Written by Ava Peng , Iris Wei (Class of 2029)
Photos by Alysha Seng (Class of 2028), Emily Tan (Class of 2026)
Video by Emily Tan (Class of 2026)

On Tuesday, January 27th, we held the IGDVS annual Poetry Out Loud event in Wonderful Words Hall on campus. As a part of the National Arts Education Association, this national competition encourages high school students across the country to get familiar with poetry through memorization and recitation.

Seated behind the competitors, we listened attentively as the class representatives presented their poems in two rounds. Some junior high students who had interest also joined us before the first round, showcasing the efforts of their hard work. Each poem varied by genre and length, and each featured a unique theme. The students had chosen their poems several weeks before the competition according to their individual interest, and everyone tried their best to present their poem with emotion and according to their own understanding of the poems.

In the final competition, the students displayed the results of their hard work through strong, spirited voices. It’s amazing to see how these few lines of words can really impact the participants and audiences. Finally, let’s congratulate Jerry Seng, Ali Wang, Ethan To, Iris Wei, Selene Luong for making it to the top five, with Ethan To and Ali Wang moving on to represent us in the Mendocino County competition.

We also have special appreciation for the competition judges, Mr. Blake and William Shi for reciting as our special guest, boy school seniors as the MCs, and our lovely photographers that help us save the memories in photos. We are grateful for your time and contribution. The event has created an enriching experience for all of us!