Tessa believes poetry helps us look at the world in a new way

    Tessa Wygant was born April 4tth, 1996, in Elkhart, Indiana. When she was three she and her family moved to Alaska and began a new life. Tessa has a younger sister named Amanda. Her family grew up around several different animals such as cows, chickens, horses, a pig, and dogs.
    Tessa Went to Kenny Lake School, and is now attending her last two years there. By growing up in such a remote area, it helped shape who Tessa is as a person and a writer. "I have never written for fun, but have always found joy in my assignment," says Tessa.
     One of her most favorite poets is Emily Dickinson because of her unusual outlook on life . Tessa’s favorite poem is "A Sidekick of My Own," because it is a description of someone who is close to her. "I believe the purpose of poetry is to entertain the reader, and take their mind off of things and to create a new way of looking at the world.”

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A sidekick of my own

My sidekick does not disown me when I make a mistake
Does not hurt me when I am weak
Does not make me sad when I am happy
Does not forget me when I forget them

My sidekick is my friend when I have done wrong
She serves me when I am hurt,
Comforts, me when tears stream down my face,
And loves me when I don't love her

My sidekick is my own
From her freckled face and chocolate hair
To her petite frame
Down to her diminutive feet
Her sarcastic humor
Imitating those who anger her
Her sensitive attitude
It's all what I love most
She is my sidekick

The World As my Playground

With the world as my playground
I ran through the dense woods
On a path leading to something high in a tree
There it was sitting high up on several branches
One small hand in front of the other
Slowly inching up a ladder
Finally reaching the top
I pulled myself onto the platform
From this height the eye saw several wonders
A squirrel in a neighboring tree
A woodpecker across the opening
And a mosquito buzzing near my ear
A day in my tree house is never the same
For a young girl like me every day shows me new things
With the world as my playground
I always seize the day