Norwich High School sophomore finishes in top group during New York City poetry slam final

NORWICH – Patricia McNeil, a Norwich High School sophomore, placed among the top 23 out of 500 teenagers who competed in the Urban Word NYC Annual Teen Poetry Slam held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem last Saturday.

McNeil performed her original poem, ‘Letter To My Daughter On Her 16th Birthday’ flawlessly, according to her teacher and Norwich High School Poetry Team Manager Richard Bernstein.

“It was a stunning performance,” Bernstein said.

After the performance, McNeil, the daughter of Jim and Libby McNeil of Norwich, said, “I am happy that I made it as far as I did, and I kind of feel itching to do it again next year.”