A sophomore student sits in their AIM, re-reading their poem making sure it’s perfect. The announcements interrupted, blaring, “Don’t forget the poetry slam Friday in the auditorium, good luck!” The students shakes off their nerves, ready to perform their very own work of art.
MCHS had its ninth poetry slam in the auditorium on Friday. Each sophomore English class had students write their own slam poems. Students peer’s chose the top three best poems. Those three students moved up to the second round where first, second, third place and crowd favorite were chosen.
The poetry slam was started at Freshman Campus, and then was moved over to Upper Campus after reconstruction.
“So it’s a total of ten years,” Marla Currie, English teacher at MCHS and former judge of the poetry slam says. “We started in 2015, but we had one year with Covid where we couldn’t do it.”
“It’s good for students to hear what other people have to say.” Currie says, “because more than likely, you know, they have similar feelings.”
Along with Currie, Gina Nomikoudis, the English Department Chair, helped begin the poetry slam at MCHS and also judges the contest.
“Mrs. Currie and I decided to give it a shot, and it was a great success,” Nomikoudis says.
“Students have to practice the skills they’ve been working on,” Nomikoudis says. “They also get to kind of examine our world and make a comment on it … which is helping them become a citizen of the world and have an opinion and viewpoint on it.”
Along with Nomikoudis, Currie works hard to encourage her students to try their best and get out of their comfort zone. They both believe that although scary, it can bring students growth to participate.
“Some people are reluctant,” Currie says, “and I get it because poetry is so vulnerable … so I just do my best to be encouraging with them and be the audience for them to go over their poem.” Currie adds. “Kind of look at it as an opportunity, that it might be daunting and overwhelming and scary, but once you do it, you’re gonna be so happy.”
Even though it is a required assignment, many students try their hardest and put in effort to do the best they can to make it far. They believe that no matter how scary it may be to present, the issue they are writing about is worth being scared.
“I would say the experience is kind of like jumping in a cold river,” says Lillian Koscher, last year’s first place winner of the poetry slam and judge of this year’s slam. “There is always that chance that you could be swept away, but then there is also that chance that it’s something you really enjoy … I have a personal philosophy of if I’m not a little embarrassed, I’m not doing it right.”
The student lets out a sigh of relief, and the crowd erupts in laughter, now feeling proud of themself for telling the audience their message.
“My goal as a writer and a person,” says Koscher, ”is to open people up to other ways of thinking and living.”