Alexa Schwartz ’24 Chosen for this Spring’s Connecticut Poetry Circuit Student Tour
Alexa Schwartz ’24 can now add Connecticut Poetry Circuit Poet to her resume. She is one of five Connecticut student poets who were selected to tour this spring and read their poetry at universities and other venues throughout the state. Alexa says she was inspired to enter the poetry contest because she was drawn to the prospect sharing her poetry. “My poems have aural qualities that, I feel, are best conveyed in a live setting, such as a reading,” she says.
Alexa submitted five of her poems that she felt were satisfactory enough to be considered for publication or recognition. “When Professor (Benjamin) Grossberg announced that the Circuit was accepting entries, it seemed to me that I should submit my poems and see if my feeling was correct.”
The first event was held in February at Wesleyan University where she and four other student poets read at Wesleyan’s Russell House—a venue so gorgeous that she says she felt they had no place reading there. “But the atmosphere was intimate, and that intimacy encouraged us to closely engage with our audience and steadily recite our poems,” she says.
As an English major with a concentration in creative writing, Alexa has written plays, non-fiction, and fiction. Two years ago, one of her plays won third prize in the English Department’s annual writing contest. And last semester, she completed her Capstone, under Associate Professor of English and Modern Languages and Writing Program Director Beth Richards, by writing a series of memoirs about her relation to place.
She is now working on her Honors project in fiction, led by Associate Professor of English and Modern Languages Erin Striff. “I plan to re-examine in a short story the character of Nora, who has become a literary archetype since she first appeared in Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House. I also intend to critically examine this story by implementing the techniques set forth by George Saunders, in his book A Swim in a Pond in the Rain.”
After graduation, Alexa is planning to pursue a Master’s in English. “I appreciate the entire English Department for their support,” she says. “Whether it be in feedback, recommendation letters or conferences, the Department has provided tremendous support for me and my writing. I am especially appreciative of Professor Grossberg, who has given me invaluable insight into poetry and the greater literary culture in which it exists.”
Outside of her writing and class work, Alexa has served as the editor of Aerie, UHart’s literary journal, and most recently joined the student-run television network, STN2. “I initially joined to proof-read the script that is read during the live show, but have been incrementally learning other roles, such as prompter.”
She says she appreciates UHart’s academic and social communities. “I have developed relationships, with both my peers and professors, that are meaningful and, hopefully, long-lasting. And from these relationships I have gained knowledge and experience that has benefited me within and without academia.”
Alexa Schwartz ’24, EnglishI appreciate the entire English Department for their support, whether it be in feedback, recommendation letters or conferences, the Department has provided tremendous support for me and my writing.