"Get Up, Get Out, and Get Over It"

 Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to the poetry slam so I took some time on youtube.com to    find one meaningful poet that stuck out to me.  It is a two minute youtube clip and it is found at :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnUYQjSNKSc

        Cellise Craig, is an urban poet, and expresses her poetry through rap. I absolutely loved this clip because her take on poetry is through rap, and slowly but surely, rap poetry is becoming so popular, especially in the music of the "Rap Game."  A lot of people think of "Rap" as the stereotypical, swearing rhymes.  But, it is not always the case, such as the case of Cellise Craig.  Cellise explains that she lives freely through flowing (which means rapping).  She explains that she writes her sad feelings with her "pad and pen" when kids tease her in class.    She also makes the statement, "Is it the fact that I am gay why things are never OK?"  She then states, "When I wished I was dead, I made a change when my friend said you gotta get up, get out, and get over it."  Another thing that really hit home was, "'I wanna leave and forget it but then I'll be weak and I don't want major issues of my past to repeat.'  'So my friend said, you gotta get up, get out, and get over it.'"
        This poem is focusing on the issue of being gay and feeling empty.  So many students, especially in middle school and high school are going through issues, such as identity.  By allowing students to express themselves through poetry is simultaneously counseling students feelings and incorporating academics; In other words, expressing themselves academically.
        Moreover, I am currently taking PSY 302, Psychology of Adolescence, and our class just talked about the issue of identity.  Identity lasts all through adulthood, but is most crucial in mid-adolescence.  I am not sure how old Cellise Craig is, however, it seems like she is going through a hard time with her sexuality, which is also her identity, and who she is.  She explains that her friends tease her about being homosexual, which also brings about the topic of bullying.  According to some theorists ofpsychological development of identity say that schools need to find a way that every student be cared for and counseled.  This poetry slam is a perfect way to do so.  As I said, this poetry slam allows students to explain their feelings academically.  It is like killing two birds with one stone!