Three Southern Arizona high school students took the stage at the University of Arizona Poetry Center earlier this month to compete in the Poetry Out Loud state finals, a recitation contest that brings together the country's top young poetry performers.

Poetry Out Loud is a national competition for high school students that begins in classrooms and culminates in Washington, D.C., at the National Finals. Drawing upon elements of spoken word, theater and slam poetry, Poetry Out Loud aims to cultivate an appreciation of poetry that goes beyond the page.

In Arizona, students compete at the classroom, regional and state levels.

Representing the southern region during the March 7 finals were Sahuarita High School's Mikayla Paredes, Salpointe Catholic High School's Lia McCovey and Aymar Ramos from Flowing Wells High School, who competed against six other students from the central and northern parts of the state.

Students memorize and recite poems as part of the competition, with Ramos, who is originally from Nicaragua, placing fourth.

"I actually had experience with poetry, but what drew me here was how my teachers influenced how I viewed poetry, and how they influenced me to get involved," Ramos told Tucson Spotlight. "I really appreciate the feeling of love, loving each other, not just romantically, but like … family and friends."

Ramos, who began writing her own poems about two months ago, is planning to study chemical engineering after high school.

"(Because) I'm not from here, I've learned a lot from the city and from poetry, and a lot of that has impacted my life," she said.

Paredes is a bit more seasoned when it comes to writing poetry.

"I've been writing since I was in fifth grade," Paredes said. "I used to go to the library a lot when I was younger, because we didn't have a lot of money, and I would just grab books off the shelves and usually leave with the poetry ones. They made me feel like I was heard."

She focuses her work on themes of grief and relationship trauma.

"I want people to feel what I feel, especially if they can relate to it," she said.

And while Paredes originally wanted to be a writer, she's now leaning toward a career in healthcare.

"I always thought about publishing a poetry book," she said. "I would (write) as a side job if I ever quit."

Liam McLaughlin, from Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, took first place and will compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals on April 28.

Champions from each state will perform in one of three semifinal groups, with the top three students from each group advancing to the national finals on April 29.

Ruby Maldonado is a Pima Community College student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at rhmaldonado99@gmail.com.

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