Years writing for Polis: 3 years
Other CVCC accomplishments: Board member and judge for Polis, Vice-chairman of Honor Council
Background of writing: I have been writing poetry for years before I even attended CVCC in 2004. My 2nd year at CVCC, I heard about Polis and thought I’d try and submit some of my poems for the 2005-2006 edition. My first poem accepted that year was “My Queen”. Many people complimented me on that poem for its rhythm and meaning, saying I had a “knack for romantic poems”. The next year I was asked to join the Polis board; I willing accepted. That year I judged many poems for submission in Polis, and I myself submitted more of my own poems. That year, more of my poems made it in. My most notable poem of that year was “Sack of Crap”. I had a lady come up and ask me how I could go from the romantic “My Queen” to the depressing sounding “Sack of Crap.” I told her right there that’s part of writing. That it’s not all happy, that sometimes our inspiration does not always comes from happy moments. All poets have their fair share of poems ranging from happy, up lifting, and romantic, as well as sad, depressing, or foreboding. Another of my accomplishments for Polis came that very same year. I have a love for art pieces, and after talking it over with Lana for weeks, we decided that Polis should include more art. With the help of Mr. Lofaso, last year’s Polis was the first edition to include a “featured artist” section and showcase even more student artwork.
If I were to give advice to any current or future writer or artist, it is to be yourself in your works. Don’t try to mimic others’ styles. You only need one style, your own. And work around your feelings. Inspiration can come at any time for any reason. Use your art to express yourself. Whether your works are predominately happy or depressing it matters not, for in the end, you get your point across with your work. Let your works show the world who you are, and above all, be just that—yourself!