Award-winning teen poet Mckalah Jimenez has been writing poetry since she was nine years old, but it became a lifeline in recent years. 

When she felt overwhelmed with anxiety, poetry was a release—a way for her to express her emotions and regain a sense of control. “I was writing more and more, and I came up with poems every single day,” says Jimenez, who was a junior in high school during the pandemic. “Poetry helped me take my mind off being kept away from the outside world.”

Like Jimenez, many kids are grappling with stress. Poetry is a creative outlet that can help them express themselves during times of stress. 

In fact, the positive effects of poetry garnered national attention during President Joe