Besides the obvious, which is read and write poetry, our main goal is to have fun!

This year we have a lot of exciting plans which include: Youth Zine Fest, Week of Consciousness, Speak Out & Open Mic Evening

We are also hoping to do more club collaboration with other creative and performing arts clubs and host a "Festival of Arts."

When I was your age, I wasn't either...

In fact, it was your principal, Dr. Larkin, who even got me interested in literature. She started the African-American Literature class, which I had the privilege to take my junior year.

She handed me books such as "The Narrative of Frederick Douglass," "The Color Purple," "The Bluest Eye," and many more.

I found that some of my favorite poets were black. I adored the jazz and blues of Langston Hughes, and furthermore, that of his mentee, Gwendolyn Brooks.

These poems felt easy and inviting, and not like the ones I had to work to analyze in English classes.

On the other hand, I was obsessed with music. I loved hip hop and reggaeton, two genres that heavily emphasize rhythm and rhyme.

No matter where your influences come from, poetry is everywhere, and poetry is what you make of it.

My goal for all my poetry club members this year is to get published.

I will keep a more comprehensive list as the year goes on, but for now, I want everyone to prepare a poem to submit to the San Diego Poetry Annual's Youth Anthology.