Poet J. Ivy was a teenager struggling with his parents divorce when he met Paula Argue, the high school teacher who opened a whole new world to him.
Thirty years before bright stage lights and sold-out shows became commonplace for Grammy-winning poet J. Ivy he was a high school student struggling in the wake of his parents' divorce, searching for someone to believe in him. That support came in the form of an English teacher who changed his life.
"She made me come to this space and perform and just bare my soul in front of friends, family, strangers," Ivy said."And that day I received a standing ovation. ... My whole life changed in that moment." By recognizing Ivy's potential, Argue empowered him to unlock his skills. He later attended Illinois State University, where he was known on campus as"The Poet," and shortened his name to J. Ivy.
"I wonder what would've happened if you hadn't spoken, just looking at how everything has lined up since then," Ivy said."I need you to know that by you sharing with me, the impact I've had, is that you affirm my purpose," Argue told her former student.
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Brittany LeitnerBrittany Leitner is an award-winning journalist, poet, and actor. She currently covers health, lifestyle, and beauty as a freelance writer.
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