25/09/2026
"I spend much of my time learning about technology, writing code and finding solutions to problems. But give me a microphone, a few minutes, an audience, and another side of me comes alive.
That is where poetry found me.
I never came to TUM planning to become a poet.
In fact, I once wanted to be a rapper.
I grew up listening to artists such as Khaligraph Jones and King Kaka, and I was fascinated by the way rap could turn words into stories, emotions and messages. Then, while I was in Form Four, I discovered spoken word.
At the time, I did not understand much about it. I simply knew there was something different about using words not just to rhyme, but to make people think and feel.
My real turning point, however, came after I joined TUM. I became a member of the Christian Union, and that is where I met a fellow poet, Nick. Watching him perform opened my eyes to what spoken word could become. I saw what he was doing and thought, "this is what I want to do.”
That experience changed the direction of my creative journey. The rapper in me gradually gave way to the spoken-word artist I am today. My microphone has become my voice. For me, poetry is not simply about standing on stage and entertaining people.
I use it to talk about things that matter. I write about society, human behaviour, faith, young people and situations that I believe need to be addressed. Sometimes I speak about things happening around us that people are uncomfortable discussing.
Other times, my audience is simply one person who needs to hear the right words at the right time. "I address something that needs to be addressed,” I say. That is what makes poetry meaningful to me.
As much as poetry has become an important part of my life, I have not forgotten why I came to TUM. I usually describe it this way, Computer Science is my passion, while poetry is my talent. My studies demand more of my time because I have to practise, research and understand concepts. Poetry also requires practice, but the two demand different kinds of commitment.
Balancing them is not always easy. There are moments when I have to study while someone needs me for a performance. When that happens, I ask myself which responsibility carries more weight at that particular moment. Sometimes I choose the studies. Sometimes I choose the stage.
Then I find a way to catch up. For me, balance does not mean giving both things exactly the same amount of time. It means knowing what needs my attention most at a particular moment.
One of the things I love about poetry is that I did not need a lot of money to begin. My biggest investment has been practice.
When an opportunity to perform comes, my talent can also earn me something. That makes poetry not only a passion but a potential source of income.
When I look back, I realise that TUM did more than give me an opportunity to study Computer Science. It gave me an environment in which I discovered another part of myself. Most importantly, I discovered my voice.
If there is one thing I would tell a student who is still trying to figure out their path, it is this: do not forget why you came to TUM.
If you came to study, make your studies a priority. But that does not mean you have to bury your talent.Give your talent room to grow while taking your education seriously. Parents, if your child is already doing what you asked them to do academically, give them room to explore the other things they love."
-Omwera Denis Omwera Denis
