From the Sidewalk Up: Monroe Students Give Their "Blocks" a Voice

Monroe University students Rayana Figueroa, Daviah Frank, Sameer Brohi, and Elanie Cruz have emerged as the winners of The Scribes Writing Club’s Fall 2025 writing competition, “If My Block Could Talk.”

Students were invited to reflect on their memories and imagine what stories the places that shaped them would tell. The Scribes Writing Club, a creative writing group at Monroe, hosts these competitions every semester, encouraging all students to explore creative expression through poems, essays, personal narratives, and more.

“The goal of The Scribes Writing Competition is to provide Monroe University’s many writers with an incentive to share their voices,” said English Professor Suzette Seepersad, advisor for The Scribes Writing Club. “This club creates a safe, creative space for students to showcase their work and find inspiration in collaboration with other like-minded creatives.”

The four winning entries were distinctively unique, each offering a glimpse into how a place or space can deeply influence and shape a person’s life.

Rayana Figueroa’s poem, “The Sidewalk’s Heartbeat,” took first place. In her piece, Rayana describes the daily ritual of walking alongside her neighbor, likening the rhythm of their footsteps to the heartbeat of the sidewalk. She reflects on how this seemingly simple act gives purpose and meaning to the ground beneath them—something most people overlook.

“What started as a small moment made me realize how a block pays attention, how it grows attached to the footsteps it hears every day,” Rayana explained.

Her poem led her to consider how much a sidewalk must know, being a place that carries so much history and experience.

“Because if my block could talk, it would say, ‘I can’t hold onto anybody forever, but the mornings you give me are enough to make me feel alive,’” she said.

Winning the competition, Rayana shared that it felt both surreal and affirming. “It’s not just a win for me,” she said. “It feels like a win for my block, my community, and every small moment that inspired the piece.”

Second-place winner, Daviah Frank from St. Lucia, approached the prompt through nostalgia in her poem, “My Block.” Drawing from her childhood memories, Daviah reflects on a time when life felt simpler, before responsibilities and the harshness of reality reshaped daily life.

“If my block could talk, it would say, ‘I miss dem children who made me dis way,’” she wrote, using Creole to convey the deep emotion of her piece.

Daviah expressed her pride and gratitude for being recognized, especially as an online student who initially didn’t know she could participate. “Through Professor Seepersad, I discovered that this space existed,” she shared. “It reignited my love for poetry and reminded me that, even alongside a non-literary degree, I can still grow as a writer.”

Sameer Brohi earned third place with “Cocci and Her Rat-Infested Block 6,” a piece shaped by what he calls his “microscopical scrutiny of life.” His writing, filled with observations of everyday New York City experiences, presents a distinctive Gen Z perspective.

Sameer described the writing process as “zen” and credited Monroe for helping him grow as a writer by exposing him to diverse perspectives and encouraging reflective practices like long walks, notetaking, and intentional reading.

Elanie Cruz placed fourth with “Echoes on Center Avenue,” a piece that takes an unconventional approach by telling the story through the perspective of a cat.

“If my block could talk,” she said, “it would probably have a lot of gossip and old stories to tell.”

This marks Elanie’s third time placing in the competition. She expressed her surprise and gratitude for the recognition. “My experience at Monroe has given me so many stories to draw from,” she said, referencing her academic journey from Education to Business and now to Creative Writing. “Each transition has given me something new to write about.”

Professor Seepersad emphasized the wealth of creativity at Monroe, saying, “There are so many students who write. We have students who write songs, short stories, and even memoirs at Monroe University. The space to be creative and express oneself in The Scribes Writing Club is indeed a treasured one.”