Ashley Gong - National Student Poet

The video features a high school student from Connecticut who shares their experience as a National Student Poet. They discuss the National Student Poets Program, which selects five high school students annually to serve as literary ambassadors. The speaker recounts their unexpected journey into poetry, initially being an avid prose reader. They highlight the transformative power of poetry in connecting people and fostering empathy. The video concludes with a recitation of the poem 'The Fifth Series of Red', exploring themes of boyhood and nature.

What is the main goal of the National Student Poets Program?

• To promote prose writing among students

• To select students for national sports teams

• To organize art exhibitions in schools

• To spread poetry as a means of creative expression

How did the speaker initially feel about poetry?

• They were always passionate about it

• They were indifferent to it

• They disliked it

• They were initially more interested in prose

What realization did the speaker have through their experiences with poetry?

• Poetry is only for personal enjoyment

• Poetry can forge connections between people

• Poetry is less impactful than prose

• Poetry is difficult to understand

What does the speaker believe makes poetry valuable to society?

• Its historical significance

• Its ability to entertain

• Its role in academic settings

• Its power to foster empathy and understanding

What is a key theme explored in the poem 'The Fifth Series of Red'?

• The simplicity of rural life

• The innocence of childhood

• The beauty of nature

• The complex relationship between father and son

What does the speaker describe as a 'boyhood of rituals' in their poem?

• Participating in school events

• Building a throne in a jungle gym

• Learning to play sports

• Reading books in a library

What imagery is used to describe the sky in the poem?

• Covered with stars

• Bright and sunny

• Smeared with mascara

• Clear and blue