As some of you may know, I participated in Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. The nation-wide competition for high schoolers begins on the classroom level, then goes on to the school-wide, regional, state, and finally national levels. In 2007, when I was a sophomore in high school, I won the Pennsylvania state championship. It was an incredible blessing - nationals in D.C. was a dream.
That was four years ago. Last month, I was invited by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to be a judge at the 2011 state finals. I was shocked and honored - and of course I took them up on the offer! The March 14th competition even coincided with the first day of my spring break - it was really meant to be. You can read the PA Council on the Arts' press release here - I'm mentioned in the article! Above are some pictures from the Governor's residence, where the event took place.
Judging my near-peers was certainly an experience, especially since they were in the exact same position that I was in my first three years of high school! I have to say that it was quite strange to be on the "other side", for once - it was very nice to not have to worry about remembering lines, and to just enjoy the show. :)
That was four years ago. Last month, I was invited by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to be a judge at the 2011 state finals. I was shocked and honored - and of course I took them up on the offer! The March 14th competition even coincided with the first day of my spring break - it was really meant to be. You can read the PA Council on the Arts' press release here - I'm mentioned in the article! Above are some pictures from the Governor's residence, where the event took place.
Judging my near-peers was certainly an experience, especially since they were in the exact same position that I was in my first three years of high school! I have to say that it was quite strange to be on the "other side", for once - it was very nice to not have to worry about remembering lines, and to just enjoy the show. :)
