About a month ago, I hastily put together 10 pages of poetry to submit to the Senior Writing, Literature and Publishing Awards at my school. Yesterday, I received word that I received the Senior Writing Award for High Distinction in Poetry, as well as the Academy of American Poets Prize.
According to the Academy of American Poets website:
In 1955, The Academy of American Poets established its University and College Poetry Prize program at ten schools. The Academy now sponsors over 200 annual prizes for poetry at colleges and universities nationwide, and has awarded more than $350,000 to nearly 10,000 student poets since the program's inception.
Many of America's most esteemed poets won their first recognition through an Academy College Prize, including Diane Ackerman, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Alice Fulton, Tess Gallagher, Louise Glück, Allen Grossman, Jorie Graham, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Li-Young Lee, Brad Leithauser, J. D. McClatchy, Heather McHugh, Gregory Orr, Robert Pinsky, Sylvia Plath, Mark Rudman, Mary Jo Salter, Gjertrud Schnackenberg, George Starbuck, Mark Strand, and Charles Wright.
For the longest time, I was writing for myself--holed up in my room or in the corners of cafes--never really showing anyone my work except for workshop. After completing this thesis project, participating in the Senior BFA Thesis reading, putting my work out there and receiving such amazing words of encouragement and recognition, I feel really proud of all my hard work. I feel legitimized and validated as a writer--like hey, panic attacks and mental breakdowns aside, these four years really were worth it.
1 comment:
Congrats to you! I like that I have to read your blog to know these things....where did I go wrong as a parent, Chris?
Post a Comment