Westside Middle School’s Louder Than a Bomb club is full of students who write, share, and compete poetry. The club has allowed many students to improve in their poetry writing and speaking skills.

“My favorite part of Louder Than A Bomb is just the ability [it gives me] to take time, sit down, and write, and getting to know this amazing group of people,” eighth grader Julia Wuestewald said. “I value their great advice on my poems and it’s such a safe community where anyone can help anyone.”

Louder than a Bomb has recently competed in poetry slams. Competing against mostly high school students, Wuestewald won first place at their most recent poetry slam with a perfect score of 50. Through this experience the students say they have developed many new skills with writing and speaking.

“The most significant thing I have learned is there is no one type of slam poetry,” Wuestewald said. “We all write our stories differently, everyone I’ve met through Louder Than a Bomb has their own style, and everyone is so unique.”

The club is not only significant for learning to write poetry, but it is also a place for students to connect to one another. The club sponsor, John Horton, says he has many goals for the students.

“I want them to learn that everyone is a poet at heart; that we can change the world one poem at a time,” Horton said. “I hope they will get better at writing poetry and that they will form lasting connections with other people who are going through the same things they’re going through. We are a bit like GSA in that respect, a safe place for all.”