Helen Ramirez / Roundup
Poets, musicians, actors and dancers came together for an Open Mic. event hosted by Pierce College’s Direction literary magazine in the Great Hall on Nov.9.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the literary magazine, noted the literary magazine Director and English professor, Maria Bates.
Most of the students at the event recited their poetry connecting their personalities and interests through their written words.
Wearing his long black coat, 25- year old English major, Michael Ray Menjivar recited poems about love and social issues. He stood out amongst the other students with his long dark hair and his romantically alluring words.
“We all experience hurt, love, joy…its human nature to be able to express these feelings,” Menjivar said. “Poetry shows that we’re all alike.”
For Menjivar, events like these allow him to express himself and share his love for poetry.
“I find poetry very healing,” Menjivar said. “I thinl we need more arts in general…Arts are outlets to heal and not hurt others,” Menjivar added.
Menjivar felt that this Open Mic. event was a new experience to have inside of school.
The Direction literary magazine consists of 25 students that meet every Mon. for about three hours.
17-year old, psychology major, Alida Mcdee-Thomas has been on the Direction literary magazine for two years and has helped host the last two Open
Mic. events.
“It’s fun. You get to meet people. It’s outgoing,” Mcdee-Thomas said. “You get to express yourself.”
Alvin Ogalino, 18, took the stage of the Open Mic. to dance. Ogalino heard about the event that same day from his friend, Kamille De Leon, 18.
Retelling why he attended the event Ogalino said, “My friend, Kamille, called me up and said ‘Hey Alvin, you got to show them your moves.'” So he came to
the event and improvised his dance moves.
Ogalino received cheers from audience as he made his body move in a wave effect from one side of his body to the other. His movements flowed quickly appearing robotic.
“This is my passion,” Ogalino said “I want to actually perform for larger groups.”
Ogalino felt this event was worth his time even if it was a last minute decision because he was able to share his express his love for dance to others.
Jeff Jeong, 20 year old graphic design major improvised his poetry. He began to talk about budget cuts and how they are annoying him.
“It’s been tough here money wise,” Jeong said.
Budgets were the first thing that Jeong thought about and he rhymed also explaining how he was getting extra credit for his English class for getting on stage.
“I enjoyed open mic because of the poetry, the spoken word. It’s interesting to see what people see and what they feel,” Jeong said.
Music was what brought Nate Deeze, 26, to the Open Mic event. Describing his love for music Deeze said, “There’s something about a beat that goes down my spine that I just don’t know what to do with myself.”
Deeze sitting in the far right corner of the Great Hall had a laptop playing the music he has created. He came to the event to share his music and listen
to poetry.
“I like hearing what people have to say,” Deeze said. “I just love music and it’s basically the same thing.”
Communications major, Robert Williamson, 19, is part of the Direction literary magazine and was the host of the event. He handed the microphone over to about 30 student performers until the microphone stopped working, but the event did not stop there.
Reflecting on his participation in the Direction literary magazine and Open Mic events, Williamson said, “This is way of expressing myself, expanding my horizon, going beyond just my major.”
Williamson added, “This event was successful, as long as it brought students of Pierce to see what talent there is on campus.”
The Direction literary magazine comes out annually every Sept. on the first week of school.
Maria Bates has been director for the literary magazine for the past three Open Mic. events. Bates felt that the event has successful in bring students on a
Mon. afternoon.
“For the students, who it was their first time, they were anxious and it was a good opportunity for them to get up publicly and show their work,” Bates said. “We get really passionate people. It’s nice to hear all the different expressions,” Bates added. “I’m always blown away by the students’ expression that I don’t get to see in my class.”
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