Meet Melina Hudak. She’s a junior who’s been performing slam poetry for three years. Hudak started off her poetry career in eighth grade and has never turned back.

“I read Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein in third grade and was inspired by it. So I started writing poetry as a form of self-expression in sixth or seventh grade, which really helped me get through that weird time,” Hudak said.

Although it’s recently gained some popularity, slam has existed since 1984 for poets to express themselves and their writing without props, costumes or music.

“It’s kind of like acting, actually. You go up and read your poem, and then so there’s the whole bunch of competitors, and based on the slam you’re doing, it can be set up differently so a lot of them have an 8-4-2 setting, so the first round has eight poets, the second has four poets, and the third round has two poets,” Hudak said.

Poems for most slams can touch on any topic, and for Hudak, she chooses to talk about sexual assault.

“Most of my poems are about sexual assault and rape prevention, and most slam poems are more political, or about social issues. With everything happening in the news with women standing against their abusers, it really inspired me to write poetry,” Hudak said.

Although Hudak might be a newcomer to the world of slam, she’s a force to be reckoned with.

“I’ve been to three slams, but I have not won one yet. I came in second place in the one I just did. The people who win are super-tech, they travel to attend slams and have done way more than I have,” said Hudak.

And for those with stage fright, do not fear. Slam provides a unique experience for every participant.

“It’s really intimidating at first because you don’t know how they’re going to react. But once I got up there and started talking, I got so many positive responses from people. It’s so amazing, it’s such a good feeling,” Hudak said.