STUDENTS in Reading have been highly commended in a national poetry competition this month.
Poetry By Heart, the national poetry speaking competition, returned for this year’s grand finale, taking place at Shakespeare’s Globe in London on Monday, July 7.
The event saw more than 1,600 schools take part this time around, with more than 4,300 pupils participating in the final– including some from Reading College
Among them was Ashleen Kaur, 17, from Earley, who is studying an Esports Level 2 Diploma.
For her entry, Ashleen picked two poems to perform: one written before 1914, ‘Convalescence’ by Amy Lowell; and one after 1914, ‘The Gift of India’ by Sarojini Naidu.
Ashleen filmed herself reading each poem aloud and received two highly commended certificates and feedback for each entry.
She said: “I feel honoured to be highly commended. I chose to read ‘The Gift of India’ because I’m South-Asian and my mum, who is from India, has always encouraged me with these sorts of things, so it was a tribute to her as she’s inspired me a lot as a person.
“I chose to read ‘Convalescence’ as I really liked the rhythm and structure of it. It made me feel calm when I read it.
“Taking part in Poetry By Heart has made me grow in confidence. Since taking part, I’ve been speaking out more and joining in more at college.
“I’d really recommend it to someone else if you’re shy or nervous as it brings you out of your shell.”
Laila Mejri, 17, from Reading also took part in the competition. She is currently studying A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Geography at Reading College and University Centre.
She chose to submit a film of herself reading two of her own poems which she had written before the competition.
Laila received a highly commended certificate for one of the poems and a commended certificate for the other poem, as well as feedback.
Speaking of her work, Laila said: “The first poem, titled ‘Undiagnosed’, is about autism and being undiagnosed for most of my life.
“The second poem, titled ‘Fruit basket’, was about trying to fit yourself into a mould for other people, and them using you, but then it’s not really yourself at the end of the day.
“Normally I just write poems for myself–sometimes I feel useless but doing something like this makes me realise that there are things I can do.
“Poetry is a hobby, and I thought that no-one really likes poetry, but this makes me remember that there’s a big community who do.”
Laila will continue her A Levels at Reading College and University Centre in September.
Philip Trivett, GCSE English Teacher at Activate Learning, said: “I’m over the moon that the students have felt confident to be able to bring their poetry, or poetry they have chosen, to life, but also that it means so much to them.
“It’s lovely to hear that they get the confidence boost, and they feel fulfilled in the process. For students to feel that they’ve been enriched through this process is fantastic.
“I’m overjoyed for Ashleen, and I hope that this passion for poetry will continue and lead to many life-changing things.
“Laila’s poems were from her heart and were about places of struggle and pain. Clearly, she has found that it has helped her in the role to go through life and experience life, give her a voice and to be part of the process of healing and wholeness.
“It takes tremendous courage to write that kind of emotion and even more to speak it. To enter a national competition – that’s an amazing level of courage to which she should be commended for.”
More information about Poetry By Heart is available via: poetrysociety.org.uk
More information about Reading College is available via: activatelearning.ac.uk
