The FOX13 Writing Test

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The lost art of handwriting. It used to be a major part of our education. We were graded on our penmanship and many times teachers would actually take off for sloppy work. But the no-longer new reliance on the keyboard has diminished the importance of the written word. Or has it?

As children, teachers and parents drilled it into our heads and in the beginning, it all sort of looked alike. But with the passing of time, everyone develops a unique style of writing that makes it easily identifiable.

"I've been referred to as maybe chicken scratch," said Fox 13's Good Morning Memphis anchor Melissa Scheffler.

"Kind of scattered," reporter Scott Madaus laughed.

"It looks like the brain waves of a nightmare," said Senior web producer May Lin Biggs.

"It’s horrible. I should be a doctor," said Emmy award-winning photojournalist Derric Curran.

"When I came to Fox 13, back in 2007, no one believed this was my handwriting," said FOX13 reporter Lauren Johnson.

" Well actually when I saw your handwriting, I thought it was a font because it was really neat ," said photographer Charlton McCollum.

"I thought it was sick and very anal," says award-winning traffic reporter Tom Dees.

"I couldn't believe it! I didn't think anybody actually wrote like that," smiled reporter Jill Monier.

Good Morning Memphis anchor Greg Coy asksed "What does it mean about you?"

We all wanted answers, so we took it to the experts to find out what your handwriting really means about you.

Meet Grayson Smith.

"I became focused on this about two years ago," said Smith. Now, he does it for a living, and he takes it seriously. "I've studied it, I've gotten some materials, and I’ve gotten some coaching." We called him in to check out my handwriting.

His initial reaction, "My goodness! I think there are some serial killers out there that would like to meet you "

Grayson said my teachers would be pleased.

"There's nothing sloppy about this. There is nothing to misunderstand," said Grayson.

"And my mom says as a kid, instead of reading, I just loved to write," said Johnson.

"You can sell that to Microsoft," Grayson laughed.

So what does it mean to write so perfectly, as others have described it?

"I'm going to ask you to do two things at which you cannot fail. I'm going to ask you to draw a picture of a tree, and sign your name," said Grayson.

Drawing and handwriting have much in common. Both are unconscious movements and an extension of personal expression, so together, they reveal much more about a person. With strategic strokes, deliberate details, and careful coloring, Grayson watched as I worked my magic. Grayson says the drawing and writing draw from the left and right brain, both the creative and intellectual sides.

"These two things together tell the world what you want them to know about you," said Grayson. "You're handling the pressure in your life ok."

He said I understand the importance of structure and teamwork and because my tree is so big, he says I'm living life large! Since it’s centered on the page, I'm nicely balanced. I'm also very gracious, I learned.

"This trunk is straight, Lauren, you're honest, you're an honest person," Grayson tells me. All that grass I went back and added revealed one thing. "This tells me family is extremely important- (Absolutely, wow!)"

My signature slants upward, and all of my letters are nicely spaced apart. I'm an optimist who pays attention to detail.

"Lauren, you're normal!”

But we didn't stop with me. Good Morning Memphis Anchor Valerie Calhoun was put to the test.

Val said, "I do think it’s accurate, I am an optimist."

"I'm saying you have a close knit family (true) and they are with you every step of the way (absolutely, yes)," Grayson told Val.

Grayson calls "The Val Gal" accomplished, cautious, mysterious, optimistic, and protective.

She responds, "Wow, that's accurate."

Then, the FOX13 News at 5 and 9 anchors, Mearl Purvis and Darrell Greene are put to the test as well.

Mearl says, "I thought it was very interesting."

Grayson tells Mearl, "It looks like you're pretty close to normal (laughs)"

"I was kind of shocked about how close he got to how much I respect, revere, and need family. My connectiveness to family, who knew he would find it in grass. Blades of grass," said Mearl.

On to Darrell Greene, Grayson said, "Your signature and tree tell me this, you're honest."

Greene responds, "I'm pretty impressed."

"You're considerate of other people," he reminds Darrell.

Darrell says, "It’s kind of eerie, it’s a little eerie."

All of us agree its bizarre how much a tree and your signature can say about you.

Madaus says, "I think you're OCD."

"This is someone who has some issues obviously," Coy stares.

Biggs says, "I thought you were a robot."

Now, I can relax knowing, I'm none of those things my co-workers once thought. I'm just a girl with freakishly neat handwriting.