use XML::Writer;
my @students =
[ Q[April], Q[Bubbly: I'm > Tam and <= Emily] ],
[ Q[Tam O'Shanter], Q[Burns: "When chapman billies leave the street ..."] ],
[ Q[Emily], Q[Short & shrift] ]
;
my @lines = map { :Character[:name(.[0]), .[1]] }, @students;
say XML::Writer.serialize( CharacterRemarks => @lines );
<CharacterRemarks><Character name="April">Bubbly: I'm > Tam and <= Emily</Character>
<Character name="Tam O'Shanter">Burns: "When chapman billies leave the street ..."</Character>
<Character name="Emily">Short & shrift</Character></CharacterRemarks>