The Strength to be Vulnerable: A Profile of Student-Athlete-Poet Tayshaun Bookal
By Josh Eugene
Tayshaun Bookal is a Senior at the University of Bridgeport majoring in Health Science. Outside of school, he stays busy with many different activities and hobbies. He runs track, writes poems, participates in SPB and Skate Club, plays video games, listens to music, exercises, watches anime, paints, skates, works as an RA, and practices self-care. These activities give him different ways to express himself and enjoy his free time.
One of the things Tay enjoys the most is writing poems. His experience as a writer mostly comes from school, but he also had the opportunity to have a poem published in Groundswell, UB’s annual art & lit magazine. Writing allows him to express his feelings in a way that he may not always be able to express them through regular conversations.
Tay’s wrote his poem “New Beginning” during a time when he was feeling passionate and hopeful. He was about to ask his girlfriend out on New Year's, but he ended up getting an answer that he was not expecting. Tay's favorite thing about the poem is that he was going to give it to someone special. That made the poem more meaningful to him because he was putting his real feelings into his writing.
While writing the poem, he felt loving, caring, joyful, and optimistic. He was being vulnerable because he wanted to see if the other person would accept his feelings. Even though being vulnerable can be difficult, Tay believes it is important to express how you feel.
Overall, writing allows Tay to express his feelings and share parts of himself with other people. His poem is important to him because it represents a moment when he was passionate, hopeful, and willing to be vulnerable. As a writer, Tay wants people to see that he is not afraid to show the love and feelings that he has through his writing.
New Beginning
By Tayshaun Bookal
Three days until the New Year.
Looking back, I’m grateful for you.
You came into my world unexpectedly.
When I thought nothing would change,
Yet you changed my life for the better.
Three days until New Year’s.
I didn’t believe that I would love someone again.
Guarded my heart like a knight
Shield raised against past pain
But when I met you, something stirred.
My heart whispered of hope.
While my brain is warning me to stay safe.
In the end, I gave in to my heart.
And gave love one more chance.
Three days until the New Year.
I want to build a new beginning with you.
One filled with joy, love, and comfort.
A bond that’s untouched by evils,
A safe haven for us both,
A God-fearing start to our journey.
Three days until the New Year.
I thank God for you.
For all that you are
And all that you do for me
You feel like my second home.
I can be my true self again.
Free and childlike.
I’m truly grateful for you.
Let’s start the journey the right way.
and build a new beginning together.
Josh Eugene is a sophomore at the University of Bridgeport majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. He is the President of UB’s Black Student Alliance.
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