Statement of Intent
Around the country, tis the season for pre-finals mission statements. Since semi-finals are harder than finals in Berkeley anyway, I'll give you my pre-semis mission statement.
Every year, I look inward to find why I really do this. Every year, around this time, I develop a mantra or a reason to do my very best and get on the team. This year, reasons for any reason are harder to come by; my primary emotion this year has been fear, and that's been manifested as panic, self-doubt, worry, and rage. It would seem that, with all the hungry rookies clawing at the door, it would be pretty hard to build up my confidence enough to compete.
Let me tell you why I will be on this team:
Because slam is the one thing in my world I've been succeeding at lately, and I'll be damned if I let anyone take it away from me. The further I feel I've fallen, the more I look at poetry as my redemption. It gives meaning to my life. Frankly, I pity anyone who comes between me and that team.
Because I'm hellbent on getting on a team with Laura and Jason. Anyone else can take that fourth spot, if you work for it. Best of luck to you.
Because I believe that what I say matters, and that I am saying things that no one else is saying. I believe that nature poetry and introspection have a place in spoken word, and am out to prove it. I believe I speak for people and things that would not be heard by this audience any other way.
Because I've slammed more than anyone else this year in Berkeley. Because I host in Berkeley, work for Berkeley, poster and flyer for Berkeley. I have thrown more at this than was wise, perhaps, and I must justify it.
Because I've got deeper pockets than anyone else in that slam (off-paper at least), have got three National teams under my belt, and can play anyone's game.
Because I'm one of the hardest workers on any Berkeley team, and live for the work. And I work because I feel like I owe it to the team after a year of what Berkeley has given me. This is my yearly responsibility, my chance to give back, and it's hard to contemplate being denied it.
Because I beat the Berkeley Curse last year, and I'm points leader again this year, and I have to get on the team or else everyone will think it was a fluke and go back to their ridiculous superstition.
Because I'm not hungry. I'm satiated. I've made this my territory, and I'm dependent on it. Hunger is a powerful force, but not so powerful as defending your home, defending what you thrive on. I'm not afraid of the hungry newbies. The hungrier you come, the harder you starve.
Every year, I look inward to find why I really do this. Every year, around this time, I develop a mantra or a reason to do my very best and get on the team. This year, reasons for any reason are harder to come by; my primary emotion this year has been fear, and that's been manifested as panic, self-doubt, worry, and rage. It would seem that, with all the hungry rookies clawing at the door, it would be pretty hard to build up my confidence enough to compete.
Let me tell you why I will be on this team:
Because slam is the one thing in my world I've been succeeding at lately, and I'll be damned if I let anyone take it away from me. The further I feel I've fallen, the more I look at poetry as my redemption. It gives meaning to my life. Frankly, I pity anyone who comes between me and that team.
Because I'm hellbent on getting on a team with Laura and Jason. Anyone else can take that fourth spot, if you work for it. Best of luck to you.
Because I believe that what I say matters, and that I am saying things that no one else is saying. I believe that nature poetry and introspection have a place in spoken word, and am out to prove it. I believe I speak for people and things that would not be heard by this audience any other way.
Because I've slammed more than anyone else this year in Berkeley. Because I host in Berkeley, work for Berkeley, poster and flyer for Berkeley. I have thrown more at this than was wise, perhaps, and I must justify it.
Because I've got deeper pockets than anyone else in that slam (off-paper at least), have got three National teams under my belt, and can play anyone's game.
Because I'm one of the hardest workers on any Berkeley team, and live for the work. And I work because I feel like I owe it to the team after a year of what Berkeley has given me. This is my yearly responsibility, my chance to give back, and it's hard to contemplate being denied it.
Because I beat the Berkeley Curse last year, and I'm points leader again this year, and I have to get on the team or else everyone will think it was a fluke and go back to their ridiculous superstition.
Because I'm not hungry. I'm satiated. I've made this my territory, and I'm dependent on it. Hunger is a powerful force, but not so powerful as defending your home, defending what you thrive on. I'm not afraid of the hungry newbies. The hungrier you come, the harder you starve.