Allen High School student Writisha Bezboruah has achieved national recognition for her Spanish-language poem, Bossa Nova. The full-IB Spanish 5 HL student’s work was selected for publication in Albricias, the prestigious student journal of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH),
Her accomplishment is particularly noteworthy because she not only submitted her work but also played a key role in establishing the Albricias submission process for Allen High School’s Spanish National Honor Society chapter. The publication features outstanding student contributions in essays, poetry, photography, and artwork, with award-winning entries receiving national recognition.
Writisha’s poem was inspired by bossa nova, a Brazilian music style that blends samba with jazz and incorporates both Spanish and Portuguese lyrics.
“I was really interested in bossa nova, so I talked about how it exists in the U.S. and how I love the style of music,” said Writisha. “The theme for this edition of Albricias was Spanish and Portuguese in the United States, so I thought it was a great fit.”
Though she enjoys writing poetry, this was her first time composing in Spanish.
“I didn’t think I was going to win, so it was really unexpected,” she said. “But I feel proud because this is the first time I wrote something in Spanish—and I even included some Portuguese in it, since I’ve been learning the language.”
Writisha, who started studying Spanish in eighth grade at Ereckson Middle School, has taken Spanish throughout high school and is currently enrolled in IB Spanish HL. She credits Allen High School’s rigorous language program for shaping her fluency and deepening her appreciation for Hispanic culture.
"I took Spanish one in eighth grade, and then I took Spanish two, three, and now I'm in IB Spanish HL. By the time I graduate, I will have taken five years of Spanish," Writisha said. "It's been a challenging but rewarding journey, and I've learned so much along the way."
Beyond her academic success, Writisha is passionate about writing, dancing, and volunteering. She hopes to study public health in the future while continuing to use Spanish in her life and career.
Her nationally recognized poem, Bossa Nova, captures the rhythmic essence of the music that inspired her. It blends cultures and languages to celebrate sound and movement.
Congratulations to Writisha for her well-earned national recognition.
Bossa Nova
By Writisha Bezboruah
primero, portugués
y español después
cinco, seis, sete, oito
cinco, seis, siete, ocho
los ritmos se forman en mi cuerpo
con el bom bom bom, esos que son particulares
la chica (a garota) de Ipanema va caminando
y aquí, las chicas estadounidenses empiezan a bailar
con la guitarra de Gilberto
su samba, su jazz, su voz tan suave
con los sabores de Brasil
Copacabana y la clave
el español y el portugués
estas lenguas flotan por aquí
con las voces de músicos brasileños
que me llevan a palabras extranjeras
sí, bailemos bajo las estrellas
cinco, seis, sete, oito
cinco, seis, siete, ocho
los pasos sincronizados
bossa nova con las chicas aquellas
afuera en la noche
cantando los idiomas tan bellos
la chica de Ipanema se encuentra a sí misma
entre los ritmos de bossa
y con ella, nosotros estadounidenses
siempre enamorados del carisma
siempre bailando con su música
siempre con bossa nova
cinco, seis, sete, oito
cinco, seis, siete, ocho