COLUMBIA — A Columbia State Community College student is earning national recognition for a short story rooted in patience, empathy, and the quiet work of caring for a child the world too often overlooks. Olivia Ferrara, a Columbia student, took first place in the Short Fiction category of the Sigma Kappa Delta Honor Society's national journal, Hedera helix, and received a $500 award for her winning piece, titled "Ears to Hear, and Eyes to See."
The journal, which draws submissions from community college students across the country, features short stories, poetry, photography, essays, and more. Ferrara's story centers on Elizabeth, a four-year-old with cerebral palsy, and her caregiver Emily, who narrates the story in first person. As Emily describes her daily life with a child who cannot move independently and does not use spoken language, she resists the pity and dismissiveness others direct at Elizabeth, choosing instead to seek genuine connection. The story's quiet power lies in that choice.
According to Ferrara, the inspiration came directly from her own experience. She works as a nanny for a nonspeaking girl with cerebral palsy and said the story, while fictionalized and dramatized, reflects the real relationship she has built with the child in her care. She credited that child entirely for making the story possible. When asked what message she most hoped readers would carry away, Ferrara said simply that people should always seek a better understanding of each other.
Dr. Jessica Evans, Columbia State associate professor of English and faculty sponsor for the college's chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta, said she was overjoyed when Ferrara brought her the news. She described Ferrara as an active and valued member of the chapter and praised her hard work on the story. To join Columbia State's Eta Beta Chapter of SKD, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, earn a B or better in all English coursework, and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours. Students in all majors are welcome.