Open mic

I began Open Mic to give all students, even ones who are not necessarily in Fine Arts programs, an opportunity to express themselves and share their creativity with their peers. Our first Open Mic event was in October 2015, and I host the event every third Wednesday of every month. Students share poetry, original or borrowed, music, and ideas. It is inspiring to see students evolve from merely attending to sharing their favorite poem to sharing an original poem, or to see students who have never played an instrument or sung in front of an audience to find the courage to perform for their peers. I am constantly impressed by, not only the daring of our performers, but by the decorum and support of the audience. Open Mic has always been a safe place for our students to express themselves, and the student-audience has only ever reacted with support and encouragement. Open Mic has provided our students with a vital outlet for their artistic expression outside of the restraints of classroom curriculum, and the fact that we have always had strong attendance proves that we our filling a void for some or our teens. The event has also given us a chance to build a sense of community, with classroom teachers also promoting Open Mic and some offering extra credit to students who attend or participate. The sharing of ideas, poetry, and music allows our students to examine alternate viewpoints, interpret meanings, and ultimately learn about themselves in the process. Open Mic provides our students with a kind of education and appreciation of the arts that they may not necessarily be exposed to within the classroom.