Eyrie 2023

The Eyrie

A Literary Trades Journal 2023

The Eyrie is a literary/arts trade journal published by Eastern Maine Community College to showcase student work. The issue highlight s exceptional writers and craftsmen from across the campus.

Faculty Advisors

Heather Magee, Anna Arquette

Cover Art & Page Design

Madison Colonna

Page Layout

Alsaleh, Ahmed

Beckwith, Jack Colonna, Madison Jenkins, Kathleen

Metzger, Haley

Smith, Alexander

Smith, Hunter White, Riley

DGD231 Printing and Publishing

©All work in this journal remain the sole property of their owner and may not be reprinted without permission.

Creative Non Fiction

Lessons in Representation

By Amy Goodson

This is an essay I wrote in Creative Non-Fiction, in response to two essays from The Best American Essays.

In their essays, “Last Taboo” and “Haywire,” Wesley Morris and Heather Sellers, respectively, illuminate the effect s of the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of the Black and trans communities in popular culture. Morris demonstrates how racism in the US maintains the black penis as the last tabo o in the ever-expanding threshold for nudity in show business, and the true implications of this as a Black man in society. Sellers shares the story of her own confusion and shame around growing up with a father who wears women's clothing while never having a name for it or understanding its true meaning. Each provides their own unique perspective on how, without accurate representation and vocabulary, stereotypes abound and are perpetuated in a culture.

The fear and exploitation of black sexuality has a deep-rooted history in American popular culture and persists to this day. As Morris states “the underrepresentation of the black penis bespeaks a larger discomfort with depicting black male sexualit y with the same range, cheek, and romance that’s afforded white sexuality” (170). From slaves being forced to procreate to The Birth of a Nation to The Hateful Eight, Morris gives the reader a detailed overview of blaxploitation’s origins and how it manifests today, both on and off screen. Morris adds “there's nothing inherently wrong with black men's sexuality—only the ways it has been distorted, demonized, and denied” (174). Morris has himself been reduced to the mere myth of the Big Black Dick, having lost dates when his own equipment did

not measure up to white expectations, as if in this lied his only worth. If there is anything as taboo as the black penis, a s described by Morris, being trans might be it.

Growing up in the heteronormacy of the American South in the 70s and 80s, Sellers did not know what to make of her own father’s particular form of gender expression. As Sellers puts it, her own “confusion about [her] father was a frightening and distracting presence that never went away” (232). It seemed to her at the time that he was trying to hide his tendencies, as i t was never mentioned in her family. Additionally, Sellers “was some two decades away from hearing the terms “transsexual,” “transvestite,” or “transvestic fetishist,” and distant from any understanding…even being able to put into thoughtful sentences any of [her] questions” (232-233). Similar to how racism is swept under the rug or the issue of “colorblindness,” pretending gender non-conformity does not exist and not talking about it just makes it seem abnormal or wrong and prevents people from having the vocabulary to discuss and appreciate their differences.

These continued lies by omission are precisely how these stereotypes, and systems of oppression, are kept alive generation upon generation. Even now, the Black and trans communities continue to be dehumanized and made a mockery of in movies and TV. A recent example given by Morris is from Ted 2, starring Mark Wahlberg, “when a mishap at a fertility clinic leaves him covered in semen, a staff member tells him no t to worry; it’s just the sperm of men with sickle-cell anemia, a disease that, in the United States, overwhelmingly affects African Americans” (161). This horribly offensive joke is just a small taste of how the idea of black inferiority is reinforce d. Sellers gives us another example to consider, when her therapis t tells her to try “to see the humor in men in dresses and suggested [she] watch Tootsie and Some Like It Hot” (241).

While Sellers may not have been offended by movies making a joke of men in women’s clothing, she absolutely did not find humor in the way her father conducted himself. Perhaps if there had been a more accurate representation of a crossdressing parent on TV at the time, such as the Amazon series Transparent, Sellers might not have been so disturbed by her father's wardrobe choices.

As demonstrated by Morris and Sellers in their essays, “Last Taboo” and “Haywire,” respectively, the Black and trans communities are perpetually underrepresented and misrepresented in popular culture. As a Black man in society, Morris has a front row seat to how racism in the US maintains the black penis as the last taboo, while the white penis has become but commonplace. While Sellers, never having a name for or understanding the true meaning of her father dressing in traditionally women's attire, is experiencing the other side of this effect. Each of their unique perspectives provides insight as to how harmful stereotypes tend to dominate the cultural narrative, with the lack of accurate representation an d vocabulary that has been the norm, historically. Hopefully, with the influx of more diverse movies and TV shows into the mainstream in more recent years, there will continue to be less and less of these hackneyed portrayals of marginalized groups i n entertainment.

Works Cited

Morris, Wesley. “Last Taboo.” The Best American Essays, edited by Leslie Jamison, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017.

Sellers, Heather. “Haywire.” The Best American Essays, edited by Leslie Jamison, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017.

CreativeWriting

The Harbor Worker

By Stephanie Brown

This poem was written for Creative Writing (ENG 172 95) with Dr. Lesley Gillis as part of the major writing project. The project required a proposal, draft, and revised work. I chose to focus on form by experimenting with verse forms. I thoroughly enjoyed working with different structures and seeing how it affected the writing experience. This poem was revised to create a villanelle.

They wanted us to start at the back of the house, it was too so on to toil in front blocking the orange, yellow-red leaves waving new colors across the ocean. Now it is time to come home again, and the best parts are still crumbling. Their voices

grumble, do not touch the peonies summering from the siding, balmy spirits of citrus sanguine. Still, there is no better place to throw onese lf into the tides. Shorelines attempt conversations in the air and withal their jargon is ambient noise. All and all toils

of oversized purebred waves lapping at the brink and flagpole tags jangling. The lurking beast of uncertainty is always worse than imagined safety. That is seen snaked not only through the land laborer, but in the waters and sky. A storm, and with-it inquest. The gale patterns a voice

and asks the aching question with no answer. How did you see me coming when

you have no eyes without mine? It takes form and we are walking around outside of it. In exchange for seeds... the inky blue-black crows answe r with fanciful toil,

I was not looking at the gold but the glare reflecting gifts of its glow on the cool bark, these trees at the whim of the wind and these painted to the sk y, I was not watching the bright flashes off the brine, yet a tria l with no voice.

And if the crows begin leaving you shiny gifts say, you are welcome for sharing my whole food. They toil, and are listening to your voices.

Palindrome Poem

By Jessie Cochran

I wrote this poem for my Creative Writing class. This particular poem is a palindrome poem, so the lines are the same, but when you read it in the reverse order it will provide a different meaning. I hope you enjoy it.

The tree stood tall and strong

Alone in a deserted field

Its branches twisted toward the heavens

Longing for the warmth of the sun

What started as a seed has flourished

A transformation into a sturdy pillar

A miniscule kernel in the world,

Such a humble beginning to existence

A small girl gave him hope of a new life

By planting a small seed where a stump once grew

The axe came down wielded by a heartless man

Cutting its life to bits of splintered wood

Cutting its life to bits of splintered wood

The axe came down, wielded by a heartless man

By planting a small seed where a stump once grew

A small girl gave him hope of a new life

Such a humble beginning to existence

A miniscule kernel in the world

A transformation into a sturdy pillar

What started as a seed has flourished

Longing for the warmth of the sun

Its branches twisted toward the heavens

Alone in a deserted field

The tree stood tall and strong

Death Came a Knocking

By Saraphina Murphy

This piece was written in my creative writing class. The assignment was to write a series of events as diary entries. I decided to write about a reallife event.

Tuesday, March 26th, 2016 (description of today's events for th e record.)

Thump. Thump. Thump thump... went my feet against the foot of my bed, I as usual during this time of the day an hour after school ended at 4 o'clock and minutes from dinner being called was reading a book on my very old but loved kindle. I don't kno w what I would do without this gift I received a few Christmases ago, in many ways, my kindle was my hopeful reality, or at leas t protected me from my real and cruel one. I would spend hours in my books fantasizing and reading about switching places with the female heroine badass with sass, sarcasm, and wit, who no matter what they do or go through will always end in a happily ever after with her rich sexy millionaire vampire... I know who wouldn't!

But for me, the minute I put my book down and my feet stopped thumping on my bed in tandem with my building excitement on the unfolding drama of betrayal within my wishful world was the minute my soul seemed to dim... “Dinner everyone! Line up nicely!" I put my kindle down begrudgingly and orderly line myself up in a single file with the rest. While inside my belly squirms and my head screams, my outward appearance is calm and quiet because to show discomfort at the upcoming events that are guaranteed with the particular staff at the front of t he line, would be disastrous.

After everyone is lined up and counted, we start to move down the stairs toward the dining hall. All seems well at first and we each are served our portioned meal: tonight is stuffed shells. But, you could tell from the ones who smile viciously and those who cringe we all know what was going to happen and what a perfect meal to do it with... after we have all sat down with o ur hot meals (mine being the exception, tonight I have a honey sandwich). We all take our first bites. Around half of us stuff our mouths as quickly as possible while the others leisurely cut it and take small posh bites... in their own time when the staff w ho brought us down is purposely looking at her phone and planning on ignoring what's to come. The half who have had their slow and calculus fill descend on the other half, myself included, l ike vipers. At one table a girl has already been smeared all over h er face with the ricotta cheese from her plate. Another girl has h alf of her uneaten pasta shell shoved down her shirt. And another has been face-planted on her plate with tomato sauce and everything in her hair.

As three girls approached me at my table, I had to give them credit, they've done this before and had perfected the art of being quiet about it. The other three girls have not fought back because they know spaghetti sauce in their hair is better than a black eye and broken ribs. But I, on the other hand, cal l myself stupid but I just won't be run over, this is partially why most people hate me I'm strong-willed and if I wanted to I could probably have run these band of bitches due to being so monstrous, but I'd rather be a loner and read my books then plo t the days away on these petty agendas.

So, when they approach me they do so in weariness but also eager to see me fall. Unfortunately, I've left the honey bottle on the table and groan at my mistake as the brown-haired girl to m y left grabs it, within seconds the other two are holding me down

so the other can pour the honey all over me... Now I'm pissed not at the stickiness that will take forever to get off my favo rite sweatshirt but the fact they wasted half of my honey! Mid pour I kick out at the girl in front of me she stumbles from the air b eing gutted from her, next due to me sitting still before this the o ther girls don't have a good grip on me, and I easily stand toppling them to the side the one to the right of me hitting the thick wooden table. I fly at the girl with the honey and we both topp le back to the ground. And we wrestle.

I'd like to say there was a crowd cheering in the background but other than our grunts and the girl finally screaming after I've bitten her arm and latched on, as the pressure of my jaw increases, and only after I've drawn the sweet metallic taste of blood do I let go. Only to bite out again. I've gotten three bloody bites in before backup comes, and staff enters to pull u s apart. She sobs like a baby, as I smile evilly and lick my lips of the blood. Inside I hum in contentment at the literal taste of my achievement and for letting lose my inner demon that claws at my chest every day of my life. Of course, I'm sent to the “time out" room and have to fill out a sorry note even though I'm not sorry...

Sunday, April 2nd 2016 (description of today's events for the record)

Apparently, the night of my incident last week played right int o someone's hands after the commotion was dealt with dinner was ended, and by the end of the night when staff was doing sharps checking they found a small peeling knife missing. Everyone's rooms were checked and searched but no knife was found. A week later it's still a mystery and staff have passed it off as a miscount or it was put in the trash or something. I'm not very worried as I tuck myself into bed and this is because there's n o whisper among the girls. Everyone is just as clueless. I read

some more and finally fall asleep.

Monday, April 3rd, 2016 3:28 am (tonight's events for the record.)

Sleepily I feel the pressure of weight on me. I try to turn ov er onto my side but I don't budge much, I open my eyes to see my roommate on top of me I go to jerk her off of me and scream at her when I feel a sharp cool piece of metal to my throat she hasn't said a word but her eyes are feral looking and her hand shakes a bit. I'm awake real quick, this is not because of the missing knife I now realize is at my throat but because althoug h she hasn't said a word her eyes tell her for me because in thos e seconds as I feel the knife start to cut my throat I realize th is is no threat she has not only contemplated murder but has made her decision to go through with it, while normal people would see their life flash before their eyes, I instead saw red...

In those precious seconds that I realize saved my life, I didn' t give up and be regretful, I took action! Her knees were by my hips and so as I felt the pressure at my neck increase and my skin seemingly about to cut like soft butter, I pushed my hips down into the bed and launched them up into her, this was risky but her hand with the knife lifted a bit due to her unbalanced body she was still on top of me but I shifted to the side to ti p her off of me and on to the floor, as we both crash the knife slide s down to about by my waist inches from piercing my soft stomach fortunately as I hit and kick her in the struggle I manage to f ling the knife away, unfortunately, the knife slides under the crack of her bed which is also bolted to the floor, and there goes my evidence...

Shortly after staff comes to the scene and restrains us both. It's only after I've calmed down do I contemplate life: with my situation being in a residential program since I was a child no

one was going to believe me not even my parents due to staff reporting differently, I've told them about the assaults by sta ff and students. Of course, the staff says I'm lying, and my paren ts believe them! And without proof there was no hope... fortunatel y my roommate was swapped with another student.

Friday, June 16th 2017

I finally told someone the truth. A year later, I finally told my story and admitted it happened. Everyone just assumed it was another argument that day one among many to continue. Now in a safer place, I tell my story. To me though it wasn't just an argument that night “death had come a knocking."

I wrote a similar piece a few years ago to this, and as an important event in my life something that will never go away as this memory lingers, I want to tell it to the public. I'm no t sure if the dates match up right in my diary entries but I kind of guessed. (yes this really is a description of a true event in m y life that happened... I tried to be as accurate as possible.) I was a feisty teenager...

Introductionto Writing

Clownfish Essay

By Roderick Johnson

This assignment was from one of my first batches of classes

Introduction to Writing 1 LAE 013-95. I’ve been out of a school setting for almost 2 decades and am an ECE major at EMCC. We were to take an earlier paragraph assignment and write a complete essay out of it. I’m not sure if it’s worthy of your publication but I had such a fun time writing it and was proud of the results and grade and thought I’d give it a shot.

Clownfish have done extremely well by their own namesake, and are arguably the funniest of all underwater sea life. They are calculating, well trained, witty pranksters that not only understand a great punchline, but are also masters of physical comedy as well. They have no issues relying on teamwork to achieve their dreams of comedic gold as a means of not only self preservation, but to make otherwise dull days in captivity worthwhile and meaningful. They have no need for shame factor because the “victims” of their humor are under no real danger of harm or embarrassment, and can usually take part in the joke too. With their solid understanding of how to implement all aspects of humor they hands down beat out any other aquatic species as the true, unchallenged masters of comedy.

Clownfish spend many months in underwater universities mastering the skill of making hilarious social observations, be ing educated in great lengths in the art of creating widely specifi c set ups, and spend months learning about the appropriate timing involved in the perfect punchline. Special care is taken in saf ety education so they can not only protect their delicate bodies from harm, but also ensure that anyone on the receiving end of this cheeky bit of fun isn’t in any real danger either. Many tests and exams are performed at crucial benchmarks during

their schooling process before any official pranking license is officially issued. Authentic clowning licenses are only given to the clownfish that pass not only the academic portion of the exam but the ones that show the proper restraint and physical endurances needed to perform safely as well.

Graduates spend years learning together in personality specific bonding groups determined upon entry to Clownfish University. The jokesters spend so much time living and learning together that natural friendships, and partnerships evolve. Most of thes e partnerships lead to lifelong groupings in specialized comedy troops. The troops usually become more like a family setting as they provide companionship and look out for one another while moving town to town happily pranking together for weeks at a time. Even in a more domesticated setting, the clownfish will spend its days bonging with tankmates, practicing jokes, and making eachother laugh to make the best out of living in an aquarium.

Clownfish provide the gift of laughter and joy to most everyone that is a part of their audience. An abundant amount of pride, and self respect comes from the feeling of making any situation they are in a funny and pleasant one. When they choose someone to perform a practical joke on, they have studied this “prey” for weeks, getting to know their moods, reutines, and demeanors well in advance of the practical joke. Most of the time the unknowing participant’s family is let in one the scheme for an extra security measure. This is one of the time tested, proven ways to ensure the safety and hilarity of the prank. Clownfish are very proud of their hardwork and dedication.

With years of school, decades of training and a true passion and desire of making any situation more pleasant for others, clownfish have certainly climbed to the top of the comedic

food chain. They hands down win the most aquatic awards for comedic excellence among their peers. They will no doubt provide oceanic audiences with delight for generations to come, thanks to their commitment to being the funniest of all underwater species.

MarineBiology

Discussion Post Thinking About Marine Biology

By Adam Carnes

Submitted with student’s permission by Deanna Prince

Assignment Description: In this assignment, I asked students to introduce themselves, describe their personal connections to the ocean, interests that they have about the ocean, and provide a summary of a recent article related to marine biology.

Hello, my name is Adam. I am in the Liberal Studies program at EMCC. If everything goes according to plan, I will be graduatin g after this semester. I have been fascinated by nature for as lo ng as I can remember. I am from Delaware and grew up in the area between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. My parents have a home in Fenwick Island, which is not actually an island, but it used to be an island. It is part of a peninsula which is formed by the Ocean City Inlet at the southern end, the Isle of Wight and Assawoman Bays to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. South of the Ocean City Inlet is Assateague Island, which extends into Virginia. It was formed by a hurricane. Part of th e Island is a state park, and the rest is a national park. The is land is home to wild horses and sika, which are a small, invasive species of elk. Throughout my life, I have taken every opportunity that I could to explore the ocean, bays and tidal rivers in that region. I have had the opportunity to see whales , sharks, rays, turtles, crabs and various fish in their natural habitat. As an adult, I have had the privilege to live in the state of Washington, along the Puget Sound. I was fascinated with the completely different species of fish and marine mammals. There, I was able to see sea lions and orca whales in their natural habitat.

It is difficult for me to identify what I find most interesting about the sea. I am very interested in migratory patterns of fi sh

and birds, coral reefs, and small animals. I find it fascinatin g that a shark may travel from the coast of Canada to the coast o f Florida or that a marlin may travel from the coast of Maryland to Costa Rica. Coral reefs are also fascinating. The reefs off the coast of Delaware and Maryland were destroyed by industrial fishing. There are still a few coral reefs left but most of the ocean bottom of that region is flat, sandy and mostly barren. Non-profit groups sink old ships, railroad cars, and concrete t o act as an artificial reef. Concrete has proven to be the best material because mussel beds and, in some cases, even coral begins to grow on the reef site. The reef is necessary as habitat for fish and plant species, to prevent erosion and to offset pollutants. The small oceanic creatures are also very fascinating to me. I had never heard of a mantis shrimp until a few years ago. I finally saw one alive for the first time durin g the summer of 2021. They are only a few centimeters long but are predators, capable of smashing shells of clams and mussels. I am amazed at the power of such a tiny creature.

The article I am sharing is from The Chestertown Spy, a small news outlet covering the Eastern Shore region of the Chesapeake Bay. The article summarizes the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s State of the Bay report. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Chesapeake. The report scores the health of the Chesapeake on a scale of 0-100. A scor e of 100 would indicate the condition of the bay prior to Europea n settlement in the 1600’s. The report considers conditions such as water clarity, crab and fish populations, toxins, vegetation , and forest buffers on the land surrounding the bay and its tributaries. The score for 2022 was a dismal 32. The bay has been in poor condition for decades. Runoff from upstream water sources is a major source of pollution. Water that enters the b ay from urban areas and farms carries silt and industrial farming chemicals into the bay. The northern region of the bay is covered in mud and silt and few aquatic species thrive in the

area. During areas of high precipitation, floodgates on dams along the Susquehanna River are opened, allowing massive mud and silt deposits to flow into the bay, carrying years’worth of pollutants. Oyster beds would begin to from, offering some hope for relief but would be buried in the mud from upstream. In the late 1990’s, there was an outbreak of pfiesteria, which caused lesions on fish. Other times, the industrial fertilizers from upstream farms would cause algae blooms which would die and lead to harmful bacteria in the water. The current state of the bay remains unchanged from 2020 which is disheartening. There is some hope in modern aquaculture. Oyster farming techniques allow oysters to be raised from the bottom of the bay when silt is flowing from upstream dams which has led to an increase in oyster populations. The improved oyster population is reflected in the report. Overall, the bay has improved in areas of oyster population, rockfish or striped bass populations, and oyster populations but deteriorated in resource lands, water clarity a nd blue crab populations. The rest of the scoring criteria remain unchanged. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary on the East Coast and is the most important habitat for the Atlantic menhaden or bunker or pogie. The menhaden is one of the most important, if not the most important forage fish on the Atlanti c coast. The health of the Chesapeake is critical for the entire Atlantic costal ecosystem.

The Chestertown Spy article: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Grades Chesapeake’s health a D-plus, Again (chestertownspy. org)

Here is the State of the Bay report: 2022-state-of-the-bay-report.pdf (cbf.org)

Here is a video of artificial reefs off the coast of Delaware a nd Maryland: https://youtu.be/0o6kvoiL04A

Discussion Post The Changing Gulf of Maine

By Adam Carnes

Submitted with student’s permission by Deanna Prince

Assignment Description: In this assignment, I asked students to read a recent article about rapid changes that are occurring in the Gulf of Maine. Students were asked the following questions: Why is the Gulf of Maine changing so much faster than most of the rest of the world’s oceans? What is unique about the location of the GOM and its bottom topography (features like Georges Bank, for example)? What is happening to the currents in the GOM? How has the chemistry of the Gulf of Maine changed as the temperature has warmed? What impacts might this have on species that have lived here for thousands of years?

The temperature of the Gulf of Maine is changing faster than most of the world’s oceans for several reasons. The overall increase in global temperatures influences the temperature of the Gulf of Maine. One of the most significant contributing factors in the rapid change in the temperature of the Gulf of Maine is the influx of warm water from the Gulf Stream. The location of the Gulf of Maine is significant because the ocean climate of the gulf is influenced by currents from both the Gul f Stream and the Labrador Current (Seidov, Mishonov, and Parsons, 2021). The topography of the ocean bottom of the gulf and areas such as Georges Bank influence the North Wall of the Gulf Stream because the warm currents have a lesser effect on areas less than 200m deep due to the underwater topography (Seidov, Mishonov, and Parsons, 2021). According to Seidov, Mishonov and Parsons, the slope water in the region is warming and causing an overturn, warming the surrounding waters (2021). The mixing of the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current and their associated temperatures is causing a shift in currents which may exacerbate the problem. According to the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the Gulf Stream may be shifting north due to the weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current, causing the Labrador Current to flow away from the gulf (2021).

As the water of the Gulf of Maine has warmed, the salinity has increased (Whittle, 2023). The increased salinity would mean an increase in density and pressure in addition to the increased i on composition. Together, those conditions could influence fish migrations due to the pressure and temperature differences. The loss of phytoplankton could also influence fish to migrate to areas with more abundant food. Also, as marine organisms leave for more suitable water, other organisms may migrate into the area, competing with local populations for resources. Additionally, the change in the chemical and thermal conditions of the gulf could influence the growth of plant life, leading t o reduced oxygenation and reduced capacity for gas exchange, leading to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, creating a positive feedback loop. The decreased plant life caused by warming waters could cause less oxygen and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to warmer temperatures which would lead to even warmer water temperatures.

References:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, (2021, August 30). Study Finds Fast Warming in the Gulf of Maine Region. National Centers for Environmental Information. Study Finds

Fast Warming in the Gulf of Maine Region | News | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (noaa.gov)

Seidov, D.; Mishonov, A., Parsons, R. (2021, July 27).

Recent Warming and Decadal Variability of Gulf of Maine and Slope Water. Limnology and Oceanography, 66(9), p. 3472-3488.

https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11892

Whittle, Patrick (2023, January 19). Loss of Tiny Organisms

Hurts Ocean, Fishing, Scientists Say. WBUR. Loss of tiny organisms hurts ocean, fishing, scientists say | WBUR News

https://youtu.be/0o6kvoiL04A

My relationship with the ocean and a look at microplastics

By Camden Furrow Casement

Hi, my name is Camden Furrow-Casement and I am submitting my introductory discussion post for BIO 102 - 01 marine biology, as well as a picture I took in one of our labs of sea water under a microscope to the Eyrie.

I have a deep relationship with the ocean. I was born in Michigan, but I grew up spending about half my time in Canada, in Ontario and Nova Scotia. From when I was less than a year old, me and my family would take the ferry from St John New Brunswick to Digby Nova Scotia every summer to our cottage where we have property that goes all the way down to the shoreline. It is utterly amazing to stand so close to the ocean , in my case the beautiful Bay of Fundy. Growing up with that experience is not common and I am incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to spend so much of my childhood being so close to the ocean, that exposure gave me not only a love for nature, but for the ocean as well. When I was eight, my family moved from Michigan to New Brunswick. The move to Canada got us closer to all of our extended family in Maine, after abo ut two years living in Canada we moved to Maine, and me and my family have been happily living in the Bangor area for over eig ht years. When I was twelve, I had two different ambitions for wha t I wanted to be when I grew up; a marine biologist, or a chef, I chose the latter. But I still have that part of me that finds t he subject fascinating.

The thing that I have found the most interesting recently are colonial organisms, like corals. But that is just one thing, I find all of it interesting. I would like to learn more about microorganisms, and algae.

Unfortunately, our oceans are facing a new and growing environmental crisis: microplastics – these are small, sometimes

microscopic particles of plastic that can be found all over our planet, but all too often are found in great concentration in o ur oceans as a result of pollution and plastic manufacturing.

Here is a study developed by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) and the Department of the Built Environment of Aalborg University. The study is based on research of undisturbed sea floor sediment collected in a part of the western Mediterranean Sea “Specifically, the results show that, since 2000, the amount of plastic particles deposited on the seafloor has tripled and that, far from decreasing, the accumulation has not stopped growing mimicking the production and global use of these materials,”explains ICTA-UAB researcher Laura Simon-Sánchez.

Here is the link to the main conclusion of the story:

https://www.uab.cat/web/newsroom/news-detail/microplastics-deposited-on-the-seafloor-triple-in-20-years-1345830290613.html?detid=1345877342711

and here is a link to the actual study:

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c04264

The study was published in the journal of Environmental Science and Technology recently and I think microplastic pollution raises a huge concern for not only the health of mari ne life but also the health of humans as well. Microplastics are an environmental pollutant based on the production and use of plastics, the only way to stop microplastics pollution is to st op using and making plastics. Microplastics are toxic for all life and are currently being found across the world in our oceans. The toxic effect of Microplastic consumption is known in humans, but there is still much to research, I believe we shoul d study the effects that Microplastics will have on our oceans an d marine life.

Here is a link to an article by The Guardian about Microplastic s:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/08/microplastics-damage-human-cells-study-plastic

Picture of sea water under a microscope taken by Camden Furrow-Casement.

Sociology

Transition Age Youth in Foster Care

By Erin Grabe

I’m submitting a paper I wrote for my Sociology 101 class last semester. This was the final assignment for the class: a research paper analyzing a specific issue related to sociology. I am proud of what I wrote, and it’s on a topic I care deeply about: Teenagers in Foster Care. My APA formatting isn’t perfect, but I have to think about how far I’ve come in that regard, and I still stand by it.

All children in foster care regardless of age experience some degree of separation trauma when they are removed from their birth families. However, many children, by the time they have entered foster care have already experienced some level of trauma. The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) reported that in 2021, 63% of removals were due to neglect. Children in situations of neglect often experience food and housing insecurity, extreme poverty, or homelessness. AFCARS reports physical abuse as a reason for removal in 12% of cases, and sexual abuse in 4% of cases (Administration for Children and Families, 2022). Parental drug abuse often falls under the neglect category, as parents with severe addiction may struggle to balance their needs against the needs of their children. All of these scenarios result in trauma for the child ren involved; in fact, it is estimated that 70% of foster children have experienced trauma from neglect or abuse at the hands of their birth parents (Konijn et al., 2019).

The Administration for Children and Families reported that in the United States in 2021, over 200,000 children entered the foster care system, and over 600,000 children were served by child welfare agencies (2022). Child welfare agencies receive a high volume of reports and experience high turnover, due to the demanding and emotionally taxing nature of the job. Therefore,

child safety caseworkers face constant reshuffles of cases and responsibilities. They are often overwhelmed with work and must prioritize emergent situations and children with high needs. For the last ten years, the number of teenagers entering foster care has consistently been lower when compared to their younger peers (KIDS COUNT data center, 2022). Many teenagers in foster care are overlooked in favor of younger or high needs children; as a result, some of the unique needs of teenagers in foster care are neglected.

Teenage years are a time of heightened emotion, stress, and transition for every child. This transition period is challengi ng for most teens without the added stress that involvement with the child welfare system places upon them. Compared to their peers who remain with their families of origin, foster teens of ten face increased scrutiny, instability, and lack of natural suppo rt.

Teenagers often age out of the system without permanency, and are at risk for negative outcomes. When teenagers are removed from their biological families, they experience trauma and upheaval that can undermine their ability to transition effectively to adulthood at a time when stability and support i s extremely important.

Teenagers in foster care are subject to increased scrutiny for developmentally appropriate behaviors, and their behavior and experiences are more heavily policed, primarily due to court involvement. In a 2006 Nevada Law Journal, Marty Beyer wrote that “teenagers in these systems are often blamed for behaviors that are normative for middle school and high school students.” Teenagers in the child welfare system are subject to constant scrutiny from every adult professional involved in the ir parent's case. It is common for dependency court proceedings to bring up a child's behavior, which affects the decisions foster parents and caseworkers make regarding the child's care. Beyer acknowledges throughout his writing that teenagers,

and children in general, have immature thinking patterns, poor impulse control, and poor judgment. Professionals who work with young children often consider what is developmentally appropriate, but teenagers rarely receive such considerations. This scrutiny and lack of consideration is amplified by the fac t that children with early experiences of neglect or abuse have a more difficult time regulating their emotions (Konijn et al., 2019). This lack of emotional regulation presents as behavioral issues that make these children more difficult to parent, and makes placement instability a genuine threat.

Age at time of placement is the fourth strongest predictor of placement instability and disruption, after child behavioral problems, placement in non-kinship care, and poor-quality foster homes. The older a child is, the less secure their placement in a foster home is. It is developmentally appropriat e for adolescents to seek autonomy and peer approval. This desire for independence and peer approval often manifests as behavioral problems in the eyes of foster parents and the court system (Konijn et al., 2019). Research shows that the car e provided to foster children who remain in the same placement during their stay is more consistent and they are more likely to form stable relationships with their caregivers. Multiple placement disruptions can affect children's ability to form sta ble attachments, lead to multiple lost relationships, and make them feel unsafe or unwanted in their placements (Mishra et al., 202 0). During a study on the relationship between negative outcomes and placement instability for foster youth, researchers found that foster youth with more placement instability were more likely to report increased negative outcomes. The negative outcomes measured for were depression, trauma symptoms, delinquency, and aggression. Any placement in out-of-home care increases the chance for negative outcomes, but placement instability is associated with an even greater risk (Mishra et al., 2020).

These negative outcomes go beyond adolescence and continue once a child has aged out of foster care. According to the AFCARS report, in 2021, more than 19,000 teenagers aged out of foster care without permanency (Administration for Children and Families, 2022). The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) administered a survey completed in 2019 that followed youth transitioning out of foster care at ages 17, 19, and 21. During the 2018-2019 school year, the overall average graduation rate for the United States was 86% (National Center for Education Statistics, 2021). Comparatively, according to the NYTD, transition age youth in the foster care system at age 19 had completed High School at a rate of 53%, and at 21, 69%. In the same survey, the NYTD asked participants about high risk behaviors. A higher than average number of respondents had been referred to a substance abuse program, had been incarcerated, and had children by the time they were 21. In addition to these negative associations with high-risk behavior , 42% of foster youths surveyed had experienced homelessness by their 21st birthday (2019). There is a clear divide in expected outcomes for teenagers in foster care compared to their peers i n typical family settings.

The United States has made efforts at improving quality of care for transition age youth. In 2014, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 4980) was created and passed by the United States government requiring states to create a ‘reasonable and prudent parent standard.’ This was an attempt at increasing foster children's quality of life by increasing their access to developmentally appropriate activities and releasing liability from foster parents when they made reasonable parenting decisions. Prior to this act, foster families had little control when it came to making simpl e parenting decisions. Previously, there were concerns about, for example, allowing a foster child to spend the night at a

peer's house; what if the parents couldn't pass a background check? These activities were often self-limited by the children themselves, since asking a friend's family for permission for a sleepover would involve disclosing their status as foster children. This act initiated the nationwide effort to promote normalcy for children in foster care.

H.R. 4980 also gave children 14 and over the ability to participate in their own case planning. Previously, case planni ng was regularly done without a child's input. This granted teenagers in foster care increased autonomy and decisionmaking power when it came to their own circumstances. Also included in the bill were requirements for state child welfare agencies to provide transitional planning to teenagers in foste r care, as well as provide important documents to teens who age out of foster care. As previously established, a desire for autonomy is expected and developmentally appropriate for adolescents, (Konijn et al., 2019) and this bill gave teenagers with little control over their circumstances more decisionmaking power and granted them additional tools for selfdetermination. Transitional services have become an important part of case planning for transition age youth. The NYTD data brief noted that youth who remained in foster care past the age of 18 and participated in independent living services offered b y their agencies reported significantly better outcomes than teen s who refused services past age 18 (2019).

Foster youth who age out or are emancipated from foster care have the option to remain in state care until they are 21 years old. A review published by The Journal of Contemporary Social Services states that the earliest federal bill supportin g transition age youth was passed in 1987. This bill established Independent Living Services, or ILS, for children expected to age out of foster care. Utilization of these services varied widely from state to state, and many states failed to provide

adequate or consistent services to teens in their care. Since then, several bills have been passed allocating additional funds to ILS programs nationwide, and expanding the benefits available to foster youth who remain in state custody beyond their 18th birthday. Transition age youth in foster care have access to housing and employment assistance, as well as Medicaid until the age of 26. Many states offer tuition waivers or other assistance with secondary education or vocational training to former foster youth. Children who were in foster care beyond their 18th birthday were more likely to graduate, find employment, and be enrolled in Medicaid. In addition, they were less likely to suffer from untreated mental health concern s and to abuse alcohol and drugs. Despite these benefits, a large number of transition age youth leave care when they turn 18 and reject the assistance offered to them (Jones 2019).

The unique struggles teens in foster care face as they navigate a pivotal time in their lives often puts them at a disadvantage as they move forward into adulthood. The effects of their unique struggles can be seen beyond their time in foster care, as they face continued risks for negative outcomes even as they age out of the system. Much research has been done to reflect why teenagers in foster care have these poor outcomes. Progress has been made in promoting normalcy and youth involvement, but there are many issues facing transition age youth involved in the child safety system that still need to be addressed. One of the most significant problems impacting teens in foster care is placement instability. As shown, there is a direct correlation between placement instability and negative outcomes for foster children of all ages; matching teenagers to appropriate foster homes with families that are prepared for their unique care needs and developmental phase is pivotal in improving their outcomes. Additional research should be done on the direct impacts that transitional services have for youth in foster car e,

and increased advocacy and education about these programs should be offered to teens as they participate in their own transitional planning.

References

Administration for Children and Families. (2022). The AFCARS Report #29. United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1-6. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ documents/cb/afcars-report-29.pdf

Beyer, M. (2006). Developmentally-Sound Practice in Family and Juvenile Court. Nevada Law Journal, 6, 1215-1231.

H.R.4980 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. (2014, September 29). https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/housebill/4980

Jones, L. (2019). Remaining in Foster Care After Age 18 and Youth Outcomes at the Transition to Adulthood: A Review. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 100, 260-281. https://doi.org/10.1177/104438941984732 6

KIDSCOUNT Data Center. (2022). Children entering foster care by age group. Kids Count. https://datacenter.kidscount. org/data/tables/6270-children-entering-foster-care-by-agegroup?loc=1&loct=2

Konijn, C., Admiraal, S., Baart, J., van Rooij, F., Stams, G.-J ., Colonnesi, C., Lindauer, R., & Assink, M. (2019). Foster care placement instability: A meta-analytic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 96, 483–499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. childyouth.2018.12.002

Mishra, A. A., Schwab-Reese, L. M., & Murfree, L. V. (2020). Adverse Childhood Experiences Associated with Children’s Patterns of Out of Home Placement Over Time and Subsequent Negative Outcomes During Adolescence. Child & Youth Care Forum, 49(2), 247–263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-01909526-4

National Center for Education Statistics. (2021). Public High School Graduation Rates. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/ indicator/coi/high-school-graduation-rates

National Youth in Transition Database. (2019). NYTD Data Brief #7. Children’s Bureau, 1-9. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/ default/files/documents/cb/nytd_data_brief_7.pdf

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