-Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud 2011

“Kean On the Move”

Written by: Jarvon S

An empty stage, one mic, thousands watching. Enough to make any average student nervous. Then again Shantelle Eddy, our two-time State Poetry Out Loud Champion, is no average student. Ever since she started in 11th grade, Shantelle Eddy has done extremely well in the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Competition.

“Poetry Out Loud http://www.poetryoutloud.org/ is a national recitation competition where students have a chance to showcase their talents and recite poems to help others understand the poet’s true feelings,” says Shantelle, who came in second place in this year’s school competition in November 2010.

Harry Sanguillen came in first place, beating out approximately 300 students throughout the school who participated, according to an estimate from Ms. Melissa Bump, Kean’s Poetry Out Loud coordinator.

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2010 school champion Harry Sanguillen, and two time state champion and national finalist, Shantelle Eddy

Harry Sanguillen, Kean’s 2011 Poetry Out Loud School Champion (who is also a good friend of Shantelle’s), also knows what going up on that stage is like. Both Harry and Shantelle went through two heart-pounding rounds in the school competition before finally hearing the judges’ decisions in November 2010.

It was a glorious day for Harry whose first language is Spanish. He didn't start learning English until seven years ago. “His emotions were off the chain, and his facial expressions were genuine. You could actually feel his emotions,” says Shantelle.

Although she didn't win first place in the 2011 school competition, Shantelle did go on to win the territorial/state competition, which meant she got to go to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Nationals in April 2011 for a second time.

She was very enthusiastic about the 2011 competition before she actually went to Washington. “ This year I am definitely confident that I've got this one in the bag,” said Shantelle on Monday, April 18th.

She wasn’t the only one who showed extreme enthusiasm about the competition. Dr. Sharon McCollum, principal of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, said,“ I am definitely hoping that she will win that trophy. She is a very smart and talented young lady who does anything that she puts her mind to.”

On April 26th Shantelle set out to Washington D.C. for the Poetry Out Loud Nationals. On April 28th the school watched Shantelle live from D.C on line. “She was phenomenal! She literally brought me to tears,” says her A.P. Literature teacher Ms. Amy Roberts. Students and faculty who had Internet access were all watching and waiting in anticipation to find out the results.

During that day, at third period, the judges announced that Shantelle did not make it to the finals. “Everyone was shocked, upset, and confused. How could she not have won?” her fans at Kean wondered. That's a question that shall remain unanswered.

Any average student would feel depressed, and cry, or think themselves a failure. As stated before, Shantelle is not your average student.Though she didn't take the victory at this year’s P.O.L . Nationals, Shantelle had this to say, “Well even though I didn't win, and that was really hurtful, I know I am a two- time state champion, and I know I am a winner. With all the support I had from my family, friends, coach and school family, how could I stay upset?”

She’s right. For two years, she has competed against over 365,000 students nationwide. Each year she made it to the Nationals and came within an arms length of the title of champion.

“She is elocution personified, and she represented us well,” said her former AP Language teacher, Dr. Thomas Unger.