Westwood Student Recognized for Poetry

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Olivia Lionetti, 11, recent graduate of

Accomplishment: This Westwood student recently won a Bergen County YWCA poetry contest for her work about stopping racism. As part of the honor, she was able to read her winning poem, "Racism," aloud during a presentation at the Paramus Park Mall. The poem appears at right.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Olivia likes writing poetry about a variety of topics (you can see another example of her work with the poem "A Writing Kind of Day" at right). She is also involved in dance, including ballet and jazz, and loves to sing. She plays the piano and enjoys a variety of music from classical to hip-hop. She is also a big fan of her family dog, Coco, and cat, Giorgio. She will begin sixth grade at in September.

Q&A with Olivia:

• How did you get started writing poetry? What do you like most about writing it?
  I started to write poetry a few years ago. I started when my teacher handed out two sheets of paper. One of the pieces of paper had directions on it. It had an idea on it to write about. The other piece of paper was blank. My teacher told me to read the directions then write the poem. That was exactly what I did. What I liked and still like about writing poetry is that I can express any of the feelings I have about myself, other people, etc.
  
  
• How did it feel when you won the Bergen County YWCA contest? What was it like reading the poem at the Paramus Park Mall?
  I felt really proud and confident in myself when I found out that I had won the poetry contest. But I was also a little nervous. I kept talking to myself and saying what if I sneeze, what if I cough, what if I stutter, what if I burp?! I think it was very exciting to read my poem at the Paramus Park Mall. It was exciting to me because my family was proud of me, I was happy and other people got to hear my poem and what I think of racism.
  
  
• You like all types of music and you like to sing. What is your favorite type of music and singing style? Why?
  I like a lot of different types of music. I like rock, pop, hip-hop, but my favorite is probably classical music. I think I like classical music because my grandma has taught me how to play the piano and has also taught me a lot about composers and this kind of music. My favorite singing style is probably also classical or opera. I like this because my grandma has also taught me about this. She took me to go see Carmen, and by far my absolute favorite movie is … THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!!!!!! If I were falling off the face of the Earth, I would fall off the face of the Earth with that movie!
  
  
• In addition to singing, you perform ballet and jazz. What do you like best about dancing?
  I happen to like a lot of different things about dancing. But if I had to choose the thing I like best about dancing is probably its challenges, like pointing my toes, or remembering not to turn my feet in, or even sometimes forgetting to keep my arms up! I also love my teachers, even though they think that when they jump, that they sound like the rabbit, and all their students sound like elephants.
  
  
• What do you want to do when you grow up?
  There have been some things that I have been thinking of being when I grow up like being a vet or a volunteer for a children’s hospital. But what I am hoping for is that I could be a lawyer when I grow up.