Poet Laureate
An important part of the Schiller Institute’s mission is to meld the humanistic with the scientific. To address this aspect of our mission, we appointed a Poet Laureate. The first Schiller Poet Laureate is BC first year undergraduate student Jesse Julian. Jesse has been writing beautiful, thought-provoking poetry that you can explore below.
trailblazing by Jesse Julian (read at the January 19, 2023 SI-GECS Symposium)
Notes on trailblazing - Jesse Julian
Growing up, I was a passive child, refusing to take action regarding any issues surrounding me. I was often advised to not “fight fire with fire,” which essentially means to respond to an attack with a similar attack. However, I transformed this saying into a much more uplifting and motivating phrase, provoking people to take action. My poem characterizes January 19th's researchers as “trailblazers” who took profound action against climate change. This is proven by their commitment to their respective research. Thus, I devoted a stanza to each of their projects, after studying and asking them about their work. “trailblazing” commemorates the ways in which these “trailblazers” have chosen to fight climate change, or, “fight fire with fire.” - Jesse Julian
15 by Jesse Julian (read at the January 26, 2023 SI-GECS Symposium)
Notes on 15 - Jesse Julian
"'15' describes the personal impact on my life from the COVID-19 pandemic, which struck right through the middle of my high school career. It changed the way I interacted with people; the way I learned; how I found entertainment. Adapting to an Internet-based life was a struggle, especially for my mental health. A decline in mental health was a common adolescent issue amongst my peers; I wanted to reflect this in my poem. However, the research performed by Jan. 26th’s symposia brings comfort to this younger generation, which will eventually rise from the dark of the pandemic and return to their curious sparks, thanks to the effort made by researchers today." - Jesse Julian