A junior at Episcopal Academy, Clarissa Leung recently was selected to have her poem “Lobster 5 Ways” published by the prestigious poetry journal Poetry South, an international journal published annually by Creative Writing at Mississippi University for Women. Leung is a member of the school’s Mandarin Club, was a member of EA’s former female acapella group Bella Voce, has played the piano at Carnegie Hall and is a seven-time winner at the Golden Key Music Festival. She recently won two silver keys for her poetry, is a past winner of Episcopal Academy’s Kenneth R. Balsley Prize for highest scholarship in the rising IV Form, received the George T. Davis Prize for highest scholarship in the rising V Form, and was awarded the Jarvis Meirs Memorial Prize for excellence in biology. Leung is a leader of Episcopal Academy’s Asian-American Student Union (AASU), and is involved with after school tutoring at EA. She is co-captain of the EA girls’ golf team, which has gone undefeated in the Inter-Ac for the last three seasons, won the Inter-Ac Girls Golf Tournament earlier this month with a nine-hole score of 32 and placed fourth at the 2023 Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Junior Girls’ Championship.
Main Line Media News: Tell us a little about the poem “Lobster 5 Ways” and your inspiration for writing it.
Clarissa Leung: My English teacher, Mr. Tony Herman, asked us to write a poem inspired by “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” by Wallace Stevens. I wanted to use the framework of looking at lobsters from different perspectives to discuss two topics that are important to me: family and tradition. It took me many drafts to find exactly the right words and imagery for the message I wanted to convey. I am fortunate to have Mr. Herman and Father Tim Gavin, EA’s head chaplain, as mentors. They have both given me tremendous feedback and support, and with their help, I continue to try to grow as a poet.
Main Line Media News: Tell us a little about the Asian-American Student Union and some of its most interesting activities.
Clarissa Leung: The AASU offers Asian-American students a space to share their voices and culture. We started a literary magazine this year to give a wider forum for showcasing Asian-American stories and perspectives. We received some amazing submissions, and we plan to publish our first issue this fall. I am constantly impressed by how talented my classmates are, and I am glad we are providing another opportunity for them to share their talents with a broader community.
Main Line Media News: What is your favorite performance piece/song and why?
Clarissa Leung: My favorite piece to perform on the piano is Brahms’s Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2. My piano teacher told me that Brahms was in love with Clara Schumann, who happened to be married to another man (composer Robert Schumann.) Clara was an accomplished pianist who debuted many of Brahms’s pieces. When I play this Intermezzo, which Brahms dedicated to Clara, I like to think about all the emotions he must have felt but could never say out loud. The piece is also technically complex yet allows for a lot of freedom of interpretation. My favorite song to sing is (coincidentally) “Blackbird” by The Beatles. The lyrics are poetic and powerful, and one of my favorite EA memories is getting to perform “Blackbird” at open-mic night with a friend on guitar.
Main Line Media News: You’ve won a number of academic awards at EA, and you mentioned the influence of many of the school’s teachers. Tell us a little about this.
Clarissa Leung: I’ve had many inspiring teachers at EA; I struggle academically as much as anyone, but I won these awards because I had teachers who were willing to answer emails at all hours, get up early to meet before school, and even buy me books that they thought might foster a passion. I’m amazed at how much some of my teachers genuinely care about their students.
Main Line Media News: What has been the most important thing you have learned as an after-school tutor?
Clarissa Leung: I was trying to help a 5th grader (not an EA student) with math when I realized that he didn’t know basic multiplication. He had no hope of understanding the harder stuff because he had never mastered the basics. It really hit home how COVID has affected an entire generation of kids, and it made me realize how fortunate I am to have gone to EA, where the school had the resources (physical and leadership) to minimize the COVID disruption. This experience made me want to do more, because I recognize how lucky I am. I also started volunteering with First Tee, a youth development program that uses golf lessons as a way to nurture growth in children. It’s so rewarding when I am able to connect with kids or help them make sense of something that confused them.
Main Line Media News: What is your favorite golf course and why? Who is your favorite golfer and why?
Clarissa Leung: I have a soft spot for Regents’ Glen Country Club in York, because it’s the first course on which I managed to break par in a tournament. I also love to play at White Manor, because the course is challenging without being gimmicky. Everything is in front of you. My favorite golfer is Rose Zhang. I admire her humility, work ethic, talent, and mental toughness.
Main Line Media News: When you won the Inter-Ac Girls Golf Tournament earlier this month with a nine-hole score of 32, what was working particularly well for you that day?
Clarissa Leung: I felt confident with my preparation up to the round. I committed to all of my shots. When some shots missed, my wedge game came through. Finally, I had wonderful players and friends in my group (Carter Yearley from EA and Kiersten Bodge from Academy of Notre Dame), which made it even more fun.
Main Line Media News: What is your favorite book, and why? Who is your favorite author, and why?
Clarissa Leung: My favorite book right now is “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan. It’s gorgeously written, with a powerful message and compelling characters. My favorite YA novel is “The Theft of Sunlight” by Intisar Khanani. It’s a fun adventure story that’s impossible to put down. Neil Gaiman is probably my favorite author. He’s just a master storyteller.
(To be selected as Main Line Student of the Week, a student must first be nominated by his or her school.)
