(Editor’s note: Chronicle Times intern and aspiring journalist Isabel Gebers spent three weeks at Iowa for a select writers’ program. Her first time away from home, she held her own and excelled in the program as we knew she would. Here, she offers readers insight to the experience. Congrats, Isabel. We’re proud of you!)

This July, I will be going to Iowa City for a summer writing camp and staying on the University of Iowa campus for three weeks. I will be away from all of my family and friends getting a college experience early. I already know I will get homesick and I fear I won’t be able to keep up with all the other young writers who will be attending. I’m terrified...