Last week, senior Fern Biswas was named a finalist in the search for the Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate. Students in this competition have been judged on their skill with poetry and spoken word, as well as their demonstration of leadership and commitment to social justice causes and advocacy. “All finalists for the Youth Poet Laureate competition are provided with opportunities to share their poetry in their communities and beyond, and can compete for regional, statewide and national recognition,” said Lisa Harris, library manager at the Alameda County Library.

“I hope to help cultivate a love for artistry and writing among others in my community,” Biswas said. “While there are many students with a passion for creative writing, there is often stress associated with such a skill, and I aspire to demonstrate that writing can be just as freeing and authentic as it is competitive.”