“I wasn’t expecting to make it as far as I did,” said junior Clara Nunes who recently represented Barnstable at the state finals for the Poetry Out Loud competition. Nunes was the first Barnstable student to make it past the semi-finals in over 10 years.
After winning both the schoolwide and semi-final competitions, Nunes went on to compete against the other 11 state finalists in Boston on March 8. She read two poems, “Thoughts” by Myra Viola Wilds, and “Why We Oppose Pockets for Women” by Alice Duer Miller. “I wanted to pick poems that spoke to me, and I knew I could bring to life on stage,” said Nunes.
Outside of academics, Nunes is also a member of the Drama club and has been in several local shows. “It felt really good being able to represent the school while doing what I love, which is being on stage and getting to use my voice to convey a message,” said Nunes. “I love the artistic aspect of it all.”
Prior to the competition, she was featured in an interview on CBS’ WBZ channel alongside one other competitor. “I was able to get an experience so different from anything I’ve ever been a part of before,” Nunes remarked. “Being able to take something I’m so passionate about and talk about it with professionals… was such an inspiring experience.”
“We have not had someone qualify for the state round for over 10 years,” said English teacher Brooke Styche, who runs the schoolwide qualifier alongside fellow English teacher Maureen Leveroni. “It was awesome to be back at the Old South Meeting House, and have Clara represent us so well, and let us be a part of it at that state level again.”
Despite not advancing to nationals, she’s grateful for all the different people she got to connect with throughout the process. “It was such a welcoming community, and I’m so grateful for how it brought so many people in my life together and allowed me to meet some really talented new ones,” said Nunes.
“Getting to give a voice to such wonderful poets and hear others do the same was so inspiring for me,” said Nunes. “I’m so thankful to have been given the opportunity to combine my passions in such a beautiful way, and to have gotten to do it with such wonderful people.”
