Reflection about the Literary Contest by Patria Aponte.

Last Wednesday, April 22, 2015, I came to the 48th Annual Literary Contest celebrated in the Amphitheater #3 of General Studies building in University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. The contest was presented by the English Department, since 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to honoring the life and work of Mark Wekander and recognize the students who won the contest. Prof. Eva Edwards welcomed us and talked a little about Mark Wekander's writing and the importance of writing to express feelings and ideas.

Later, Mr. Rivera states the question “What is poetry?” and read the dictionary definition of it: “Poetry is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, the prosaic ostensible meaning.” He said something very important about the writing of most of us, college students. “We don't write because we want to, we write because we must”, he said. I was thinking about it, and he was right. We never want to write, we write because we MUST to, for a class or something compulsory. This is a huge problem, we have to promote writing and stop thinking about it as a assignment, but as a benefit. 

Prof. Cynthia Pittman talked about the life and poetry of Mark Wekander. He born in Nebraska and died here, in Puerto Rico. As a professor of University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, he was leading a “Boricua writing project” in the university. He published two novels, including his famous one “Bugs Have Us Surround”, and many poems. His poetry contains four important aspects:

1. Here and there, based on physical and geographical concepts.

2. Animals in our life, because he was an animal lover and believe in the communication with animals to reveal the truth.

3. By ways and highways, based in mass media and popular culture.

4. Photography.  

Two of his poems, In Search of Here” and “Driving On” are examples of Here and There concept.

The award was given to the winners and one of them, a girl, read her essay to us. She wrote about some of the questions teenagers always do to themselves, "Who am I?", “Where I belong?”, “What am I supposed to do?”. Her essay was critic; she wants to be lawyer but she criticizes justice system and the cost of studies in law school. By seeing student's works like this one, we learn about how writing can lead us to present our works to others, and also win prizes and awards. Writing is powerful!