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Lelya Sampson in her Mount Hope home. |
This San Diego teacher helped Juan Felipe Herrera find his voice.
Juan Felipe Herrera, who is the new U.S. poet laureate, often talks about a defining moment 57 years ago, when he was a third-grader at Lowell Elementary School in Barrio Logan.
Howard Lipin/Twitter: @hlipin
The Teacher Who Sparked a Poet: A Barrio Logan Story
Sometimes, all it takes is one voice to unlock another.
Juan Felipe Herrera, the first Latino U.S. Poet Laureate, often speaks of a defining moment that shaped his life—not on a grand stage, but in a humble third-grade classroom at Lowell Elementary School in San Diego’s Barrio Logan. It was 57 years ago, and Herrera was just a quiet boy with a head full of thoughts and a heart full of rhythm. Then a teacher saw something in him—and helped him find his voice.
A Seed Planted in Barrio Logan
Barrio Logan is a neighborhood rich in Chicano culture, murals, and music. But in the 1950s, it was also a place where many children of migrant workers struggled to find their footing in a system that didn’t always see them. Herrera’s parents were farm laborers, and his early life was marked by movement, uncertainty, and silence.
That changed when a teacher at Lowell Elementary encouraged him to speak up, write, and share. She didn’t just teach—she listened. And that act of listening gave Herrera permission to imagine, to express, and eventually, to soar.
“She said, ‘Juan, you have a voice. Use it.’ That was the beginning.” —Juan Felipe Herrera
From Classroom to Congress
Herrera went on to become a celebrated poet, performer, and educator. His work blends English, Spanish, and Indigenous rhythms, capturing the spirit of borderlands and the beauty of bicultural life. In 2015, he was appointed U.S. Poet Laureate, becoming the first Latino to hold the title.
His poems speak of migration, identity, and joy. But they also carry the echo of that teacher’s encouragement—a reminder that greatness often begins with a whisper.
Why This Matters
In a world that often overlooks quiet children, Herrera’s story is a call to action. Teachers, mentors, and community members have the power to shape futures—not with grand gestures, but with simple affirmations.
“Who helped you find your voice? And who might be waiting for you to help them find theirs?”
At All Things Good, we celebrate stories like these—moments of kindness, courage, and connection. Juan Felipe Herrera’s journey reminds us that goodness isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s a gentle nudge in a classroom that echoes for a lifetime.
Here’s a quote from Juan Felipe Herrera’s poem Let Me Tell You What a Poem Brings that beautifully captures his spirit:
“A poem is a way to tell the world who you are, what you dream, and how you survive.”
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There are some amazing teachers out there, she sounds like one of the really good ones... I love stories like this xox
ReplyDeleteYes I agree there are some amazing teachers and I hope you were lucky enough to have had one. But then I guess we can learn all different things from all different people.
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