Rebecca Balcarcel

Rebecca Balcarcel's love affair with words began when she took a freshman creative writing course at TCC's Northeast Campus - not far from her home in Bedford.

Her introduction in 1991 to the poetry of Anne Sexton, Elizabeth Bishop and other authors convinced her she could write.

"It was a life-changing semester," said Balcarcel, now an associate English professor at Northeast teaching in the same classroom that gave voice to her ambitions. "I was so inspired by what we read."

Creative writing, she said, allows her to teach others about the enduring power of language while continuing to master her craft.

"They're learning to think critically and communicate effectively. Writing will make them better citizens, to become informed," she said. "I tell them to find a subject that they're excited about. If you follow the excitement, then you'll do well. Enjoy studying and working."

Balcarcel graduated from the acclaimed Bennington Writing Seminars in Vermont in 2002 with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. The school awarded her its coveted Jane Kenyon Poetry Prize.

Her poetry has appeared in dozens of journals and magazines including North American Review and the Concho River Review. Her latest book of poetry, Palabras in Each Fist, was published in January.

-- By Debra Dennis