For Briarwood student Channing, spoken word poetry is more than performance. It’s honesty, healing, and connection.
This spring, Channing earned first place at the Alley Theatre’s citywide Teen Grand Slam Poetry Competition, standing out among more than 20 student competitors from schools across Houston. Only six students advanced to the final round.
Students were selected to represent their schools after participating in an in-class slam poetry unit led by an Alley Theatre teaching artist. At Briarwood, students first competed within their Language 11 classes before finalists were chosen to advance to the citywide event.
At the heart of Channing’s winning poem was a powerful message: kindness should never be mistaken for weakness.
“I see kindness as a strength because it does not damage, it heals,” she shared.
Drawing from personal experiences, Channing wrote the poem as both a reflection and a reminder to her younger self, someone who once struggled to feel heard while learning how to stand up for herself.
“This poem is a reflection of self-respect and validation for the younger me who didn’t understand that yet,” she said.
Her words embody Briarwood’s pillar of Transformation Through Confidence. Through poetry, Channing found not only her voice, but the confidence to share deeply personal experiences in a way that could help others feel seen too.
When her name was announced as the winner, the moment felt surreal.
“I could feel the tears sliding into my eyes out of shock and disbelief,” she said. “I really put all of the pain and emotion that I’d kept to myself into my poems, and the fact that my personal experiences were appreciated enough for me to win first place made me feel seen.”
She credits the encouragement of her teachers, school community, and family for supporting her throughout the journey.
Spoken word, she says, creates space for both vulnerability and connection.
“You can channel all of the emotions, thoughts, and experiences that you have trouble expressing openly into your performance,” she explained. “You can make others feel seen through what you create and perform.”
That ability to create understanding through storytelling reflects Briarwood’s pillar of Community Through Connection: using authentic expression to help others feel less alone.
For students who may be hesitant to share their own voice, Channing offers this advice:
“It’s worth it. You will find comfort and pride within yourself… and those who hear you will realize they were never the only one who felt the way you felt.”
Through courage, creativity, and compassion, Channing reminded both the audience and the Briarwood community of the power words can hold.
