On Thursday, December 19, NVOT hosted the 14th annual Poetry Out Loud (POL), a competition where students memorize and recite poems to perform to their peers. Students from all grades were welcome to come sit and watch in the school’s auditorium as the competitors recited their poems.

The competition featured 10 competitors who were scored based on accuracy, stage presence, and articulation of the poem. From there, a winner was selected to advance to regions in February. Then, competitors who advance from regions go to states, which takes place in March. Poetry Out Loud is run at NVOT by English teacher Jeffrey Train, who has been in charge of the competition for 14 years. 

This year’s school champion, sophomore Ari Cruz, recited “Poems” by Nikki Grimes and “Traveling Through the Dark” by William E. Stafford. She has participated in POL for two years. “The thing that makes POL special to me is it gives me the opportunity to personally understand and analyze poetry. I also get to enjoy performing them on stage in front of others and share what I have learned,” she said. 

Senior Yea-il Hwang, a seasoned competitor who performed Emily Dickinson’s “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” and Wendell Berry’s “Enemies,” tied for fourth place. Although Hwang felt nervous and anxious in previous years of performing, this year he felt confident and even excited about reciting his poems. “Everyone is just chilling out, supporting each other in the best way they can,” he said. “That’s what makes POL so special and memorable.” 

Train said that “poetry is perhaps more crucial today than it was 14 years ago. Slowing down, sitting still, and listening to words reminds us of our common humanity.” He looks forward to many more years of POL along with even more students participating next year. Train said, “It’s a day filled with energy, and I love seeing all the ways that students challenge themselves and discover new insights.”