National English Honor Society (NEHS) was proud to learn of the national recognition Maya Eashwaran, a member of the Milton High School Chapter, received. Her blog details her wonderful accomplishment of being named a 2016 National Student Poet:
My name is Maya Eashwaran, and I am the 2016 National Student Poet for the Southeast! I am a senior at Milton High School in Milton, GA, and a member of my school’s chapter of NEHS.
The National Student Poets program is the nation’s highest honor for youth poets presenting original work and is presented by three sponsors: the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. As a 2016 National Student Poet, I have been honored with so many amazing opportunities, like meeting First Lady Michelle Obama, traveling to the Dodge Poetry Festival, and speaking at the National Writing Project plenary in Atlanta. I also have the honor of working with four other National Student Poet recipients from around the country and am constantly inspired by their work and their dedication to the arts.
Poetry, to me, is the most expressive and alive form of art. It provides me with the tools to speak freely about my heritage and my beliefs and gives me a platform for artistic expression. It allows me to construct worlds out of words and has taught me so much about the place of art and writing in society.
As a National Student Poet, I have the amazing opportunity to construct and implement a service project focusing on engaging new communities with poetry in my region. I’m so excited to reach out and spread my love of poetry with my community!
Please visit the National Student Poets program website to learn more. I highly recommend the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards to any high school student interested in the visual and literary arts! Applications for the 2018 Scholastic Awards will open in September.
Maya Eashwaran
2016 National Student Poet—Southeast
Milton High School Chapter
Milton High School, Milton, GA
