A 22-year-old woman stepped in front of a podium at the nation’s capital and read an original poem for the President and Vice President, not to mention for the entire United States, on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Amanda Gorman had been asked to recite this poem at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden. The poem, entitled “The Hill We Climb,” was a key part of the inauguration and left many people awestruck and inspired.

Though some may have been unfamiliar with her before the inauguration, Gorman has had many previous successes as a poet and writer. An article entitled “How Amanda Gorman Became the Voice of the New American Era” on the Guardian website (theguardian.com) lists many of her accomplishments: In her youth, Gorman self-published a book of her poems called The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough. As just a sophomore in high school, Gorman was named the National Youth Poet Laureate, a title that she was the first to receive. After receiving this title, Gorman traveled to various locations to share her poetry, one of these locations being the Library of Congress. Here, now-First Lady Jill Biden was introduced to Gorman’s poetry, leading her to request that Gorman be the inaugural poet at President Biden’s inauguration, according to the Guardian.

Being asked to perform as the inaugural poet of the 2021 election must have been quite an honor for Gorman. The Guardian added that as a poet, Gorman found herself inspired by Maya Angelou, the inaugural poet for President Bill Clinton in 1993. Reciting a poem at an inauguration would be like stepping into the shoes of a personal hero of Gorman’s, especially because this was not the only similarity between the two poets’ inaugural performances. According to the article “Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s Jewelry Carried Powerful Significance” on CNN (cnn.com), “In 1993, the talk show host and producer [Oprah Winfrey] sent Angelou a Chanel coat and gloves ahead of her own reading at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration.” This article continues to say that many years later, Winfrey gave Gorman a ring and earrings that she wore at her inaugural performance. The figure on this symbolic ring was a bird in a cage, reflecting Maya Angelou’s autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Ties between Gorman and past inaugural poets are also visible in their poems. Daniel Westover, chair of the Department of Literature and Language at East Tennessee State University, connected Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” to a poem by Angelou titled “Still I Rise.” He explained that anaphora is used in both poems, as Gorman repeats the phrase “we will rise,” and Angelou repeats, “I will rise.” Westover went on to point out that “rise up,” along with certain quotations in Gorman’s poem, connect to popular Broadway musical Hamilton. Westover says that Gorman’s allusions to past poems can resonate in older people, while her allusions to Hamilton are recognizable for young people. “She’s connecting with the past as a way of pointing us to the present,” said Westover.

Westover also relayed that Gorman “symbolizes the next generation of Americans.” Young poets, as well as all youth of America, can find inspiration from her. Personally, as an aspiring writer and poet, I loved Gorman’s poem and am inspired by her creativity and influence. Sophomore and aspiring poet Alyssa Inserra shared, “Amanda Gorman has inspired me to continue to write with emotion and has introduced me to new ways of sophisticating my writing and delivery of poetry.” It was also heartening to see a poet among the leaders of our nation. Chorus teacher Barry Wyner said, “From an arts perspective, it’s exciting to see poetry made modern and cool on such a grand stage.” Additionally, English teacher Roseanne Mitchell highlighted an important lesson that young poets can learn from Gorman: “You can be ‘great’ or become ‘great’ at any age. Most importantly, you can be ‘great’ regardless of your past struggles.”

In addition to her insightful message, Gorman can teach the world about perseverance and sticking with one’s dreams. The Guardian explained that in her youth, Gorman suffered from a speech impediment; for example, she had difficulty pronouncing the letter “R.” Quoted in the article “Amanda Gorman Was the Youngest Inaugural Poet in U.S. History; Now She’s At the Super Bowl” on Harper’s Bazaar, Gorman explained that she continued to write poetry, despite uncertainty if she would even be able to read her writings aloud. According to this article, she practiced speaking using the Hamilton song titled “Aaron Burr, Sir,” which includes many R’s. The writer of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, even recognized and congratulated her on her performance, agreeing with many that her poem and performance were phenomenal. Overcoming this speech difficulty and then reading a poem at a presidential inauguration truly shows Gorman’s perseverance and strength.

Gorman’s poem can be a reminder of the impactful effect words can have on people. Westover added, “One thing that poetry reminds us is that the way we use and craft language can really inspire and change people, just like Amanda Gorman’s poem is doing…” Gorman has also created ways to encourage young people to write. The Guardian added, “In 2014, at the age of 16, she founded a non-profit organisation [sic] to support poetry workshops and youth advocacy leadership skills, called One Pen One Page.”

Gorman’s special writing techniques and stage presence can set an example for all writers. Westover said, “My favorite thing about her poetry is her inventiveness with rhyme and playfulness of language.” He pointed out he was especially struck by Gorman’s rhyming of “inherit” with “repair it” and “just is” with “justice.” These rhyming phrases not only make the poem more enjoyable and memorable but emphasize the meaning behind the words: we “inherit” this country from the past and must work to “repair it” in the present and future. The powerfulness of these words and rhymes is emphasized by her strong and positive stage presence. As said by Wyner, “She was the perfect person for the moment, with an uplifting message, brilliant oratorical skills, and real star quality, too.”

With the great inspiration she brings to the world, Gorman is a poet that will never be forgotten. Wyner commented, “Being both young and a person of color, I think she embodied the message of her poem about America’s brighter future, making it doubly powerful. The message was in both the poem and the poet.” Any individual who learns about her can find a personal connection with her story. Gorman’s life, along with her poem, will never cease to remind people of their identities as Americans, and that we must never stop climbing even the steepest hills our country faces. Inserra added, “Amanda has reminded us that despite our differences, unity and love is what will bring this country, and the world, towards a better future with light that’s more visible to see.”