Community. Confidence. A $20,000 prize. Foran’s new Poetry Out Loud club offers all of this and more.
Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide program that offers students the opportunity to work on their public speaking skills by reciting poetry in a series of competitions, beginning at the local level and culminating in the national finals. Recently, Foran has opened its doors to this renowned organization with its own Poetry Out Loud club, led by English department head Mrs. Lauren O’Keefe.
Sophomore Rachel Milimoh expresses her excitement about the club, saying “I wanted to join because of my desire to express the way I feel through poetry.”
With meetings once a month on Tuesdays, the club helps to give students a way to express themselves. Students gain a sense of community and learn more about poetry.
“It’s great for students who might be interested in pursuing a career in theater or the arts,” O’Keefe states. Students can learn literacy, history, and contemporary life by participating in competitions.
Students not only get a chance to build a sense of community and confidence but also have the opportunity to earn prizes for participating in the competitions. Winners at the state level receive $200 and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Finals. There, third-place winners receive $5,000, second-place winners receive $10,000, and the National Champion receives a startling $20,000.
Being a part of Poetry Out Loud not only offers a financial award but also the chance for success in the world. Previous National Champions have gone on to attend Ivy League schools, pursue successful acting careers, and even recite poetry at the White House Poetry Night.
“I honestly think poetry is such a beautiful form of self-expression,” says junior Angie Vargas.
For students with a fear of public speaking, the small but mighty Poetry Out Loud club is a way to help overcome that fear. By reading poems in a supportive and encouraging environment, students can build confidence and presentation skills, making the challenge of public speaking much easier.
The Poetry Out Loud Club meets in Room 239, one Tuesday per month, from 2:00 to 2:45. The next meeting date will be announced soon. Email O’Keefe with any questions.
