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Stephanie Scordia
The Cypher Faculty Advisor
Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA. 19130
215-751-8333
[email protected]
Student Volunteers
Design & Layout
Gregory Johns-Miller
Lamont Gibson
Shauna Jordan
Lashayna Foster
Yannik Stevens
Photography
Matthew Hall
Special thanks to the Office of Student Life for sponsoring The Cypher; to the many
faculty members who encouraged their students to submit their work; to Steve Aicholtz
and the Business Services staff for printing this issue; to Art professor Terry Peterson, for
his significant contributions to this magazine; and, finally, thank you to all of the students
who submitted their work for this issue. You are the reason this magazine exists.
CONTENTS
Poetry, Essays, Lyrics
Artwork
Tu Pham, Memories of My Childhood
6
Jason Allen, Painting The World
8
Vera Owens, Family Snapshots
11
Svetlana Strunskaya, What Are You Living For?
12
Jocelyn Melendez, Grandma’s House
14
DeAnna Thompson, Somewhere In Time
17
CFlame, Official
20
Gregory Johns-Miller, For The Community
22
DeAnna Thompson, I Come From A Place
25
Keon Cash, DREAM Turned Into A Reality
26
Francisca Ortiz, A Brooklyn Experience
28
CFlame, Take Initiative
33
Adama Timera, Where Are My Colors?
34
Shantel Cancel, My Name
37
Victoria Gallagher, Illustration
9
David Curby, Ceramic
10
Deral Ingram, Photograph
13
Daniel Cullins, Collage
16
Daniel Cullins, Illustration
18
Jared Piper, Photograph
19
Jessica Alvarez, Ceramic
21
Victoria Gallagher, Illustration
24
Jared Piper, Photograph
27
Deral Ingram, Photograph
30
Timothy Emerson, Illustration
32
Nahjua Treadwell, Ceramic
35
Andra Ware, Illustration
36
Contributors’ Notes
39
Tu Pham
Memories of My Childhood
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.
Without them, humanity cannot survive.”
I
–Dalai Lama XIX
.was born and grew up in southern Vietnam. Long An is my hometown,
.and from my childhood, I remember images of immense green fields and
how my grandma loved me. There is a common Vietnamese saying: “when
drinking water, remember who dug the well.” My childhood memories and
the love of my grandma for me is always in my heart.
To begin with, as many kids, I usually spent time on large green grasses
playing tag with my friends, went swimming in small, cool rivers, and flew kites
in the afternoons. Sometimes, I sat on the ground to look at the infinite green
rice fields far away. In addition, I played with clay, which I used to model little
cars and animals like chickens, pigs, and buffalos; I collected different color
marbles and made many toy castles of sand. With that string of games, I never felt bored or tired.
Beside the games, the period of time when I lived with my grandma was
also happy. She gave me tender hugs, bought candy and cookies for me;
especially, she never scolded or beat me. Every night, before I was falling in
sleep, she told to me about fairy tales, folk tales, and funny stories. She led
me to sweet dreams with the fairy, hero, and animal stories she told, and she
didn’t forget a kiss on my forehead. Then, when I was in high school, one day
everything around me collapsed when I realized that my grandma had gone
to a place faraway. That was a big shock in my life.
After that event, I was falling in the gloom, and I felt the sadness in my soul.
I did not talk to anyone for several days. Fortunately, I had a great mother, who always stayed with me, encouraged, and consoled me a lot. She
told me that I was the strongest boy of all boys, and when someone has
lost a close relative, he would spend time and face a big shock like me.
I remember trying to keep myself strong because many people who loved
me didn’t want to see me fall into sadness and disappointment. I was also
old enough to understand what my mother was saying. Like a blind man who
has found the sun, I changed my mind and tried to be a good person as my
grandma had taught me.
In conclusion, each period of time will give me different feelings – happiness
and sadness. I now try my best to enjoy happiness and stand up tall after a
big shock. I also want to send a message to people who have suffered a loss
to love and express your love to relatives as much as you can because we
don’t know what day they will be gone. I love my bustling life in America, but
the peaceful days spent with my grandmother in Vietnam will always be in
my heart.
7
Jason Allen
Painting The World
W
alking into the library, I can’t help but notice how much knowledge is
here. People are here to get a better understanding of the things they
need and want to know. There is a settling quietness here and a feeling in the
air of people focusing. Walking past each person in the group of computers, I
can only imagine what kind of work they are doing for their courses. I can only
imagine where this work will take them in the future.
Mostly everyone is here to get knowledge so that they can have a bright
future, but every book on these shelves is a product of the past. That makes
me think of the saying “history repeats itself.” You read these books and apply
what you learn to your work. So that saying kind of works for this situation in a
way. You read history to apply it to your future.
Walking through two towering shelves, I try to read each title on the spines
of the books, but it’s too much. It made me realize life goes by too fast and I
will never be able to learn everything. But it’s what I learn that can make an
impact. As I slowed down my pace, I focused on a book titled Painting the
World by John Drury. In a weird way, I can describe this library with the title of
this book.
I can safely say everything in here is a mirrored image of the world we live in.
From the world history books to books on physics, it all comes from the experiences people went through. As I watch people walk in and out of the doors, I
wonder what led them here. Like this lady that’s sitting across from me. She is
studying but she seems stressed. I would like to know what class she is studying
for. We make eye contact, and I can relate to what she is going through, because I have been through the same thing. I come to the library like everyone
here to be in better surroundings so I can focus on my work.
This library has a lot of stories to tell, and not just the ones that’s stacked up
next to each other. Everyone here has their own story to tell and their own
future to live. I thought describing the library would be a little difficult, but as I
start writing, it opens my eyes to a lot of different point of views. There are so
many things to describe other than the basic things. It’s how you look at things
in life that makes you see things differently.
Victoria Gallagher, ink, marker
9
David Curby, ceramic
Vera Owens
Family Snapshots
T
.he trick is trying to get in and out of the place where I live .without
getting into a controversy, argument, or being cursed out.
I live with my daughter, and she has three children. Their names are
Anthony, Deion, and Deneya. They are whole bucket of trouble. Anthony, who has just turned 21, is in jail at this present time. Anthony and I
are always at each other’s throats because of our difference of opinion.
Anthony thinks his mother, Piper, my daughter, has to give him money to
supply his habit. I do not think this is so.
Anthony goes through tantrums trying to get his point across to Piper,
trying to make her believe that he has a good reason that she has to
give him her money. I am constantly in the middle of telling her to stop,
and that is not the way a parent should help him to get help. This is the
reason that Anthony is in jail for stealing. He does not want to work. Every
day he calls home asking his mother for money. Piper sends it to him. His
other grandmother gives him money every week. Bonnie is her name,
and she been a pain in the neck for all of my grandchildren’s lives.
Deion is my second grandson and he gets high and smoke cigarettes.
He sits on the porch with my oldest son and gets high. Nathaniel is my son
and he knows it is wrong for Deion to be out there like that while he is using. When I come and go, this is what I have to face. I tried to give good
examples and advice on how this should stop but it goes nowhere, in
one ear and out the other as they say. Deion is 17 years old, 6 foot 5
inches, skinny and very smart. Deion is just like Anthony always asking my
daughter for money.
11
What are you living for?
Svetlana Strunskaya
I ask what’s the imprint engraved on your heart if it doesn’t better this existence?
Keep up this attitude people and soon enough everything will become meaningless.
A universal understanding of all cultures,
a unified connection amongst said soldiers.
We repeat history until we prove differently,
No matter the world, it’s all the same system.
Designed colors, still repeat these patterns,
thrown to the sky, like we are releasing lanterns.
All seeking light and truth is the overall goal,
silence the mind and awaken the soul.
Let us open our eyes and become aware,
we are all kings and queens in the humanitarian lair.
Rise above stereotypes and live to inspire,
we already fought this war, so why are we still dying?
We shut our mouths when injustice occurs,
but want to be shown compassion if its aimed at our doors.
Why even bother if you’re not fighting for the right cause,
believing in the hype, does not make you a “boss”.
Killing for peace and throwing tantrums like children,
god bless America, but this ain’t freedom.
Without much, people were still more helpful,
now we have more and it’s selfish not selfless.
We have a path, ignited for purpose
and now even my neighbors seem so cold and soulless.
What is this fight if not for a better life?
It’s not really living if we are merely trying to survive.
They can take away resources but not our true ambitions.
Forget your democracy, it’s only an illusion of fabricated figments.
I have my beliefs and the will to fight for better.
This is my message, even if you merely see letters.
opposite page
Deral Ingram, photograph
13
Jocelyn Melendez
Grandma’s House
M
y grandma’s house, the best house on the block, and also the
.biggest house. It has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a humongous kitchen. It’s a comfortable house. It has been 43 years that my
grandma has lived in that house, and she’s not planning to move out
either. There are many good memories residing in that house: birthday
parties, game nights, sleepovers, family gatherings. Just thinking back to
when I was younger makes me laugh and want to go back. I remember
my cousins and me turning the basement into a roller skating rink; that’s
how big the basement is. We were going back and forth with our roller
skates on, having so much fun. There are no rules in grandma’s house. We
can do whatever you want.
There’s always something to do when you walk into grandma’s house.
Either converse with grandma, have grandma stuff your face with food,
get sent to the store because she needs something, or just come to grandma’s house to chill. I’ll tell you one thing, Grandma will make you gain 20
extra pounds with all the food she’ll stuff you with.
If you walk into Grandma’s house first thing in the morning, you’ll smell
the fresh aroma of coffee. Maxwell house’s fresh pot of coffee is brewing
on the kitchen counter top. Grandma will always serve you, even if you
don’t ask. She’ll quickly approach you with a cup of coffee and a piece of
bread or crackers; it’s a good way to start the morning off. Now comes the
afternoon. I go straight to my Grandma’s kitchen every day after school.
I ask her “¿Qué está cocinando?” (What’s cooking?) The usual is rice,
beans and chicken. You can quickly notice the smell as you walk in the
door. It smells so good and tastes delicious. I always wonder how the food
tastes perfect if grandma doesn’t measure her ingredients; neither does
she taste it while it’s cooking. She just knows the exact amount of cilantro,
sazón, adobo, and garlic to add. I always enjoy eating my whole plate of
food. Now it’s time to digest. After dinner, I always want to chill and relax.
The “chill” room is the living room. The living room has a soft, brown,
leather sofa. The sofa is so comfortable, it feels like my mattress. There’s
a big screen TV against the wall. Now it’s time to lay back and chill. My
grandma’s favorite show is “Sábado Gigante.” It comes on every Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. It’s a Spanish soap opera that lasts for three hours.
Every Saturday, Grandma be chilling in the living room, comfortable and
laid back, watching her show; sometimes I sit right next to her and watch
it, too. Grandma’s house is my favorite place to be.
15
Daniel Cullins, ink, digital collage
Somewhere In Time
DeAnna Thompson
Somewhere in time
People are singing
A girl is writing poetry for the first time
A woman is having her first orgasm.
Somewhere in time
A women is running from the cops
A window is being broken
A page is being ripped.
Somewhere in time
A women is delivering her baby in a cab on the way to the airport
People are getting ready to run a 10k
Someone is grocery shopping
Someone is sleeping way too long
A surgeon has just finished surgery.
Somewhere in time
Football players are doing warm-ups
Someone’s Xbox360 just died.
Somewhere in time
Someone has just figured out a way to end world hunger.
17
Daniel Cullins, colored pencil, pen and ink
Jared Piper, photograph
19
Official (2013)
by
CFlame
(Verse 1 - Rap)
I wanna dive head first into your dimples
When I’m not around, still be present in your mental
Have you catchin’ feelins (fillings), put in work, no dental
Baby you can drive it off the lot, no rental
And Imma keep you wantin’ more, more, encore
And Imma be feenin’ like Jodeci in ‘94’
We’re such a good match, and I ain’t talkin’ tennis
Talkin’ bout, both winnin’ so the trophy will be splitted
My confession is this, wanna be on your hip
Feel your kiss on my lips, every chance that I get
And I know you need your space, so Imma give it to ya
Cus baby boy in my case, it’s somethin’ very similar..
Obligations in waiting, but I’ll make time
The situation is blatant, wantchu to be mine
And don’t worry, Imma still be your friend
But the benefits are better if you go all in
(Hook - Singing)
We’ve been homies for a minute, but now everything is different
Ever since the day I kissed you, wanted us to be Official (Repeat)
(Verse 2 - Rap)
You got me cheesin’ and grinnin’ just like a schoolgirl
We’re like Jasmine & Aladdin, A Whole New World
Got the haters sick, we about to make ‘em hurl
And leave their eyes wetter than a pillow under jerry curls
Write a prescription for love, Dr. CFlame
You’re my only patient, other dudes B-Lame
So let me know if you’re ready to make us
Official with a whistle, cus you won’t wanna break up
Hook (Repeat 2X)
(Bridge -Singing)
You make me feel brand new, you do, you
Take me to a place inside, that I had been pushin’ aside
Oh baby... Let’s make it, Official (Breakdown, Hooks, End)
Jessica Alvarez, ceramic
21
Gregory Johns-Miller
For The Community
A
.community has many features. It can either build you up or break
.you down. I am a young African American male who is determined
to succeed despite my community’s failures. My youth has not been a fairytale, and I shall not dwell on my past mistakes. A quote that explains my
passion to move my community forward comes from Henry Ford, “Coming
together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is
success.”
I feel that changing the negative mindset of youth could change the
way they view life. The first step in true leadership is transformative practices
for oneself. I lead by my own example showing youth that they can be all
they desire to be and more if they continue to work hard, keep focus and
never give up on their dreams or goals. For example, when I got to college
my short-term goal was to start immediately with college level courses, but
I didn’t. I had to take a developmental writing course. I was truly discouraged at first and felt that I didn’t want to be in college anymore because
of this. But, I didn’t drop out of college and through hard work and perseverance I passed with an “A”. This is a very transparent example of what
happens when reality meets our dreams. With fortitude, I can continue to
persevere for my community to thrive. I tell you this to show you how staying
motivated to reach your goal can be a great thing; even when things don’t
go as planned. My goals are still within my grasp.
Coming from the gritty neighborhoods of Philadelphia, there are not
many people to look up to besides drug-dealers, drug-users and other criminals. I am showing the “street-heroes” that true heroes work hard positively
while reaching their goals. There are always temptations with every choice
I make. My constant struggle with exposure to negative influences keeps
me sharp so that I may recognize the difference between a choice to succeed and the choice for error. The trick is to learn from your mistakes and
the mistakes of others.
Middle and high school administrators seem to bring in motivational or public
speakers to talk to the youth about success and its journey. The problem most
youth have with this is the speaker is unrelatable, so they tend to rebel or ignore
the message spoken to them. I feel speakers who talk about the struggle and haven’t experienced it cannot relate to the youth they are trying to reach.
I believe if I am able to study and find out the exact age where these negative
influences become choices, I could help to prevent the youth from carrying their
mistakes into adulthood. The best course of study which would allow me to do this
is psychology; Luckily, I am a psychology major at Community College of Philadelphia with dreams of transferring to Harvard. I know this is a challenge, but I have
faith in my ability to learn and adapt.
After I complete my degree in psychology, I want to help my community to
come together by reaching its youth at their most critical point in their life and
working with them to make good choices so they will become successful individuals of our community. I plan to do this by opening a non-profit community center
which will counsel youth through problems and encourage them to overcome all
difficulties.
23
Victoria Gallagher, ink
I Come From A Place
DeAnna Thompson
I come from a place
Where there were six of us
Where we always had leftovers
Where the house was always clean
I come from a place
Where it was books around every corner
Where it was no cussing or drinking
I come from a place
Where we went to church every Sunday
Where we never shared our emotions
Where we were told to mind our manners
I come from a place
Where we couldn’t date till we were 21
Where there wasn’t enough love!
I come from a place
Where there was incest
Where there was no democracy
Where we never had the last word
I come from a place
Where we got a beating for doing nothing
Where the stories I wrote about became my reality
Where both of my legs were broken as a toddler
Where we all had different fathers except for two of us.
I COME FROM A PLACE
Where there were more secrets than reality.
25
DREAM Turned Into Reality
by
Keon Cash
(Chorus)
I’m glad that Dr. King fought for equality
so I could dream of possibility
then that dream came to reality
Thanks to Rosa Parks for fighting for equality in Alabama
cause without her we’d be stuck in the dark ages
cause they fear us cause they think we superior meaning we the best
so that’s why they made us slaves and had us in bondage
on ships going across seven seas then sold us
that was reality
(Chorus)
Now I’m here to say keep dreaming cause it’s power to the black people
cause they didn’t think we was going to have a black president
now he’s on his second term
so I’m screaming out power to my black people
cause our dream is still alive
so its reality
(Chorus)
As young black male
if been held down into this depression that they believe I won’t amount to nothing
well they put the wrong one in the ring
I’m chopping the giant down like Rocky
but don’t get it wrong I ain’t cocky
I’m just a young black male who’s going to amount to something
and trying to get my people behind me
now that’s my reality
Jared Piper, photograph
27
Francisca Ortiz
A Brooklyn Experience
“Brooklyn is not the easiest place to grow up in,
although I wouldn’t change the experience for anything.”
–Neil Diamond
T
his quote is exactly how I feel about Brooklyn. Nothing brings me more
comfort than knowing I’m home when I’m in Brooklyn, even if I no longer have an actual home there anymore. Growing up in Brooklyn wasn’t
easy at all, but my mother managed to build a home within our apartment
even if we were in the “Hood”. Most of my childhood consisted of me hanging outside with my friends who were the same age as me; till this day I’m still
friends with them. I wouldn’t change the experience for anything because
it made me into the person I am today.  
  Growing up in Brooklyn was always an adventure. My childhood friends
and I played outside all the time. My mom allowed me to sleep over their
houses once in a while and vice versa. I am still friends with the same girls
I grew up with and sometimes we talk about the adventures we had as
kids and laugh because now that we are older we realized that the things
we did weren’t adventures at all, just us being kids. I remember one day
my friends and I were outside running around in a basketball court in our
housing complex when two guys started arguing. Eventually, the argument
became more and more heated and one of the guys pulled out a gun and
pointed the gun in the other guy’s face. To be honest, I didn’t think twice
as I took off running to my friends building for shelter. I was glad that both
my friends followed suit and were right behind me. We were too young to
witness anything like that, especially if the altercation had gotten worse.
  As I grew older, I moved from my neighborhood in Brooklyn to Queens
for six years then moved back to Brooklyn. Once back in Brooklyn, my mom
kept a tight hold on me and didn’t allow me to go outside with friends or
have friends come over. As much as I tried to get my mother to understand
that I wasn’t a child, she didn’t and kept her ground.
  At the age of 17, my mother bought a house in Millville, New Jersey. For the
first two months, I cried every day, but, after getting adjusted to being away from
my boyfriend (who I’d go on to marry), my grades in school were straight A’s, and
I loved it; I started feeling proud and ready to take on the world alone. When I
turned 18, my mother became pregnant with my brother and there was nothing
but fighting between us. Mother and daughter. I couldn’t take it any more so I ran
to the most comfortable place I know: Brooklyn.
  I had an apartment there for me already, so instead of rushing into a committed relationship so fast, I lived with my aunt for six months. Finally, my boyfriend
and I got married, moved into my apartment together and lived in the moment.
I worked and went to school, but I eventually dropped out. I was partying and
having fun; my mother had kept me locked in, and once I got out, I was gone like
the wind. Things quickly transitioned into housewife duties once we started living
together. I cooked, cleaned, washed clothes: things a wife would do for her husband. All at the age of 18.
 
Brooklyn—my important place. Like Neil Diamond said, “I wouldn’t change that
experience for anything.”
29
Deral Ingram, photograph
31
Timothy Emerson, ink
Take Initiative (2013)
by
CFlame
(Hook - Singing)
Take Initiative, and baby you will see
If you’re creative, there’s a way to get to me
I need you confident, so don’tchu run away..
Just make me stay, test me
(Verse1 - Singing)
You know you’ve got some things on your mind and your heart
I know it seems like I can’t see it thru the dark
Here’s what to do since I mean something to you Just keep it up, and work it through
Don’t be nervous, and just focus on the plan
You never know, I could be waitin’ for your hand
See if it is a yes, don’t think that it’s a no
Keep optimism, and go...
(Hook)
(Verse 2 )
I seem intimidating, so out of your reach..
Think that I’m contemplating my rejection speech
But you don’t know what might just happen on this day,
Could blow you away, and shock me too
Might be open to the possibility
If you let go, then maybe we can both be free
Don’t think the end of it is here before we start
Let me play a part, take the lead...
(Hook)
(Bridge)
Although it feels like it won’t work out..
You gotta test me to find that out, and
Positive thinking can take you far..
But, overthinking can make it so hard
So get to know me before you judge..
For all I know, you could be my true love
If you don’t say it, then how am I gonna see what I mean to you, until you find a
way...
(Hook 2X, End)
33
Where Are My Colors?
Adama Timera
Tell me, you who see,
What is the color of my skin?
Red, white, black, or in between?
Tell me, you who see,
What is the color of my hair?
Gray, blond, brown as a bear?
Tell me, you who see,
What is the color of my dream?
Dark, bright, cream?
Please tell me above all,
What is the color of my soul?
Nahjua Treadwell, ceramic
35
Andra Ware, ink
Shantel Cancel
My Name
A
stony place to sing. A place covered with stones, where no sound can
be heard, that is what my name means. My name describes my inner
self. It is like I’m trapped within myself, my body being the stony place, singing
how I really feel, but no one seems to hear me but myself. My own voice bouncing back to my ears from the stony walls.
I was named after no one of importance: a soap opera actress. Sometimes I
wish my mother could have named me after my grandmother or aunt, or both,
which was her first thought. But I am my mother’s child, and she gave me the
name Shantal, and she is her mother’s child anf was given the name Carmen.
My mother is a determined woman who finishes what she starts. My mother is a
woman who never loses faith when things fall out of place. She always keeps
moving forward. She got that from her mother, and I got that from her.
People like to mispronounce my name, as if it is spelled Shan-tall. I learned to
deal with people mispronouncing my name because I also mispronounce their
name sometimes. To my family and friends, I’m Shanti which means “Peace”.
When they call me Shanti, I feel peaceful because they are using my nickname. When they call me Shantal, I know I’m either in trouble or that they are
mad at me.
I don’t think I would ever change my name even though it is common, it is
spelled differently, which makes every Chantelle, Shantal, Chantel, Chantal,
different. We have our own personalities. I am, for example, a funny, smart,
goofy, bilingual, independent, sweet, kind, girl. Maybe a different Shantal is the
complete opposite of me and, in fact, is a sour, mean, serious, girl. We have our
own stories to tell, we have our own lives to live, our own problems. We may not
share the same things, but we share a name that means the same thing.
I once read that our names define who we are. Whether we like it or not, our
name is part of who we are, and who we will always be. Changing your name is
like covering up who you really are; nobody likes being someone they are not.
And if your name means something you are not, it does not mean you have to
act the way your name is defined. All you have to do is look in the mirror and
see yourself for who you really are. You give your name its own definition.
37
Contributors’ Notes
Shantal Cancel was born and raised in Philadelphia. She is currently a Photography
major but also hopes to get a degree in Business. She is the youngest out of three and is
the first in her family to attend college.
Claudia Junious aka CFlame is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. She was
born and raised in Philadelphia PA, and is 29 years old. She is a mother of two, and also
a Culinary Arts Major. She has always had a passion for music.
CFlame began singing at the age of 8, and rapping at the age of 16. In the beginning
stages of her musical development, she looked at making music as a hobby for her.
Over the years, CFlame began to write more frequently. She often wrote without
accompanying music, and had very rare opportunities to record tracks.
CFlame first discovered the ability to share her original songs online in 2008. She writes,
records, arranges, and mixes all of her vocals at her home. As of February 14th (2014),
CFlame has written and recorded nearly 100 songs, which include three mixtapes - Enter
The Dragoness (2011), Pyrotechnics (2012), and Business And Pleasure (2014).
Daniel Cullins is a new student at Community College of Philadelphia. Born and raised in
Philadelphia, he enjoys relaxing, drawing, and creating stuff in general. He wants to take
the education he is receiving from the Art Department to one day entertain people.
From the author, De’Anna Thompson: I have been writing since I was ten years old. I
have always taken up creative writing in school. It was a way of release for me. I had
such a sad childhood. I’ve had my picture taken for the Philadelphia Tribune in south
Philadelphia in the 90’s. My first poem “My problems aren’t so bad” was published by
them. I felt a sense of accomplishment because of it. Since then, I’ve had my own
clothing company, and I started writing a novel just to see if I could do it. I started it, but
did not finish it. Still stuck on chapter 11.
Adama Timera is an ESL student at Community College of Philadelphia and a French
amateur writer.
Francisca Ortiz is 29 years of age. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she is currently
living in Philadelphia and attending Community College of Philadelphia. She is a
devoted wife and mother of two boys. Francisca enjoys reading, writing and spending
time with her family. “Everything I do, I do for my Family. Nothing less is expected,” she
says.  
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cypher
n. the cyclical form of frestyling where each rapper adds to the composition