You could feel the nervous energy in the room as students gathered their thoughts, preparing to perform. A low volume of rehearsals whispered before it was time to step up in front of the class. One by one, students stood tall in front of their peers, their voices gaining strength with each word spoken aloud. The room wasn’t just a classroom anymore, it was a stage for personal stories, deep emotions, touching topics, and the powerful art of slam poetry.

Slam Poetry Club at Bellevue East High School is more than just a gathering of students who like to write. It is a place where they can find their voice, face their fears, navigate through complex emotions, and perform what they are feeling.

“I’ve always enjoyed writing,” junior Sofia Burton, who has been in the club since her freshman year, said. “I had a friend who was joining the club, and I was already in Mr. Steele’s class, so I decided to join. The club has made me a much better writer and given me a lot of confidence because we go and compete on stage. It’s helped me with public speaking as well.”

Slam poetry is not just about writing, it is about performing. It is taking the words you have written and bringing them to life in front of an audience. For Burton, the process may be challenging, but it is also rewarding.

“We write a story, add metaphors, make it more poetic,” Burton said. “Then, we perform in front of each other, give criticism, and build off of each other.”

The club has a strong sense of community and mutual support. The club advisor Nathaniel Steele makes this clear. He provides a calm environment that his students can feel comfortable in.

“Honestly, the opportunity was kind of thrown in my lap,” Steele said. “The teacher who used to run the club moved, and I just love poetry so I thought it would be fun— and it is. The environment we create is very chill. People feel comfortable being there. Poetry can share very vulnerable and personal things, and you wouldn’t share that if you didn’t feel like you could.”

The Nebraska Writers Collective, which sends coaches to schools across the state, helps make the club possible. Steele explained how slam poetry has a modern appeal that draws students in.

“Even if they don’t love performing themselves, it turns poetry from this traditional, Shakespeare-type thing into something that feels more alive,” Steele said. “Writing poetry is always good for you— putting your feelings on a page— but there’s something extra powerful about performing it.”

For another student in the club, joining was a way to share her previously private work. Sophomore Ray Ullman finds joy in meeting people who share the same passion and outlet for expression as her.

“I started writing poetry in seventh grade,” Ullman said. “I never shared it with anyone, so when I heard about the club, I wanted to join. It’s made me more confident in what I create and encourages me to express myself more.”

Ullman described her writing process as sometimes fluid, but also unpredictable. Maybe more people can find that relatable than would like to admit.

“I have something that inspires me— an emotion, a situation— and I just sit down at my computer and start troubleshooting what I want to write,” Ullman said. “Sometimes it flows really well the first try, other times I just scrap it and come back later.”

Confidence is a recurring theme among the club’s members, but performing in front of a crowd can still be nerve wrecking, especially. Especially when you are being judged and scored on your poetry.

“I always get nervous public speaking,” Ullman said. “I prepare by rereading my poem, writing notes to myself, and calming myself down so I don’t get super anxious.”

Through all the nerves and preparation, slam poetry provides a safe space for students to be heard. Having an outlet to express yourself where you can relate to other people is great for students struggling to work through complex emotions.

“The main slogan of slam poetry is ‘the points aren’t the point, the poetry is the point,’” Burton said. “They don’t care if your poem is technically good or bad. They just care about you and the experience you’ve had as a person.”