Introducing The Writers: Natoya Raymond

Heya, I’m Natoya Raymond writer of “The Movie That Changed My Life” series here at Mirror & the Lamp.

I’m an international student from the Caribbean and began here at Western Illinois University in Fall 2022.

Writing has always been a passion of mine. Conveying my feelings through a planned speech came easier to me than a spontaneous spoken word. I’ve always loved stories, in every type of genre and medium. It’s always fun for me to see the author’s creation no matter their story’s inconsistency, I appreciate their vision and ability to break the line.

My interest also extends to drawing and digital painting/design. I like to think of myself as a creative soul. I love the arts, modern and prehistoric. I feel like drawings convey a totally different way to tell a story, it’s ambiguous yet exact, and I love it.

I joined Mirror & the Lamp because I wanted to improve both my writing and communication skills. I have always had a fear of public speaking and sharing my ideas, and thought that others would disapprove or dismiss me. However, it was the exact opposite at Mirror & the Lamp. Any ideas or suggestions I shared were validated and appreciated. And that encouragement means a great deal to me and helped me to keep improving my self-esteem.

I plan to continue writing for Mirror & the Lamp for the remainder of my time at Western Illinois University.