Meghan Theriault has accomplished something at #MiddletownRI High that some people strive for their entire lives -- publishing a book. Her senior project at the Valley Road school, “Real poems for Real feelings” is getting rave reviews.
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CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
POWER IN POETRY
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (MAY 9, 2024) – Many people dream of publishing a book in their lifetime.
Meghan Theriault got that done at Middletown High School, and she hasn’t even graduated yet.
As part of her Senior Project, the 18-year-old local girl compiled the 70-plus poems she wrote about life, growth and more into “Real poems for Real feelings.”
Published in late February, Theriault said she’s gotten an overwhelmingly positive response from everyone who’s read and seen “Real,” which acts almost as a window into her soul from a few years ago when she was going through a rough stretch.
“If you told me three years ago that I would have written and published a book, I would have said ‘You’re crazy,’” Theriault said, laughing. “I went through some stuff in the summer of 2022 and I found writing poetry was a way to help me work through it.”
Better yet, Theriault said she’s heard from those who’ve read her work that its helped them too, a feeling that’s beyond rewarding. To buy the book, visit https://mdl.town/Real-Poems online.
“I had a lot of motivation and seeing how other people were able to connect to the poetry, no matter their age, their background or gender, that made me want to (write) more,” Theriault said. “And the best part was I was helping myself at the same time.”
The daughter of Paul Theriault, Meghan has two brothers, Justin and Conner. When she’s not at school, Theriault keeps busy working and with competitive dance as a member of Kelley Ann Dance Center in Portsmouth.
Describing herself today as open, honest, bubbly and sensitive, Theriault said it wasn’t always like that for her a couple summers ago.
In a persistent rut back then, Theriault turned to poetry as an outlet to express her feelings and emotions.
Not a huge “book reader,” Theriault said she tends to steer more towards the arts and English in school, but she found the more she wrote, the better she felt.
Introducing some her works anonymously on TikTok online, Theriault said she got a big response from people all over, driving her to work even more on her poetry.
“People were saying what I wrote was so relatable to this circumstance or that circumstance and they’d tag their friends,” Theriault said. “Even though a lot of us will have similar experiences, they’re all different and to be able to have words on a screen fit people and make them feel the same way was nice. And to let people know they’re not alone, that we all deserve at least one person. That’s really special. I’m not a standalone in this."
Compiling all her work into a single Google Document, Theriault said the number climbed to more than 70 poems when she started considering putting them together in a book.
“I like poetry,” Theriault said. “The words are nice and spaced on a page. I’m a very emotional person, you could say, so I like to see other connections. My main goal with this book was to make people feel not as alone.”
For advice about publishing, she turned to Amy Martin, the mother of one of her friends who was an author and familiar with the ins and outs of the field.
Getting suggestions on everything from whether to self publish or try a publishing house to the look and feel of her work, Theriault said she was so appreciative for the input from a seasoned pro.
Opting to go on her own with the self published route, Theriault said she then decided to use the book as the focus of her Senior Project, one of the requirements to graduate from the Valley Road school.
Over the years, students have done everything from building boats to opening their own businesses and overhauled cars, so Theriault’s book publishing plan made sense.
“With writing, you have to be in the mood to do it,” Theriault said. “You can’t force it. If I sit down and I’m in a particular mood, whether it’s happy or silly or I’m upset, everything just flows. I just can’t force it.”
The idea of the Senior Project is to pull all the work and experiences of Islander students into one effort. That way, each can showcase their interests and talents while getting a sense of what goes into making things work in the “real world” after Middletown High.
Principal Donna Sweet said Theriault is a well liked, kind and articulate member of the school’s Class of 2024.
“When I heard of her project and publication, I am not going to lie, I was very impressed,” Sweet said. “I bought the book of poetry immediately and did what I could to highlight the accomplishment of publication with our school community.
“It really is an excellent application of the Senior Project requirement, it is an exemplary project. Beyond that, I admire her brave vulnerability to share her experiences that in effect destigmatize the raw feelings that many teens struggle with. It's okay to feel what we feel and to be open about healing through the pain. It was a beautiful application of her growth and we are proud to have her as a student at MHS.”
Moving forward, Theriault said she’s planning on going to the Community College of Rhode Island to pursue becoming a medical technician. She’s also contemplating auditioning to dance on cruise ships, that way she can see the world while doing something she loves.
In the meantime, Theriault said she’s focusing on finishing up the school year strong and she’s already thinking about her next book of poetry.
A big fan of the work Clarity & Connection by Yung Pueblo, Theriault said she hopes her book inspires others like some she’s read have done for her.
“I don’t use poetry to change my mood, necessarily,” Theriault said. “I use it to be more in tune with myself and understand how I am more as a person.
“I got more clarity about who I am as a person and it was nice to have recognition for my work and what I was doing and to be able to help other people was a huge thing for me.”
Document Link: https://www.middletownri.com/DocumentCenter/View/12497/NYCU-Poem