As schools prepare for winter break, many clubs host their final meetings and events before the new year. Many OMM clubs use this time to remind students to practice self-care and encourage them to participate in creative and mindful activities. This December, McKinley Minds Matter (MX3) at McKinley Technology High School in Washington, D.C., collaborated with their school’s Poetry Club to host the first Poetry Slam open mic of the school year.  

During lunch on Wednesday, December 11, students gathered in McKinley Tech’s library. Under the theme “M

ental Health Matters,” students clapped as their peers took the stage. Performers delivered original poems as well as 

pieces from their favorite poets. After each performance, snaps were welcomed. When a performer said something particularly powerful, the audience could snap or throw a pencil on the ground toward the stage.

Student works discussed different parts of their lives, including struggles with anxiety and depression, grief and loss, insecurities, relationships, and creative passions. Some classic works performed included “Dream Keeper” by Langston Hughes and excerpts from Maya Angelou. McKinley Tech’s Jazz Band also provided a musical intermission and hot chocolate and tea were served as refreshments.

Student poets said the open mic allowed them to work on their writing skills. They added that poetry has become an outlet to better express themselves and their experiences.

Later, a few performers offered words of encouragement to peers who may be facing mental health struggles. A student who wrote about his journey with anxiety and depression said the first step is to be honest with yourself and to identify when you are having a hard time. The next step is knowing when to reach out for help and that it is okay to do so. Another student who wrote about loss added that it may be difficult to talk openly about hardships at first. However, he said that people can take small steps. A person can find a safe starting point and speak about their experiences at their own pace.

The poetry slam happens annually and the poetry club will have at least two more open mics this school year. By practicing creative expression through writing, music, and other art forms, students develop a healthy coping mechanism. Additionally, creating a regular space and time to share and hear others’ experiences can build social connections and improve school culture.

Many thanks to McKinley Minds Matter (@techmindsmatter on Instagram!) and McKinley’s Poetry Club for creating a safe space for students to express themselves and remember that their struggles don’t define them.💙 We look forward to seeing what the spring semester brings for McKinley Tech students!🌷

A special thank you for supporting Our Minds Matter in DC Public Schools goes to the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, if: a Foundation for Radical Possibility, Risa Fund — and our network of individual donors and mental health champions like you.😊