Erin Holly McDermott is a high school freshman. She wrote this poem for her eighth-grade graduation. She loves lacrosse, basketball, and running, and she excels at science and history. Erin also enjoys photography and writing.
Choose to Be Extraordinary: Radiance
By Erin Holly McDermott
Light.
It can be an unheeded warning,
Or a beacon of hope.
The light of a streetlight dancing across a dewy morning window,
Much like watching the Northern Lights paint a veil in the dark night sky.
Candlelight dwindling in the background of the abyss,
A firework exploding.
Lights bind us,
Break us,
Blind us,
And put us back together.
So,
Let it in,
Let the light in
Let it fill you up.
Every corner, every broken crack.
I challenge you to do one thing,
Act like light.
Don’t let anything stop you.
Shoot through the smallest cracks in windows and doors.
Be determined and don’t give up.
Support other people to follow their dreams,
Day and night.
Be strong enough to burn,
Be strong enough to power.
Choose light.
Choose to inspire people even when you aren’t shining,
Be a beacon of hope and power at the same time.
Choose to light up people’s hearts and minds,
Choose light even in the overwhelming darkness.
Choose light,
Choose to be extraordinary.
