Robbinsdale Academy-Highview Student Connects With Classmates Through Poetry
Robbinsdale Academy – Highview senior and poet Kimberly Lamine finds her muse in the little moments.
Anything can serve as inspiration, she told CCX News.
“Like anything I see. I could be in the car driving past, old people, romance, just anything,” she said.
The 17-year-old writes poetry practically every day to better connect with herself and others at her high school poetry club.
“I got introduced to this club around eighth grade,” she said. “One of these teachers from my middle school — she just kind of introduced me to a poetry group with girls. Where like, we were able to write what we wanted, or like what we felt, and just read it to each other.”
Her poems function as a personal form of expression.
“If I happen to notice something within myself where I come across an emotion that I might have felt during the day,” Lamine said. “And to voice what others feel too … I’m very open about my emotions so I feel as if anybody wants to read what I feel, I’m all for it.”
Kimberly Lamine, senior at Robbinsdale Academy – Highview, reads a poem.
Bringing People Together at Highview
Whether she’s in class or writing a haiku, Lamine has never had trouble bringing people together.
“Kimberly is just a natural leader for us,” said Robert Ware, principal at Robbinsdale Academy – Highview. “Since she’s came here, she’s a people connector, which has been great for us.”
Lamine started her high school journey at Armstrong High School. But a switch to Highview — with its smaller class sizes and close student-to-teacher relationships — helped give her time to focus on herself.
“I needed to teach myself discipline, and I needed to structure myself,” she said. “I felt like coming to a school that was [more limited in class sizes], it just taught me to focus on myself. [To] focus on my own pace instead of other peoples’ paces. And at the time, I was focused more on other people rather than myself.”
Planning for Lamine’s Future
With a newfound focus, Lamine is keeping her school work on track. She’s excited about graduating and moving on to higher education.
“[I’m] just trying to pave the path for myself,” she said. “I’m writing out plans, just researching.”
Ware said that the school’s flexible scheduling allows her to get extra help studying for college testing.
“She’s able to get kind of pulled out of her classes and get help in some of our other class settings,” he said. “She just has a bright future … our students are going to miss her when she walks across the state here in June.”
Lamine hasn’t decided if she wants to attend an in-state college or an out-of-state school once she graduates. But, she’s expecting to study nursing or finance.
Until then, she can continue to work on her poetry portfolio. It may one day hit book shelves near you.
“Maybe as I get older, I probably will publish all of my pieces in one book,” she said. “Who knows?”
