Northwestern University English professor, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and two-time U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey sits in the Clarke Central High School Media Center while talking to students about her book “Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir,” on April 21. The event, which was organized by the iliad Literary-Art Magazine adviser and CCHS English department co-chair David Ragsdale in collaboration with the University of Georgia Willson Center for Humanities and Rights, allowed Trethewey to come to CCHS to engage in a moderated discussion led by iliad Literary-Art Magazine Co-Editor-In-Chief Luna Reichert and iliad Outreach Director Salai Diekumpuna. “In order to continue to inspire the creative works of the CCHS community and, further, to provide ELA students with direct contact with a poet, I proposed hosting this year’s Delta Chair: Natasha Trethewey at CCHS,” Ragsdale said. “I’m grateful Dr. Swade Huff, our principal, believes in enrichment events and approved the proposal.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
Professor and award-winning poet Natasha Trethewey visited CCHS on April 21 to answer questions about her experiences in literature.
On April 21, Clarke Central High School students from all grade levels gathered in the CCHS Media Center to attend a moderated discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, two time US Poet Laureate and Northwestern University English professor Natasha Trethewey.
The event was organized by English department co-chair and iliad Literary-Art Magazine adviser David Ragsdale, in partnership with the University of Georgia’s Willson Center for Humanities and Arts.
“In order to continue to inspire the creative works of the CCHS community and, further, to provide ELA students with direct contact with a poet, I proposed hosting this year’s Willson Center Delta Chair: Natasha Trethewey at CCHS,” Ragsdale said. “We’ve been fortunate to offer our students celebrations of this nature as we’ve worked with the Willson Center for years.”
At the session, Trethewey answered prepared questions on a variety of topics from iliad Outreach Direct Salai Diekumpuna and iliad Co-Editor-In-Chief Luna Reichert, as well as from students attending.
“I just kind of hope that (students learned that) it’s important to be you and that you can overcome really any situation and to see the importance of language and how all of that can help you and how things that we see as so small in high school can be so much bigger,” Deikumpuna said.
iliad Literary-Art Magazine Outreach Director Salai Deikumpuna (left) and iliad Co-Editor-in-Chief Luna Reichert (right) introduce guest speaker Natasha Trethewey to audience members in the CCHS Media Center on April 21. For Diekumpuna, the event was a success. “I’m extremely happy with (how it went) because prior to the event, I really did not know how to feel,” Diekumpuna said. “(But talking with her), she just looks so strong and brave. Everything that she had to say lived up to everything that I’ve learned about her. Everyone was telling me she is very important, and at that moment, I feel like it really registered with me.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
For senior Maggie Kelleher, having the opportunity to learn about Trethewey’s past and her personal inspiration for writing was a rewarding experience.
“I really enjoyed the event. I could see how (Trethewey) was getting so much more comfortable with talking to the audience as time went (on),” Kelleher said. “I feel like her emotions connected with everyone else in the room, (too). When she got sad or started to talk about the sad part of her life, everyone else felt it. I was very moved by her entire story.”
“I really enjoyed the event. I could see how (Trethewey) was getting so much more comfortable with talking to the audience as time went (on). I feel like her emotions connected with everyone else in the room, (too). When she got sad or started to talk about the sad part of her life, everyone else felt it. I was very moved by her entire story.”
— Maggie Kelleher,
senior
From answering questions to speaking with student attendees, Trethewey is glad that she had the opportunity to speak about the power of writing and how she has watched it transform lives, including hers.
“I never got this kind of experience when I was in high school, and I think I would have loved it. I think it would have encouraged me more to try to write and to become a writer,” Trethewey said. “I think that if I can do that for someone else out there, that (would) feel good.”
Due to the success of the event, iliad members hope to continue hosting cultural celebrations for students at CCHS.
“In terms of the iliad, this definitely solidified for me how important these kinds of events are,” iliad Co-Editor-In-Chief Kaija Gilbertson-Hall, a junior, said. “I definitely want to be able to do events like this in the future, because I think everyone got so much out of it. Possibly having more authors or artists coming (and) hosting them here would be a goal of mine.”
