- Pathways to College

Transcription

SCHOLAR
VOICES
Spring 2016
INTRODUCTION
Judith Berry Griffin, President, Pathways to College
Welcome to the 2016 issue of Scholar Voices, the literary
magazine of Pathways to College.
For a second year, in addition to the written word, we have
invited our Scholars to submit photographs. We continue to be so very
pleased with their creativity.
We know that expressing ideas is not always easy – even if the
ideas are important and eagerly shared. But we continue to say that
self-expression of all kinds is well worth the effort! Writers and
artists through the centuries have shared their thoughts and passed
their ideas and stories on to people they would never meet but to
whom they have given invaluable gifts of knowledge, inspiration, insight
and enjoyment. All of these gifts came to life in the same way – with
an idea and the urge to keep it alive by sharing it with others. Scholar
Voices is our way to share our Scholars‘ stories and ideas with many
others, both within and beyond the Pathways to College family.
And to our Scholars: We hope that you will continue to tell
your stories in writing and in art. In whatever form they take, they
are more important than you will ever know.
We are your cheerleaders! Keep sharing! ―BRANCH OUT!‖
__________________
Branch Out
Sherell Pressley-Williams, Arts High School, Grade 10
Don't just listen
Don't just hear
Take into consideration
The voices of those near
Think deep, don't be shallow
Be enthusiastic, not just mellow
Don't just listen
Don't just hear
Opportunities at your door, will you be there?
Our futures are bright
Our futures are clear
With a pathway to college, I'll see you there!
Don't just listen
Don't just hear
Expand your networking, be aware!
DEDICATION
The poem “08/02” memorializes a tragedy -- the death
of Daja Brookshire, sister of a Pathways Scholar from
Gary, Indiana. Daja was the victim of a drive-by shooting
on 08/02/15. We dedicate this issue of Scholar Voices
to her memory.
08/02
Jalecia Baymon, Grade 10
Wirt Emerson Visual andPerforming Arts Academy,
Sitting in my bedroom
Don‘t got a clue
Just that quick someone up and shot you
Who?
Is the question that I ask?
Gone in a flash
They say it‘s a thing of the past
Nothing ever lasts
Alas!
Memories are all I have
08/02
Never in a million years did I think I‘d
lose you
Is it true?
Did they really kill you?
Have no clue what to do
This is all still new
08/02
11:24
Took your last breath
Instead of going right things went left
Straight to your death
Tick tock on the clock
Separated so soon
Flower that didn‘t quite bloom
I‘m left with a heart so damaged and
bruised
08/02
I sure do miss you
Our last talk on the phone
We stayed up so long
Reminiscing
Sounding like two old women
All the fun we used to have
We would just laugh
You were here
You were there
Now you‘re not anywhere
I wish I would‘ve knew
08/02
The last day you were alive
Hoping you would‘ve survived
I cried
For days
Mind stuck in a haze
Off into a daze
I‘m still amazed
Why?
In a blink of an eye
Would you die?
No last goodbye
My heart
Torn apart
Not knowing where to start
08/02
I love you
I do
With all my heart
Even if we are apart
You‘re an angel now
Looking down
Every now and then I feel you around
My sister, my sister
I finally got the clue
It really is true
I‘ll never forget you
08/02
CONTENTS
WINNER
The Wrong Direction - Brooklyn Wilkes
Searching - Ashlyn Foster
The Police Force From Hell - James E. Wordlaw
Ten Things I Want To Say To A Muslim Woman - Mahdeem Khan
Sea - Ebenezer Appiah
Rear View Mirror - Kiara Mauriello
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2
5
6
8
10
HONORABLE MENTION
Perspective - Jamela Brown
This or That? - Andrew Garcia-Hill
The Stranger - Osariemen Faith Notemwanta
The Definition of a Queen - Davinya McGuire
Happy - Alexis Dinkins
Choices - Briana Lenear
My Way - Courtney Greer
Up - Isabel Alvarez-Diaz
City Hall: A Six-Month Opportunity - Ta‘Nina Gatison
The Abyss - Benjamin Davison
Change This World - Kiara Mauriello
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Beauty - Robert Membres
To Whom Do I Turn – Tynazsha Boston
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The Specialist - Kayla Nichols
Life - Jamal Harmon
Dark Nightmare to Peaceful Dream - Shane Stephenson
What is Struggle? - Andrew Garcia-Hill
You - Princess Akinwunmi
The Mighty Tree - Stacy N. Comer
The Wanted and the Hated Part One - Angelo Garcia-Hill
The Wanted and the Hated Part Two - Angelo Garcia-Hill
The Heart - Miyoko Membres
Dear Mother... - Osariemen Faith Notemwanta
Six Word Memoir - Zakeema Wilson
A Letter to Her - Asia Lee
Anxiety - TeErica Jackson
Unique - Princess Akinwunmi
One WIll Die and the Other WIll Kill - Zaakiyah Colson
The Best Replacement You’ll Ever Find - Jae Lynn Garcia
Who am I? - Aaliyah Morrow
BEYOND THE SKY! - Zakeema Wilson
Zombie Apocalypse - Paulo Silva
I Need You - Luana Melo
The Change of Life - Shane Donell West Jr.
How Do We Last – Tynazsha Boston
Six Word Memoir - Erica Molina
Childish Innocence and Forgotten Responsibilities - Tiana Williams
The Masquerade - Jordyn Clark
Dear Daddy – Amatha Murff
Never Empty – Darius Damon Jenkins
Suicide… No Thanks!!! - Osariemen Faith Notemwanta
I AM THEM - Essence Baity
To Cash - Zaakiyah Colson
My Life Begins with a Fresh Smile - Marie Toupou
Life - Davinya McGuire
Desperado - Jae Lynn Garcia
The Skeletal System - T‘Erica Marsh
Do I Look Black to You? - Isis Bey Boyd
Tight - Julio Ferreira
Why - Lamia Young
She - Samantha Harper
I AM - Miyoko Membres
Hope - Karla Montoya
Just Stop - Nani-Marie McFadden
Unquenchable Hunger - Amir Douglas
“Grandma” - Taylor Whaley
Monster Inside - Tiana Williams
Tryna Get Out - Tamara Matheny
Perfection - Dara Miller
Untitled - Malik Thorne
Untitled - Audrena Brown
Voices - Kiara Mauriello
A Day in the Life of Sky Maxx - Alexes Carter
Settling - Imari Thomas
Demons - Tamara Matheny
How to Learn - Julio Ferreira
It's True Until It Is You - Zaakiyah Colson
Lifeless - Klaudette Spencer
I Never Told You Because... - Alexis Wilkins
What It Means To Succeed - Alberto A. Rodriguez
Does Social Media Have a Positive or
Negative Impact on Today’s Society? - Tai Le
She to I - Diavian Miller
Without Words - Frances Rosario
Untitled - Audrema Brown
To Blossom - Chris Neighbors
I Want - Rianne Henderson
Untitled - Kiara Brown
The Violent Use of Guns - Kruti Patel
Six Word Memoir - Brianna Esteves
Superwoman - Mercedes Galarza
Anarchism - Miana Shorty
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New York - Alison Lima
Hesitation - Dyamond Fox
My Way - Courtney Greer
Untitled - Doaa Miftahi
Starry Night - Osariemen Faith Notemwanta
A White Man’s Property
(Tribute To: Black History Month) - Zakeema Wilson
Delivernou - Sherell Pressley-Williams
Untitled - Kiara Brown
Is Cancer Infectious? - Thalia Gonzalez
Father - Karen Mendez
Who Am I? - Maya Leon
I’m Sorry - Essence Baity
Safe Haven - Jacqueline Fuentes
You cannotcommunicatewithsomeonewho
Doesn’t Speak the Same Language - Favour Imhomoh
Desires of the Heart (Love Poem No. 1) - Ebenezer Appiah
New York - Alison Lima
The Strange Place - Zhana Pickett
The Train Slaughter - Alexes Carter
Picture This - Arnetta Morrow
Untitled - Nicole Smiley
Unexpected Passion - Brian Palma
Untitled - Katie Trindade
Untitled – Anonymous
Hispanic Heritage - Rachel Lantigua
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__________________
Cover Drawing – Beginnings by Stacy N. Comer, Wirt Emerson Visual
and Performing Arts Academy, Grade 11
WINNER – PHOTOS OF PEOPLE
The Wrong Direction
Brooklyn Wilkes, New Tech Innovative Institute, Grade 11
I‘m afraid of many things, but most of all, I‘m afraid of failure.
There‘s so much pressure to become successful, I feel like the walls
are closing in on me. All I constantly hear is, ―Stay in school.‖ ―Make us
proud.‖ ―You‘ll be the first.‖ ―We‘ll have a doctor in the family now.‖ I
feel like I‘m losing the game that hasn‘t started. I wish I could press
reset, and begin anew, but I‘ve already started going through life in
the wrong direction.
1
WINNER – SHORT STORY
Searching
Ashlyn Foster, Wirt-Emerson Visual and
Performing Arts High Ability Academy, Grade 10
fiancé.
"Sarah this whole thing is ridiculous," Charlie yelled at his
"What's ridiculous is the fact that you really don't care about
anything I have to say," Sarah sassed at him.
"Well maybe if you think I don't care maybe we should call the
wedding off!" he yelled back.
Sarah's eyes were filled with tears. The one she loved was
trying to kick her out and call off the engagement.
"I'm leaving," Sarah said. She grabbed her purse and just left.
No car keys, no phone, nothing but her empty purse.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" he asked, trying to stop her.
"As far away from you as possible," she spat back at him and
slammed the door shut.
It had been 12 hours and nobody has heard a word. Charlie
called Sarah's dad.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Anderson, I know you are probably going to hate me but
Sarah and I got into a huge fight last night and she left. Is there any
chance she is over there with you and the Mrs.?" Charlie said rather
fast and hopeful.
"No Charlie she isn't here. Did you try calling her?‖ he asked.
"She left her phone here sir. I'm worried. Should I call the
police?" Charlie asked.
"No stuff Sherlock!" Mr. Anderson spat back.
The next morning this was in the paper:
Sarah Michelle Anderson has been missing since June 26.
She was last seen on the corner of 57th Avenue two blocks away from
her home.
She has brown hair and brown eyes.
She is 5'2‖ and 115 pounds.
She was last seen in a pink and white sundress.
If you have any information or have seen Sarah please contact Officer
Karson Agnus at (712)-211-5683.
2
Charlie hasn't moved a muscle since Sarah left. He won't eat,
or sleep.
"Charlie. Look you've got to eat something. It's been 3 days,"
his mom, Shirley, said to him. He didn't move.
All he knew was that the girl he loved was missing and that he
wanted her back.
"How do you think I feel, Mom; it's my fault she left. It's my
fault that she is in danger. It's all my fault," Charlie said putting his
hands over his eyes. "I'm going out there to find her," he said coming
to his senses.
"No. Charlie have you lost your mind? You don't know where she
is or what's going on. It's too dangerous," his dad, Liam, said to him.
Everybody crowded the door trying to stop him. "Get out of the way
guys, I need to find her. What if Mom was missing, Dad? Wouldn't you
want to go find her?" he said to his father. His father nodded.
Charlie then packed a small bag with clothes and shoes and a phone
charger. He also grabbed clean clothes for Sarah if he found her. He
lifted his head up.
"Son." his mom started. "Please be careful and make sure you
eat and have plenty of fluids and that you don't get in any trouble. If
Officer Agnus calls, we will have him call you," his mom said. Charlie
nodded and made his way to his car and looked back at his family one
last time. With the approval nod from his parents, he pulled out of the
driveway hoping to find Sarah.
"Where is Charlie!" Mr. Anderson asked his wife. She shrugged.
"Someone said he saw him leaving town with a bag," she said. "Maybe
he has her," Mr. Anderson said. His wife looked at him wide eyed
hoping what he was saying was not true. "I'm going to look for him.
He's dead meat to me. Go get the shotgun out of the den. It's about
time I pulled it out," he said grabbing some clothes and running to his
car.
"CHARLIE! OPEN THIS DOOR NOW!" Mr. Anderson said
banging on the door. "I know you are in there."
No answer. The house was empty. Not a trace or a note of Charlie was
there. Mr. Anderson then knew the perfect way. He was going to call
him.
*ring ring*, Charlie heard. Was it Sarah's phone? He pulled it
out and lo and behold it was her number. But it was a private number
calling. "Hello?" Charlie said in confusion.
"Yes. I'm looking for Sarah. This is Mrs. Casey calling about
her wedding details," said the voice on the other line.
3
"She's not available," Charlie answered and hung up.
"I knew that little skunk bag has my daughter and I won't stop
until I find him," Mr. Anderson said using the tracking device he
turned on. He could monitor Charlie at all times. He turned on his GPS
and drove in hopes of seeing his daughter again.
It's been exactly 14 days since Sarah has been missing, which
means it's been 13 days since Charlie went looking for his love. He had
stopped in stores, malls, and abandoned homes. But right now, he was
stopped in front of an old and abandoned house that one of his friends
lived in. He pushed down the door and walked around. What he didn't
know was Mr. Anderson was hot on his trail. He kept walking around
the house. The kitchen was empty, the bedrooms were all torn apart,
and the living room was empty. He walked into the basement and
gasped. What he saw was his Sarah hanging from the ceiling fan. She
was beat up and bruised.
He then heard a voice. "There are cops outside and I'm not
going to get caught so see ya." And with that someone darted to the
door. Charlie wasn't too far behind the unknown person. To his
disbelief there stood police cars and an ambulance outside. He darted
east and never looked back no matter how much people called for him
to return. The next day this was in the paper:
Wanted
Charlie Jackson McDonald
for the murder of Sarah M. Anderson.
Please contact Agent K. Davis if you know anything of his location.
4
WINNER - POEM
The Police Force From Hell
James E. Wordlaw, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Before I begin, this is not for all cops because I can honestly say some
of you dudes rock.
This is for the policemen who are known for making their guns pop with
gun shots for innocent black kids who could've lived longer.
Lil' Billy was writing raps and trying to drop some new songs but now
he's in the afterlife asking "Man, what have I done wrong?"
Cops used to be our neighborhood saviors but now they are catching
more bodies than the dope dealers and gang bangers…
Used to be our heroes but this corrupt world turned you into monsters
that abuse and misuse the badge for power and promotion
Your job is to serve and protect, not to destroy and neglect, but your
concern is your check, not the lives of the rest.
It's a likely chance I could die just because I'm black…
But, I want to make it someday so hope and pray that I won‘t be
another innocent victim to be unjustly attacked
and killed by the police force from hell.
5
WINNER – ESSAY
Ten Things I Want To Say To A Muslim Woman
Mahdeem Khan, James Hillhouse High School, Grade 10
1. I love it when the sun rises and we‘re awake, because that
means that I once again can catch a glimpse of your face. I adore the
journey I undergo when I stare into the windows of your soul, for your
eyes are as deep as the Pacific, and I am constantly swimming in them.
2. I remember the first time I saw those jewels you called
eyes. They shone brightly and illuminated the room like chandeliers.
My heart went thu-thump-thu-thump; it shot out of my chest and
through the sky when you removed your hijab past your ear. You
mysterious thief, you stole my heart, yet your smile gives me more
riches than Rockefeller.
3. You‘re a Shakespeare play, for in a midsummer night‘s
dream, I dreamt of you. With skin as smooth and soft as Heaven‘s
clouds, you sang the song of angels, causing God himself to shed a
tear. Even when I attempted to shield you from the downpour, you
showed no fear, especially when the wolves go awooo when you wander
into their domain. They bow to you, Goddess Artemis, the eternal
hunter, the one who keeps everyone sane.
4. I wish I could hear your angelic voice; like a Drake song, it
was caring, supportive, and passionate. It was so soothing that it could
hush the cries of tormented infants. Yet no one could ever truly
appreciate your full beauty unless it was behind a closed door. No one
could experience your hair flowing like a gentle cool breeze on a warm
summer day, only the color hijab you wore.
5. Like a Mother, your methodical messages make men weep.
The care you give and affection you show, even on the streets, goes
unnoticed. You care not of race, for your cadence shows that you‘re
constantly caring--catering to every charity case and cherishing the
entirety of the human race. You do not discriminate, nor do you like to
be discriminated against. You‘re just an innocent individual who wants
to be treated as a human again.
6. It all went down with 9/11, with the loss of lives and the
rise of discrimination. Americans blame all of the Muslims, but I know
for a fact that you couldn‘t harm a fly, let alone an entire nation. The
whole world continues to oppress our kind, but if they saw you once,
only once, they will notice the mesmerizing charm you have on people.
7. You remind me of Medusa, for you cover your head as if
your hair is full of snakes, and you do not stare directly into the eyes
of men for they are fearful that your nature and conviction will turn
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them into stone. Yet I do not care for those traditions that demean
you and make you less than what you are. I want you to talk back, I
want to look into your dark, exotic eyes. I want to explore the
Piedmont you call your body, and let you be yourself.
8. Donald Trump and his Nazi forces wish to destroy us, yet
I‘d sooner die a thousand deaths than watch your suns set forever. I
will take on your burden upon my own shoulders. Sorrow is a sad thing
to experience, yet I will accompany you on your endeavor of life so you
aren‘t so lonely. We will show them who you really are, not the
monster they make you out to be.
9. My breathless boasting bares no ill will; my heart burns with
the hole you bore with your gaze. You illuminate the darkness inside
my heart, but not only me, you saved millions of others through your
story. You‘re the inspiration for my accomplishments, my aspiration
for being human. I will become your anchor if you become my
sanctuary. I will always love you until the Death of me. To infinity and
beyond, as Buzz Lightyear once told me. I dare anyone to tell me that
you‘re not human and not free. Never doubt your importance and
beauty, for you are a lovely human being that will change the world.
10. Never stop pushing, this world needs you now more than
ever.
7
WINNER - POEM
Sea
Ebenezer Appiah, Wirt Emerson Visual and
Performing Arts Academy, Grade 12
O, great and mighty Sea,
What secrets and troubles haunt thee?
As I lay, peacefully, in my place to go rest,
Why must you haunt me with the screams of thy furious tempest?
O, great and mighty Sea!
Why canst thou leave me be?
America
As you crash upon the rocks guarding the coasts of America,
You shout and scream.
Are these the exclamations of those lost to the horrors of slavery?
Are these the confessions of tortured men who once hid behind
courage and bravery?
O, great and might Sea!
Leave me be or answer me!
Are these the cries of those hanged for their own color?
Are these the cries of those who too sang "America"?
Are these the cries of dead men who have no more secrets to hold?
Are these the cries of horrendous tragedies that must now be told?
If you must persist,
Then surely I shall insist
that you answer me when I ask,
O great and mighty Sea,
Ancient Greece
To understand your secrets I must travel to the past,
A place and time where and when the foundations of America had not
yet been cast.
O, great and mighty Sea,
O, Poseidon, what hatred hast thou against me?
Why must your mighty triton cast waves waketh even the dead?
Is it Zeus?
Hast your brother angered thee?
Great Poseidon, doth the powerful thunderbolt of thine own kindred
come and torment thee?
Doth the scope of thine own kindred haunt you?
Doth the crackle of the thunder above anger you?
O, how much pain and suffering must I bear before your screams end?
O, great Poseidon!
Is it Hades?
Doth your brother's hellfire find you during vesper-tide?
Can it be that even the great Poseidon cannot hide?
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Do the screams of the tortured beneath keep you awake?
Doth the anticipation of your father's revenge trouble thee?
O, how I beg of you, great and might Sea!
Leave me be or answer me!
Africa
O, Africa!
May thy strength and might prove
fierce enough to allay these screams.
The screams of the Sea still rise,
for the horrific symphony of these voices shall not cease to reprise.
O, Africa!
Does the Sea scream because of thee?
Are these the shouts of men, women, and children sold into a slavery
they had never known?
Are these the terrorizing exclamations of souls that reaped a fate
they had not sown?
May these be the cries of those lives lost at Sea?
May these be the wailings of lives that never received the chance to
be?
Alas, are these the chants of chief elders killed with their brothers
and sisters while locking arms?
Are these whispers of bullets piercing their souls as they left their
firearms?
O, great and mighty Sea
If you must persist
then surely I shall insist that you answer me when I ask
O great and mighty Sea
Heaven
O, God!
Please hear my prayers!
Why must the great and mighty Sea find and torment me?
Hast the tranquility of the great and mighty Sea been forsaken?
O Lord, ask the Sea,
Where is thy peace?
'Twas then that the Lord, Creator of the Sea answered and said unto
me, the Sea is calling for its body.
'Tis you that the Sea calls for.
O, God!
How could I have been so blind?
O, Sea!
Thine screams are reserved for me!
For thine abyss and deep space,
Are to be my final resting place.
9
WINNER – PHOTOS OF PLACES/OBJECTS
Rear View Mirror
Kiara Mauriello, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
Dear Mirror Beside Me,
I looked through you and saw light but
everything in your reflection isn't moving.
The objects look close but I want to turn my
head back, just to see how far we've come.
Ignoring your whispers to look back, I saw a
brighter and bigger light ahead.
White clouds shifted to admire the Sun's
beauty and show appreciation for shining in
my once sad eyes.
Oh misleading mirror, ahead I see my future,
a future without you.
Behind me are shattered pieces of glass and
deception.
I'm not closer than I appeared, I'm already
here.
__________________
HONORABLE MENTION – PHOTOS OF PLACES/OBJECTS
Perspective
Jamela Brown, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Focus and appreciate beauty
from different perspectives.
10
HONORABLE MENTION - POEM
This or That?
Andrew Garcia-Hill, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 10
When you are little
You are told lots of stories.
People tell you this and that
And you believe it all to be true.
But…
As you get older
The truth becomes clearer.
This is really that,
That happens because of this.
You go through life
Believing this and that,
But you never know what‘s really true.
And so…
As you become an adult,
You settle for what you believe,
Never knowing who lied to you
But at the end of the day
The truth is never clear
As people lie to you every day
Parents, the media, and the government lie
And you don‘t even realize it
But you think what you think
And believe it all to be true
11
HONORABLE MENTION – SHORT STORY
The Stranger
Osariemen Faith Notemwanta, Arts High School, Grade 10
One day, I sat by the window and started to reminisce about
this stranger that I knew very well.
He was quiet. No one knew him. He sat in the back of the
room, hidden in the shadows.
He was quiet, yet I heard him. I heard the scream; the
screams from his scars. The scars that took over his arm, leaving
bright red marks that‘ll never heal.
He was quiet, but then he spoke. He said his name... DJ. I got
to know him, after months of friendship, and became obsessed with his
presence. I needed him around me. I felt incomplete without him.
He was quiet, but then he yelled. He insulted me. He hurt me...
I sat there, by the window, and saw the scars, but instead of
them being on him... they were on me. I had the scars on my arm. I
was the one who sat in the back of the room. I was the one no one
knew. I ... was the quiet.
I sat there, by the window, and saw the boy who stole my flesh,
my identity, my confidence, my voice. I saw that boy love another. He
looked up and saw me, then quickly turned away as if we were
strangers.
He‘s still quiet, but only towards me. Everyone knows him. He
sits up front, shining in the spotlight. His arms, unlike mine, lacked the
color red.
He wasn‘t the same quiet boy I knew. He was a stranger; a
stranger that I knew very well.
12
The Definition of a Queen
Davinya McGuire, New Tech Innovative Institute, Grade 11
I live in a world where, when a black girl looks into the mirror,
She sees everything but beauty
From the kinks in her hair, to the flaws in her flair
Everything that should be, just doesn't seem to be there
I live in a world where a black girl in high places is frowned upon
But my history takes me to ruling kingdoms and dynasties
I think it's about time to put my crown on
A queen in my own right, and I'm about to make my debut
My hunger for esteem has surpassed these games, and I now volunteer
this tribute
I live in a world where self-hate has become prominent
Had to boost up our egos, so excuse me If we come off as dominant
Our self-image has been tainted,
Doctored up to be so superficial, but that's the image being painted,
Clouding our judgment so we would all want to acquire,
Like being the model chick is a need so dire
Bargaining up ourselves to please who?
I forgot I live in a world where you would choose to be anybody but
you
But listen, here's my proposition—
What if I told you, you were beautiful
What if I told you that you're not too skinny
And you‘re not fat, and you‘re hair isn‘t nappy
And you‘re butt isn‘t too flat
Would you believe me? Do you not know the power you possess?
When God made you, man was truly blessed
You have been given the most supernatural gift ever seen
A portal between the spiritual and natural realm
Now, that's the definition of a Queen!
13
HONORABLE MENTION – ESSAY
Happy
Alexis Dinkins, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 12
In January, when all the children in a county are sleeping in,
and their parents have called out from work because the plows cannot
drive through the snow, I am awake, watching the snow fall.
Snowflakes glitter like little white stars. The sky is its usual wintry
white... like a bowl of milk. It collects on my near flat roof outside my
bedroom window and sparkles through the day. The cold wraps its
spindly fingers around the tree branches, and tiny snowflakes ride on
the tail of the wind. As beautiful as this is, the real magic of the snow
cannot be seen until the night. I wait up, past everyone's ―bedtime,‖
long past the sunset. Soon, it is 1:30 A.M. Outside, the world's noises
have been muffled by the snow. The cars have stopped their zooming,
and all the lights in the buildings have turned off. For the first time in
a long time, it is silent. This silence is not awkward. It does not need
to be interrupted, it is perfect. The sky is pink. Not like the sunset...
softer. Throughout the night, the moonlight reflects off of the snow,
and the sky stays lit, almost as if the sun had never set. Tonight, no
children can fear the shadows in the corner. There is hope for one
more sunrise, and for this one moment in time, I am completely happy.
__________________
Choices
Briana Lenear, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 12
Which path should
I choose?
14
My Way
Courtney Greer, Wirt Emerson Visual and
I walk through this world with nameless expectations,
I go day by day with the question of which direction,
It‘s hard to tell exactly where I‘ll end up or how far I‘ll go,
It‘s a thought that I don‘t think I‘ll ever truly know,
I was born to be wild.
To be optimistic,
I live by this way of life,
Just in case you missed it,
People find it hard to believe that a person can achieve prominence
without a plan,
But at the same time ask yourself what happens to writing in the sand?
It goes away after a while because the wind comes and blows it away,
Apply that to a person‘s life it causes disarray,
I prefer to be free like the water but sharp like a sword,
It may seem perilous but I promise you it‘s not absurd,
This way can make miracles and provides monumental solutions,
But you can‘t achieve if you don‘t step outside of welfare and find a
resolution,
This whole ideology is what I‘m premised on,
With some assistance throughout life I‘ve learned which things are
right and wrong,
Whether it be something like racism or monetary differences,
I still know good and well what a person who has life is,
I also want to think higher than the modern-day abolitionist,
Because problems come out of nowhere the way this world is and they
persist,
And I don‘t want to be left scratching my head being confused,
And I definitely do not want to utter phrases that go overused,
Life is more than focusing on smaller things that may seem major,
Even if it may sound appealing to a certain group‘s favor,
What I strive for is peace in majority of what is problematic today,
But it‘s worth it if I can guarantee that the effects will stay,
I want prosperity for everyone that‘s known and unknown to me,
I‘m tired of hearing about death and grimacing things on TV,
In the end I‘ll have life by the phrase which shall say,
Like Frank Sinatra said, ―I did it my way.‖
15
HONORABLE MENTION – PHOTOS OF PEOPLE
Up
Isabel Alvarez-Diaz, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
No matter how old you get, you'll always be the little girl who demands
me to hold her just so she can be as tall as me.
__________________
City Hall: A Six-Month Opportunity
Ta‘Nina Gatison, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
As a teen with ambition,
I was ecstatic when a
family friend offered me
an internship at City Hall.
16
The Abyss
Benjamin Davison, New Tech Innovative Institute, Grade 11
As I slip into depression
I try to grab onto something to save myself
Like a hand of a friend, but I let go
Can‘t pull them down into the abyss
Where only darkness and pain exist
So focused on everybody else
I can't see I'm destroying myself
I can only do so much
But it's still not enough
When I cry, my tears hit the ground
Feeding those who tried to smile and still got shot down
I'm a prisoner to thoughts and material things
I know what's wrong, to this emptiness I cling
Look inside and tell me what you see Bronze or Gold?
My heart is glass
How many more cracks I can take?
Time heals all wounds, but you never forget
Memories are what hurt the most
17
HONORABLE MENTION - ESSAY
Change This World
I want to live in a world where air isn't polluted, oceans aren't
contaminated, and animals aren't going extinct, where you don't see
wrappers and plastic bottles laying in the dead grass or floating on top
of our once beautiful waters.
I want to live in a world where education isn't shot, where a
person's disability or mental illness isn't ridiculed, where our
government doesn't build twice as many prisons than schools.
I want to live in a world where racism isn't an issue, where it
doesn't matter if you're Black, White, Hispanic, or Muslim, where a
person can be identified "as a person" and not by the color of their
skin, where slavery and segregation never existed, where all people
realize that everyone is different but we still bleed the same color.
I want to live in a world where good deeds aren't done when
there's a profit margin, where money doesn't separate communities
and objectify a person's self worth, where every human being can
afford food and a home and a bed to sleep in rather than a box that
distributes both but with no satisfaction.
I want to live in a world where there isn't any violence, where
there aren't children who are bullied and pushed into lockers, where no
one is a victim of statutory neglect, where there isn't police brutality,
where terrorism is extinguished, where a parent hasn't witnessed
their child endure their last breath as they die in their trembling
arms, where no one is fighting in wars and you're left seen crying and
crouching down over a loved one's tombstone.
I want to live in a world where a person can be accepted if
they're part of the LGBT, where they aren't discriminated against and
leaving them with the sensibility of guilt for who they are.
I want to live in a world where there isn't fat or skinny
shaming, where these adjectives aren't exploited as an insult.
I want to live in a world where feminism is persistent, where
both men and women can excel to anything, where girls aren't told "you
can't do this, you're a girl," where you don't hear men catcalling little
girls.
I want to live in a world where everyone is equal, safe, and
where you're not told how horrible a world we live in, where our issues
aren't class lessons and your teacher asks "What kind of world do you
want to live in?" you close your eyes, open them slowly and answer with
no hesitation, "A good one."
18
Beauty
Robert Membres, New Tech Innovative Institute, Grade 11
Some say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder
However, I see beauty in the way you smile,
The way you laugh, and the way you blush
Whenever someone complements your perfection
Beauty seems to be the only word that comes across my mind
Whenever I get a glance of you
Some say that you can find beauty in the deepest and darkest places,
And once you find it, you can finally see the light
You ARE my light
__________________
To Whom Do I Turn
Tynazsha Boston, East Side High School, Grade: 10
Who do i turn to when everything feels like it‘s falling apart?
To whom do I turn when the person I would like to be doesn‘t feel
smart?
Sometimes I just sit back and wonder what my future holds
and think if I‘m going to even make it in this world so cold
I don‘t want to become my surroundings
What if i‘m not good enough or
strong enough to become something better
I look at my mom and know she‘s proud
but sometimes feel like I‘m in a cloud
Who do I turn to when my heart is crying ?
To whom do I turn when I‘m done trying?
Who do I turn to when I‘m finally happy?
To whom do I turn when i finally found self worth?
TO WHOM DO I TURN?
19
The Specialist
Kayla Nichols, Wirt Emerson Visual and
The forest was an eerie quiet, and the only sounds were my
footsteps on leaves and nature at its moments. I gripped the shotgun
in my hand tighter as I walked down the dirt path, I look around me,
focusing on any sudden movements, but the only movements were mine.
I took a deep breath. I hate how my uncle decides that this is the
perfect moment for me to prove myself that I am a specialist. What
happens if I get killed? What would he say then? Probably something
smart, analyzing my corpse like he usually does to others.
I bet he's drinking tea in his truck, waiting for my return. But
if this is a lycanthrope like I believe then I should be good. It's not
overly aggressive like a witch or something. I stopped walking, taking a
moment to calm myself down. I can do this. I heard something rustle in
the trees. I glanced up, circling slowly, making sure that I don't trip
over my own feet. The rustling stopped and I heard hooting from an
owl. I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding.
I continue to walk down the path, coming into an opening where
a small pond sits in the middle of the trees. I stepped on the wooden
dock, looking around the waterside. I heard rustling again, and I
turned holding the shotgun carefully, aiming like my uncle instructed.
The rustling ended, and growling was heard. It was similar to that of a
dog, but it was completely menacing. I turned on the flashlight, and I
heard barking. I moved to the side by instinct and something
scratched against the wood. I ran away from the pathway, forcing my
back against a tree; I breathed out.
The growling was getting louder, and a large silhouette
appeared before me, it was walking about like a dog, circling like a
predator does prey. I aimed the gun at the dog, but he leapt forward.
I dodged, rolling on the ground, jumping to my feet quickly. I moved my
arm out the way, forcing it to my back. I held my hands out seeing the
werewolf, leaping at me again. I moved again, but it was quick to
recover, attacking me. It bit into my arm, but I felt my leather jacket
protecting me from shedding blood. I fell to the ground; I tried pulling
its mouth off my arm. I gasped when it yanked its head, almost pulling
my arm out of the socket. I lifted my hand, giving a swift punch and
kicked it off me. Seeing that it flew back a few feet, I jumped to my
feet. I swung the gun around, aiming it quickly and pulled the trigger.
I had a hit, but the response of the gun wasn't what I expected. It
was blank. "Oh, come on!" I yelled.
The werewolf leapt forward once again, but I managed to
defend myself, hitting it. It fell over, whimpering as it stood. It
20
turned to me and ran off. I let out a breath, taking out a flashlight. I
turned it on and followed after the werewolf. I raced after it, finding
it disappeared behind some trees. I came to a halt, seeing a cliff side.
I caught my breath as I leaned against the stone of the mountain.
"Why?" I heard a soft voice. I looked up at the sky, seeing the
moon going down. I looked around with the flashlight, seeing a figure
resembling a kid. He was shirtless and had a bruise on his side. He held
up his hands, shielding his eyes, "Leave me alone,"
"You're a kid?"
"I'm thirteen, thank you," the boy corrected me.
I rolled my eyes, "So you're the lycanthrope?"
"A what?"
"A werewolf," I gave the pop media name.
"Are you here to kill me?"
Before I could answer, I heard another voice, I automatically
knew who it was, my uncle. "She's not here to kill you but subdue you,"
He looked at me before pushing up his glasses, "I'm surprised you
tried to shoot a blank shotgun,"
"You sent me into the forest with a known werewolf roaming
and didn't expect to fire?" I gritted my teeth as I ask the question
but knew it wasn‘t exactly a question.
My uncle didn't provide an answer but walked over to the boy
who steps away from him. ―What do you two want?‖
―We want to take you in, not to the police but help you control
your abilities. Along with you staying in my mansion, I would like if you
allow me to study you,‖
―Study?‖
―You‘re a lycanthrope, a very rare one as well. If I am able to
study you and your abilities, I may be able to create a hypothesis on
your species,‖
―What are you a doctor or something?‖ the boy asks.
―That is what he claims to be,‖ I said to the boy. The boy tilts
his head to the side. ―I don‘t know if I want to do this,‖
―Don‘t worry, nothing bad will happen to you. My niece can
vouch for you,‖
―What is your name?‖
―Alastair Elliot Johnson,‖ My uncle spoke his name with
elegance and pride.
The boy looks at me, ―What is yours?‖
―Eugene Lincoln,‖
―Aiden Greene,‖
21
Life
Jamal Harmon, Wirt Emerson Visual and
L I F E. In most cases, people think that life embodies animals
and plants and human beings living, but I feel like the word L I F E is an
acronym that means ―Living in Fierce Environment.‖ I feel like
nowadays in this century we really do live in a fierce environment.
To begin with, there was a boy named Jeremy and he was a
basketball player on so many scholarship committees. He attended a
performing arts school and majored in theater arts. This school was so
violent, but he was unaware of this because Monday, August 27th,
2016 was his first day. When Jeremy went to his first class he was so
confident that all of his other peers were just like him, but he thought
wrong.
Now, all the other students in the school came in the class for
thirty minutes and left. Jeremy thought there wasn‘t any school
because his classmates and the teacher had not arrived. So finally
when the teacher and the students came, the children just did not
care what the teacher said and just played on their phones. Jeremy
looked so frustrated at the situation and wished it could be stopped.
Oh by the way, Jeremy experienced this torture the whole week. On
Monday the students came and bullied him by talking about him and
taking his lunch money. On Tuesday the students didn't even come to
class and the teacher all of a sudden just started smoking in the class.
Wednesday they didn't have school. Thursday the students bullied him
again by beating him up for no reason. Finally Friday came and the
teacher got so frustrated and left the class for no reason and so did
the students too. So Monday was here and he came to school and it
happened again. Not only did he get mad; he told the principal.
When he walked to the principal‘s office, he felt so confident
that the principal could resolve the conflict brewing between the
students and teacher; instead, the principal told Jeremy, ―GET OUT
AND LET THEM DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO!‖ Jeremy was so
upset that the principal couldn‘t ameliorate the problem and
unfortunately assumed that L I F E was very frustrating. Not only the
situation at school was frustrating but every time he came home from
school he had to deal with his mother antagonizing him for no reason
because her job was very frustrating for her. He always tried to keep
a smile and have fun and tried not to think about it, but for him to
come to the school and not really learn anything reminded Jeremy
about the verbal and physical abuse at his house.
So Jeremy really knows and thinks that L I F E is not all that
and a bag of chips. He knows that L I F E is a struggle for him to
survive and not really a place for him to thrive. So when he thought
that, he just gave up school, gave up on his basketball career, and gave
up on his internal life.
22
Clearly, some people may think that life embodies animals and
plants and human beings living, but I feel like the word L I F E is an
acronym meaning ―Living in Fierce Environment.‖ One day you should
ask yourself: Is L I F E really all that and a bag of chips? Maybe you
should ask a friend or an associate if they are feeling ok or are they
dealing with anything. Don't let our people go like this. We should all
overcome the negativity and face the enemy of LIFE.
__________________
Dark Nightmare to Peaceful Dream
Shane Stephenson, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 10
In the midst of the dark, I was lost in the pitch-black woods.
Creepy crawly creatures were lurking around the dark for something
to prey on. Terrified of a thunderous earsplitting ―BOOM‖ sound I
heard in the dark, I immediately panicked and ran straight down to the
nowhere I thought I was headed. I was lost and disoriented. I began
screaming like a banshee as I tripped and fell over a broken branch of
a tree. I began to pray that nothing attacked me while I attempted to
pick myself up. I prayed for a way to get out of those monstrous,
satanic woods.
Once I began to stand up, a bright light appeared ahead of me.
As I began to walk towards it, I suddenly dropped like a rollercoaster
from nothing but the fading of the light. I became quickly
overwhelmed again and began to scream. Suddenly, I heard a highpitched squealing and then someone utter, ―Wake up, stop screaming!‖
Wherever I was falling suddenly became dark and void of all life. I
felt as though my heart dropped and stopped.
Another white light appeared. This time a shadowy figure
appeared and said, ―Welcome!‖ The voice was deep, strong, and
beautifully powerful and relieving. It felt as though everything
became clear. Everything around me stopped, and it was all clear. I
saw my wife and my two children beside me as we quickly grasped each
other‘s hands. We were all apparently instilled with fear, with tears in
our eyes. We all turned when the voice began to speak to my wife and
me. The shadowy figure attempted to explain that we had just been
robbed and killed, but it was now our time. We now no longer live in our
intolerable nightmare, which was nothing but a dream.
23
What is Struggle?
Andrew Garcia-Hill, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 10
Struggle…
A word that is used to often by teens;
They call it a struggle
When they have trouble.
They call it a struggle
When things get too tough.
Teens don‘t experience a struggle,
But say that they do
A struggle leaves you homeless.
A struggle leaves you hungry,
Leaving you to search for your own food.
A struggle causes pain, not just physically,
But emotionally and spiritually too.
Teens don‘t truly experience struggle
But say that they do
Learning and trying to understand new concepts isn‘t pain.
You haven‘t felt true pain
Because you never had to really struggle in life.
Now true pain…
That‘s what struggle really is…
__________________
You
Princess Akinwunmi, Arts High School, Grade 10
Dear You,
Why are you so hypocritical?
You tell me it's okay to wear what I want
Do what I want
Say what I want.
Yet,
Whenever I put on my attire
You say,
―Why do you dress like that?‖
Whenever I am myself
You say,
―Why do you act like that?‖
Whenever I say what I think
You say,
―You‘re so weird why do you talk like that?‖
Dear You,
Please stop being hypocritical
I try but I can never figure you out.
24
The Mighty Tree
Stacy N. Comer, Wirt Emerson Visual and
Performing Arts Academy,
Grade 11
Behold! The mighty tree!
It feels no pain and therefore knows no suffering.
It knows not the struggles of living, as all its needs are brought to it,
captured within its leaves and siphoned within its roots.
It need not know of the wars waged about its world,
as there are no true battles to be won,
even through barren sands and frigid nights,
when one needs little effort to fight.
The tree conquers all.
But with one‘s own power
and resolve,
they need not envy the tree.
25
The Wanted and the Hated Part One
Angelo Garcia-Hill, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 10
The period was during the most horrific battle on earth, World
War II. It was the time where war was everywhere, especially in the
country of Europe. The war even brought in countries that wanted to
stay neutral yet joined in because of propaganda and fear. This takes
place during the most awful and death-bearing genocide ever: the
Holocaust. Let‘s begin with our American prisoner, Alexander Smith,
who broke out of a German jail during his sentence for two counts of
murder.
In a distant field outside of Erstvollzug, Alexander was digging
ground and the timing was good because the soil was soft from the
rain. As he rose from the ground he made a big gasp for air and said,
―Oh man, the next time I escape from jail, I‘m doing it when I have air
to breathe because that was awful.‖ He looked around his surroundings
and said, ―Oh my Gosh, you got to be kidding me. I know war broke out
but come on! This is a nightmare come true!‖ I better find somewhere
to hide from both the police and Nazi troops.‖ Alexander ran for
thirty whole minutes and found a hiding spot in an old abandoned
building where he hid for three days.
During his three days of hiding, a man named Nigel Gilligan and
his wife were running from the Green Police because they were Jewish.
Nigel‘s wife tripped and twisted her ankle and the Green Policemen
were very near. ―Hurry Jillian, take my hand and I shall take you to a
safe place.‖
Jillian responded to Nigel with tears in her eyes, ―No my
darling. It‘s too late. Save yourself!‖
Nigel refused, ―I will not leave you, if you get caught, I shall
get caught also.‖
―It‘s alright, you will see me again in the next life where we will
be happy forever. Now hurry they‘re almost here!‖
Nigel fled the scene with pain in his heart and sorrow in his
soul not looking back at the Green Police beating his wife until she was
knocked out.
Nigel ran and hid in many places until three days later, he came
across the building where Alexander Smith was currently hiding. Nigel
climbed to the rooftop and when he reached the top, he fell through
the roof surprising Alexander. When Nigel arose from the rubble, he
saw Alexander pointing a Karabiner 98k at him. Nigel shouted, ―Wait,
don‘t shoot! I‘m not an enemy!‖
Alexander responded, ―No way man. How can I be sure that you
won‘t rat me out to the police?‖
26
―I won‘t I‘m running from the Green Police myself.‖
―All right, but if you try anything funny, I‘ll shoot you where
you stand.‖
Nigel calmed down and asked, ―How come you‘re hiding from
the authorities?‖
Alexander responded, ―Well I was charged with two counts of
murder and was thrown in prison. What about you?‖
―I‘m charged with being Jewish. By the way my name is Nigel
Gilligan.‖
―Alexander Smith is mine, but you can call me Alex.‖
After a day of getting to know each other Nigel asked, ―Alex
what are we going to do? We‘re both wanted and we are stuck in enemy
territory.‖
―Nigel… I‘ll tell you what we‘re going to do. We‘re leaving
Germany tonight.‖
―Great! But for best measure we should travel only by night so
we won‘t be seen as much.‖
―Good point!‖
Alexander and Nigel set off to leave from Germany, but would
it be simple as it sounds? Find out what happens in The Wanted and
The Hated Part Two.
27
The Wanted and the Hated Part Two
Angelo Garcia-Hill, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 10
Twenty days had flown by. Having an agreement set in place,
all that was left was to plan their journey. ―Okay Alex everything‘s
packed and I‘m ready to leave. I do have one question though.‖
Alexander looked at him showing little curiosity, ―Alright, what is it?‖
―Where are we going?‖ ―We‘re sneaking back to my home country, the
United States.‖ ―Okay I managed to map out our quickest route and
keep in mind we need to travel only by night so we won‘t get caught.‖
Two hours passed as they planned their travel through Germany, some
of Berlin, and into France. ―Alright Nigel, let‘s get going.‖
Throughout the night they traveled through the rubble of
damaged buildings and avoided any troopers until around 2:46 a.m.,
when they were spotted by five Green Policemen. The Green Police
opened fire and the duo took cover and fired back. At the end of the
little battle Nigel killed two policemen and Alexander killed the other
three.
Alexander looked at Nigel. ―Come on let‘s keep going because
I‘m pretty positive that more will be coming soon.‖
Nigel responded in a panic. ―Alex, look! It‘s a wanted poster of
you.‖
―Oh no, they must‘ve noticed I broke out of prison, so now we
can‘t be seen or they‘ll turn me in and kill you for being Jewish.
―Well then let‘s go!‖
Ten days passed and they finally reached the border of
Germany into Berlin. After five days in Berlin, they arrived to France.
The sky was occupied by fighter planes on both sides so they had to
travel to the U.S. by boat. Fifty-six days had gone by and they finally
reached the United States of America. The two thought they were
home free. Suddenly, a small German patrol boat appeared and a
German soldier shot Alexander in the chest. Barley breathing, Nigel
fended off the Nazis and managed to sink their ship. Heartbroken,
Nigel ran to Alexander and cried, grieving over the loss of his friend.
Nigel Gilligan entered the U.S. alone, vowing to always honor the death
of his friend, Alexander Smith.
28
The Heart
Miyoko Membres, Westside Leadership Academy, Grade 11
What exactly is the Heart?
The heart can be defined as many things but naturally it is defined as
the main organ.
An organ that can pump blood and emotions which flow to the brain.
The heart is muscle, sturdy, and strong however it can easily be broken
by deception and heartbreak.
The heart is also very sensitive like a newborn baby.
When you‘re furious, your blood begins to boil and your heart beats
rapidly.
When you‘re sad or depressed your heart clenches with excruciating
pain.
When you are completely shattered, your heart seems destroyed
beyond repair.
The heart is like glass; beautiful to look at easily broken.
So take my advice and don‘t let ANYONE play with your HEART
__________________
Dear Mother...
What makes you hate
Your own daughter so much
Aren‘t sixteen cuts
On my arm just enough
Or should I aim for my throat
To make you more happy
Or give you the knife
So that you can stab me
I‘m sick of your temper
And your threats are so empty
‗Cause you know what I‘ll do to you
If you ever TRY to hurt me
Two of us can‘t live
Together in harmony
So either I kill you
Or I‘ll just kill me
29
Six Word Memoir
Zakeema Wilson, East Side High School, Grade 10
Believing in something; achieving that something.
__________________
A Letter to Her
Asia Lee, Wirt-Emerson Visual and
Performing Arts High Ability Academy, Grade 12
I would have listened
From all the problems in your life
To all the things that were said
I would have cared
About all the things that were said
And all the things that you felt
I would have tried
To ease all the pain
And make you feel wanted
I would have been there for you
When you felt all was lost
And you were giving up
I would have cried
But I didn‘t know you
Because you never came
To talk, to confess, to give me any chance to try
But I would have listened.
30
Anxiety
TeErica Jackson, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Heavy Breathing
Loss of Breath
My heart is beating slowly but
My thoughts are coming fast
Feeling weak
Can barely speak
Tears are flowing
Muscles are tightening
Demons are controlling
My soul is fighting
Feeling of caring so much
Feeling of needing, needing one touch
The feeling of grieving
So much hurt so much pain
Love and Hate are wrapped around me
But no strength to break the chains
I‘m screaming ―SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE!‖
But my screams are silent and cold like death
I really hate how this thing is controlling me
This is what it feels like to have ANXIETY!
Please Help!
__________________
Unique
Princess Akinwunmi, Arts High School, Grade 10
One time I looked into the mirror
A pretty girl stared back at me and I smiled.
I headed into the streets and I see a prettier girl
my smile dimmed a little.
I arrive at school and the halls were crawling with beautiful girls
my smile became a frown
Another time I painted the sky
I captured every curve and shape of clouds
I looked at my work and smiled.
I headed out into the streets and I see the pretty girl.
I keep the smile on my face because I know she can‘t draw
not like me.
I arrived at the school and the halls continued to crawl with pretty
girls
my smile does not become a frown.
instead I complimented them and did not feel jealous
I know I am unique not because I am pretty but because I have other
things to offer.
31
One WIll Die and the Other WIll Kill
Zaakiyah Colson, Arts High School, Grade 12
Suie was a high school girl whose mother worked in the office
building she was in the elevator for. For as long as she could
remember, Suie wanted to die. Her biggest problem was getting the
nerve to pull it off. However, after a heated argument with her
mother on the top floor of the Teddy Corporation, she was planning to
finally go to Riverstreak Park and shoot her brains out with her mom‘s
registered gun.
Merdor was an escaped convict whose ex-boyfriend worked as
a right hand man for Suie‘s mother. In the past, she lived the
American Dream with her husband in a kind neighborhood. In her spare
time, she killed countless lives and buried the bodies in her backyard.
Once her boyfriend found out about her hobby, instead of supporting
her, he immediately called the police. After she escaped from a life
sentence in prison, she was planning to go to the top floor and
mercilessly kill her ex-boyfriend.
In elevator number 4, floor 13, Suie was on her way to the
lobby floor when Merdor went into the elevator with her. Even though
Merdor was on her way up, she pressed both buttons to get the next
available elevator since it didn‘t make sense to wait for one that was
only going up. While both girls stood side by side, they glanced at each
other‘s attire. Merdor judged Suie for her all black and emo shtick
while Suie judged Merdor for her perfectly ironed business dress and
tightly pinned bun. They listened to the light and comforting music
while trying to focus on their future goals and keeping the silence
between them.
However, the light and comforting music projected in morse
code and dubstep before it stopped all together, the lights flickered,
and the ladies found themselves resisting staying in place instead of
moving down. Once they regained their balance, they looked at the
numbers on the top of the elevator door and let a full 6 seconds go by
before accepting that 10 was not going to go on to 9.
Suie cursed. Merdor slapped her hand on her face. All they
could do was press the emergency red button, tell the person in the
intercom their situation, and wait.
They sat on either side of the elevator and waited for anyone
to come help them. While Suie was fine with the silence between them,
Merdor was a proud extrovert who wanted to show it in any way she
could. They exchanged names and ages, then day to day jobs (of course
one had to lie). Chit chat turned into a conversation and conversation
turned into deep conversation. Soon they were sitting side by side in
the elevator and telling each other their life stories and interests
without a judgment in the world.
32
After an uncontrollable laugh during a funny conversation, a
gun hopped out of Suie‘s open book bag and clunked on the floor. The
once cheery atmosphere turned eerie in the silence. To break it, Suie
finally confessed that she was planning to kill herself once she left the
building and found some place remote. Instead of nagging about the
importance of life like Suie expected her to, Merdor laughed.
She confessed to her that once she reached the top floor she
was going to kill her ex-boyfriend as a revenge mission for telling the
police about all the people she killed, saying how ironic this pair was.
Instead of slowly but obviously moving to the other side of the
elevator like Merdor was expecting her to, Suie handed her the gun,
pointing the barrel at herself. ―I‘m too scared.‖
―Are you stupid? What do you think they‘re going to do when
they find a dead body on the floor while I‘m alive?‖
―I‘ll keep my fingers on the trigger while you pull. The evidence
will be on me.‖ She shook the gun in her face. ―Come on, get it out of
your system.‖
Merdor placed her hand over her friend‘s, then her index
finger over her friend‘s trigger finger. She always loved guns back in
the day. The loud explosion and the splattering of blood was a very
intriguing experience she worked hard to get when she could. Never
had she ever shivered and hesitated when the opportunity came to her.
Never had the eyes of her victims depressed her so much. Never had
she thought of what the future would be like without her victims on
this earth. A combination of all those factors made her pull the gun to
the floor and whisper, ―I can‘t do it,‖ in disbelief.
―Why not?‖ asked the other. ―I‘m ready.‖
Merdor questioned this while looking at the gun in her hand and
thinking over all the people she had killed in a past life. All thanks to
Suie, her new and true friend, she was finally able to put herself in the
perspective of the loved ones of the people she killed. ―Because I‘d
miss you.‖
When those words were finally said to her, Suie realized the
reason she stayed on this earth for as long as she did and why she
always thought of her mother before she didn‘t pull the trigger. ―I‘d
miss you too.‖
Soon after, Suie and Merdor were freed from the elevator‘s
captivities. After a nice hug, both ladies parted ways with a change of
plans to their next move. Suie went home and put her mother‘s gun
back in the dresser where it belonged. Merdor met her ex-boyfriend
at the top floor where Suie‘s mother was and he once again told on her
to police. Merdor happily let it happen.
After Merdor was sent to jail, she used her only phone call to
call her new friend and tell her which jail she was in.
33
The Best Replacement You’ll Ever Find
Jae Lynn Garcia, Arts High School, Grade 11
I was dating someone for the first time in my short-lived life.
It was like every adolescent romance movie I was ever forced to see:
dramatic and frightening. But I was completely enamored. As I look
through the dust colored journal sitting on my desk, every sentence on
every page jumps out. The words parade through the textured sheets
of paper, and I‘m left reminiscing.
Currently, I‘m staring at a journal entry written on July 22,
2015, at 3:13 a.m. ―Jealousy is so overpowering,‖ I wrote. ―To know
that you‘ve had sex isn‘t what makes my eyes burn. Sex is simple;
empty even. But to know you‘ve made love, tugs at the thoughts in my
mind. To know you have craved the taste of her skin, to know you
looked at her face and saw beauty greater than the sun, to know that
she was your familiarity scares me because you two together were
probably something gorgeous. You‘re the galaxy‘s edge, she was the
absence of gravity; making everything free from restraint, and I‘m a
cosmic storm craving the destruction of the things that hold you back
the most. My fear is that she was everything you wanted and I was
the best replacement you could find.‖
__________________
Who am I?
Aaliyah Morrow, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 10
I live in your house,
And I eat your food.
I sleep in your bed,
And I wear your clothes.
I talk with your friends.
I even talk to you when you‘re alone.
I know all of your secrets, insecurities, and flaws.
I can hear your thoughts.
I feel your feelings…
I feel your pain.
Still don‘t know who I am?
That is because you don‘t know who you are.
If you took the time to get to know yourself,
You would know exactly who I am.
I am YOU
34
BEYOND THE SKY!
Zakeema Wilson, East Side High School, Grade 10
Dance, sing, holler and scream,
Make something happen,
follow that dream!
You‘ll hear the little girl cry,
the baby boy sigh,
but when you go to sleep at night,
dream beyond the sky!
Believe in your dream!
Let the nightmares pass by
because when you wake up
they‘ll say bye bye!
They say dreams come true
but do they really do?
I believe so but only if
you want them too.
So tell the nightmares ―Go Bye Bye‖
those are the dreams that will
keep from showing inside.
__________________
Zombie Apocalypse
Paulo Silva, Arts High School, Grade 12
If there was a zombie apocalypse taking place in school, there
would be a lot of planning and action for me to go through. First, I
have to look for a place where I would be safe from the zombies. My
choice of a hiding place for survival would be a room which doesn‘t have
many doors or many windows to see through. In a room like this, it is
unlikely that I would get caught on the spot.
For survival, I would bring a gun in order to shoot the zombies
for protection. If a zombie is coming, I would have to shoot at the
zombies. Because zombies like to eat human brains, it is a smart idea
to bring a helmet, or something to protect your head. It is also useful
when you are running away fast.
I would also bring some light snacks because it is unknown for
how long a zombie apocalypse would last and there is no way you can
run fast enough if you haven‘t eaten in many days. It is also necessary
to bring an extra set of clothes. After a long time, it is likely that you
would smell bad, and it will also attract the zombies. Finally, I would
also bring something to keep me awake and alert at all times, most
likely any drink which has caffeine in it. If I follow this entire plan,
and have all of these essentials, I will survive a zombie apocalypse
when it happens.
35
I Need You
Luana Melo, East Side High School, Grade 10
There‘s times that I needed you
But I never say anything with fear of disappointing you
I really want you beside me
But sometimes you distract yourself and you can't see
I honestly don't know how I can open your eyes
So I guess I'll just live my life telling myself lies
Like, that you really care for me
And that I really mean something to you
And that you actually love me
__________________
The Change of Life
Shane Donell West Jr., Wirt Emerson Visual and
Grade 9
This man has made a huge change in his years, changes that his peers
and friends can‘t understand. I‘ll tell you the story of this man named
Shane. Shane Donell West Jr. his mother named him. Growing up was
tough. He was known as the ‗‘do too much kid‘‘. A kid who was the
craziest guy in elementary. He was also known as ‗‘the goof ball.‖ He
made poor grades all the way up to 3rd grade and average grades all the
way up to 6th grade. But something changed his life. This young man
known as the troublemaker was no more. Once Shane entered the
7thgrade, the friends he once knew were not his friends. He was
toodifferent, tooodd, tooquiet, to fit. He found new cronies, more to
his style of walk. At this time Shane was more responsible, kinder,
smarter, and more handsome. Basically he became a leader. His
reputation grew into the ‗‘advice giver.‖ Even the teachers loved him.
The teachers would say stuff like, ―Why can‘t y‘all be more like Shane.‖
With a leadership mind he needed a leadership activity. So what filled
that hole? Drum line of course!!! He became the band section leader in
no time. And, his talent bought him a ticket into Wirt Emerson, one of
the best schools in Gary. So high school came and nothing changed.
The same old Shane. Except that he was now known as the ‗‘old man;‘‘
and still to this day he‘s the same old Shane. So what happened to this
young man? Gaining more knowledge is what changed this man.
Knowledge of how the world actually works. How cold and cruel it can
be; how nice and pretty it is; and how people‘s minds work. Basically,
life is what happened.
36
How Do We Last?
Tynazsha Boston, East Side High School, Grade 10
We hide behind these masks
But the question that needs to be asked is how do we last?
Someone wise once said if we can't tell the truth to our friends then
how can we be real?
You will never be free until you stop hiding. All that hiding is blinding.
Come out of that shell and tell
Why is it that we do the same thing to others that was done unto us?
Why is it that we can't take off these masks and be who we really
are?
Is it because society is conditioning us to be their right way?
Or is their right way the wrong way and our wrong way the right way?
Does it even matter?
Looks can be deceiving
Just like dreaming is believing
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Well let me tell you that whatever is behind that mask it‘s okay! You‘re
not alone but take the mask off and FINALLY BE FREE
So let's start shining.
__________________
Six Word Memoir
Erica Molina, East Side High School, Grade 10
Elements of FREEDOM are within you.
37
Childish Innocence and Forgotten Responsibilities
Tiana Williams, Arts High School, Grade 12
Let mommy hold your hand
And kiss away the boo boos
Let daddy hold the flame
And lead you to the new you
We tell our children that ―The sky's the limit‖
Then put chains on their ankles to keep them on the ground
Tell them ―The future is yours‖
But lock them in the shadows of our past
They can‘t seize the day
If our demons are standing in their way
Sleep tight
Don‘t worry
The bed bugs don‘t bite
But that monster is real
And he watches while you sleep at night
Let mommy sacrifice her life
To keep you both alive
Let daddy hold the candle
An empty corner vigil where the sun and moon collide
The same ones that are supposed to protect us
Are the ones we must fear the most
The best friends we relied on
Are the first to become ghosts
We‘ve grown accustomed to the let-downs
The broken promises
And partial truths
It‘s what we've come to expect
Nothing more, nothing less
You didn‘t need to lie
You didn‘t have to cry
All the sleepless nights
They didn‘t have to happen
Mommy‘s still there
And Daddy still cares
38
I get why you did it,
Why we do what we do
I get why you said it,
Why we say what we say
I get it now
The truth‘s come out
Reality is way scarier than any monster we could imagine
The real demons are way scarier than anything we could ever fathom
Let mommy take the blindfold
That shielded you from harshness
Let daddy put out the fire
That kept you from the darkness
__________________
The Masquerade
Jordyn Clark, New Tech Innovative Institute, Grade 10
One mother, one father, two daughters and one son.
Divided with secrets, hostility and more problems than one.
Lives, lies, and more pain than you know
Walk past the masquerading family, look into their masks
and the tears will begin to show.
Have you heard the silent cry of the dove when it‘s caged?
Have you seen the pale father‘s hand fly higher and hit harder,
the more he is enraged?
Look into mama‘s eyes and know she likes the high, numbing pain.
A neglected brother can see his sister‘s pain, and not take his own in
vain.
Sister knows more than what she thought.
She ended a stream of confused tears, the day her mommy and daddy
fought.
From the hidden drinking and undeniable drug use,
spawned the physical, mental, and undeniable—Abuse.
Pale stranger, masquerading as father. When she needs him he‘s not
there—
No time to even bother.
She walks with her companions…despair and sorrow,
not loving today, but dreading tomorrow.
Where is the end to her misery and darkness—so sad.
The phone rings softly…it‘s her Real Dad.
39
Dear Daddy
Amatha Murff, New Tech Innovative Institute, Grade 11
Dear Daddy,
Sometimes I look into the mirror and wonder,
What is the color of your eyes,
Are they dark and round,
Small and triangular, similar to mine?
I wonder,
Do you like sour cream as much as me,
My mom always says I resemble you,
How would I know, because we‘ve never met.
Daddy,
Did you ever look for me?
Did you even care?
Or, did you just forget?
I used to blame and doubt myself, because you were not there.
As I have grown older,
I understand that it is your loss,
You missed out on a great upbringing.
Don‘t come back 10 years from now,
Apologizing for having not been there for me.
But thanks Dad, somehow your absence in my life,
Made me the woman I am today.
__________________
Never Empty
Darius Damon Jenkins, Wirt Emerson, Grade 12
Life of wonders.
The kind that carries you away to new worlds when you sleep.
The kind that fills you with joy when you want to weep.
Life is breath,
The substance that make us complete.
‗Tis the stream that runs farther and wider than any can imagine.
Never Empty!
Always full of life‘s experiences,
The storm awaits my arrival.
I refuse room for my self-resentment.
I will live this life without regrets,
For another day is not guaranteed.
I will capture THIS moment.
I will live life to the fullest and never be empty.
40
Suicide… No Thanks!!!
I want, I need
I‘ve laughed, I‘ve cried
But I‘m not too crazy
To commit suicide
I can‘t take pain
I ride my tears on a boat
So, what makes you think
That I‘d rather cut my throat
It‘s not my only choice
So, stop saying that it is
I could always fight back
And let your face meet my fist
I have friends who need me
To stay by their side
So, I‘ll say No Thanks
To Committing Suicide
__________________
I AM THEM
Essence Baity, Wirt Emerson Visual and
I am the victims that lost their lives to violence
I am the one that took a stand because I didn‘t want to be another
statistic and watch
I am the sibling that cries day in and day out hoping, praying to see
their face one more time
I am them !!
I am the mother that had to bury her child
I am the one that turns the news on and looks in the newspaper and
see violence
I am the one that steps out their front door and hears gun shots
I am them !!
I am the one that prays to see my family another day
I am the one that walks and sees gang bangers on my block
I am the one in the ER fighting for my life
I am them !!
I am the friend that wanted to speak out
I am the one that goes to school and acts like everything's okay
I am the one that's a problem because I want to be a solution
I am the one that will join S.A.V.E and take a stand
I AM THEM !!
41
To Cash
I work as a cashier in a convenience store by Booke and Silver
Ave. We sell a lot of conveniently placed things. It isn‘t a big store,
but more than ten people can be in there at the same time.
I see all types of people come and go: old, young, in pairs,
triplets, shoplifters, comic book geeks, children, all the like. Most
times, I never see them again. But there was this one guy that was a
real hipster. He came here almost every day with his red and curly
afro, staring at the cards section for eons. His hands jittered more
the closer it got to one of those cards. Once he‘s at his peak, he spun
on his heels and walked out the door to come back another time. He
did this every day after 3, when we first open.
One winter morning, my kind nature was sick and tired of
seeing this poor sap all day not knowing which to pick, so I decided to
give him some help. I left my post at the cash register and went
between the panty box, the old CD box, and down the aisle of lamp
shades before I met him with his back turned. ―Having trouble?‖
He jumped and grabbed his chest, skipping to the side and
tripping while looking at me like I was a monster with rabies. Holding
my hands up, I asked him to calm down. ―Sorry. I didn‘t mean to scare
you.‖
His arms and legs trembled, and his heavy breathing ceased,
but he nodded. I offered him help getting up on his feet, but he
declined, doing it himself. Like nothing had happened, he went back to
card searching.
"You come here every day," I said while looking at the cards
with him. For some reason, he was trembling worse than a naked man
in the winter and sweating like he just got out of the shower. What an
introvert, I thought at first. But then I realized that the card he was
picking out was in the Valentine's Day section. I‘d be embarrassed too
if I was caught trying a to pick out a love card before the occasion
came. "You know, it's not a big deal which card you use, right? If the
message got through, you‘re fine." He ignored me, which was actually
him staring blankly at the cards in cold blooded disgust.
I decided to help the poor guy, so I gave him my favorite card.
It was a green one, with a text reading ―You know what I love eating
more than hot dogs?‖ Inside is someone eating a banana float very
seductively while the song, ―Lollipop,‖ played and animated her licking
the spoon. It read, ―A nice sundae, whip crème from your banana split
and my cherry on top.‖ I snatched it out the rack and examined it, ―If
you‘re up for suggestions.‖ I doubt he could care any less, but I
continued. ―This card‘s so dirty and I love it. Here look--‖
But before I could open it, he snatched the card out of my
hand and sped to my station. Along the way, he grabbed a case of pens
42
and an envelope in one motion. The items slammed on the surface of
the cashier desk. I rushed over and bashed my fingers on the
register. ―$3.‖
He gave me the money before I finished telling him.
I took the three dollars from him and slid them inside the cash
register while smiling. I didn‘t know the name of that kid, but I was
proud of him. He grew from a picky card chooser to being okay with
getting the job done. Warms me heart. ―Want a bag?‖
As I looked up from the register, I saw the bag of pens pried
apart and him scribbling inside the musical card already. After that,
he popped it in an envelope and licked the glue wet before closing.
With a pen, he wrote, From Modesto to Cash, threw the envelope at
me, and left. I watched him almost get hit by a car through the large
windows by the front door.
I looked at the card with arched brows. Was I supposed to
give this card to a girl named Cash? Thinking that, I heard a girl
inspecting the socks section cooing, ―Aww!‖
I blinked when I looked up at her. ―What?‖
―That is the cutest pick up line I‘ve ever seen in my life!‖ Her fists,
which had a ball of blue socks in them, held her heart. She nearly fell
over as she walked over to me to see the envelope. ―Can I see?‖
―What? Pick up line?‖ I flipped the card front to back looking
for said pick up line.
―He bought a card in the store you work in. That‘s adorbs!‖
Holding up the card to her, I showed her that it was to someone named
Cash. ―Cash, like cashier. It‘s for you!‖
My eyes opened wide at the sight of this unbelievable physical
object. Someone gave me a card. I would never think those words
would be placed together in a same sentence in my lifetime. The girl
chuckled at my face. ―Don‘t just stand there, red lobster. What does
it say?‖
My shaky hands ripped open the envelope and pulled out the
card inside. Ignoring the dirty joke, I read the note within.
Will you go out with me? the card read in rushed but legible
handwriting. The girl nearly jumped out of her shoes as she squealed
with joy while I was paralyzed.
―Why aren‘t you wearing your name tag?‖
I thought of the attachable card in my pocket with TYLER
written in big, thick letters and shrugged. Honestly, I never thought I
needed it; no one needed to know what my name was until now. As I
wait for 3 o‘clock in the afternoon, I fixed my name tag on my apron
and wait for his arrival.
43
My Life Begins with a Fresh Smile
Marie Toupou, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
Smile: it is the key that
fits into the lock of
everyone.
A smile is truly the only
thing that can be
understood.
__________________
Life
Davinya McGuire, New Tech Innovative Institute, Grade 11
Many people take small things for granted — like the air we breathe,
the sun in the sky, and the water we drink. These things are always
there, in abundance, and we never have to ask for them. But what
happens when governments, municipalities, and everyday people don‘t
protect or respect what is freely given? Water Crises and Endangered
Species? Dominion over the fish and every creature therein requires
great responsibility and I‘m ready for the challenge. Saving the earth
won‘t be easy, but to the weak, the small, the marginalized, and the
voiceless, it matters the most.
44
Desperado
Jae Lynn Garcia, Arts High School, Grade 11
This means nothing.
Nothing but the absence of affection being replaced,
the desperation for a thrill feeds the savages that are inside us both.
We don‘t have to tame them for anybody,
We can be lone wolves together.
Together for the sole purpose of craving each other‘s skin
We‘ve both been jaded and we both want to leave
so find your peace
set that wild beast free
and come run away from any site of love with me.
__________________
The Skeletal System
T‘Erica Marsh, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
In the midst of a warm night, a crowd chanted with rage and
disappointment, "Booo!" My bones began to tremble. I was very
nervous. I am a football athlete who is 5‘9‖ and zero pounds, and I
enjoy a good laugh. My name is Humerus. I could be a track athlete
because I have strong leg power with femur bones that are stronger
than concrete. I am also light on my feet. So, speed wasn't a big deal
for me. However, I stood there in the middle of the field waiting for
the signal to receive the football. Soon after I heard the shout of my
teammate, I ran towards the end bone. Suddenly, I was tackled by
someone‘s clavicle bone. As they wrapped their boney arms around me,
I fell hard onto the ground. That was when my coach lost his skull and
called me out. "HUMERUS!" I slowly walked towards my coach. "I have
a bone to pick with you," Coach Bones said. ―What's going on, Humerus?
You don't seem to be cooperating too well tonight." I don't think I'm
ready to play Football. My heart isn't in it," I replied. Couch Bones
looked at me and said, "I know you're lying because I could see right
through you. I know you could score points for the team. I believe in
you." I began to smile then laugh as he bumped into my funny bone. I
ran back onto the field where my teammates and I ended the night
with a successful football game.
45
Do I Look Black to You?
Isis Bey Boyd, Wirt Emerson Visual and
Do I look black to you?
Seen as a sophomore,
Or as my teacher would call it, a wise fool.
Dangerous and cruel,
Trying to reach the next man‘s level…
But for some reason he keeps moving my step stool.
Hear me out!
This man I speak of is bold,
Heart is cold
And would sell his soul,
The white man.
Don‘t judge just yet,
The white man could have heart in the inside.
But ‗cause of his race he puts his pride aside
And lets the racism ride.
A young black female…
Her waves and hips,
Fully featured lips,
Eye opener to the next miss,
Or mister that may be.
Hear me as ghetto when I speak
As clearly as the other kind,
Don‘t believe my talents and skills combined,
As martin would say ―all men‖
*cough cough* including women
Will be treated equal
You ask me I say were the ones left behind
I represent in a suit and the perfect shoe
Happiness in my smile because I broke through …
Broke through the next white man
This tried to ruin me and my crew plan.
Plan to take over the world
And with no doubt succeed,
With the strength of the colored person we don‘t need any help
*ha ha* no sir, no need.
46
A young black male,
Black as another may call crayon Negros.
The black not a vow to be free in a free land,
Forced to reach forward a hand to be cuffed when approached by a
white man.
Little do you realize this is real?
The hate I feel
To only see sunshine when I walk down that prison hill.
Visualized as drug addict and weak,
Living on the side of a creek,
A threat to others because I‘m accused of holding a piece of heat.
Black as the next white man‘s wallet.
The wallet I was incriminated by if I can recall it…
Losing self-esteem because of the average society hypocrite.
Yea I must look black to you.
Because I‘m black *cough cough* brown
Doesn‘t mean others are not amused.
I may drink booze
And have a closet full of 100 dollar trues
But I will never lose.
Although I look black to you
Just remember I am crown headed,
Seeking the sorrow in your face when you‘re dreaded
Thought I couldn‘t make it right?
So wrong headed
I will be the greatest,
No matter if the words of the next racist
Next racist hurts because I will not be stressed.
My hair will not be the greyest
Because you are a graceless racist.
―My kind ―
As you would say
Will continue to slay with our famous faces.
47
Tight
Julio Ferreira, Arts High School, Grade 11
How do you breathe with rope around your lungs,
How do you love with a knot in your heart.
Climbing a ladder with no rungs,
And you just can‘t stop.
Your voice might crack,
And you might be sad,
One day though the twine will snap,
You might end up happy,
Or you might fall flat,
But that's that.
__________________
Why
Lamia Young, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
You ask how I feel.
I sit and think about what just happened…
Thinking about a series of why‘s.
Why me? Why her? Why now?
Looking at you, I blank out while wondering why.
You‘re asking how I feel and what all I‘m thinking about is why.
I quietly whisper ―Why?‖
Silence.
The longer the silence, the more anger I feel building up inside until I
scream out ―WHY?!!!‖
Why did you make me feel this way?
Why after all this time of trying to love you, do you hurt me in return.
Why?
Why do you sit here and act like you care?
Standing over you shaking with anger, I want to walk away but first, I
just want to know why?
You say nothing.
You‘re still sitting there looking at me and all I hear is silence.
After a while I walk off still wondering…
WHY?
48
She
Samantha Harper, Arts High School, Grade 10
She grew up being told that some things just can never be achieved
She grew up living by standards society put on her
She grew up wanting to grab those standards with her bare hands and
rip them apart
She grew up worrying about what others thought because she didn't
want to be ―weird‖
She grew up in the wrong generation which is what she told herself
everyday
She grew up believing that maybe she wasn't worth it
Little did she know that one day she would make all her dreams
become a reality
__________________
I AM
Miyoko Membres, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
I AM the girl who puts on a mask to hide the pain inside.
I AM the girl who cries out for her mother as her mother‘s boyfriend
molests her.
I AM the girl who goes weeks on end starving herself because of her
insecurities.
I AM the girl who is surrounded by many but feels all alone.
I AM the girl who sits in the back of the classroom while her peers
slowly poison her with their lies.
I AM the girl who cries herself to sleep wishing that her life would
come to an end.
I AM the girl who felt so small.
I Am… I am? I am?
I AM no longer THAT GIRL!!!
I now AM the girl who no longer lets negativity drown her.
I AM the girl who strives to achieve her goals.
I AM the girl who is determined to prove wrong all those who ever
doubted her.
I AM the girl who perseveres through her pain and insecurities.
I AM the girl who started with nothing and now has something.
I AM the girl who will never let anyone tear her down!
I AM who I AM because I know that I AM more than what others
perceive me to be.
I AM NOT the MINORITY. I AM the MAJORITY!
49
Hope
Karla Montoya, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
I don't remember a time when everything was simpler, or when I was
happier. All I remember are tears and frustration, loud screams and
things I'd rather forget. I will always remember and never forget the
feeling of being stuck somewhere you don't want to be. I still feel it
sometimes. Now, it's mostly replaced with the feeling of hope. Hope
for a better future and for my wounds to heal. Hope for the people I
love to be in a better place. Hope for there to be a happily ever after
in my life. I've gone through a lot of tough things and others have
gone through worse. Some of those people have also accomplished
great things. They are the ones that give me hope. They make me feel
that I can do the same.
__________________
Just Stop
Nani-Marie McFadden, Wirt Emerson Visual and
Stop, Stop loving someone who doesn't love you
Feels nothing for you but lust there is no trust now there's nothing
left to love he has left your heart to rust in a dungeon of dust filled
with the past memories that were somewhat fun
Now there is a new you you've grown up so much that I don't know who
you've become
My heart aches… aches with pain wishing what we've done never begun
the repeat of this treat is not so sweet
Just…stop, stop loving someone that doesn't love you
He can't feel when you're feeling as though you're going to bust
because your heart is aching from the love the affection just
everything you thought there was has now turned into much more it‘s
worse than what you thought it was
The hurt in your heart is not just an aching pain it's pieces falling
down a drain sharpened by a blade that will soon stab you again and
again from the repeat of the same thing
Look… Look at your face tell me those tears are all just a fake
the lies you tell yourself isn't just a game those things stick to your
brain they tell you oh it's ok it's just a phase but look at the pain that
shows on your face you can't cover it up every day this all isn't just a
dream so please don't repeat everything Because it will soon make you
scream
So please just stop this thing
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Unquenchable Hunger
Amir Douglas, Arts High School, Grade 12
OK... CLASS...
Write me a 5 page essay on...
WHAT IN GOD'S NAME!
Mr. Rudolf pokes his head outside the window and upon sight, he
sprinted out the door. He makes a heavy turn towards the opposite
way away from the classroom to get help. He is in such a tremendous
state of fear and adrenaline that he resembles a monster that startles
an off-duty officer at the scene. He points the revolver and pulls the
trigger. Panic begins to set in as the officer, frightened, drops
the revolver and runs away. The gunshots attract nearby walkers to
the classroom… I NEED TO RUN…NOW! I swipe the revolver from
the pool of blood that surrounds my professor and I take a quick
glance behind me and I see a silhouette of a bloody figure… IT‘S TIME
TO GO!! I escape its gaze... I don‘t know what happened to everyone
else in the classroom…there is pounding at the door followed by
screams that are halted by teeth tearing through flesh. It only makes
sense in my mind that someone or something is after me. I couldn‘t
dare to go back…I need to go to the nurse‘s office to get my gym bag.
I enter the empty room, and I grab my gym bag containing my hockey
uniform, deodorant, and my hockey stick. I raid the rest of the office
and find a medical kit. While making my exit, I see the same bloody
figure facing me with extreme curiosity and an unquenchable hunger…
__________________
“Grandma”
Taylor Whaley, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
Everybody has that one person that they look
up to in their life. Mine happens to be my grandmother;
she was there with me through it all. I would never forget
her smile or the talks we would have; every moment with
her was memorable. The day God took her was the day I
lost a part of me. I can honestly say she is the reason I
have become the person everyone sees today. Every day
I work harder than the day before to make her proud. I
wish she could see what a hard working young woman I
have become.
51
Monster Inside
Tiana Williams, Arts High School, Grade 12
There's no monsters in the closet
Nor under the bed
Just the ones in our heads
Left over from destructive days
And childish ways
Fighting up from the past
To leave us shaking in the shadows that they cast
Nothing left the same
As the monsters take over our brains
There were times
Before we were forced
To play this game
Then suffer through the pain
Before reality only served as means of monetary gain
Back when children
Were free to think and speak
And not criticized
For being weak
Or meek
And the monsters under the bed
Were scared of the light
Only daring to come out at night
You see, when the future was bright
We weren't scared to fight
But when the flames were extinguished
Then the world was made meaningless
With low spirits
And broken souls
We become slaves
To a system that we ourselves made
There's no conversations to be heard
Nor freely spoken words
Just voices screaming out
Until there's nothing left to say
Driving us to the brink of insanity
I‘m not proud of what I have to do just to be okay
But you do what you have to
To get by in this broken world
With shaking hands
Holding bloodied blades
Left with broken skin
52
And bleeding arms
Cuts are made
That won't ever go away
The only remaining testaments
Of the promises that were made
Only to be broken
With false hope
And insecurity
How are we not ashamed
We are the monsters
That we feared in our dreams
Here we are
Rooted to the ground
But we aren't radicals
Flowing through this assembly line machine of life
Following strict orders from higher ups
And for what?
Money?
A place to rest your head?
A nice warm and fluffy bed?
What's the point of sleeping if you can't even dream
What's the point of living if you can't even breathe
Suffocating in silence
Then retaliating with violence
Regretting the choices that we made
Every step of the way
Sacrificing our happiness
Just to get paid
Making excuses for the people we‘ve become
Just to say the job is done
I don‘t understand the world we live in
But I hope that when this is all over
That we are forgiven
For addressing the future with blind ignorance
And daft hypocrisy
All that I know
Is that even through this failed deliverance
I am me
You are you
But pray tell,
How long will this ring true?
53
Tryna Get Out
Tamara Matheny, Wirt Emerson Visual and
Tryna get out
Please help me
Tryna get out
Please set me free
Locked in a prison called Mind
Tryna escape but nobody to find
Tryna get out
Where‘s that light of mine?
I can‘t find the light that was supposed to set me free
I‘m just stuck at the bottom of the sea
Or maybe I‘m in a really deep dark hole
Depressed and small with a darkened soul
My mind says die
But my heart says live
It‘s nothing more of me that I can give
I wanna let go
I really do
But if I let go what will I do
I wanna cry but that won‘t help
I‘m afraid if I show emotion
They‘ll think I‘m weak
They‘ll do nothing for me, but just be bleak
Oh God Oh God what will I do
I‘m still in this prison feeling blue
Where I am it‘s always night
There‘s not even a moon to give off light
Always bewildered on why this happens to me
All I want is to just be set free
Free from all the atrocious things
Pacing back and forth tryna get a grip
I‘m going insane. Tamron Please don't trip.
These preposterous thoughts I dare to think
Rocking back and forth paranoid
I can‘t even blink.
Sitting in the corner of this dark room
―It‖ comes in very loom
Sometimes I see it sometimes I don‘t
It locks me up in this area with bars
I tried to break out but I don‘t get far
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―It‖ closed me up and hid the key
Get me out.. I wanna flee
I tried so hard, but I‘m still here
Sitting in this cell full of fear
I can‘t see it‘s so black
All I see is ―The Black Thing‖
It opens the cell and puts it on the floor
Glaring at it scared to pick it up
I don‘t wanna do it but why not
The bars on this cell are always locked
I want to be strong but I am unsteady
Death is coming and I am ready
There, the machine that holds the cylinder metal layered objects that
hurt
I pick it up so I can be curt
Right before I could pull the trigger
There was the light surrounding the dazzling figure
It grabbed my hand and pulled me into light
Finally the time I don‘t have to fight
The darkness unraveled before my eyes
The luminous before path in front of me
When Death said Yes
Life said No
Maybe it‘s not time for me to go
The light is here and I am free
I guess that is what happens when you want the luxury of life.
The pain, the struggling, the fear, and the accomplishments are what
life is about.
That's just what I went through when I was Tryna Get Out.
__________________
Perfection
Dara Miller, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
What exactly is perfection? I don‘t believe it exists.
Can perfection be overconfidence filled with risks?
We as humans make mistakes, so how perfect can we be?
Perfection is not the definition of me.
Perfection is an idea I believe no one has seen.
Oh, perfection, perfection, where can you be?
Can you tell me exactly what do you really mean?
55
Untitled
Malik Thorne, James Hillhouse High School, Grade 12
I should‘ve listened. I‘ve always categorized myself as a man
since the age of 13. All of my friends had their fathers or at least a
father figure in their life. But me, I convinced myself a long time ago
that I was my own ―Father.‖There are many like me, men and women,
and when I say ―like me.‖ I mean never met their father. It‘s sad
because he‘s the reason I‘m in this World.
I‘m constantly being criticized about the way I act. It has
literally always been that way for me. Even in pre-k I was being told to
grow up. Middle school is where things got tough for me. I went to
Edgewood Magnet School; a great school full of great staff members
and unique students like me. Every morning when kids got to homeroom
the whole school would listen to the principal on the intercom make
announcements, stand whereever they are, face the American flag, put
their right hand over their left pectoral, and say the ―Pledge of
Allegiance.‖
―Make Good Choices.‖ Mrs. Pachesa never stopped stressing
this statement to the school. Especially me, I heard those words over
a million times my nine years there. As if she was saying ―Malik, make
good choices‖ every time. Too bad I never listened to her, even when I
knew that I should have. Whether it was stealing, touching girls,
damaging school property, or cursing, the list goes on. Every time I got
in trouble I was sent to Mrs. Pachesa‘s office, escorted by Mr. Frank,
the school‘s truancy officer. If I wasn‘t in her office, then I was in
Mr. Frank‘s office, and if not his then I was in Mr. Burns‘ office and he
didn‘t play games with me. Mr. Burns was the Assistant Principal, the
bluntest man I‘ve ever encountered at the time. Even his presence
scared me. I would be in class actually doing my work and he would pop
up on me to make sure that I‘m on track; once he left it was always a
relief. But, overall Mr. Burns, Mrs. Pachesa, and Mr. Frank were the
best assets to my middle school years. I wish I wasn‘t so obnoxious
back then, I would‘ve listened to all the helpful advice they gave me.
Everybody makes mistakes, but that doesn‘t mean it‘s okay to make
mistakes; if you learn from your mistakes then its fine.
Graduating middle school was the start of many
accomplishments in my life. I knew it wouldn‘t be easy, that‘s why I set
that goal to graduate. I made my mark in that school as a troubled
child and left as a man setting and accomplishing goals. I wish middle
schools had reunions like high schools because I would love to see their
faces again, just to say ―Thank You‖ to them for helping me do what I
had to do to get where I am now. I don‘t know where they are now, but
I know that I will never forget them. Mrs. Pachesa, Mr. Burns, and Mr.
Frank gave me the mindset I have now in high school and they
motivated me to develop a better mindset which is the mindset I will
have to get into and succeed in college. ―Make good choices‖ started it
all for me. Bettering myself, mental development, manipulating my
structure to form the definition of a universally motivated scholar all
were triggered by those three words. And those words will end it all
for me.
56
Untitled
Audrema Brown, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Like the many
branches of a tree
headed in different
directions, we are all
connected.
__________________
Voices
Mute the loud voices of self-doubt
that hinder your chances of
experiencing the world, and then turn
up the whispers of certainty
57
A Day in the Life of Sky Maxx
Alexes Carter, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Have you ever thought about what it feels like to be a plane?
Many people think it‘s just about flying, but they don‘t know what I go
through. I have to be awake all day, every
day flying back and forth from state to
state and country to country. People depend
on me to get them to their destinations
safely. My days are run by strict schedules.
Many people love and fear me for many
different reasons. They get extremely
upset when my flights are delayed or
cancelled. It‘s important that I keep my passengers satisfied. Let me
give you a glimpse into an interesting day in the life of Sky Maxx…
Suddenly I opened my eyes, shocked by the freezing, cold
water that was attacking my long, strong wings with such immense
pressure. After a while it felt great because I love being cleaned. I
usually start my days off waking up to the beautiful sunrise while the
pilots start up my engine. But this particular day is different. Just
after getting all sparkly and clean, I find out that I won‘t be taking off
to Mississippi until 10:30a.m. Six hours is a very long time to sit still.
I was doing a good job of waiting patiently until an hour before
takeoff. So I decided to do a couple of tricks. As I was spinning in the
sky, I heard the sound of my nickname being yelled, ―Sky! Sky!‖ It was
a wonderful sound of love and appreciation.
10:30 finally came around. All I could think about was the
good and bad things that I was going to experience on during this
flight. As passengers entered I could already smell stinky feet and
must. Some smelled good like roses. The thing I hate is when some
people sit down almost suffocating me. I don‘t know if they showered
or not. I also don‘t like when people use the restroom and don‘t wash
their hands. So when they leave the restroom they get germs all over
me. Don‘t let me get started about when people waste food on my floor
and spill drinks on my seats. That‘s so disgusting! I feel all dirty, wet,
and mostly hated!
I was so excited because my grandma Maxine, the best flyer in
the South, lives in Mississippi and couldn‘t wait to see her. I finally
arrived late that night due to constant stops and delays. I spoke to my
grandma while looking up at the stars in the sky. I told her how I love
seeing the mountains and rivers. However, I hate the terrible scents
of some passengers. I also told her about a few conversations I
overheard along the way. It was the best night ever.
58
I love being a plane because I feel powerful. When I‘m up in
the sky I feel free and like I can do anything. I am filled with
excitement and joy. I have no worries. I don‘t think about when I will
no longer be able to fly again or when I‘m going to crash. I live my life
one day at a time and sometimes like there‘s no tomorrow.
__________________
Settling
Imari Thomas, Arts High School, Grade 10
I see it all the time
Sullen faces, stumbling about with their suitcases lagging behind them
Their suits cling to them – or maybe they‘re clinging to their suits?
Trapped in their corporate jobs, they‘re miserable
They smile not because they want to but because they feel obligated to
Still, the smile never reaches their eyes
Sometimes I see it in parents
The ones who live not for themselves but for their kin
They stare at their children in what can be mistaken as fondness but no
It is regret
I see it everywhere; in the successful, in the homeless, in the corporate
monkeys, in the parents
They will all deny what they‘ve done and what they‘ve done was settle
They‘ll convince themselves that they‘re happy, that this was what they
wanted for themselves
But they aren‘t happy and this isn‘t what they wanted
It‘s enough, they‘ll say
Their melancholy expressions will say otherwise
They‘re forever trapped in these unwanted lives because they settled
They become an example for teenagers, like myself, because they‘re
everything we don‘t want to be
We don‘t want to be miserable
We don‘t want to hate life
We don‘t want to hate ourselves
We don‘t want to settle
We won‘t settle
I won‘t settle
59
Demons
Tamara Matheny, Wirt Emerson Visual and
They always try to get you
They never leave you alone
You pray they leave but they stay
You hope and wish they'll go away
They get to your emotions
They make you mean
You try to stop them but you can't
Can't talk, can't control, can't scream
You go along with them so you won't suffer
But that doesn't work so you close the shutters
They come in different sizes, shapes, and forms
They'll come so often to you it becomes the norm.
You love God you really do
But it seems like He isn't coming for you
It seems as if you're the very last
But the first to be casted
These demons they come a lil‘ too often
I wanna pull the trigger and be put in a coffin
Employees of the Devil
On another level
Kill yourself to make them pick up the shovel.
Don't ask just do
They‘re all coming for you
They'll think I'm insane
They wouldn‘t understand
Don't cry. Don't weep. Don't Trip
If you didn't hold my hand
I was here I was there
Every single day but you brushed me off
You thought I was just tripping
Those random feelings. Attitudes and Coldhearted actions were a cry
for help
You didn't come, Instead
You hurt me without caring how I felt
You expected me to care but I didn't
You all gave me reasons of why I shouldn't
So I tried not to care, that was a devilish way
All I needed was someone who cared
Someone who will stay
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I'm not really confused
And I'm not dumb
There's a demon in my head and there's more than one
Those thoughts get the best of me and ruin my life
One day it'll stop
One day I won't fight
You see demons in movies
I see them in my head
Your demons aren't real if you claim they‘re under the bed
You don't know how I feel
I don't think you care
You put this unbelievable hurt on me
A hurt I cannot bear
So I apologize if I may be too difficult
I apologize for my coldhearted ways
It's my way of surviving through my days
People don't love you
They're demons in disguise
If you don't wanna be caught
Then you better be wise
No one really understands me
I've accepted that
One day I'll be gone and I'll never come back
One day my eyes will be open but I will still see black
The sin is done and I am still reapin‘
God Please Save Me From These Demons.
__________________
How to Learn
Julio Ferreira, Arts High School, Grade 11
Wake up and put on my shoes,
Get on my pants and go to school,
Told what to do and many don‘t care,
You do your best and you still fail,
No reward for being unique,
You only win if you play the sheep,
Know to be smart in your own way.
And don‘t let those halls decide whether you rise or fall.
Because even a genius doesn‘t know it all.
61
It's True Until It Is You
There once was a woman who was having a baby.
She was a 15 year old, weak, kind young lady,
who knew if it cried
she would meet her demise,
so she was wondering if she should kill it, maybe.
Men and women hated her so.
They were hoping she'd let the baby grow.
They called her a killer
as her parents withered
in shame as they walked down death row.
She was not disowned by her pappy or mum.
But they were very mad at their hometown. To them
was it totally fair
that she had to take care
of the child of that rapist bum?
There once was a man with lighter skin.
He loved his 'him's and he loved other women.
He loved more than hated
and much appreciated
the character that lay within.
And way back into his generation,
his great-grandfather owned a plantation.
While he didn't keep the legacy
and his grandfather's money,
the man kept the hatred from other nations.
He was a racist sexist, homophobic jerk
who did his best to please this earth.
But no matter what he did
everyone forbid
him from being open-minded because of what he was worth.
There once was a child who didn't know much
like 2+2 and the values of touch.
For things he didn't know,
he was smacked to and fro
because good and bad was something he was confused with, very much.
Sometimes he could get it right;
62
He shouldn't swear or get into fights.
But he didn't get
why he had to get hit
for things like being up past midnight.
For random reasons he'd be pounded.
At random times, he'd be grounded.
He grew up confused
on how to choose
the right and wrong reasons to hurt the confounded.
We say to people, ―if only they knew.‖
We ask people, ―See what I go through?‖
But that's all true
until it was you
who had to see the world from another point of view.
__________________
Lifeless
Klaudette Spencer, Wirt Emerson Visual and
Grade 12
―The carousel never stops turning‖
It just keeps spinning round and round and round…
And no matter how dizzy you get you can‘t get off...
It‘s like your feet are superglued to the floor of the carousel and
whereever it goes, whether round and round you are going with it…
And eventually you get used to the dizziness,
The circles become your everyday life
The vomit becomes your laughter
The tears become your bathing water
The dizziness becomes all you see and it just sits in the pit of your
stomach and you feel numb…
You feel nothing; you‘re like a dancing particle ….
Destined by the laws of physics to spin forever
And the thought is unsettling ….
But the scary part is….
You become nothing
63
I Never Told You Because...
Alexis Wilkins, Arts High School, Grade: 11
What if I was scared to tell you
how I feel the thoughts that ponder
my head the unforgivable sites
and words. I never told you because,
maybe it was you.
The secrets that crept ahead and
somehow whispered its way toward
me. Oh yes I‘ve heard. The moments
that seemed happy were now doomed
the ways of life were screwed,
screwed like how you left me
you left me hanging for a very long
time. I never told you because,
you abuse our relationship.
I was there all the time to lean on
But I was to blind, all you did
was waste my precious time. Simply
I was there for your pleasure and where
is your guilt. It has run away like a cat
from a dog. Its hidden features have now
showed itself. Not only to me, I never
told you because now the world sees it.
You hide your mischievous ways
but soon enough your mischievous
acts will follow and stumble in front
of you. We will recite these lines
that said we were there for each other
but listen it was never from my heart,
I never told you because I knew it
was just a line on paper from the start.
Shady yea right, not as much shade that
you threw to me.
It‘s not the same as you put me
to the side to stand within the crowd,
you were embarrassed of me, I never
64
told you because I will always stand
proud. You let me down like a way
for me to drown, this so-called friend
has left me for stray. But don't worry
for today. I never told you because,
carpe diem, I will seize the day.
Saying we will be friends to the end
was just a line for you too don't
deny it. It's now obvious, but your
words stabbed me in the back. I never
told you because I guess a broken
friendship was meant for me.
__________________
What It Means To Succeed
Alberto A. Rodriguez, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 9
Succeeding means to:
Never give up.
Don‘t ever stop believing.
Follow your dreams.
If you want to succeed you must
Pick yourself up and
Keep fighting to become what you want to be.
Ignore the haters,
Never putting yourself down.
If you want to win you
Need to find your light.
Prove others wrong.
Make your own motivation.
Raise yourself up.
If you're willing to succeed then you
Must become stronger than before.
Find your own passion.
If you don‘t fail then you
Must not give in to the pain.
Push yourself past your limitations.
65
Does Social Media Have a Positive or
Negative Impact on Today’s Society?
Tai Le, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 12
As of right now, we as human beings are living in a highly
advanced technological society: where we can pull up the Internet
browser anytime we want from our phones, we can drive cars without
the use of gas, and can renew power just from using the sun and wind.
We can‘t just seem to catch a break from using technology, never mind
Social Media. Social Media can impact our everyday lives in both
negative and positive ways because it can both distract us from our
tasks, but it can also be very educational to the public. Benefits of
Social Media include: keeping people up to date on the news,
introducing the latest technology to the public, and shedding light on
controversial issues that are happening around the world that would
otherwise never be shown because they are not ―mainstream.‖ Due to
this generation‘s strong interest in using technology and Social Media,
I feel that its increased presence in both high school and college
curriculums would be very beneficial because it‘s both interactive and
educational.
To begin with, there are many people nowadays that just seem
to stare at their phone all day. Many tend to see this is a bad habit
because they believe it is a distraction and prevents the users from
learning anything. Although this may be true sometimes, it can also
increase our knowledge about the world that we live in by keeping us
up-to-date with the current news that we may have missed. Speaking
from my own experience, I might scroll down on my Facebook timeline
and see that someone posted a meme on Donald Trump. If it piques my
personal interest, I might start to research and look up his campaign
speech to find out the truth. I may also learn more about the
presidential campaign overall, as it would be beneficial to know more
about the people that could potentially run this country in the future.
Not only does Social Media inform the public about the latest
news, but it also helps people with various learning styles. Some people
may learn through reading and writing, but I am personally a visual
learner. I need to be able to see what I‘m learning, whether if it‘s
through a picture or video, in order to absorb the content. Social
Media gives people a chance to visually see something by showing us
pictures with captions and allows us to fully visualize the information,
which can help a lot of visual learners like me.
In conclusion, I believe Social Media positively impacts society
by piquing interest in various topics through visually showing
information. It further broadens education of the public by sharing
global issues that aren‘t always mainstream, and keeps the public
informed on the current news.
66
She to I
Diavian Miller, Wirt Emerson Visual and
"She" doesn't need to wear that outfit, "she" is distracting
her coworkers. "She" doesn't need to study science, "she" needs to
tend to her kids and her husband. Maybe this "she" would help provide
in one way or another for men, but what will "she" do for herself?
As a young woman you will come across these situations. It's
expected. What a young woman makes of her life would somehow
relate back to a male, a male who will not have anything to do with her
life, a male who chooses to make something out of "her." This, my
friend, will ultimately make everything "fall into place." The male wakes
up, gets dressed, goes to work, gets paid a decent amount after the
day is done to provide for the family, eats and then goes to sleep to do
it all over again. The female wakes up and takes care of her kids. Then
what? Is that all everyone expects it to be? What about finding
career that'll be of service to everyone, other than the family that
she is "stuck with?‖ What happened to women taking positions as CEOs
of multimillion dollar companies or becoming the head scientist at the
lab that is making cures for cancers? It has been categorized as
impossible. Working well above a high school education is what narrow
minded people would call impossible. Being a successful woman is what
"she" will not be.
It is time for "she" to stop being placed in a society where her
future is determined by expectations. "She" needs to figure out,
―What will ‗I‘ do? What can ‗I‘ do to make myself better? ‗I‘ will make
myself the best person I can be and I will do it with grace. ‗I‘ will work
hard for what I want and have it granted to me in its full potential. ‗I‘
will be better than I was a couple of days ago.‖
Yes, taking yourself on this journey to self discovery is hard
and yes, you will hit dead ends on this journey, but the outcome could
change your life as well as the lives of those women who think that
they cannot do it. Changing the stereotypical phrase: "she" needs to do
this into "I" want to do this will not only help you as a strong woman,
but also others who are looking for that inspiration.
67
Without Words
Frances Rosario, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
She was my best friend. I knew I didn't choose to love her, it just
happened. One day, as she walked towards me, I didn't have the words
in me to let her know how much I wanted to be with her. So I played
her a song, and she quickly said, ―I love you.‖ That's when it hit me…
Music brings us so much closer.
__________________
Untitled
Audrena Brown, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Weather torn and beaten
yet still standing tall
through all seasons of life.
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To Blossom
Chris Neighbors, Wirt Emerson Visual and
Lust. To lust something means you want it. But, you want something in
such a way where your whole being is affected by your yearning need.
This need grows and grows and then metastasizes into a demon, a
metaphor for a deep want for something better and more
accommodating than what you currently possess. It eats away at your
soul. Anguish, pain, and insecurities captivate your senses and then
cripple you from the inside. The feeling of love seems unfathomable
and you become stuck in a quicksand feeling of darkness. This
darkness begins to engulf who you truly are and then you start to
become something that you aren‘t. Then, things start getting worse,
people die, you lose friends, and you lose family. After that, fights
start occurring, people around you change, and then you are isolated.
But, right when you thought things couldn‘t get any worse, you explode
letting loose all of the evil and discrepancies that you have bottled up
to this moment. You yell, scream and curse the environment that is
around you. You scream ―Why! WHY!‖ You ask yourself why you go
through these situations and no one else does. But then something
happens. Something sparks inside of you. A freeing feeling comes
over you. You realize that you begin to change. You can‘t quite put your
finger on it. It‘s a new feeling and as you figuratively touch the
feeling, it becomes familiar. It changes your perspective on your
previous situations that you have been through. You start having this
light and airy feeling. What is this feeling? Can you label this feeling?
Afterwards, people start looking at you differently than they did
before. Years pass and you develop yourself into an individual. Now
people notice you not only from a physical change, but also from an
intellectual viewpoint. Now you are left with a couple of choices,
either get caught up in the attention that you are receiving or
remember where you came from and be real with yourself. They say
people don‘t notice you until you become someone. In the end, will you
appease these people or become your true self? So, what will you do?
Will you buckle or will you blossom?
69
I Want
Rianne Henderson, Wirt Emerson Visual and
I would like a husband. Not for the love, romance and
happiness but solely for my own selfish benefits. But first, before I
attempt to choose a husband there are some requirements that he
must meet. I want a husband who is attractive, but not too attractive
so that he overshadows me. I want a husband who is tall. 6 foot is a
minimum; otherwise it's back to the friend zone. I want a husband who
is financially stable, so that he may buy me whatever I want whenever
I want. After all it is the man‘s job to treat the woman, right?
I want a husband who will love me more than his own mother. I
want a husband who is emotionless. I want a husband who will not cry
even at the death of his own mother. After all, real men don't cry do
they? I would like a husband to only drink ―manly drinks,‖ nothing
garnished with any pretty decoration that shows anything less than a
hard masculine shell. I want a husband who will hand craft and build
every piece of furniture in my house (as everything he buys is
automatically considered mine) with his very own tool box. After all,
isn‘t that what men do? Build things?
I want a husband who will do everything that I ask of him
whenever I ask for it. I want a husband who will drop whatever he is
doing to be at my beck and call. But, even with all of my desires I still
want my husband to find the time to work to provide for me despite
my full ability to provide for myself. I want a husband to understand
me even if our language is English and I‘m speaking Spanish. After all,
aren‘t men supposed to understand women no matter the
circumstances?
I want a husband who will open doors made of plutonium. I
want a husband who will walk at the right distance from me, not too
close so that I may enjoy my personal space but not too far so that he
is willing to sacrifice his life to keep me safe. He will walk on the side
closest to the street, and place his expensive jacket on the muddy
ground so that I may cross safely no fear of damaging my shoes, even
if they may be old tennis shoes. After all, that is the gentlemanly
thing to do, right?
Now that I‘ve described what I want in a husband, let‘s move
to what I do not want. I do not want a husband who will expect me to
stay at home and cook and feed the children. I do not want a husband
who will expect me to dress in what he approves nor do I want a
husband who will question even the most outlandish of my fashion
choices. I do not want a husband who will expect me to take a desk job
70
or a nursing job or any of that sort. I do not want a husband who will
make ridiculous jokes such as ―that‘s a girly task‖ or ―don‘t be such a
girl.‖ I do not want a husband who believes that he may do as he
please without consulting me and expect me to be okay. I do not want
a husband who will feel the need to partake in infidelity and buy me a
card and flowers to show how much he ―loves‖ me and expect me to
weep at his feet. I will not be a human stereotype of what a girl or
woman should be.
Now that I‘ve acknowledged my must haves and unwanteds I
guess you can conclude that there are men who can even come close to
and meet this expectation. I want a lot and I can‘t help that, so much
that I‘d rather spend an eternity alone than settle. However, I must
admit one last wish. I want a husband who is the embodiment of a
human stereotype of what a man is and everything one is supposed to
be. After all, if that is what a man wants in a wife why can‘t this be
what a woman wants in a husband?
__________________
Untitled
Kiara Brown, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Walk through the darkness into the light.
71
The Violent Use of Guns
Kruti Patel, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 12
Dear Mr. President,
Every day when my dad goes to his job at the gas station, I
always wonder, ―Is he safe there? Are we safe in here?‖ South Asians
like me, who immigrated to America, have changed according to how
the people here in America would like, accepted the American lifestyle
while trying our best to fit in this culture and the environment.
However, there are other people who expect more. I know that
according to the USA‘s Constitution, it is the right of all individuals in
America to protect themselves, through the right to have a gun; yet,
we all know about the increasing gun violence. People are using guns
violently; we could be shot at an elementary school. We could be
murdered at a church or movie theater. The use of guns in robbery and
directly shooting a person is common according to recent news. Like I
said before, my dad is working in a gas station and even though the gas
station is in a safe area, I always pray that he will be safe. There is
always one part of my heart that is afraid and scared for him. Some
people who have guns are aggressive. I worry that even though my dad
is calm and his gas station is in very good area, what if someone
misunderstands him? What if he is not sure how to clearly answer
them, as he does not know perfect English? What will happen then?
These questions always frighten me.
The case of the ISIS terror attacks in Paris and other nations,
also make us as Indians scared as people living here in the USA. Not all
the Muslims are terrorists. However, attacks like 9/11 made many
people, such as Donald Trump who is one of the Republican candidates
and possibly our next President, very angry with Muslims, people who
look like us. He and the other people who are supporting him have to
think logically that killing and showing anger towards common and
innocent Muslims is not the solution of the terrorist attacks.
Additionally, as we Indians look like Muslims and few people,
except Indians and Muslims, know the difference between us, we are
always afraid for our lives when these types of attacks happen. During
the terrorist attack on 9/11, many of the Indian owners of motels and
liquor stores had to shut their stores down for almost 2-3 weeks
because of the constant fear that someone was going to attack them.
In the year 2012, the horrific shooting at Newtown Elementary School
killed 20 children, the shooter‘s own mother, six other adults and the
shooter himself. This is direct evidence that when a person is angry
with any small issue, they use their guns to kill innocents in order to
reduce his/her anger and frustration. This event further shows that
72
not only South Asians, but also Americans are tolerating this kind of
violence. In the society and generation that we are living in, I wonder,
is it possible to create the peaceful and lavish hopes for the future in
an environment in which I don‘t have any idea about what I to make
another angry with me, and I could be dead in the next second? Is it
fair that even though I am in America, which consists of many
different cultures and religions, I still fear guns and cannot do
anything about it? Therefore, Mr. President, please take some serious
actions towards the violent use of the gun. For instance, reduce the
selling of guns, give guns only to the military, soldiers, policemen or
businessmen, who are actually using them to ensure the safety of the
common people.
There are many countries which do not have this right of
owning guns that are safe. Some of these countries are India,
Australia, and United Kingdom, where there are many strict rules
about guns, such as highly restrictive firearm regulation. I believe
background and mental health checks should be necessary in the
certification process to know about the anger or personality of a
person and the reasons about why that person needs a gun. I know that
President Obama made more rules to reduce the gun violence, for
instance, more background checks, but it needs to be tighter. This is
not only South Asians‘ problem but Americans‘ too. Remember that the
time is changing and we should change with it, too, as well as the laws.
The generation that created the Second Amendment Right, ―A wellregulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the
right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,‖ was
made with the influence of the situations they experienced in the past.
However, that does not mean that we should continue this in the
future.
Sincerely,
Kruti Patel
__________________
Six Word Memoir
Brianna Esteves, East Side High School, Grade 12
I stand independent, but always united.
73
Superwoman
Mercedes Galarza, East Side High School, Grade 11
Dear Superwoman, I thank you,
And I promise I will be true,
I swear I‘ll fight so you can have relief
‗Cause this world is not the one of misbelief,
It‘s a hard one, oh yes I know,
And I know that every night you put on a show,
‗Cause you say you‘re happy, you say you‘re alright,
But I know how much you fight,
To hide those tears, superwoman,
And I know how much you do for me
You fight off the enemies that try to call you weak.
I know that right now you are breaking your back for me,
You‘re conducting and creating a complete strategy,
You‘re fighting the world so I can be okay,
At the same time as maintaining yourself and keeping yourself sane.
And making sure I have all the necessities
So that I can wake up every day.
Superwoman, I just wanted to say
I know you hide those tears, Superwoman,
And I know how much you do for me
And I have seen you fight all the enemies
Who have called you weak.
You‘ll do anything to see me smile,
Even when I was small,
And now yes I remember I‘m your baby, no matter how tall,
I never can be ‗cause you took care of me
And you made sure that I was always strong
Then you‘d tuck me in bed,
And laid down my head,
And called me babygirl
And then when you thought I was asleep
You‘d hold your cry deep, and pretend the pain went away.
But you don‘t have to cry, Superwoman
I know how much you‘ve done for me
Don‘t give up, you can fight off those last enemies
That call you weak.
But how we are here,
And those people that said you couldn‘t do it were wrong,
‗Cause you are superwoman, you are the definition of strong,
And the disguise which confines you can now be unraveled,
Now let your hair down, Superwoman,
‗Cause I know how much you have done for me,
Now I will fight those people who try to call you weak.
74
Anarchism
Miana Shorty, Wirt Emerson Visual and
Grade 11
Anarchism itself discloses essential factors leading up to the emerging
truths about what the subject of matter embraces. The introduction
of Demanding the Impossible: History of Anarchism divulges truths
about anarchism in which many would never comprehend or interpret.
Intensively underlining the key truths of this social notion will be eyeopening for many.
The introduction pinpoints the main ideas of this controversial
philosophy. Summarizing the first example ―Anarchy is chaos, when law
and order collapse and the destructive passions of man run riot.‖ This
specific fact focuses primarily on the effect and cons of anarchism.
As the arid officials consciously demand and reconstruct society to its
best fitting, a biased government is reiterated. A well organized and
civilized system has withered itself away. An anarchist‘s personal
needs and desires conflict and intertwine with the actual needs of
society. Therefore, passions and frustrations erupt unmannerly
mentally and physically among society. The overall sum and substance
of this argument was the painting of an anarchy doing more harm to
society than the anarchists. Anarchists‘ extropianistic thinking is
selfish.
The proposition in line three specifically states ―Anarchy is
nihilism, the abandonment of all moral values and the twilight of
reason.‖ Scrutinizing this accurate position revealed the basic, but
essential reason of why anarchism is not an unerring form of
government. A government needs foundation and morals. In an
Anarchy, one person is the foundation. However it is unabridged.
Abandonment of morals in society would cause a major economic
decline. Chaos and disruption shouldn‘t be natural and prone in a
society because of one‘s uncontrollable jurisdiction issues. A
government‘s purpose is to serve society in the most preeminent way.
Anarchism would not fulfill this need. Anarchism proves to be
synonymous to Freudian Theory‘s Super Ego. This is so because an
anarchist knows inevitably right from wrong, however selfish idealistic
potentials construct a wall between reality/society and a
fantasy/personal.
75
New York
Alison Lima, Arts High School, Grade 12
This is a picture in
Manhattan. We are
eating ice-cream next to
a window that has a view
of the whole city.
__________________
Hesitation
Dyamond Fox, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Hesitation is a symptom of fear,
but ALSO a sign of courage.
76
My Way
Courtney Greer, Wirt Emerson Visual and
I walk through this world with nameless expectations,
I go day by day with the question of which direction,
It‘s hard to tell exactly where I‘ll end up or how far I‘ll go,
It‘s a thought that I don‘t think I‘ll ever truly know,
I was born to be wild.
To be optimistic,
I live by this way of life,
Just in case you missed it,
People find it hard to believe that a person can achieve prominence
without a plan,
But at the same time ask yourself what happens to writing in the sand?
It goes away after a while because the wind comes and blows it away,
Apply that to a person‘s life it causes disarray,
I prefer to be free like the water but sharp like a sword,
It may seem perilous but I promise you it‘s not absurd,
This way can make miracles and provides monumental solutions,
But you can‘t achieve if you don‘t step outside of welfare and find a
resolution,
This whole ideology is what I‘m premised on,
With some assistance throughout life I‘ve learned which things are
right and wrong,
Whether it be something like racism or monetary differences,
I still know good and well what a person who has life is,
I also want to think higher than the modern-day abolitionist,
Because problems come out of nowhere the way this world is and they
persist,
And I don‘t want to be left scratching my head being confused,
And I definitely do not want to utter phrases that go overused,
Life is more than focusing on smaller things that may seem major,
Even if it may sound appealing to a certain group‘s favor,
What I strive for is peace in majority of what is problematic today,
But it‘s worth it if I can guarantee that the effects will stay,
I want prosperity for everyone that‘s known and unknown to me,
I‘m tired of hearing about death and grimacing things on TV,
In the end I‘ll have life by the phrase which shall say,
Like Frank Sinatra said, ―I did it my way.‖
77
Untitled
Doaa Miftahi, James Hillhouse High School, Grade 12
In September of 2001, a couple came to New Haven, CT with a
3 year old child from Casablanca, Morocco not knowing any English or
what to expect in this country. Since emigrating, my parents have sent
me back multiple times. It was great having two homes; experiencing
two different cultures. However, the summer before going into sixth
grade, I went to back to Morocco for the last time. That was the last
summer I got to go home, before coming back and being transferred to
a new school.
On the first day at my new school we had an icebreaker for
the students to get to know each other. One student would get up and
say things that they did, places they have went, books they read or
anything they wanted to share and the class would raise their hand if
they did something similar. When it was my turn I shared how I went
to France that summer for the first time. No students raised their
hand. They all were looking at me as if I were an alien. They thought I
was lying. As a young girl that was the first time I wanted to change
myself. That year changed my mentality for the worse. Although my
grades were good, I was losing my personality. That‘s when I started
wanting to change myself to fit in.
Entering high school as an American, I forgot my culture,
where I‘m from, and who I was. Not realizing it: that was the cause
of my downfall during my freshman and sophomore years. I became
unfocused, and not knowing what I wanted anymore, I mixed up my
priorities and got caught up in time trying to fit in. July 3rd 2014 my
family went back to Morocco for the summer. I didn‘t want to go. I
was furious that my parents decided to go, knowing I did not want to.
I planned to work that summer in order to buy things I thought I
needed. I wanted to be with my friends that summer, thinking that
they were more important. Also, with only a weekly salary of about
$500, my father used the tax money we got back to fund the trip. We
were in no way financially in a position to pay for a round trip to
Morocco for a family of four. Despite my protest, my parents made
me go. My father told me that I ―was becoming an American‖ and that
I was ―forgetting my roots.‖ It was only when I got to Morocco that I
realized exactly what he meant.
When I think about my experience in Morocco the things I
remember are the smell of the ocean, the nature and the people. One
experience that I‘ll never forget is the time I witnessed seeing
poverty first hand. One day I saw a boy selling napkins in a market
area. The heavy poverty in Morocco was no surprise to me but watching
78
the boy sell napkins in the Moroccan heat had a severe impact on me.
As I sat in a café, I realized that life was much bigger than I had
realized. I realized that things that the privileged think are important
aren‘t really important in the large scale. I walked over to him and
bought all the napkins. The boy ran over to his mother, who was selling
pastries on the roadside. I remember their eyes and the sadness that
they held. They had no hope. Coming back to America, I cared about
the things that were important. I spent more time with my family. As
far as school was concerned, things began to come together. The more
that I studied Arabic, the more I began to understand English.
Embracing my Moroccan culture helped me to find my American
Identity.
My time in the United States from kindergarten to high school
has changed me tremendously. I‘ve learned that the older you get the
more you want to be like everybody else. In my years in high school,
things that shouldn‘t have mattered to me, mattered to me. Going into
college I feel as if I can help other international students overcome
assimilation and find themselves. Once I‘m in college I won‘t have to
struggle to find myself and I will be able to focus on academics
without distraction. Entering as a first generation student, I will be
able to make my parents proud as the first Moroccan-American
graduate in my family.
__________________
Starry Night
The stars, they sing. They sing a lullaby to the world that helps them
fall asleep. I, on this cliff, can see the world closing its eyes. Lights
turn off, windows close, doors lock. The stars are an orchestra and the
moon their conductor. They sing together in harmony for the families
on Earth to sleep to. But where is my family? Why am I listening to
this lullaby alone? As I stand on this cliff, looking down at the world, I
walk towards the edge. The lullaby gets to me and I start to doze off.
My eyes flicker like a broken light. Open... Close... open... close.
Standing on this cliff, I fall asleep... and falling with my sleep was my
body, towards the ground.
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A White Man’s Property (Tribute To: Black History Month)
Zakeema Wilson, East Side High School, Grade: 10
Am I a white man‘s property,
does my momma live in poverty,
what‘s wrong with my society,
the mental aspects of becoming something
I know I could be.
Am I a white man‘s property,
did the past take effect on me,
are they try‘na get back at me,
For living up to this stereo society
I must be a white man‘s property,
living in a world of photography
capturing the in and outsides of me
momma told me this is what they expect of me
I have to be a white man‘s property
to believe what society thought of me
my past ancestors didn‘t know that this would be
the world they created the better side of me
A White Man‘s Property
is something I might as well just be
living up to the state of the society
I might as well continue being in the white man‘s legacy
80
Delivernou
Sherell Pressley-Williams, Arts High School, Grade 10
Food
We need it
Clothes
We need it
Shelter
We need it...
We are hungry. We are alone
Save us
We have no one but those
who struggle with us
Save us
If you were in need wouldn't
you want to be saved?
You can do it
help save us
WE ARE IN NEED,
Come help us
Our time is running out
PLEASE SAVE US …
__________________
Untitled
Jamela Brown, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
A brilliant display of
one of God‘s
masterpieces as the
sun sets in
Gary, Indiana.
81
Is Cancer Infectious?
Thalia Gonzalez, James Hillhouse High School, Grade 12
Is cancer infectious? Technically speaking, it is not, but in my
opinion, it has a powerful influence on people nearby. We may not have
the actual disease, but we dwell on it as much as those who do. My
sister got cancer when she was only five years old. I was only sixteen
years old, and I had to take on the role of a mother. My dad was in a
dark place, dwelling upon this tragic situation. My biological mother
was nowhere to be found. Valeria, my sister, only had me. Her pain was
something that was now consuming me. Her problems were becoming
part of me, as if the baggage was handed over to me. My education has
always been my main priority in life, but at this point everyone
wondered whether education was as important to me as I stated it
was. Teachers could not help me if I wasn't able to attend school, and
their doubts were so persuasive I began to question myself, and
whether I had the potential to overcome this. I doubted my potential,
my intelligence, and contradicted my mindset. I had put something
above my education, which had never occurred before. I went from
being an honors student who successfully struggled to adapt to high
school, to not giving it so much importance. What was I thinking? I
wasn‘t thinking – that was the issue. I was letting my emotions make my
decisions. I preferred to cherish each and every moment with my
sister because tomorrow is never a promise. I was not assured that my
sister could awaken the next day. I took advantage of the time I could
spend to help her and take care of her. If worse came to worst I
didn't want to have any regrets.
In this scenario my subconscious believed that my sister was
the highest priority. Maybe it was my motherly instinct. I was raising
her. When the chaos in my life calmed down I took the time to reflect
and I realized that I messed up. I tripped and fell. ―No one is perfect,‖
is what most would say. However, life taught me to apply Social
Darwinism to my present actions, and my future plans. ―Survival of the
fittest.‖ The world doesn‘t pause on the behalf of anyone so I wasn‘t
going to stop striving for my success under any circumstances.
My sister was in remission by the time I entered junior year,
and I knew that nothing or no one was going to get in the way of me
leaving my mark. I worked very hard in each and every one of my
classes. I gave my all. I received Honors each marking period and
passed my junior year as an Honors student just as I planned. Taking
care of my sister and taking the role of mother made me realize that a
mother does everything for their child to have a better life. So on
that point I wanted to be example, a role model for her to show her
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that dreams and goals can be accomplished as long as one works hard
for it.
Determination is my key to success. I am very passionate when it
comes to my studies and I refuse to let my mistakes make me lose any
opportunities. I‘m currently a senior taking college courses. I may
stumble along the way to my success but I‘m OK with that. Each
obstacle thrown in my way will just broaden me even more. I‘ve heard
many say, ―You‘re in control of your own success,‖ and I know that is
true for me. Hard work never goes to waste. Courage is a skill that will
be of great use to help me continue. Therefore I will dominate every
situation to succeed.
__________________
Father
Karen Mendez, East Side High School, Grade 10
Oh Father
Nothing is weaker than a man
who hurts women or children
You will always be my father but I hope that you know it‘s
your fault that I‘ll never know what that means
You left a void that can never be replaced
Oh Father
Put the bottle down, for the love of your daughter
Why did you walk away from us?
I thought that you loved us
Was it something that I did?
Was it something that I said?
I‘ve been missing you so bad
And you don‘t seem to care
I missed your goodnight kisses and your warm hugs
but that all changed when you put your hands on the ones
you swore you loved
Sometimes I think I hate you
Sometimes I think I love you
Oh Father
I know you were a troubled man
But I hope heaven has given you a second chance
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Who Am I?
Maya Leon, Wirt Emerson Visual and
I look in the mirror and see myself
but don‘t know who is staring back at me.
The vision of who I imagine myself to be
is blurred by who I have become.
Who do I want to be?
The question is open-ended.
When my mind is made up, it‘s shifted,
to listen to the pagans in my ear, yelling for me to
hear.
NO, who do I want to be?
I want to me. I want to be free.
Free of the arms enclosed around me.
Telling me to be, but not to be me.
Who do I want to become?
The question goes unanswered.
A doctor, a lawyer, a daughter of a pastor has to choose one.
No other options remain available due to the veil over my eyes.
I only see the things others want inside.
NO, who do I want to become?
I want to become more than just a figment
of everyone else‘s reality.
Fighting to have me trying to be the things they couldn‘t be.
That‘s why they chose me. I have become their new reality.
Who am I?
The question is apparent.
I am the girl living in a house,
my parent struggling to pay rent.
I am the girl burdened with the dreams of people around me,
hoping that my future will become their reality.
I am the girl blindsided by people‘s tall tales,
thinking that my life is their fairy tale.
I am the girl hoping that truth is near,
when all I hear is other voices in my ear.
I have evolved into an individual with no resolve.
Adapting my hopes, my dreams, and my life to those
whose power influences me.
But in due time, when the tides arise,
It will be my time to shine.
To take off the veil that covers my natural eyes.
Only then, will my light glow and the path will show,
Who I am.
84
I’m Sorry
Essence Baity, Wirt Emerson Visual and
My acceptance rate for I‘m Sorry is slim
The I‘m Sorry is only scratching the surface of our problems is not fixing
them
So many people use the word it's not even genuine
I'm tired of forgiving you for the same old things
I'm Sorry is an excuse, it cannot replace the hurt and pain I feel
It's just words coming out of your mouth
I'm Sorry doesn't change anything it might change the way i feel in that
moment but that's all
I don't know when i will just get enough and walk away
It's not the words you say, it's the actions you do
When you say ―I'm Sorry‖ you go back to your same old self
"I'm Sorry" is supposed to come from the heart (vulnerability)
It doesn‘t justify your actions but it‘s supposed to rectify your mind
When will you stop making me cry and hurting me
Every time I turn around you are saying ―I‘m Sorry‖
How about showing your gratitude or buying me something nice
Instead of saying ―I‘m Sorry start respecting me as a human
I‘m Sorry is not hard to say, it's only hard when you don't mean it
Sorry is never enough
Some people say a ―sorry‖ can go a long way but to me it's just two words
that are rolling off of your tongue.
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Safe Haven
Jacqueline Fuentes, James Hillhouse High School, Grade 12
Throughout junior year, I was not myself. I had so much going
on that I became overwhelmed with it all. Between work and my
Advanced Placement Courses, I barely had any room to breathe. I was
so stressed out that it began to affect my health. I‘ve always been
prone to migraines, but when my stress levels reached as high as they
did, they got worse. I could rarely get myself to fall asleep, and when
I did, it was in the middle of class. My mood changed every other
minute, and the last thing I ever wanted to do was speak to anybody. I
just wanted to be left alone, I wanted to hide. Since I could not go to
my mother for guidance, I turned to reading and writing because they
gave me a place to run from my troubles.
My mother and I don‘t have the best relationship. We are polar
opposites and in being so, we are always bumping heads. I don‘t talk to
her about what is going on in my life because just about everything I
say to her is a trigger for an argument. Since I am not the best in
keeping her in the loop, she is always bombarding me with a million
different questions. She wants to know what my responsibility is as
the Battalion Commander for JROTC, about my involvement in Best
Buddies, work, or my grades and plans for college. More than that, she
wants to know how life is affecting me overall, and my stress levels.
However, no matter how much she insists that I talk to her, I find it
easier to turn to my notebook or a novel, so I do.
There is something about living someone else‘s life that is
strangely addicting. It is interesting how someone‘s entire world can
be contained in just a number of pages, and by simply turning each one,
I can learn all about them. I get drawn into it and can feel what they
feel, experience their daily struggles, or try to figure out what will
happen next, like I do in my own world. Reading and writing have
become my way to escape. They act as a coping mechanism for all of
the stress that I‘ve had to endure. Dealing with someone else‘s
troubles or simply writing down my own, makes it easier to face them. I
have made homes of every single one of my books, each one being just
as comforting as the last and all being much more peaceful than my
actual home.
I am just as passionate about writing as I am reading. It is the
only way to keep my head straight, the only way for me to free my
mind of the thoughts that may disturb me. I have never been good at
speaking. I can never find the correct combination of words to get my
point across, or say how I feel. However, when I write, everything
comes out; it all sort of just spills out of me. There is nothing for me
86
to think about and nothing for me to process as it all comes naturally.
The relief is intense and feels as if I have finally found a voice, one
that has kept me healthy.
The most important thing that I have learned from reading and
writing is that there is nothing more destructive than words that have
been left unsaid. Though I have a really bad habit of keeping my
feelings to myself, I have found some comfort in the idea that I can
share my troubles with strangers who might feel the same way I do.
So, I will write. I will write until I have nothing left to say, and when I
run out of words, I know my books will still be there to comfort me.
__________________
You cannotcommunicatewithsomeonewho Doesn’t Speak the Same
Language
Favour Imhomoh, Arts High School, Grade 11
They bashed his head in
She‘s gone CRAZY
Alone, Alone, Alone
You have to be better than that
Do not let anger consume
You cannot give up
It‘s not giving up, it‘s just giving in
Not to the suppression
But to the inevitable
They have guns, knives, axes, bats
What do you have?
The same weapons
The SAME WEAPONS
the very things that has devoured my life
You‘re challenging them
It‘s become a fair fight
Like it should‘ve been
The mighty swords have matched
Let it begin
The fight that they longed for has begun
You‘re speaking their language
I‘m speaking their language
87
Desires of the Heart (Love Poem No. 1)
Ebenezer Appiah, Wirt Emerson Visual and Performing Arts Academy,
Grade 12
O, how absence makes the heart grow fonder,
yearning from here to there, and from there onto yonder.
For there is no place, nor space, in which my better half should hide,
that our hearts should not find room within to abide.
O, how much longer shall the pain and horror of distance haunt me!
O Lord, may my troubles come and find thee!
May your angels take me by my feet,
leaving my troubles beneath until two lovers' hearts once again meet.
My love, a lifetime in service to
thee is no mere servitude,
For with only thee may my heart, mind, and soul find tranquil solitude.
O, how I pray thanks that your heart is forever mine,
through marriage ordained by God through our sweet St. Valentine.
May God Himself bless our love and our bond from this day until our last,
for days coming and days past.
Let our love be neither slow nor fast,
only quicker than words spoken and slower than words not yet cast.
__________________
New York
Alison Lima, Arts High School, Grade 12
This is a picture I took of the new World Trade Center.
The angle enhances its beauty and reminds me of an
image we might see in a brochure.
88
The Strange Place
Zhana Pickett, Wirt Emerson Visual and
There was this place,
My brothers went to.
But mom always said,
―This place isn‘t for you‖.
I walked past the strange place,
And my mind kept spinning.
And all I could see,
Was my mom and brothers grinning.
What could this place be?
And why couldn‘t I go?
My mom and brothers been there,
For about a month or so.
They barely came home,
They were so busy there.
While I was alone,
Upstairs combing my hair.
I asked my brothers,
And they never told.
They just sat there,
Until their face got cold.
I don‘t understand
Why this place is a secret.
And why my brothers
Are getting special treatment.
I then realized
And opened my eyes.
They were planning a party for me,
Oh what a surprise!
All the worrying for no reason,
My family is the best.
Oh what a waste of time
Now time for some rest.
89
The Train Slaughter
Alexes Carter, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
During my train ride home, I felt someone staring at me and it
felt kind of weird. It was a strange tall man. I was afraid to even
glance at him. I got up and sat in the seat behind him… that way I
knew he wouldn't look at me and if he did that meant it was time to get
my pocket knife out. Suddenly, the train started to shake, then
stopped. Boom! The lights went out. Everyone was screaming and
yelling, ―What‘s going on?‖ There I sat, trapped on this train with
strangers and no phone service, just thinking about all the bad things
that could possibly happen. Well, at least I had my handy pocket knife
that I always keep handy just in case…
Thirty minutes went by and the lights finally came on but the
train still wasn‘t moving. The conductor came to the back to tell us
that there was a little trouble with the train and that we should be up
and rolling in ten minutes. So I went to the bathroom before we
departed. When I returned, the man was not sitting in front of me
anymore. I instantly became frightened, then right at that moment,
my phone rang. The comforting sound of Grandmama‘s voice asking if I
was okay was music to my ears. ―Yes, but please send Aunt Pam to
meet me so I don‘t have to walk alone.‖
Forty minutes later I finally arrived in San Francisco. I called
‗Grandma to find out her where Auntie was and she reassured me that
she was in transit. While waiting, I saw that strange man across the
street. He had something in his hands… It looked somewhat like a saw
with blood on it. I was terrified!!!
Luckily, Auntie pulled up right on time. I asked as I got in the
car, ―Did you see the man across the street?‖
―What man?‖
I looked around but didn‘t see him anymore. I thought I was
insane, thinking it was just my imagination or my eyes playing tricks on
me.
When we arrived at my Grandma‘s house, she was excited to
see me. I was thrilled to see her too. Later that night everyone got
ready for bed. I couldn‘t sleep at all; the only thing I thought about
was that man. I started to look at the stars outside the window. All
of a sudden, I saw that man walking toward my front door. I screamed
and Grandma ran in asking ―Are you okay?!!!‖
―No,‖ I whispered. ―Someone is at the front door.‖
She opened the door and no one was there. Eventually I went
to bed and when I woke up I was in an insane asylum. How and when
did I get here? No one knows.
90
Picture This
Arnetta Morrow, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 12
It is in the climax of winter.
You are walking alone in a forest.
Snow is falling from the grayish-blue sky. All around you are tall
branch-less dead trees. Down below your boot covered feet is pure
white snow. The only thing marking the snow is a set of foot prints
creating a single path in front of you. Your curious mind tells you to
follow along. Without delay you obey. Walking in the prints, you are
feeling excited and anxious.
Coming to a complete stop after miles of walking, you realize the
once single set of foot prints has split into two separate paths. One
set headed right and the other left. This is a baffling sight to you.
How could one set of foot-prints split? Instantly you start to rethink
your decision. Now it is dark as midnight black. The moon light offers
little shine. You have walked too deep into the secluded forest to turn
back now. Realizing that, you make a decision. You choose left.
As you turn, the smell of blood suddenly fills your nostrils. You
grow worried. Something‘s not right. You are in the middle of nowhere,
racing creepy foot-steps. Now you smell blood.
All of the warning signs are there but you choose to ignore
them. After about twelve more steps, you see something in the
distance. Something tiny is moving about in the dark.
This startles you.
The tiny object looks to be an animal of some sort. From the
distance you can only tell that it is black. Red taints the ground around
it. Without thinking you run to the animal. You do not care what it is or
if it will harm you. Your only concern at this point is to help stop the
bleeding.
You approach and you see not one, but two little Chihuahuas. One
is black and the other is brown. The black one is on its side crying in a
pool of blood. The brown one growls louder and louder as you get closer
to the black dog.
Nipping at your legs, it pulls at your
boots and suddenly, the black dog yelps
loudly as its belly tightens. It pushes, and
pushes until something astonishing happens.
Two tiny black and brown puppies slide from
under the mother.
This sight amazes you. You cry out tears of joy and help the two
new parents get to safety.
91
Untitled
Nicole Smiley, West Side Leadership Academy, Grade 11
Travel along the
tracks of the unknown
into a land of endless
opportunities.
__________________
Unexpected Passion
Brian Palma, Wilbur Cross High School, Grade 11
You can’t find what you
love if you don’t try
something new.
92
Untitled
Katie Trindade, Arts High School, Grade 10
Where are you?
I try to see but i cannot
Darkness,
Darkness is all that surrounds me
Where are you?
The more steps I take the farther I become
I need you
i was not born to suffer.
"I know!," I scream
I know
Those are the words I‘ve known most of my life,
but one human being cannot help feeling.
I cannot help feeling tears in my eyes
With frustration i kick and punch at nothing
I am alone
Alone without any help
Day by day my heart insists on crippling itself choosing others over me
Piece by piece my heart shatters and you will realize there is nothing
left of me,
and that it‘s too late
i am screaming
Help me, help please
How can someone bring so much happiness in your life and take it away
within seconds
I cannot see
Darkness,
Darkness is all that surrounds me
93
Untitled
Anonymous
James Hillhouse High School, Grade 12
―Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all
careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and
countless defeats.‖ Og Mandino
One day, during the summer of my fourth grade year, I was
home alone in our Bronx, New York apartment, and I heard a loud
banging on our door. My mom was at work and my sister was at the
school camp down the street. As the banging continued, it grew louder
and louder. With each step I took closer to the door, the floor boards
creaked louder and louder. My hands became very sweaty, my heart
was beating so fast it felt as though it would pop out of my chest, and
I felt butterflies in my stomach. I unlocked every lock, and when I
pulled the creaking door open, there standing in front of me was a tall,
pale, green eyed, brown haired, white man with a black bulletproof vest
on. Beside him was a short, skinny, brunette, white woman with a gray
suit on. The woman was holding a white piece of paper with red wording
on it. She spoke but I couldn‘t really hear what she said. She then
repeated herself, ―Is your parent or guardian home?‖
I said, ―No my mom is at work.‖ I realized then why they were
there. It was because a month ago there was an eviction notice on our
door. Right away I picked up the phone and called my mother. She
picked up and I explained what was going on. In her voice I could hear
she was about to cry which made me cry. She told me to give the phone
to the woman, so I did. The woman told my mom that they were going
to move our stuff out of the house and I could hear my mom begging
for them not to.
The guy then rushed inside the apartment and started to
throw things out. I grabbed the phone and my mom told me to grab
some clothes and go get my sister from the camp and that she would
come get us from there. We moved from shelter to shelter, we barely
had enough food to eat every day, and we could only stay at the
shelters at night. We didn‘t have anywhere to go during the day, and
we didn‘t really have any family to go to; it was just the three of us.
My mom was just happy that they didn‘t take us away from her, and
even though we were going through a real struggle, my mom would
always tell me things would get better with time. Even though I was
young, it was at that point in my life when I knew that being successful
when I grew up would determine that my mom, sisters, brother, father
and I would never have to go through that kind of struggle again in life.
94
That summer day, and the months that followed, were a turning
point in my life. Those terrible times made me start thinking about my
future, and they made me see that no matter what happens in life, I
can overcome any obstacle. My determination as a young girl was the
first step in living a successful life. The second step is to get a good
education, and that starts with graduating from high school and
getting a college degree. I work hard in school, and try my best in
every single area of my life to be the best me I can be.
Determination, education, and a positive outlook on life is what
will help me start a great career after college, and make a life for my
family that does not include eviction or homelessness.
__________________
Hispanic Heritage
Rachel Lantigua, Arts High School, Grade 11
If given the opportunity, a Latino I would like to spend a day
with is Frida Kahlo.
I want to learn more about her feelings and her motivations
for many of her paintings. I want to to learn something new about her
that I haven‘t learned in books, and talk to someone who is open
minded, artistic, and looks at things from a different perspective than
most other people. Frida‘s way of thought is beautiful because
compared to other people, especially girls, she doesn‘t find beauty in
makeup or buying expensive clothing. She finds beauty in how someone
looks naturally, and by their thoughts of everyday things/people. I
find that to be inspiring and kind hearted - that you don‘t need makeup
or fancy clothing to be beautiful. The only thing that‘s needed to be
beautiful is being yourself inside and out.
Another thing that I admire about Frida was that she never
needed a person to lift her up from the floor, or put her broken pieces
back together. Instead she used painting to help make her emotions
follow which made her happy in the end. That‘s something she and I
have in common. We will paint and paint whatever comes to mind and
however we feel that day. Like Frida I also portray pain in some of my
artwork, not in a gruesome way but in a way that shows sadness in its
most implicit forms. It will be a way for us to both express ourselves
with not only through art but with words as well.
95
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© Pathways to College 2016
96

- Pathways to College

Transcription

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