Reuben Chavira
The Paw Print
Passion. Over. Every. Thing. – The theme is catching fire. Last Sunday night, the vibe was strong, as many attended the P.O.E.T. Club’s second open mic night. The room felt alive with energy, creating a humidity-like climate of compassion and support that could be felt by those who were there. The diversity of those who attended was unexpected, to say the least, but created a culture of collaboration that sparked many to go up and read, who had initially intended only to sit quietly.
The freestyles were flowing as fluidly as the friendships that were formed. It felt like the most normal thing in the world, the free verse poetry and the fellowship, as the open mic transformed the Student Life Center into a place for synergy to blossom. There were many familiar faces in attendance, many who had seen each other on campus at some point in their college careers, yet never had they taken the time to listen one another the way that they did at the open mic. The irony was that there wasn’t a microphone, yet it was as effective as those rappers who performed without a beat. The acapella ambience, combined with the comfort of couches, made everyone feel as if they were in their own living room, watching live performances from the privacy of their homes.
The experience of the open mic, though outwardly social, is a private experience. Everyone internalizes the experience differently, forming connections of significance based off of their own past memories, their passions, and personal interests. Some go for the poetry and music, others for the people. All of them though left with feelings that few previous experiences had ever produced within them. It can’t be overly stated how diverse were the backgrounds of those who filled the open mic space with their energy. From guitarists to singers, athletes to introverts, a wide spectrum of personalities were present for a night that became much more than the sum of its parts.
Passion. Over. Every. Thing. – There clearly were obvious differences between those in attendance, but passion dominated the social constructs of separation. It was less about individual opinions and preferences and more about demonstrating compassion and support for each other as students of Adams State University. This has been the mission of the P.O.E.T. Club since their birth. Since the P.O.E.T. Club President arrived on campus from Los Angeles, new to Colorado and the beauty of the San Luis Valley, a vision for the empowering impact of poetry and compassion was always the dream being followed.
The P.O.E.T. Club, from its members to its supporters, is more of a family than a club. The open mic nights are family nights more than they are activities or events. There are no ulterior motives, no hidden ambitions being chased after.
Passion. That’s all. Passion. A passion for poetry and a passion for uniting the Adams State student body into a collaborative force of synergy and creativity intent on providing experiences that are hard to come by. It’s a simple formula that the P.O.E.T. Club is guided by – Passion. Over. Every. Thing.
What’s Been Said…