On March 15th, Kavita Oza, a junior from Peddie School in Hightstown, became the 2013 New Jersey Poetry Out Loud State Champion. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I was particularly struck by her commanding recitation of John Donne’s “The Sun Rising,” which is a linguistic, intellectual and emotional labyrinth.
On April 28-30th, she’ll be competing in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington DC and we’ll be cheering her on in NJ!
–Teresa Carson, CavanKerry Associate Publisher
TERESA CARSON
How and why did you get involved with Poetry Out Loud (POL)?
KAVITA OZA
At first, I hated poetry. My father always use to tease me about the fact, even though ‘Kavita’ means poetry, I hated it. When I was in the 9th grade at Jamestown High School, my English teacher (who is basically my second mother), Mrs. Price, kind of forced this competition on us. I was too lazy to go through the long list of poems, so I just chose the one we were studying in class: “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost. That was the first poem I actually liked. I never understood the concept of hiding the true meaning of feelings behind weird metaphors and words but this poem was funny and amusing, so I thought: “Why not?” It turns out that my class was pretty happy with my recitation of the poem, and so was the school. At Regionals, I was really shocked when I won first. Although I didn’t make it to Nationals, I think Poetry Out Loud just became an extracurricular activity, like a seasonal sport after that first time.
TERESA CARSON
If I recall correctly, this is the third year that you’ve participated in POL. How has the experience changed for you? How has your performance changed?
KAVITA OZA
This is the third year I’ve participated in POL! I honestly can’t believe I’ve been doing this for so long! Remember how I wrote that I didn’t understand the weird metaphors? Well, now I do, and I appreciate the beauty behind those words. I love reading/saying poetry because I think all poets have beautiful ways of saying things. I love poetry because I sounds pretty- and it’s also like a riddle. There are just so many ways you can interpret a poem. And with that understanding slowly building, I became much more confident and mature saying poetry. I felt like, this year, I was living within my poems.
TERESA CARSON
What were the highlights of your 2013 POL experience in your school, at the regional competition and at the state finals?
KAVITA OZA
POL 2013 was hard. Because of my transition into Peddie, as a new junior I had zero power over convincing people to try this out. I was filling out the registration form the last minute it was due. People were interested- a lot of people, in fact, but because it was so last minute and unorganized, people backed out, and only a handful of us remained for the school competition. At Regionals, it was hard for me to even get there. My amazing parents tried to drive the 8-hour trip from Buffalo, NY to Hightstown. Fortunately, a family friend was able to make it for me. I didn’t think I was going to win. My competitors were all so amazing and there poems were so beautiful. I won second and I was speechless. States was like a dream. I look back now and I keep thinking: “I carry that title?” POL New Jersey State Champion isn’t exactly something you hear every day. I think because I kept coming in short in the past, I thought: “There is no way I’m winning this.” I think the two best moments in States was when we were all introduced out on stage. As I looked for my only supporter, my mother, I also saw my teacher, Mr. Mixon, who had e-mailed me earlier telling me he couldn’t make it. I think that gave me a little boost. The other part was just getting to know the other competitors. They were all truly amazing. Cameron, the second place winner, is such an amazing guy and his story is pretty great. Julia, the first place regional winner from my region, is so friendly and I loved her style… I could go on and on…
TERESA CARSON
As I wrote on the CavanKerry Press blog, your performance of the labyrinthine “The Sun Rising,” by John Donne, opened new possibilities of meaning for me. How and why did you choose it as one of your poems?
KAVITA OZA
“The Sun Rising” spoke to me in ways I didn’t understand at first. I normally consider myself a pretty stale individual when it comes to cliché love stories and love in general. It goes without saying that ‘The Sun Rising” should have been the last poem I would have chosen. But, is it really? I didn’t think the story was cliché at all. I thought it was very “cute” how this man was practically yelling at the poor sun for disturbing them and then saying, “No, stay here because we are the world.” That’s priceless. Comparing your love to the world has to be pretty huge.
TERESA CARSON
Such a look of surprise covered your face when you were named the winner; what was going through your head?
KAVITA OZA
If you look closely, I look down momentarily down at my fingers. I was thinking: “It’s okay… You did your best and mom-” And then I won. I was pretty shocked. I thought my reaction was a lot bigger than that, but I’m glad I contained myself. I was just so happy. In that moment, I felt like all the hours and stressful nights were paid off. It was great. I’d relive that moment any day of my life.
TERESA CARSON
What are you doing to prepare for the POL National Finals in Washington (April 28-30)?
KAVITA OZA
For Nationals, I’m really trying to make the poems really stem from within me, like they are a part of me. As much as I tried at States, I feel like I was too fidgety. I’m trying to be more graceful and confident.
TERESA CARSON
How do you imagine poetry will be a part of your life going forward?
KAVITA OZA
What’s really funny: right before I got back to my room, I was walking from the Arts Center across Kerr Field. Spring is almost here, and along with it, I can feel the similar smell of it. As I was walking, I started saying poetry and it made that moment, that nostalgic feeling, so much more powerful. I think poetry has made me realize how much one can truly appreciate art and the variations between painting, reading, poetry… I think I will leave the world having lived a much fuller life because I can understand hidden beauty.
TERESA CARSON
What advice would you offer to students who might want to get involved in Poetry Out Loud?
KAVITA OZA
If you are a performer, you will not have an advantage in the POL competition. If you love poetry, you, also, will not have an advantage in the competition. However, if you find yourself connecting with words and art more often than less, I think you will have a lot of fun with poetry, in general. I became a performer and a lover of poetry a year AFTER Poetry Out Loud came into my life. You just have to be passionate. That’s all that matters in anything you do.
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