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After walking up to a microphone set up in front of San Diego City College’s Art Gallery, Elisha Patrice took little time to get ready before kicking off into a song of encouragement.
The song abruptly cut off, and Patrice used a powerful voice to depict someone in crisis, desperation bleeding into her words, in a spoken word piece called “Tock.”
“It is giving a first-hand account on what somebody is actually going through when they have suicidal ideations and (are) at the point of attempting,” Patrice said.
The performance by the 38-year-old student in the social work program produced an overwhelming applause from the audience.
“I hope (my performance) brings awareness and education more than anything,” Patrice said during an interview afterward. “(And) peace, comfort. I hope it brings some type of encouragement to keep going, like keep your clock ticking.”
Patrice was awarded the top honor and $500 at City’s 22nd Annual Student Project and Research Symposium on Thursday, April 16, the same day the campus welcomed prospective students to its Community Open House.
Tayler Nichols, who mentored Patrice and is also a disAbility Support Programs and Services counselor at City, knew Patrice would win after hearing the piece for the first time.
“I thought (she) did amazing,” Nichols said. “It was cool to see her shine in her spoken word.”
Twelve students were chosen to perform for the spoken word event, each using their own original work.
Before a crowd of over 30 people, participants performed their pieces behind a mic, competing for cash prizes given out by judges from the campus administration.
Communication studies major Victor B. Lang performed in last year’s symposium, when he won first place in the spoken word category.
This year, he performed his piece, “A True Friend,” which was about the qualities that help people be the real deal in friendships.
Lang has experienced many friendships that quickly broke up, but he deliberately focused his piece on the aspects that made someone a true friend.
“What most people know me for is I’m always lifting you up,” Lang said.
Lang has had years to practice and refine his skills, hoping to use those same skills to help his community.
He participates in the choir Voices of Our City, which uses music to increase resilience and create connections. It also provides resources for the unhoused community of San Diego, according to the Voices of Our City website.
Lang joined the choir in 2019 and has since been given many opportunities to learn and network, even though he was not unhoused.
After getting his master’s degree, Lang hopes to come back and become a communication studies professor at City, something many of his own professors have recommended to him.
Although he will be graduating this semester, Lang hopes to participate in future symposiums at City College.
This story was edited by Nadia Lavin and David J. Bohnet.
