FOREST PARK — Forest Park High School senior Lamar Chance had never written a poem before, but his first became an award winner.
Chance won a contest sponsored by the POET (Poetic Outreach that Empowers and Transforms) Foundation and along with it, a free laptop.
“It was always a thought, but it was never something that I fully brought to fruition so this was my first time being able to come up with an idea and put it down — something that came from the heart,” he said.
The title of the winning poem is “I Am Still Educated.”
“It feels nice,” he said of winning the contest with his first poem. “It feels very nice, and I definitely plan on making more just to see how far I can go with it.”
Chance was presented his laptop in a brief ceremony at the school Thursday, Feb. 15. Attending were Forest Park High teacher and POET Foundation founder Steaven Misher, Dr. Lasonda Misher, Forest Park Mayor Angelyne Butler, Forest Park Principal Kim Dancy, and nurse Gwennette Boyd.
“It feels very nice knowing that my talents/creativity is appreciated,” he said of being honored by the school, the foundation and the mayor. “It makes me want to do it more.”
Two requirements for the poetry contest were that the entrants have a 3.0 GPA and be accepted at a Historically Black College and University.
Chance has been accepted to Alabama A&M and plans on applying to North Carolina A&T. He plans to major in visual arts/performing arts.
“A famous historian once said that ‘until the lion’s story gets told, we will always celebrate the hunters,’” Misher said of seeing his students succeed. “I would like to say I’m a gatekeeper and that on my watch, the lions are celebrated — not only for the past but for the future. For me personally, it feels like I am doing my due diligence. This is why my ancestors worked so hard for me, and…
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