Memories.

So I need to have 9 blogs by 8 am on February 13 so I don't lose points in my English class. I did all the 6 mandatory blogs but i need 3 more. I ran out of things to talk about so I wandered around the internet looking to kill some time. Then I stumbled upon a link on my Facebook that my friend shared with me. It was my old poem from 8th grade. It was poetry week at my school and each 8th grader was to write 5 poems. I got an A for every poem and my "I AM ME" poem was voted best in my English class. I still remember that day... It was a Friday. We got out early around 12:25 pm and the poetry slam contest was that day. It was voluntary but my teacher urged me to join because he believed I could win it. So I signed up, went home and listened to some Green Day, then went back to school with my friends around 5 pm. I was contestant #8 among 19. As the first 7 contestants read their poems, I started to wonder why my teacher urged me to join. I have read many poems before and my poem was not even in the same league. My name was called and I went up. I stared at everyone and waited for complete silence. Then I started reading my poem. For the first time that day, the audience laughed and actually paid close attention to the contestant, which was me. I received the loudest and biggest applause so far and I was baffled by the standing ovation I received. How did I do that?!?!?! My poem was mediocre for a middle school student. The contest went on and 2 other contestants wrote better poems than me and received 1st and 2nd prizes. I was 3rd.

The next day I talked to my teacher and asked him why he urged me to join. My poem was average at most yet he took no for an answer when he asked me to join. Presenting a poem is not just about pronouncing the right words, but how you pronounce the right words. My poem was from the bottom of my heart. It wass how I felt. I didn't write it for money or fame, I wrote it because it exemplified everything I cared for and stood for during that time in my life. It sounded childish but I was 14 years old. I wanted to be a professional basketball player, I LOVED (AND STILL DO) my mom, I had doubts of my existence and YES, I WAS A LITTLE EMO. But who wasn't?!?!?! When I spoke these words during the poetry slam, I captivated the whole audience. They felt my emotions as I read the words. My hand gestures and voice changing as I read each word. That was the reason why my teacher wanted me to join. The other contestants wrote their poems to get an A on the assignment. I wrote mine because I wanted to vent my feelings on a piece of paper.