The third annual Spoken Word Poetry Showcase at Bangkok Patana School was a powerful celebration of youth voices, creativity and courage. This year’s theme - “Champions of Change: Inspiring Resilience and Hope” - called on students to use poetry as a response to global challenges and they rose to the occasion with heart and conviction.
Many of us move between roles, often wondering how all the pieces of our creative and professional lives connect. But sometimes the intersections are exactly where purpose, growth and social change take root. In my latest piece in the Bangkok Patana School Term 3 Magazine, I reflect on how my journey as a teacher, author, artist, researcher, performance poet, curator and public speaker has come full circle in the most purposeful ways.
What happens when poetry steps outside the classroom - into nature and an art exhibition?Year 7 students at Bangkok Patana School found inspiration everywhere as they explored the Outdoor Classroom, where every detail - from the stillness of the pond to the rustle of leaves - became a line of poetry.
The launch of the Teachers as Practitioners (TAPs) Exhibition at Bangkok Patana School was a spectacular celebration of creativity, courage and passion between 31 January and 7 February 2025.
I was honoured to perform my spoken word piece Our Art is the Start at the Design Up and Rising showcase during Bangkok Design Week Festival, backed by the incredible Kinetic Poetic live band.
For this exhibition, I produced my own multidisciplinary work - an exploration of how words and visual art can inspire creativity, explore cultural identity, ignite activism and foster human connection. This was also the first time I showcased my illustrated poetry prints, a collection I’ve long been excited to share. Balancing curating the exhibition, leading the TAPs project, and producing this collection was incredibly fulfilling.
Poetry has a unique way of opening our eyes to the beauty and complexity of the world around us; it invites us to slow down, observe and listen intently, and find wonder in everyday moments—especially in nature. Sharing my poetic inspiration with students is always a joy, igniting creativity, curiosity and a deeper connection to the environment we all share.
Creativity thrives in community. When we come together through art and words, we begin to cultivate something radical – spaces where voices are heard, identities are honoured and change feels possible. That spirit of bold creativity and collective belonging was at the heart of the Whitecross Street Festival 2024, and I was honoured to be part of it.
I had the most amazing time performing my words to an incredible audience at KaramelN22 in Collage Arts London, sharing the stage with Kat Francois — the first poet to win a televised poetry slam in the UK and then the World Slam Championships. This was my longest commissioned set yet, featuring poems exploring identity, activism and self-discovery — 25 minutes of non-stop word spinning!
I had the pleasure of joining Cindy Adair on The Patana Pod for a wide-ranging conversation that touches on the many aspects that shape my identity — as an English teacher, writer, published author, artist and spoken word poet.
