Sixteen-year-old Connie Miranda has a lot on her plate: high school, college-level courses, and she will represent The NewGate School at the regional Poetry Out Loud competition March 9, in Tallahassee.

Miranda recited “The Obligation to be Happy,” by Linda Pastan, Feb. 7, at NewGate, as part of Poetry Out Loud, a national competition that encourages students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation.

“I’ve learned that poetry tells you a story in fewer words, and it’s simply beautiful,” says Miranda, who has been practicing the poem for two hours a day for two weeks.

Miranda moved seven months ago to Sarasota from Leon, Mexico.

Miranda has always attended Montessori schools, such as NewGate, which she says provide students with additional flexibility and individualized attention. In addition to her classes at NewGate, Miranda takes college credit classes at State College of Florida and online classes at Florida Virtual School. She hopes to one day attend Stanford University and become a neurosurgeon.

 

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