Junior Becca Havian won a regional award for her original screenplay, giving her the opportunity to have her work recognized by national judges.

Havian won the Gold Key award for her screenplay, Cleaning House. The award is one of many  earned by outstanding entries the Dramatic Script category of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

According to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, entries are judged on a regional level for Honorable Mention, Silver Key, and Gold Key Awards. Gold Key-achieving works are sent in to be considered for national recognition. National medalists will be announced mid-March and winner will be honored in June at an awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Havian credits to award to her mother, who found the contest and introduced it to Havian.

“My parents have been really supportive of my interest in screenwriting and have always encouraged me to pursue my goals,” Havian said.

Havian said that she also received help from acting teacher Kim Taylor, who gave her suggestions in editing the work as well as determining the direction for the plot and character evolution.

“We exchanged multiple drafts of the screenplay over break,” Havian said. “She was always willing to help me make improvements and i greatly appreciate her generosity.”

Taylor said that she is proud of Havian and is not surprised that she won an award for her screenplay.

“Becca is a talented writer and her play shows her unique gift,” Taylor said.

Havian said that she experience of fine-tuning her screenplay and entering it into a competition has been rewarding an motivating.

“I gained confidence and encouragement as a writer,” Havian said.

Havian’s screenplay, titled Cleaning House, is a fiction piece about a girl named Grace who struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder during a time when her family is dealing with the aftermath of her father leaving them.

“This piece comes more from a place of empathy rather than personal experience,” Havian said. “It’s mainly a product of my imagination.”

Havian said that she spend the time leading up to the posting of the results anxiously checking her phone for the post.

“I knew the results would be posted at 2:00, when I would be in history class,” Havian said. “Being the anxious person I am, I couldn’t resist peeking at my phone quickly to alleviate my curiosity.”

Havian said that she hoped to win an award, but did not have any expectation to.

“When I found my name on the list I freaked out,” Havian said.

Havian plans to enter more competitions this spring and is considering writing a monologue for the Ohlone Theater Competition. Last year, Havian wrote a monologue that was performed by senior Gabe Bolio at the competition.

“That was an awesome experience to `see my work performed by a peer and especially watching him win 2nd place,” Havian said.

Havian said that she plans to continue her pursuit in screenwriting.

“I encourage anyone who is passionate about doing something to pursue it,” Havian said. “I sure as heck didn’t expect to receive the results I did, but it was a lovely surprise that has given me the motivation to continue to do what I love.”