MMS Poetry Competition Participant Interview
By Charlie B., Purple Team

Six different languages were spoken throughout the whole contest and Middlesex was overall pretty successful. However, one student went to the state competition having to recite the Spanish and Italian poem. After every category had finished, that boy ended up going back to Middlesex with two place finishes. That student was Toby Sestak, who finished in a high spot in the Spanish contest and won the whole Italian competition.

He happens to be a friend of mine, so I sat down with him and collected some information on his Italian background.

Charlie: How long have you been speaking Italian?

Toby: Since I was four years-old.

Ch: You had to learn the Italian and the Spanish poem at the same time. Which one was harder to master?

T: The Italian poem was harder because I got to practice and recite the Spanish poem in my class during school.

Ch: How would you compare the state competition to the school contest?

T: Well, I wasn’t that nervous at the school competition because the setting was all familiar to me. But when we got to the state contest, it was really nerve-racking. However, when I stood up at the microphone and said the poem, all the pressure was off.

Ch: Last question: Is there another round for you?

T: That’s it for now, but I’ll probably go back next year to try and defend my title!