Poetry is beautiful. Some people can’t write it, but love to read it and others spend forever trying to perfect their poetry skills. To write poetry requires a skill and a feel for raw emotion. For Manhattanville College senior Samantha Rice, this comes easily. “Poetry is a strange and beautiful art form. I think many poets would agree with me and say that they probably can’t express why exactly they love poetry, only that it is a consistent feeling that they must produce work.” Sam said beautifully.
Samantha, referred to mainly as Sam is from Connecticut and is majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Dance. She’s on track to graduate a semester early. While she may be leaving a semester early, she stated that Manhattanville has helped her over the last few years as a person and in her field of interest. “I feel as though Manhattanville has provided me with a solid foundation to acquire a job in any kind of writing field.” She said. “I am sad to leave a school that has provided me with so many opportunities, but I know that it is time for me to start building a career.” That career can go in many directions, but for Sam poetry is her number one path.
Sam has had a couple of internships. She’s interned for Downtown Magazine in New York City and this semester she’s interning for THRUSH Poetry Journal which is exactly down her ally. “I see myself in some type of editorial position for a literary magazine.” Sam said positively and hopes that this is somewhere in her future.
While it seems Sam has been writing poetry for years, she was not always a poet. “It wasn’t until college when I discovered a love for poetry. I had always been a writer, but for a number of years I had focused on dance. I had the opportunity my junior year to take a poetry class, and realized that poetry was the art form I had been searching for my entire life.” Sam expressed. Last semester, she won the Annual Manhattanville Creative Writing Award for Poetry. It was then I knew personally and so did many other students and faculty members that Sam clearly had a talent. This talent also flourished thanks to her many inspirations. “I have been inspired by Hemingway as well as the poets, Louise Gluck and Georg Trakl.” She added. If you ever browse through her poetry collection, you can immediately spot these poets.
While poetry may be her inspiration and what guides her, Samantha also expressed that she is inspired by amazing people in her life. “I am inspired by my mother who has always supported my love for the arts as well as many of my friends who have always believed in my potential as an artist.” She said honestly.
So what advice could this talented senior give? “Your friends really shape who you become. I’ve never believed this until I came to college. Respect yourself because you deserve people in your life who are reaching for the same goals.” She said full heartedly.
Remember the name Samantha Rice because in a few years you may just so happen to come across one of her amazing poems and see the same talent many in the Manhattanville community have come to see.