English Alum: ‘It Takes Courage to Share Poetry’

Ohio University alum Eric Schwerer ’01 Ph.D. contributed an article on “Courageous reflections on virtue” to Johnstown, PA, Tribune-Democrat.

Eric Schwerer

Schwerer, who earned a Ph.D. in English from Ohio University, teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

In January’s Wisdom for the Ages feature, young people who were interested in writing creatively or exploring matters of the soul were invited to visit the Tranquility Gardens website or contact Goodwill GoodGuides Youth Mentoring Program.

The quantity and quality of the young people’s submissions were overwhelming.

Participants who joined spent time this past month in local schools and church basements discussing courage and fear; writing poetry; and reflecting on life as well as the lives of politicians, civil rights leaders, parents and pop stars.

It takes courage to share poetry with others, but it is  believed young people not only have important things to say, but also need to be heard.

Can you be truly courageous without risking vulnerability?

Probably not.

Read the rest of his article at the Tribune-Democrat.