely proud of its talented composer, Muhammad Taha Siddiqui, a Year 12 student whose short story Sally says is featured and published in A User’s Guide to a Pandemic.
As stated in its website, A User’s Guide to a Pandemic was an idea that started during the national lockdown earlier in 2020. The idea was simple – that young people needed to write about this. So, four writing centres for young people across the country got together – Story Factory (NSW – that’s us!), 100 Story Building (Melbourne), The Story Island Project (Tasmania) and StoryBoard (Byron Bay) and created A User’s Guide to a Pandemic – a writing project that amplified the voices of young people during the uncertainty and disconnection of the pandemic. Students wrote in their own time or participated in online workshops, and created pieces of writing that investigate the challenges, the unexpected joys, the boredom, worries and hopes of these unusual times. What they’ve created is truly extraordinary. A book written entirely by Australian young people during the weirdest year of their lives. It’s full of joy, wisdom, imagination and truth – just like them.
Copies of this great project will be released in bookstores on 2nd December.
It was pleasing to see that throughout 2020, Taha cleverly escaped the demands of his HSC course commitments by taking the initiative to produce both literary and musical compositions which he enjoyed posting on social media and other literary public platforms. His works are most appealing given his eloquent expression, unique style and unpredictable plot. Sally says and other compositions in this collection would serve as great related texts for Year 12 students to study as part of their Texts & Human Experience modules in their English courses.
Here is a taste of his text….
It is amusing that how a fish, who is meant to be free to roam in the depths of the oceans, just accepts its fate to live in a glass bowl. She does not speak but she can hear her.
You may ask yourself…..How does the fish fit into the context of a pandemic? Who is Sally? If you wish to know more, you will have to read Taha’s story to fulfil your curiosity about what it is that Sally says.
Taha is a mature learner with an open mind, holding a very humble profile yet noticed and sincerely praised by many teachers who have had the pleasure of teaching him. He has a strong, refined, creative flair across all fields which was evident this year in many opportunities. Earlier this year, he designed an impressive tee-shirt for his IDT course. Further to this, he performed with confidence Nirvana’s Come as you are, (music that is close to his heart) for his first public appearance at the Year 12 Graduation ceremony and he was a key team member, directing the production of the Year 12 Multimedia presentation. Although Taha is a quiet achiever, he has showcased his great skills which will serve to be ideal for his chosen career in Graphic Design. BSC wishes him well in his pursuits and will look out for his future creations.
Ms Pascalis