The literary works of two local scholars are being recognized on an international platform.
“Only 25 people in the entire world get the honor to be published in Nota Bene and I still cannot believe they chose my poem.”
That was the sentiment offered by Brookdale Community College student Erica Rosenthal.
Rosenthal, who is a resident of Brick, and fellow student Patricia LoSasso of Red Bank, have been internationally recognized for their poetry after their literary works were chosen for inclusion in Nota Bene, the online literary journal of Phi Theta Kappa.
Phi Theta Kappa is a national honor society that recognizes the academic achievement of college students. The honor society has more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 nations, according to a press release.
The works of Rosenthal and LoSasso were two of 25 international submissions that were chosen for inclusion in the 2018 edition of the honors anthology.
‘Going Home,’ a poem written by LoSasso, an aspiring poet, centers on memory and loss. A touching tale of remembrance, the young scholar tapped into her own experiences to craft a sincere work.
“This poem was based on personal experience,” LoSasso said. “It’s is a tribute to my Aunt Rose. She is someone who had a tremendous impact on my life. The piece is definitely bittersweet. There’s so many good memories, but it hurts to remember them. That’s really its essence.”
LoSasso said her passion for poetry began in childhood. She described her style of poetry as “gloomy and heavy on the imagery,” nothing that publishing a collection of her works is a future endeavor of hers.
“I read a lot as a kid, I still read a lot. My aunt, who the poem is about, was always reading to me or giving me books when I was younger. I fell in love with Poe, Shel Silverstein, and John Clare. I always enjoyed reading stories and novels but I gravitated to poetry more.
“I thought it was the most beautiful way to use words. When I began writing at 11 I didn’t expect it to become such an outlet for me. Anything I was going through, I’d just write about it and I’d immediately feel better. It’s still like that to this day. Writing a poem feels like I’ve just solved a problem,” she said.
LoSasso plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Nursing and is currently a nursing student at Brookdale.
Reflecting on her entry, LoSasso said, “Having my piece selected for Nota Bene was very special. Writing is so personal and it can be quite frightening to share such a vulnerable part of yourself with other people. That worry can make you start to second guess yourself as a writer.
“Being selected affirmed that this was something I should continue to pursue. It felt wonderful when I found out my poem was among those chosen,” she said.
“Red,” a poem Rosenthal wrote in the first person narrative, was inspired by the Feb. 14 shooting that occurred at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was reported that seventeen students and members of the high school faculty lost their lives that day.
“Once I heard about this tragedy I felt really upset. More than I usually do with situations like these. I remember following some of the students on social media and watching videos that were taken during the shooting and being really shook up about it.
“I felt like I had to do something about the way I was feeling, so I wrote a poem. At this point I didn’t know that these kids didn’t need my help in getting people to hear them but I still was glad to have done something with my own voice,” Rosenthal said.
Asked why she decided to construct the poem from the perspective of a student who witnessed the event, Rosenthal said, “I had an assignment for my poetry writing workshop to write a poem from the perspective of someone else. Since this event was the only thing I could think about, I thought it would be perfect for the assignment.
“I thought the only way this poem could be successful and get the point I was trying to make across was in the first person narrative. These kids used their voices to change the world, I was just trying to put all of their voices and experiences under one umbrella. The example is a true story,” she said.
Rosenthal wrote her poem from the perspective of a student who found refuge hiding behind a desk after a teacher allowed them to seek shelter in their classroom.
“There was a student who was in the hallway and a teacher let him in the classroom and before the teacher could shut the door, they heard gunshots. The student dove behind the teacher’s desk while this teacher who he had never met before was dying before his eyes. The student knew that if that teacher didn’t let him in when he did, it would’ve been him on the floor bleeding out.
“The student’s brother was in a different building and their texts became available online, in those messages the student explained all of these events and more while hiding under the teacher’s desk scared for his life.
“That is the case for all of the details in “Red,” they all come from personal accounts by the students and faculty. I knew I couldn’t just leave this topic unwritten. It felt like my job to write about it and I’m so glad I did,” she said.
Asked how have the courses at Brookdale Community College have aided in her progression as a writer, Rosenthal said, “Brookdale is single-handedly responsible for my success as a writer. Throughout high school, I knew I loved to write but I never felt good enough to do it. I was always the reader never the writer. That is until I came to Brookdale.
“I found my voice in my Creative Writing class and pushed myself even further during my Poetry Writing Workshop. It was in that class that I became confident in my ability to write and write well while also being able to take constructive criticism in a workshop setting.
“… Between the classes I have immersed myself in and the people I have met, I know my dreams are achievable.
Rosenthal plans to transfer to Arcadia University in 2019 where the student will pursue a degree in creative writing. Rosenthal said she plans to submit her poetry to a publisher.