There’s just something beautiful and special about poetry. It allows people to tell a story but in a unique manner. Many people will definitely agree that it’s a form of art that has unfortunately decreased in popularity over the past few years.
Of course, poetry will never cease to exist, and there are always remarkable examples that keep showing up from time time.
Most middle schoolers have to write their own poem as a task around the world, and it’s not one that many students look forward to. Reading your poem out loud in front of an entire high school classroom, you’d become stressful for less. And because poetry is quite delicate, it’s actually really tough to write something that’s truly memorable.
This seventh-grader had no problem at all going to the front of the classroom, to read her self-written poem out loud to everyone.
Olivia Velle who studies at the Queen Creek Middle School in Arizona decided to take this school assignment very seriously.
The writing teacher in their class knew how difficult it was to create a poem from scratch, so he let his students choose a simple or easy topic to write about.
However, Olivia had no intention of making her poem simple.
She went all-out with her poem and stunned the entire classroom with her powerful and touching words.
“Why am I not good enough?” the middle schooler says at the beginning of her poem.
Right from the get-go, it’s evidently clear that Olivia’s poem was going to be very special, touching, and heartfelt.
The student managed to captivate her entire classroom for six minutes.
The poem is all about the social and academic pressure she faces when going to school. Getting ready, selecting an outfit that makes her fit in with the rest, and won’t get her laughed at, it’s all there in her powerful poem.
“Every part of your outfit is uncomfortable, but even though you spend hours trying to look pretty, you will never be as good as those other girls at school.”
Judgment, stress, criticism, jealousy, envy – these are all things that Olivia is faced with at school.
It turns out that this poem is essentially Olivia herself finally pouring her heart to her classmates, opening up in a manner that she’s most comfortable with.
She bravely speaks about the negative thoughts she has at school sometimes and mentions that her self-esteem is basically non-existent.
Her next words are just simply chilling to the bone.
“You look at other girls wishing you were them, but other girls are looking at you wishing they were you.”
The final message is one of hope and is just as powerful as the rest of the poem.
“But society is wrong. You are loved, you are precious, you are beautiful, you are talented, you are capable, you are deserving of respect, you can eat that meal, you are one in seven billion. And most of all, you are good enough.”
The whole poem made quite the impression, and Olivia’s teacher recalls how everyone was simply “in awe.”
Her teacher Brett Cornelius couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and he’s still amazed by Olivia’s thrilling performance.
“[it was] filled with raw passion, fear, vulnerability and immense courage, has caused a worldwide rippling effect, and I’m so proud of her. She’s steering this ship of self-love, and I’m proud to call her my captain and hero,” Cornelius said to ABC News.
Olivia’s poem was also shared on YouTube, where it was viewed millions of times, with plenty of people leaving supportive and heartfelt comments.
“The reaction to the video shows I am not alone. We are not alone in how we feel,” Olivia added.
Be sure to check out her incredibly powerful poem in the video below.
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