"Poetry is the essence of art, music and the human heart in an embrace that can bring the whole world together.We need more poems and less wars."
- Mariposa
- Mariposa
Interview with Mariposa
1. What was the poem that you read in public that was the most memorable?
"One of the greatest moments of my life, reading my poem, Our Beloved Clemente for the Clemente Family. It was a great honor and blessing to share my poem with the Mayor of Perth Amboy, Mayor Wilda Diaz, Vera Clemente, Roberto Clemente Jr., Luis Clemente, The Pirates of Perth Amboy and the people of this amazing town."
2. We know that college was a big part of your life and your career, what would you say to a person that is going to start college?
· " Take more risks."
· "Take yourself LESS SERIOUSLY, really it ain’t that serious."
· " Dance more, act the fool, laugh more, be self-expressed and forget about what other people think. Be you!"
· "Read more books outside of your area of study. It’s NOT just about getting a degree and figuring out a career path but being a life-long learner. College is just part of the journey. "
· " Don’t be afraid of all the mistakes you have made, are making and will surely make…it is how you truly grow!"
3. Sometimes it is difficult to pay for college growing up in the Bronx, what would be an advice for those that are seeking financial help?
"Don’t trust that financial aid officers have your back. Don’t simply seek scholarships and apply for loans. And if you take out a loan DO NOT take the highest amount that FAFSA recommends! Believe me. They do not have your back! Be entrepreneurial and proactive in making and raising money. Learn. NO really learn how to budget. There are even free apps to help you. These things did not exist when I was a college student. Use what cha got! Be creative to reduce the debt you probably will incur as a student. Loans may be necessary but even low interest loans can quadruple and interest rates can somehow sneakily skyrocket. Crowd funding and social media didn’t exist when I was in school. It does now. Use the tools at hand! Enroll your community to support you!"
4. What is a goal that you have always had in mind?
"My ultimate life goal is not being a poet or a writer but being an extraordinary human being. I want to talk about self expression. Power is not sharing every single unfiltered thought. Who really cares what I think?"
5. What was your inspiration to become a poet?
"When I was a child I loved to draw. It's something that was encouraged. We always had crayons and pencils. I come from a creative family. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing and coloring with my twin sister Melissa and my older sister Rachelle. Rachelle could draw anything and I loved watching her. My father was talented too. His way of "helping us" looked like him taking over school projects while we watched. Visual talent ran in our family. Other early memories are of my Tio, my father's brother. We called him Tato, He would paint elephants that he made of plaster molds. Later on he'd make all kinds of things from jewelry to dream catchers. I majored in art in high school. But as a student at La Guardia H.S. of Music & the Arts, I struggled with a lack of confidence and other barriers to my creative expression. By the time I graduated, I decided I had not to pursue my visual art but to write instead. Like it was a choice. Something I had to choose between. I became a poet."
"One of the greatest moments of my life, reading my poem, Our Beloved Clemente for the Clemente Family. It was a great honor and blessing to share my poem with the Mayor of Perth Amboy, Mayor Wilda Diaz, Vera Clemente, Roberto Clemente Jr., Luis Clemente, The Pirates of Perth Amboy and the people of this amazing town."
2. We know that college was a big part of your life and your career, what would you say to a person that is going to start college?
· " Take more risks."
· "Take yourself LESS SERIOUSLY, really it ain’t that serious."
· " Dance more, act the fool, laugh more, be self-expressed and forget about what other people think. Be you!"
· "Read more books outside of your area of study. It’s NOT just about getting a degree and figuring out a career path but being a life-long learner. College is just part of the journey. "
· " Don’t be afraid of all the mistakes you have made, are making and will surely make…it is how you truly grow!"
3. Sometimes it is difficult to pay for college growing up in the Bronx, what would be an advice for those that are seeking financial help?
"Don’t trust that financial aid officers have your back. Don’t simply seek scholarships and apply for loans. And if you take out a loan DO NOT take the highest amount that FAFSA recommends! Believe me. They do not have your back! Be entrepreneurial and proactive in making and raising money. Learn. NO really learn how to budget. There are even free apps to help you. These things did not exist when I was a college student. Use what cha got! Be creative to reduce the debt you probably will incur as a student. Loans may be necessary but even low interest loans can quadruple and interest rates can somehow sneakily skyrocket. Crowd funding and social media didn’t exist when I was in school. It does now. Use the tools at hand! Enroll your community to support you!"
4. What is a goal that you have always had in mind?
"My ultimate life goal is not being a poet or a writer but being an extraordinary human being. I want to talk about self expression. Power is not sharing every single unfiltered thought. Who really cares what I think?"
5. What was your inspiration to become a poet?
"When I was a child I loved to draw. It's something that was encouraged. We always had crayons and pencils. I come from a creative family. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing and coloring with my twin sister Melissa and my older sister Rachelle. Rachelle could draw anything and I loved watching her. My father was talented too. His way of "helping us" looked like him taking over school projects while we watched. Visual talent ran in our family. Other early memories are of my Tio, my father's brother. We called him Tato, He would paint elephants that he made of plaster molds. Later on he'd make all kinds of things from jewelry to dream catchers. I majored in art in high school. But as a student at La Guardia H.S. of Music & the Arts, I struggled with a lack of confidence and other barriers to my creative expression. By the time I graduated, I decided I had not to pursue my visual art but to write instead. Like it was a choice. Something I had to choose between. I became a poet."