MUNJULURI WINS STATE POETRY READING CONTEST

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Coming in first place in the Indiana State Poetry Contest, junior Sreepada Munjuluri won through her interpretation of three poems she hand-picked. Munjuluri went through two rounds in order to compete in the finals, and she was extremely thrilled with herself when she got the results.

“I was so surprised and so happy,” Munjuluri said. “Before I got the results, I hadn’t been able to see any of the other students’ performances until the finals. Each and every one of them did phenomenal, and it felt like there was a winner in each student, so finding out I won was just amazing.”

Munjuluri’s love for poems and hunger to learn more stemmed from a young age, starting with her home life and early schooling.

“My mom has been big on reading and literature ever since I was a kid, and that was the main way I learned about poetry,” Munjuluri said. “It taught me how to speak English, which is a second language to me, so through reading lots of books and poetry I developed a love for the subject.”

AP Literature and Composition teacher Kelley Culp teaches her students poetry in order to allow them to see the deeper meaning of the works, similar to how Munjuluri analyzes poems in order to emotionally connect with the work she recites.

“I want to help students find poetry that they really like,” Culp said. “Once they do that, they are able to better understand what is happening in a poem. From there, it is much easier to explain the deeper meaning of a poem. Unlocking that process leads to a better understanding of poetry.”

Munjuluri is going to continue her study and understanding of poetry, and she encourages others to find that passion as well.

“People need to first discover if they’re interested in the creative or the interpretive part of the process,” Munjuluri said. “There’s so many opportunities for both, no matter what you like. I think it becomes a true interpretation once you find what resonates with you, so find what you’re passionate about and make poems about that so you can express your true identity.”