Campus Life

Yo friends. Tonight there was an event at school that I’ve been waiting for all year. Otherwise known as “The Anthem: Cal Poly’s Annual Poetry Slam.”

I went to this event last year and was stunned at what an impacting few hours it was. Last year was my first year witnessing spoken word poetry, and I’ve been hooked ever since. If you’ve never watched someone perform it, I highly suggest that you do… it may just change your world. I guess the best way for me to describe it is an emotionally charged performance of a poem; it’s definitely not what you’re thinking if you envision someone standing up in a coffee house reciting a work they have written. Slam poetry has pizzazz. And it makes you think. And contrary to popular belief, this event brings in professional poets to perform—it’s not you that has to stand up and recite. However, there are events throughout the year that allow young Cal Poly artists to do so.

The event is funded through Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) student fees and sponsored by the Cal Poly English Department and College of Liberal Arts. Otherwise meaning that it’s free to attend if you have your Poly Card in hand, and although it is put on by the English Department it’s open to all people to attend. And believe me, people do attend as both last year and this year every last seat in Chumash Auditorium was filled.

Tonight’s event was filled with much comedy provided by the master of ceremonies and a poet himself, Steve Connell. The main performers of the night were Iyeoka Okoawo, Andrea Gibson, Alvin Lau, Anis Mojgani, and Ike Torres. While I can say that the three hours the event occupied passed quickly because I was enjoying myself and often agreeing with what the poets had to say, my favorite part was definitely reflecting on the power of words.

Appropriately subtitled, “Words will change the world,” I truly believe that they will. And actually I recently wrote an essay that supports this idea in its entirety. It isn’t long, so I’ve included it, and it goes a little something like this…

“Words: my favorite thing. I’m terrible at math and science doesn’t really entice me, but words get me every time. Isn’t it fascinating to think that the human vocabulary is limited and yet we find a way to mold them into new ideas every second of every minute of every day? The possibilities seem endless and yet it is through words that humans have endless possibilities to communicate and express themselves to their heart’s desire. This is why I am an English major.

I want to be a high school English teacher, but what I’ve always wanted to do is change the world. Far-fetched maybe, but for as far back as I can remember this has always been a conceivable dream to me. I know I will execute this, too, because I figured out that this dream can be accomplished solely through the matter of perception.

This goes back to the idea of words. What is “the world?” Well, as far as I’m concerned it’s something different to everybody and for many it draws back solely to their own individual life. That is why I plan on starting small and confining my ambitions to the walls of a classroom. I want to teach high school students in order to have an impact on soon-to-be adults, the future of “the world”…that is, of course, dependent upon the perception of the term. I want to inspire students to learn not only about what can be taught within the confines of those four walls but also about what can be taught about life—because there is so much more to life than what a college diploma or a chief executive officer position can offer. The city I grew up in is painstakingly guilty of this ideology, as “success” there is idolized to be synonymous with “happiness.” This is why I want to be a teacher; I want to guide students to develop their own, accurate perceptions and ignite the fire within them that will push them to relentlessly strive for knowledge throughout their lives. I want to be that teacher who pushed them to look for more within themselves. I want to be that teacher that seemed so crazy at the time but actually turned out to know what she was talking about. I want to be that teacher that made a difference. And I want that difference to be infectious so that my students carry it on through their relationships with others.

I got involved with Teach for America because I think it’s a great program that is making huge strides to break the socioeconomic restrains of society. It upholds to the highest regard that “knowledge is power” and is the epitome of what it means to have equal opportunity through education. A bachelor’s degree is required to join the corps and this is something I hope to do when that time comes. As for now, I do what I can through the publicity on this campus to attract well-qualified, inspiring applicants to the organization.

But all of the activities I participate in, including school itself, are helping me to achieve my dream. All of the time I donate to Panhellenic and Poly Reps, all of the communication skills I acquired through my job, all of the time I spend studying and writing papers, and all the time I’m simply goofing off and being a nineteen year old kid—I enjoy. Each of these things demonstrate how I live out my ideals as I am in a constant pursuit for knowledge that will ultimately make myself into a better me. And for all of this I can thank my mom, my own life teacher but also an elementary school teacher, and numerous English teachers I have had the privilege of learning from over the years. I am the culmination of their efforts and want to give back and beyond what has been given to me. And I hope through my words that I have persuaded you that I will do this because my world has been changed. It’s my turn to change the rest.”

Quite a tangent from “The Anthem,” I know, but I had to get it out there. The situation was almost too fitting. Nevertheless, the point being is that Cal Poly not only encourages me to chase my dream of changing the world, but it will allow me the means to do so in the way that I wish to. I can only hope that events like “The Anthem” will give confidence to those who may have the potential to develop a similar ideology, but moreover I hope that events like these continue to flourish on campus as they are loved by many and in my opinion, are promoting personal achievement—be it through words or any other way that would allow an individual to do so.

It’s time for bed as I have a long day of studying ahead of me with finals on the schedule for next week. I can almost taste summer vacation. It will be a nice break to get my wanderlust back this June, July, and August as it seems far longer than a year that it’s been gone. But it has been another great year and I anticipate the next one already.

Over and out,

LB