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Andrea Dietrich Biography

Andrea Dietrich grew up in Iowa and now resides in Utah with a spouse and two cats. She has two grown children and six grandchildren. Having graduated BYU with a Spanish major/ESL minor, she has spent most of her adult life teaching. It wasn't until 2000 that she began writing in earnest and discovering her "niche" as a writer of lyrical poetry. The internet opened up a new world for her, and she has spent two decades now participating in poetry clubs, acting as a judge of poetry contests for various magazines, for the website Shadow Poetry, and for Poetry Soup.

Ms. Dietrich has won numerous awards, as well as the title Poet of the Year 2008, from the Yahoo group, Poetry For Thought. In addition, she has won prizes from the magazines Lucidity, Bell's Letters, Art with Words, Poets at Work and SP Quill, the magazine for which she wrote grammar and poetry articles as well as movie reviews and for which she acted as poetry editor for the head editor Marie Summers for six years. Many of her poems appeared in Shadows Ink, a yearly published series of chapbooks of award winning poetry as well as in numerous other anthologies. Her short stories appeared in many issues of SP Quill and much of her poetry was published in eight chapbooks (no longer sold online).

Since coming to Poetry Soup, Ms. Dietrich has been both contest sponsor and winner of numerous contests. In 2010, her poem "Cinder Girl" was first place winner of Soup's International contest (these contests are no longer held). A song was created from her lyrics "Honeymoon Serenade" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDWxc4cpHDc) and two movies have been made featuring the poetry of Andrea Dietrich: "A Tale of Fire and Ice" (a 4 min. Z-Film Fest Project, 2014) and the full length movie "Six Days of Sistine" in which 20 poems of Ms. Dietrichs serve as the thoughts of two characters played by Jamie Campbell Bower and Elarica Johnson (directed by Richard J. Perry, 2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7710360/

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What Was Your High School Persona?

Blog Posted by Andrea Dietrich: 6/3/2013 5:23:00 PM

Hey, guys, sorry I don't come to blogs as often as I used to. Just crazy busy with school these days. In the ESL school where I teach, they gave me an elective class called FILMS, and I am allowed to make worksheets using any Youtube videos I desire, trailers for movies, documentaries, songs, movie scenes, you name it.

The other day was musical movie week and I remembered my love of the old classic movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It was probably one of my most favorite of youth comedies from the 80's. Does anyone remember this line from Grace, the assistant to the school principal as she responds to her boss, Mr. Rooney?

Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.

This quote is so hilarious to me because it comes from the mouth of a middle aged conservative woman! Also, it's a great springboard for a discussion of American slang with ESL students. I am still not sure I know exactly what a dweebie is!!

I could add to this list: the cheerleaders, the GEEKS and NERDS (which maybe are DWEEBIES) but what about the player, the romantic, the FLIRT, the shy kids, the bookish kids, the comedians, and all those cliques with the popular kids in them, etc? And maybe there was even The POET!!! I know we had a BRAINIAC scientist kid in our school! HIs name was David Bunker and he went on to become a famous doctor!!

Maybe some will not believe me, but I was a bit quiet. With my friends, however, I was outgoing and always trying to be funny. On the other hand, I was always studying too, so I was also one of the HONOR ROLL kids. yeah, I bet some of you hated that group!! I hated the CHEERLEADERS because I tried out in JR High and got nominated by the teachers to be in the top ten, but the student body voted for their top six and I did not make it. I've had a grudge ever since against cheerleader and the popular types. hahaha.

What is all this leading to, you may ask? I want to know. What was YOUR high school persona? If you could select any of the bold print words I showed in this blog, which did you come closest to being? For me, I tried to be a comedian, but I guess in the end I was just the ordinary high school kid but with a pretty good grade point average! What about YOU? Tell me how were YOU!!!!

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Cory
Long

Date: 6/6/2013 6:22:00 AM

High school was hard for me.. I was quiet and kept to myself. I did my work when I was there and stayed out of everyone's way.My parents were nowhere to be found, so I came and went as I pleased. I had my first apartment when I was 16 and I fit in no where among my peers. I was too busy trying to make ends meet while still trying to graduate. Do I regret my decisions in High school yeah I do, Would I do it differently now if I could? Yeah I think I would have been a better student, But I also know I did what I had to do in order to graduate.

Nette
Onclaud

Date: 6/4/2013 6:28:00 PM

yipers, i don;t think you'd like to know...simply though, i was a concoction of many flavors: rebel, clown, artist, party-freak, nerd, free soul, cheerleader, teacher's pet,etc... it was a time to spread my wings though i didn't smoke, do drugs or get into steady relationships... oh well... nice to reminisce..:) huggs

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/4/2013 11:34:00 PM

Nette, I think you had a very full life in a very short time. And I am glad to know you were a "nice" girl like me, not doing drugs and stuff like that.

Good
Night

Date: 6/4/2013 5:35:00 PM

idk i guess i was quiet but at my high school we really didn't have groups like that everyone used and hang out with everybody... i was cool with everyone there... nobody really bullied each other either, me and my friend would always ask the mentally disable kids to come sit at our lunch table....

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/4/2013 11:32:00 PM

that is really sweet that you were so good to the disabled kids, Christopher. I really admire that.

Carol
Eastman

Date: 6/4/2013 3:01:00 PM

I was the ultimate brainaic nerd. Always into serious stuff and Science. It must have been a bit intimidating because I was never ask out or went to any dance I didn't volunteer to work at. The truth was I carried my books everywhere because I had memory lapses and couldn't remember where my locker was or it's combination. I studied hard to try to remember things for when the test came around. I couldn't keep friends because stress made me forget who they were. No one could tell because my epilepsy didn't give me fits... just forgetfulness... I didn't have any problems, because social occassions spurred on my forgetfullness It didn't matter. I made lots of lists to stay in the here and now.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/4/2013 11:31:00 PM

wow, I am friends with a brainiac!! Did you go into science, Carol? sorry about the stress and all. I'm glad to get to know you here at Soup.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 6/4/2013 1:50:00 PM

wow, lots of comments. I am off to a tutoring job and just peeked in. I'll read the rest of these I never saw later tonight. thanks, guys, for your participation at my blog!!

Carrie
Richards

Date: 6/4/2013 8:53:00 AM

I was always on the borderline "edge" of being bookish (a good student) ...considered a "nice girl",...but also on the edge of being popular....but not quite cool enough to be in the fast crowd....too shy to be mega-popular, but I think I was well liked, and loved high school. Our school had 4 cheerleaders and 4 song leaders....I was a song leader with pom-poms no less!! I loved it! (now seems embarrassing)... was on the yearbook staff, girls athletics, 4-H...all that stuff.....but had a great time. Met my future husband...2 yrs older in my junior year.....we married when I was 19....and still together after all these years! :)

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/4/2013 11:28:00 PM

you were the ideal, Carrie, just like you are today for me at soup!! I think you have a blessed life!

Tim Ryerson
Date: 6/4/2013 2:17:00 PM

Not one bit surprised at your post Carrie...We have known each other for quite a few years now and somehow I just knew...

Heather Ober
Date: 6/4/2013 12:35:00 PM

I fully agree with Su below! I love hearing about young couples who last through the years :)

Painted
Hunter

Date: 6/4/2013 7:46:00 AM

I was a mega athlete in all sports, honor roll student, the comedian, a book-reading, poem writing, motorcycle riding, body of a greek god with a face to match it, friend to the friendless, bully-pounding, oddity. I was friends with the jocks, the nerds, the pot-heads, and everyone else. I had the chance to play college baseball but took an academic scholarship instead. I hunted and fished a lot (of course). I didn't date much although I was constantly bugged with it, and I did not do dances.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 6/5/2013 4:35:00 PM

Did you say, "Reckon?" LOL... I am now picturing a young John Wayne, eyes twinkling, that swagger... how close am I... lol

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/4/2013 11:29:00 PM

AWESOME! Especially how you were nice to all different kinds of people. Sorry you didn't get to play college baseball.

Tim Ryerson
Date: 6/4/2013 2:21:00 PM

Caleb...I was a jock too...You seem to be a younger version of me, minus the complications...

Painted Hunter
Date: 6/4/2013 1:12:00 PM

Ha...I reckon so...;)

Heather Ober
Date: 6/4/2013 12:34:00 PM

Hahaha Caleb. "Body of a greek god with a face to match it." Only you could get away with saying that.

Painted Hunter
Date: 6/4/2013 10:02:00 AM

Thanks. You sound pretty darn awesome yourself. I never got caught skinny-dipping, but I did get sent home one day during homecoming week...it was "wear camo day" so I painted my whole body camo and came to school barefoot and in a speedo

Tim
Ryerson

Date: 6/4/2013 7:34:00 AM

The closest I could say was the PLAYER...Always popular and ran with the 'in' crowd...Ironically, I paid a heavy price later for this role. I was a male 'dumb blond'...always getting by on popularity and so called 'good looks', never developing any real sound personality traits. I had to get knocked on my ass a few (many) times before I woke up - Tim

Tim Ryerson
Date: 6/4/2013 2:11:00 PM

Thanks Heather...You are definitely right about that (At least in my case) However, I am still a real dumb-ass with a long way to go...

Heather Ober
Date: 6/4/2013 12:32:00 PM

So that is why your poetry is always so full of wisdom! You have to be young and stupid to eventually be wise ;)

Tim Ryerson
Date: 6/4/2013 7:44:00 AM

I was also a hell-raiser...I do not know how or why I ever survived some of the crazy things we did...

Mandy
Tams The Golden Girl

Date: 6/4/2013 3:21:00 AM

Hi Andy I only did one year of high school, and it was the first time comprehensive schools were introduced in this country but we had no teachers only student teachers... for twelve months while the system settled down, after that i was hospitalised after an accident and never finished school so I was none of the above lol xx

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/4/2013 11:25:00 PM

Mandy, I'm sorry you were in an accident so close to finishing school. I think I would have loved knowing you in high school.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 6/3/2013 11:39:00 PM

Tex, I can see you as the popular girl. I have to retract something I said. I did not look down on all the popular people. I remember this one popular girl who was SO sweet. She would look everyone in the eye like a human being and make you feel so lovely. I hope you were like her in high school!!

Nato
Calubiran

Date: 6/3/2013 11:00:00 PM

I think Im the comedian with a twist of an evil side. Huehuehue

Nato Calubiran
Date: 6/4/2013 1:00:00 AM

nah that was the olden times i got savvied by the evil part. hahaha

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/3/2013 11:40:00 PM

cool!!! I'll have to read some of your poems and see how funny you are!

Kim
Merryman

Date: 6/3/2013 9:12:00 PM

In high school I was pretty much invisible. I was shy, introverted. I was always reading something, so I guess you could say I was bookish. I also made the Honor Roll most of the time. I spent my lunch hour in the library.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/3/2013 11:41:00 PM

Kim, you would have been a person I would have been talking to in high school. For sure.

Poet Destroyer
A

Date: 6/3/2013 8:07:00 PM

i'm not here to brag... but, believe it or not Andrea, I was the most popular girl through out the jr high... everyone wanted to be my friends... geeks, freaks, jocks, cheerleaders, the good gals, the bad boys, and the cool kids, even the Teachers... But, I had my own crew. And everyone wanted to follow me. people at my school, would get happy when I showed them attention. I treated everyone the same. and guess what?? I had a very xool reputation. I was bad, funny, and very pretty. I was the girl who took a rattlesnake to school, and released it down the drains.. LOL, school was dismissed for the rest of the day. I was suspended for 3 days. I was the girl who got half the school bus suspended on a field trip. *what a bummer*

Poet Destroyer A
Date: 6/3/2013 8:13:00 PM

ps... during my high school years we moved. Everything was different at the new school. I was the most wanted girl.... LOL,,, by the BOYS, all 9th - 10th.. that made all the girls at my new school hate me. i figure it had to do with my double d's. and that fact that i was fresh meat.

Poet Destroyer A
Date: 6/3/2013 8:09:00 PM

every now and then, when i see an old friend from school, they will ask about my poetry writing. I laugh and say, you still remember that. I don't tell them i still write it's kind of embarrassing.

Suzanne
Delaney

Date: 6/3/2013 7:38:00 PM

I was from a different State and having been to boarding School where we had elocution so I was accused of trying to speak too posh and excluded from one group that used to hike their skirts and tease their hair. They tried to act like sluts but really weren't. I was good at sport yet enjoyed reading and drama. I felt comfortable by myself and would hang out in the library. We had Surfers and Rockers and I identified more with the Surfers and going to the beach on weekends.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/3/2013 11:41:00 PM

I like your style, Suzanne. Sounds so fun.

Heather
Ober

Date: 6/3/2013 5:55:00 PM

I'm with Cyndi! I didn't really fit into any of the categories above. I was an honour student, so perhaps I could have been called bookish. But I pretty much got along with everyone and didn't have one specific clique. This is a fun post, Andrea! Thanks for posting :)

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/3/2013 11:42:00 PM

Heather you are a girl after my own heart.

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 6/3/2013 5:47:00 PM

I was the cleaned up version of Ally Sheedy in the Breakfast Club, a strange artsy fartsy with friends from a variety of cliques--- I'd hang with the "sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads" with ease and oddly enough they never tried to railroad me into a mold-- the only thing I expected out of friendship was just let me be me, which I guess holds true today. I loved art, did some acting, even hung out with the sound and lightening crew. I think it was because, even then, I was a writer... and so I found EVERYONE and EVERYTHING interesting... the differences, the similarities. Maybe I was just an accepted outsider, belonging nowhere and everywhere...

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/3/2013 11:43:00 PM

LOve your answer, Cyndi. I like to think that would be me too.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 6/3/2013 5:51:00 PM

so, one more to add to your list: CLIQUE-LESS

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 6/3/2013 5:46:00 PM

Here are some more: Macho, Class Clown(just being silly all the time), the Dunce, the BORED ones, the ones always asleep, the WEIGHT LIFTERS (I guess any sports could be listed: the track star/ tennis champ/ chess addict. The list goes on and on!!!