“I see my name in lights…lights…lights,” echoed throughout the Assembly Room at the start of a recent Upper School News program. The speaker was alumna Bettina "GOLD" Wilkerson ’79, aka “Poet GOLD,” a self-described performance artist, poet-songwriter-producer and entrepreneur. “It’s a pleasure and an honor to be with you today…I’ve come full circle,” GOLD continued.
A drum and live-event painter provided a spirited backdrop for GOLD as she took center stage. Her first spoken-word piece required participation from the audience. “The drum beats a rhythm that tells my heart,” she called out. “I can,” the room responded. Between pieces, GOLD paused to share about her life at Chapin. “I was in Dance Club, the arts and the basketball team,” she shared. And perhaps most fitting, GOLD was also a member of the Gold team.
While at Chapin, GOLD found inspiration for her writing during her daily commute between Washington Heights and 100 East End Avenue. Her book, When My Soul Speaks, I Scribe…was published in 2013 and includes a collection of her most recent poetry. Included is the poem “Where I grew up,” which captures the details of her childhood neighborhood. “Chapin has given me the seeds to be where I am today,” she noted, underscoring the importance of following one’s passions. “The most impractical thing you can do in life…is not to follow your dreams.”
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