Stephanie Alcantar

Poetry in motion
Stephanie Alcantar, who grew up in Mexico, is an award-winning writer who has three works of poetry under her belt. Only 22 years old, the Oakton ESL student already has presented her work around the world.

Poetry has been part of my life since I was 10 years old and I simply can’t ignore it. When you enjoy something, it doesn’t seem like work at all.

I wrote my first book of poetry in 2008 when I was 18. That was so exciting for me, because I had the opportunity to read selections from my work in Mexico, Cuba, Spain, Colombia, and Poland. Visiting different cultures and meeting new people was fascinating – and what a thrill it was to hear my poems in different languages – especially Polish, a tongue I don’t even speak.

I often find that I’m never completely sure when a poem is finished, but once it’s in print, I often say to myself, “Wow! I’m a published author!” You just never know how an individual will interpret your work. I want people who read my poetry to come away with a positive impression. I hope the pieces will stir up similar feelings in them. I enjoy it when someone comes up to me and says they liked my poetry. I take my work very seriously and when I write, my intent is to be totally honest.

What I love about poetry is that it is constantly being defined and also is never ending. You can spend a lifetime exploring it in your own way. Poetry is for everyone. People who say they don’t like poetry simply haven’t found a writer they like yet.

I have some lofty career goals that definitely involve writing. I hope to attend the University of Cincinnati, where I plan on getting my master’s degree in Hispanic literature. Eventually, I would like to get my doctorate in poetry and teach at a university.

Stephanie Alcantar
English-as-a-Second-Language Student