Naik named Pleasanton’s new teen poet laureate

Pleasanton’s new teen poet laureate, Kanchan Naik, poses with the City Council after being recognized during a ceremony on Nov. 19 that included Naik reciting her original poem “not a writer” and offering brief remarks.

“As the teen poet laureate, I would like to help our community not only appreciate poetry, but treat it like an approachable, hands-on activity,” Naik, a junior at The Quarry Lane School, said in part. “In addition, I would like to use poetry to highlight the challenges that teenagers face on a daily basis, such as stress, body image and anxiety.”