Creston storyteller takes stage in Des Moines

Sarah Scull never thought she’d be where she is today. From journalism at the Creston News Advertiser to teaching at Southwestern Community College, Scull has been connecting with others and telling stories her whole life. This time, as an official storyteller for the Iowa Storytellers Project, the story is about her.

Scull will take the stage at the Hoyt Sherman Place for “Tell It Like It Is,” a spoken word event in collaboration with the Des Moines Register as one of five speakers. The Iowa Storytellers Project, expanding its range this year from Des Moines to greater Iowa, hosts the event on Tuesday, Sept. 9, with a theme of “Back to School.”

Those looking to hear Scull’s story in person alongside other talented speakers can purchase tickets to the performance in Des Moines at hoytsherman.org/event/tell-it-like-it-is-back-to-school.

As a representative of rural Iowa, Scull will join speakers Kim Lipshutz, Tim McCoy, Quinn Whitaker and Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Harry Smith. Each storyteller will tell a story from their lives as writers, journalists and/or teachers.

A portion of Scull’s preparation as a speaker comes from transforming a lived experience into a consumable story, one which is personal and emotional to her. Learning how to speak through her story, and preparing to speak to a theater to hold over 1,200, was a challenge.

“Even though the story is how I lived it, you have to deliver the story so that it really engages your audience,” Scull said. “Because it’s so personal, you don’t want to lose control of your emotions.”

The story Scull will tell on Sept. 9 will cover a portion of her time teaching at SWCC. From 2022 to 2024, Scull taught math in the HiSET program in Adult Basic Education, also known as the High School Equivalency Diploma Program.

Diving deep into connecting with students and what it means to nurture and inspire, Scull said she sees the success of students as a positive reward for her work. Tailoring learning to individual students has inspired growth in Scull’s students beyond their time in the classroom.

“It’s such an excellent way to see an extension of your own work when you see students doing what you hoped they would be doing,” Scull said.

Scull took inspiration from another former SWCC professor Kelly Maxwell who also spoke at the event when it was called the Des Moines Storytellers Project.

“It was a really powerful experience watching her pour her soul onto the stage with a collective group of strangers,” Scull said. “A pin could have dropped in that room... Seeing her on that stage makes me incredibly proud.”

Adapting to the stage and the nerves of public speaking has been a major facet of Scull’s preparation, one which involved convincing herself she belonged alongside the other speakers. Speaking alongside names like Harry Smith, known as a correspondent and host for NBC News and CBS News programs, it wasn’t easy.

“When they announced the lineup and I saw Harry Smith as one of the speakers, I kind of let out a little scream,” Scull said. “It gave me some anxiety; it was a big deal and I should step it up.”

Throughout the entire creative process, from story submission to practicing with former Storyteller John Sorrell as a coach, Scull reviewed her own experiences and background. Alongside her time as a journalist and professor, Scull is a member of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative, a regular volunteer for Creston Arts and a mother.

From her experiences with family to students she hoped to inspire, Scull narrowed down her story to one which not only shows her growth as a storyteller but also one where she can remind herself of just how far she’s come.

“These are very honest, raw and vulnerable stories,” Scull said. “People disclose a lot about themselves. That honesty, that’s what pulls people in. I was really encouraged as a speaker.”

Scull still tells stories regularly as a part of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative. Scull has also opened a Substack titled “Piecemaker: Musings of a Midwest Maker” where she tells her own stories regularly.