Sixteen-year-old Tyler Szeremeta of Montreal lost his father to cancer in December 2022, and struggled to put his emotions into words following this devastating loss. Feeling disconnected from his father and lacking the same bond that others have, he turned to poetry as a form of self-expression. Through an English class at his school, Szeremeta began putting his thoughts on paper and eventually created a poem about his father that was emotional for him and his family.
The poem touched his family deeply, with his sister Jamie describing it as a moving and heartfelt tribute to their late father. After receiving positive feedback from his teachers, Szeremeta decided to share his poem with a wider audience. He took the stage at John Rennie High School’s Black & Gold variety show, performing his emotional piece in front of a large crowd. His mother Sarah Ruano expressed pride in seeing him share his story with the world.
Szeremeta credits his teachers for helping him to open up and discover writing as a powerful form of self-expression. Teacher Shanna Kavanagh emphasized the importance of getting feelings out on paper as a way to process and examine them in a different light. Encouraging more teenagers to embrace writing as an outlet for their emotions, Kavanagh believes it can be a valuable tool for coping with grief and other challenges.
With a newfound passion for writing, Szeremeta plans to continue exploring his creativity and self-expression through screenplays and other forms of writing. The support and encouragement he received from his teachers have played a significant role in helping him navigate his grief and find a way to express his emotions. By sharing his poem with others, Szeremeta has not only honored his father’s memory but also found a way to connect with others who may be experiencing similar struggles.
Tyler Szeremeta’s journey of grief and self-expression serves as a powerful reminder of the healing potential of art and writing. Through his poetry, he has been able to process his emotions surrounding his father’s death and connect with others who have experienced loss. His performance at the school variety show has allowed him to share his story with a wider audience and inspire others to use writing as a means of healing and self-discovery. Moving forward, Szeremeta plans to continue writing as a way to navigate the complex emotions of grief and honor his father’s memory.
