By Dhairya Negandhi, PR & Communications HNA
Words That Need to Be Written
For Julie, poetry isn’t just a hobby. It’s how she makes sense of life. “Words just start writing themselves in my head, and it drives me crazy if I don’t write them down,” she says. Sometimes, her poems come from a place of stress or strong emotion. She doesn’t read much poetry herself; for her, it’s simply a way to get her thoughts out and process what’s going on. She wrote her poem “Child” in two days. “It’s just something I can do,” she says, a little surprised at herself. But it’s not about the writing for her—it’s about what happens after.“ The best part is getting to share the poetry and seeing people enjoy it.”Finding Community
Julie first got involved with High Notes Avante after years of writing and performing her poetry at schools and mental health groups. Through the High Notes events,—including the 10th anniversary celebration a year ago—she found a sense of belonging and a community of people who really listened. She describes performing as a mix of excitement and nerves. “My life kind of feels like fumbling with a box of matches—most of them are duds, but every once in a while one finally lights. That’s what it’s like when I get to perform with High Notes.”On stage, she feels both vulnerable and proud, knowing she’s sharing a real part of herself.More Than Stage Fright
It isn’t always easy. Julie lives with borderline personality disorder, which means her emotions run deep and can be tough to manage. “I’m very sensitive. It can take days to process feelings,” she shares. But poetry helps her release some of that.“ After I’ve written a poem, it feels like I’ve taken a piece of me out and put it into the world. Here’s my heart—try to understand what’s inside.”
During one performance, she was surprised by the crowd that came up to her afterward. People told her how much her words meant to them, and she realized her honesty was helping others. “That’s why I do it. I want to be a voice for people who may not have the words, and let them know there’s hope.”