The Jags were wired and hooked up to the mics. All talents were called to the floor to show off their skills.
Anyone from singers and dancers to poets and even magicians were welcome for Texas A&M
University-San Antonio’s Open Mic event Nov. 8 in the cafeteria.
Most acts had the crowd’s applause and cheers during their performance, but, a certain poet had the room in silence. All were attentive to the words filling the air in the room.
Christina A. Hicks, a freshman English major, took a completely different direction from the rest.
She recited two pieces of her original work “Love Leaves You” and “Killing Me Softly.” As she stared at the words in her hand, the audience stared at her.
Her engagement with her piece excluded the audience as she kept eye contact with her poetry. It seemed as if she was not presenting it to the people, but reading it to herself while everyone was there to listen.
“Poetry allows me to express myself without having to be physical or angry. I can take my anger out with my pen,” Hicks said.
Creativity as an outlet allows her to share her thoughts with complete strangers. She shared some advice for aspiring poets.
“There’s no perfect way to write — you speak from your heart, you put your feelings out there. Poetry is your own so it’s whatever you make it,” she said.
At the moment Hicks’ passion remains underground, but someday she hopes to publish her poetry for the masses.
David Cervantes, a communications freshman, sang “Acquainted” by The Weekend, but he identifies more with being an actor than a singer.
“Singing is a side thing,” Cervantes said. “As a child, I didn’t know what I wanted to be. By the time I hit middle school it came to my head that I can be anything I want by being an actor.”
Cervantes said he has a part in a film called “Teenage Girl” that releases August 2019.
“Nothing big — I’m just an extra,” he said.
Cervantes said he wants to be surrounded with people like himself, so he can have a support system that shares common interests and inspires his passion for acting.
A performance by D’shaun Watson, criminal justice sophomore, created a beat echoing off the walls. Everyone’s heads nodded in unison, but no instruments were to be found.
The radio wasn’t on and no recording was being played. The music was coming straight from Watson’s mouth. Watson was the only beatboxing performer as well as the final act of the day.
“As a kid I wasn’t really good at anything. I couldn’t really do sports because I’m asthmatic, so I kinda just picked up on beatboxing,” Watson said. “Don’t let anyone tell you what not to do. As a kid with a disability, I wasn’t able to have a typical childhood as much as I would like to”
He added: “Always fight for what you think is right and just strive to be the best person that you can possibly be, and once you do that you can be amazing.”
Elora Molloy, new Campus Activities Board president and history major, managed the event.
“The turnout was better than expected actually, and we had a lot of participation. We’re looking to have (open mic) in the spring. I don’t think it’s going to be a one-time thing,” Molloy said.
The full house in the cafeteria hinted that there very well might be another successful open mic event.
