Annika Poshkus, an eighth-grade student in Rhonda Marro’s “Express Yourself” Pathways class last semester at Park View Middle School, recently got word that she is ranked among the top 10 winners nationwide in a writing contest sponsored by the organization Creative Communication.
“I often will have kid post their work to the site, and if you have over five kids win they will send you an anthology,” Marro said. “Annika is in the top 10 from all over the nation, and I’ve never had that before.”
Pathways classes enroll students at all levels – sixth, seventh and eighth grade – so Marro’s class contained students outside of her normal team. Poshkus was not one of Marro’s students other than in the Pathways class.
According to Poshkus, the poem she wrote was one of three projects completed during the semester-long class that also included creative art and technology. The theme for the poem was Americanism, and the students could choose to write an essay, prose or a poem.
“I wrote about how our core American values bring us a sense of togetherness,” Poshkus said. “As neighbors, you’re a community no matter where you come from.”
Marro thought the poem Poshkus wrote had potential and asked if she could submit it. Poshkus agreed.
“Ms. Marro saw something in my poem that I did not,” Poshkus said. “I did not think it was really worth anything and I never would have submitted it on my own.”
When Poshkus received the letter stating that she not only won but was in the top 10 nationwide, she was surprised.
“I got a letter, a $25 check and a complimentary copy of the book,” she said.
Although Poshkus won with her poetry, she stated that it’s not usually a strength of hers.
“I’m good at informational writing, but not as much with poetry usually,” she said.
The “Express Yourself” Pathways class is just one of many Pathways class options offered to students this year at all of the middle schools in Cranston, giving the students an opportunity to explore new or current interests.