The auditorium buzzes with electric energy, the air thick with anticipation. Rows of polished seats gleam under the stark lights of the stage. The applause concludes, leaving a heavy silence, and Kevin Zamora Valdez, ‘25, steps up to the podium.

This upcoming May, during graduation, Valdez will stand before the Class of 2025 and share a heartfelt poem that encapsulates the struggles, triumphs and bonds forged during their years at WHHS.

The honor of being named poet laureate is bestowed upon one junior each year. The title is held throughout their junior and SENIOR year. Valdez is the SENIOR laureate while Rahifa Maricar, ‘26, was named the junior poet laureate last year.

“I’ll be honest, I was shocked [when I found out]. I was like, ‘Are you sure? Am I the right person?’” Maricar said. “[There was] excitement, fear, confusion and a little mixture of it all.”

During the spring, English teachers nominate sophomores who exemplify a distinct passion for writing, reading and performing poetry to be the incoming junior poet laureate. Following the nominations, the English department elects the poet laureate through a voting process.

“The students who have been awarded poet laureate are people who are willing to read their poems out loud, be involved in the chalk drawing, where poetry is made public, or go into a classroom and promote the poetry of others,” Jake Riordan, English teacher and poet laureate adviser, said. “That’s the key feature here. You’re not just a great poet, but you are [also] interested in lighting a spark in some other kid who might like poetry but [does] not know what it means to be a poet.”

The selection of a poet laureate mirrors the esteemed position of the United States Poet Laureate. Students establish themselves as poets throughout their time at WHHS, both in classrooms and clubs.

“A couple of years ago, Ohio decided to have a poet laureate, and then Cincinnati decided to have a poet laureate,” Riordan said. “Ms. Heldman [the alumni office director] thought it’d be a good idea to have Walnut Hills have a poet laureate, a person who would be the Olympian of poetry in our school to help promote poetry. So the first year [2022-2023 school year], we elected Nola Stowe as the first junior poet laureate… she was the first one.”

Unlike the other speakers on the graduation stage, such as the executive board president and student body president, the poet laureate offers a deeper emotional connection that resonates with both students and faculty.

“It’s very much about spreading poetry, spirit and kindness throughout the school,” Valdez said. “I’m trying to bring vulnerability to the school.”

In addition to delivering a compelling poem at graduation, the poet laureate also has the opportunity to perform their poems during alumni reunions and to Effies in English classes. This not only enriches the community but also allows them the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy within WHHS.

“I am currently working on a mural… it’s so people can see, understand and feel the same things that the poem and the poetic mural are trying to show in the message,” Valdez said. “Another project I was working on and currently am working on is making different teachers a poem. We usually see them as this person that’s just educational versus them [being] human beings too. They’re [also] vulnerable; they have hardships; they have love; they have [also] lost. That’s my way of showing the world to be a little bit more vulnerable, [and] a little bit more poetic.”

Poetry allows speakers to bear their souls to those listening. When performers like Valdez and Maricar take the stage, they are not just reciting words; they are sharing their innermost feelings and experiences.

“I found poetry to be [a] channel for me to cope with vulnerabilities, challenges and past experiences. I found it a good way for me to express myself in a meaningful way,” Maricar said. “Channeling myself and putting myself out there more through my poetry has allowed others to see parts of me that they never really got to know before. And I feel like understanding my own complexities is what kind of drew them to me.”

This creates a connection between the speaker and the audience, allowing listeners to engage deeply with the emotions conveyed, contributing to a supportive and inclusive school environment.

“Kevin and Rahifa just happened to both be in my seventh-grade class, and both of them stood out as monumentally awesome, impassioned writers who had this clear voice,” Riordan said. “You could read [their] poem and know it’s [their] writing. They stood out to me. I’ll never forget Kev in his seventh-grade year writing such beautiful poetry and reciting it in my class; he was even brought to tears. That’s in seventh grade. He had this brave old soul, so it just made sense to nominate him.”

Valdez’s journey as an Effie to a poet laureate has blossomed his unwavering passion for poetry, transcending academic boundaries and enriching personal growth.

“I actually think poetry helped me in a lot of different ways. I feel like poetry helped me become a little bit more well-rounded, a little bit more well-spoken,” Valdez said. “It kind of gives me a little sense of humility [toward] myself. A lot of the poetry I write is about myself and about being vulnerable, [and] I can reflect on that.”

Due to the impact poetry has had on Valdez, he hopes to continue his journey with poetry following high school.

“I’m not entirely sure if it’s going to be a major in college, but I do want to continue it eventually,” Valdez said. “Maybe write a book about it; write something to show the world who I am and express emotions that maybe other people have expressed as well.”

Overall, the inspirational effect of poetry has empowered individuals like Valdez and Maricar and continues to have a lasting impact on students everywhere. Maricar encourages other students to explore poetry, believing it can be a meaningful outlet for self-expression.

“Go for it,” Maricar said. “Don’t question, don’t doubt. Let go of all your previous preconceived assumptions [and] notions about it and try it out.”

This story was originally published on The Chatterbox on November 18, 2024.