Peach Friedman

I came to CCA with a simple desire: to be back in a community of writers, to be surrounded by other people who thought in words and might inspire my own word-thoughts.

CCA's writing program offered me a place to continue developing my relationship with language in a framework that was both supportive and encouraging of independence. I knew what I wanted to focus on in my work, and was able to seek out faculty members who were best suited to guide me in that direction.

Through Mentored Study, I created my own curriculum, and slowly built a thesis that was a reflection of my pure writer's voice and a culmination of all the guidance my professors offered me.

I grew as a writer in so many ways during my two years at CCA. Not only did I develop a clearer vocabulary for understanding my own choices as a poet, but I became better able to write and talk about my peers' work and the work we read in classes.

CCA inspired a confidence in me—my work has a place in many groups and subgroups in contemporary society.

The art of poetry making is necessary, and it was necessary for me to find a school like CCA to refine my practice.

Peach graduated in 2006.