On March 6, at the Barre Opera House, Rice sophomore Celeste Hines competed in the regional competition for Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is an annual competition, which all English teachers at Rice have their students participate in. In the competition, students have the opportunity to recite poems of their choice to compete in classroom recitations. Classroom winners then compete in front of the school at assembly to move on to the regional competition. This year, Rice had 21 students recite; however, Hines’s performance of precision and passion won her the opportunity to compete in the regionals with the possibility for the title of champion in the worldwide event.
A Knight’s Banner staff writer sat down with Hines to discuss her experience of the competition, and what led Hines to being a finalist.
KR: What were your poems, and how did you pick them?
CH: My first poem was “Burning in the Rain” by Richard Blanco. I performed this at the school-wide competition and at regionals. I really liked the emotions it displayed and the imagery it had. I felt like there was a lot to play with in that one. My second poem was “Envy,” by Mary Lamb, and I really admired the message of the poem, which was instead of wanting what others have, find the beauty in your own life and yourself.
KR: What advice would you share with other students participating in POL?
CH: I would advise other students to perform their poems so much it becomes first nature-[with] so much repetition that every time you go up you have no fears because you know how to do this, and you have done it so many times.
KR: Describe your experience competing at regionals.
CH: My experience was very good. I went with my mom and grandma, and the first hour we workshopped learning how to project, have physical presence, and how to be confident which was very helpful. After that, we got to perform our poems.
KR: How did it feel to be competing?
CH: I was nervous going up. I had these expectations for myself as I was happy with how I rehearsed it, and I wanted it to go how it had been in rehearsals. I wasn’t as worried, though. I had told myself before that I will be happy as long as I get all of my words right. I did not end up moving on; however, I was still very grateful for the experience as it helped me grow a lot.
KR: Who would you say your biggest supporter was throughout the experience?
CH: I would definitely say my biggest supporter was Mrs. Hebert because every day leading up to the regional competition I would recite my poem with her and she would give me feedback, encouragement, and places to work on, which was very useful.
The staff writer further sat down with Mrs. Hebert, an English teacher at Rice and Hines’s English teacher who helped her prepare for regionals.
KR: What does POL mean to you as a teacher?
LH: Poetry Out Loud holds a special place in my heart because I have been implementing it in the classroom since the beginning of my teaching career. I enjoy watching students surprise themselves in their ability to take on the challenge of reciting, and internalizing, a poem. Poetry Out Loud helps students look at poems in a different way beyond textual analysis, and it helps foster a joy in poetry that may not have existed before.
KR: What was it like being at the regional competition with Celeste?
LH: It is always exciting, and nerve-wracking, watching my students compete in Poetry Out Loud. Celeste worked very hard to prepare, and her recitations were moving and thrilling to see.
KR: What advice would you give to future reciters?
LH: My students, who have moved onto the next level of Poetry Out Loud, have taken every opportunity to practice their recitations so they know their poems by heart and can move beyond the memorization to the internalization of the work.
Poetry Out Loud continues to be a vital space for poets and performers. The program significantly shapes the Rice community in the opportunity to highlight their dedicated students who step into something unfamiliar with grace and passion.
