WSU senior uses her love of civic engagement and poetry to win coveted award
By Steve Nakata, Student Affairs
Senior Jada Rome was in complete shock when she learned she had won the Washington State University Campus Civic Poet Award — so much so that she could not speak or read the congratulatory email out loud.
The Campus Civic Poet Award, sponsored by the Department of English and the WSU Martin Luther King, Jr. Program, recognizes students who are dedicated to civic engagement and poetry. The award comes with a $500 scholarship, and opportunities for Rome to read her poetry at civic events and receive mentorship from English faculty.
As the events coordinator for the Black Student Union and a recovery coach for Cougs For Recovery, Rome is deeply engaged in the WSU community. The Comparative Ethnic Studies and Creative Writing major had aspired to compete for the award ever since she attended her first Open Mic competition on her 19th birthday.
She expressed her desire to share her poetry at the event with Linda Russo, scholarly associate professor of English and director of Creative Writing, who encouraged her to get involved. During Rome’s second year, she submitted three self-written poems to the competition but came up short. This further fueled her motivation to keep trying. For the 2024-2025 contest, she submitted five original pieces that explore Black experiences, struggles with mental illness, and a journey toward hope and joy.
“My poetry is a reflection of my soul and mind, and it allows me to express myself in unique ways, aiming to connect deeply with my audience,” Rome said. “I strive for each piece to resonate with readers, inviting them to feel my pain, love, and vulnerability.”
Rome said winning the award is one of the highlights of her WSU experience and she is eager to share her poetry with the WSU community whenever opportunities arise.
Cycle
By Jada Rome
Cycle
I am meant for more than this.
The cycle.
The endless nights.
The sunless days.
I am meant for laughs that cease to never end.
The savory aroma of life.
The gentle touch of another.
The breeze of one’s thoughts sticking
I am meant to propel forward into the sun.
My body was worn out from the day’s work.
My soul is content.
I am meant for more than constraints if my body & mind are fighting in a ring.
The expected call. “He is gone”.
More than my feet aching.
More than my arms swaying.
More than my head throbbing.
The pressure of this.
The pressure I want to dispose of.
But eat it anyway.
I am meant to live.
The living in which you never take a bottle of medicine to aid your mind.
Living in which you wake up refreshed with the sound of the birds.
Living in which you want to live each moment: Not just sometimes.
More than the cycle of pep talks.
More than the “shush, can’t you hear it?”.
More than the grieving moments passing me by.
More than the careless whispers of misunderstandings.
More than pondering in the dark.
More than writing a poem about everything but nothing at all.
More than the time lost.
More than withering away.
More than a connection that fades into my heart.
More than my failures.
More than the inner monologue “Why couldn’t you get up today?
More than competing with my brothers & the one who sits on my shelf.
More than the flashbacks.
More than unable to breathe.
The cycle.
I am meant for more.
And maybe I am supposed to embrace evolution.
Growth.
Understanding the more & living in the pain.
Or maybe I am meant for me.
For you.
Us.