Kalamangalam Named Houston’s Youth Poet Laureate

HOUSTON, TX — Rukmini Kalamangalam aspires to study international law one day and eventually work in the United Nations. She has a gift for gab and is a sharp wordsmith who has always been a writer. This year the Carnegie Vanguard High School senior was named Houston’s Youth Poet Laureate. As part of the job, she is a cultural arts advisor on Mayor Turner’s Youth Council, and she has big plans for that role.

"I would like to establish a space where young poets and other artists can collaborate and share their experiences," she said. "I would also like to start a column in a local publication where students can publish their favorite poems, and I would like to implement poetry readings in public places where people gather."

Carnegie Principal Ramon Moss descriptively praised Kalamangalam for her talents.

"Rukmini is a perfect example of a gifted student who has illustrated her mastery of both the written and spoken word, not only in class but outside of class," he said. "We always look forward to her performances in school assemblies, especially pep rallies, where she motivates students with her positive outlook. We can’t wait to see her inspire others as the 2018 Houston Youth Poet Laureate.”

The Youth Poet Laureate position was created by Writers in the Schools in partnership with the Houston Public Library, City of Houston, and Office of the Mayor. The competition is fierce, and Kalamangalam is familiar with the application process, as she has applied three times: submit five poems, three essays, and a resume.

The top five finalists are interviewed by a panel of experts and narrowed down to two. The mayor makes the final selection, and the winner is announced at the annual WITS gala, which took place this year on Thursday, Nov. 9. This is the third year in a row that a Houston ISD student won the position.

Kalamangalam is of Indian descent but was born in England, where her parents met in graduate school. They moved to the U.S. when she was 6, and she has attended Roberts Elementary and Lanier Middle schools prior to Carnegie Vanguard.

She plans to study economics in college and follow that with studies in international law. Her dream job is to work at the United Nations.

"I want to help our society make progress as a whole, so I need a solid foundation of knowledge regarding where we have been in order to focus on where to go next and what really matters," she said.

Kalamangalam has been a writer for as long as she can remember, but she didn’t get interested in poetry until eighth grade, when she auditioned for Houston’s Meta-Four, a poetry-slam youth team.

"I didn’t qualify that year, but I made it the next year. We went to Atlanta for the International Youth Poetry Slam Festival that summer, and I was there with 600 young poets from all over the world. That was the first time I understood the power of our voice and the concept of social justice. I had been living in a bubble, and that bubble popped."

Kalamangalam is looking forward to serving her term, saying, "It will be a busy year, but this is a priority for me, as I have been thinking about it for the past three years."

Houston ISD contributed to this report

Photo via Houston ISD