{"id":477320,"date":"2026-10-26T17:46:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T17:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/477320\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T17:46:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T17:46:10","slug":"meet-sophie-baryalai-austins-new-youth-poet-laureate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/477320\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Sophie Baryalai, Austin’s new Youth Poet Laureate"},"content":{"rendered":"

She’s putting pen to paper and helping write Austin’s next chapter!<\/p>\n

Sophie Baryalai <\/a>is Austin’s new Youth Poet Laureate, a<\/a>nd she’s using the power of poetry to celebrate culture, amplify young voices, and inspire the next generation of writers.<\/p>\n

The Lake Travis High School senior joined Sierra Waggoner on We Are Austin to share her journey as a poet, the inspiration behind her work, and what it means to represent Austin in this exciting new role. She also treated viewers to a special reading of her original poem, Hook.<\/p>\n

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The Lake Travis High School senior joined Sierra Waggoner on We Are Austin to share her journey as a poet, the inspiration behind her work, and what it means to represent Austin in this exciting new role. She also treated viewers to a special reading of her original poem, Hook.Image (22).jpg<\/p>\n

Finding her voice through poetry<\/p>\n

Sophie’s love for writing began at an early age. She remembers filling notebooks with imaginative stories as far back as second grade, often creating fantasy worlds and characters.<\/p>\n

Although she stepped away from writing during middle school, she rediscovered her passion in high school, this time with a new perspective.<\/p>\n

\"Sophie's<\/p>\n

Sophie’s love for writing began at an early age. She remembers filling notebooks with imaginative stories as far back as second grade, often creating fantasy worlds and characters.<\/p>\n

“I think as I got older, I started seeing a lot more issues in the world, and I really wanted to write about them,” Sophie shared.<\/p>\n

Her writing evolved from fictional stories to poetry exploring real-world experiences, personal identity, and the issues affecting her community.<\/p>\n

Finding inspiration in family and culture<\/p>\n

For Sophie, inspiration often begins close to home.<\/p>\n

Growing up in Texas, Sophie developed a desire to connect more deeply with her Afghan heritage. Her grandmother has played an important role in that journey.<\/p>\n

\"Meet<\/p>\n

Meet Sophie Baryalai, Austin’s new Youth Poet Laureate<\/p>\n

\u201dThose family connections have helped shape the way she approaches storytelling, encouraging her to explore cultural identity through personal experiences and everyday moments.<\/p>\n

“For me, I think it’s a very good way to express myself,” she said of poetry.<\/p>\n

Sophie believes writing can also help people see beyond stereotypes and understand one another through a more personal and cultural lens.<\/p>\n

Representing Austin’s next generation<\/p>\n

Being named Austin Youth Poet Laureate is an opportunity Sophie doesn’t take lightly.<\/p>\n

“I think it’s a really great honor for me,” she shared.<\/p>\n

She’s especially excited about increasing representation and helping more young people discover the power of poetry.<\/p>\n

\""Seeing<\/p>\n

“Seeing her photo albums, watching the news with her, and her experiences has just given me a lot of inspiration in my own writing,” Sophie explained.<\/p>\n

Sophie already runs a cultural journal and an editorial initiative, much of which involves working with writers through online platforms and social media.<\/p>\n

Now, she hopes to take those efforts beyond the screen.<\/p>\n

“I would love to kind of expand this as Austin Youth Poet by doing workshops in person,” she explained.<\/p>\n

She also hopes to visit schools and connect with students who may not have access to the same creative writing resources and opportunities.<\/p>\n

A Powerful message in her poem Hook em’ Upside Down<\/p>\n

During her visit to We Are Austin, Sophie shared an excerpt from her original poem, Hook \u2019em, Upside Down, a piece exploring identity, belonging, and what it means to be a Texan.<\/p>\n

The poem references a burnt orange Longhorn jersey and the experience of seeing people questioned about whether they belong because of their appearance.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think we should put a label on what being Texan looks like,” Sophie explained.<\/p>\n

\"Meet<\/p>\n

Meet Sophie Baryalai, Austin’s new Youth Poet Laureate – 4cd8159b-553a-44d7-af9f-d6f2f274f99d.png<\/p>\n

As a high school student preparing for college herself, she understands the hard work students put into their education and hopes her poetry encourages people to look beyond differences.<\/p>\n

“I just think it’s really important that, you know, as people together, we all stand up and we work together,” she shared.<\/p>\n

A bright future beyond high school<\/p>\n

While Sophie is already making an impact through her writing, she’s also looking ahead to life after graduation.<\/p>\n

The Lake Travis High School senior plans to pursue an English degree in college and hopes to continue studying in academia, potentially becoming a professor.<\/p>\n

“I’m really passionate about education, so I’m excited,” she said.<\/p>\n

With a passion for poetry, education, and community, Sophie is ready to make the most of her time as Austin Youth Poet Laureate.<\/p>\n

Learn more about Sophie and the Library Foundation<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Austin Youth Poet Laureate program, visit the Library Foundation’s website or follow the organization on social media. <\/p>\n

austinlibrary.org<\/a><\/p>\n

You can also keep up with Sophie’s writing through her cultural journal and Instagram @sophiebaryalai<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch the full We Are Austin interview with Sophie Baryalai to hear her inspiring story and experience her original poetry!<\/p>\n

\"{p}Website:<\/p>\n

Website: austinlibrary.org<\/p>\n

Phone: (512) 542-0076<\/p>\n

Social Media:<\/p>\n

– Instagram & Facebook (The Library Foundation): @LibraryFoundationATX<\/p>\n

– Instagram (Sophie Baryalai): @sophiebaryalai<\/p>\n