Beyond the Horizon: Volume 1 | 2023

Volume 1 2023

Let the breath of each other’s lived and imagined experiences fill your sails for the journeys ahead.

Continue to dream and imagine the possibilities of what could be.

Breathe deeply as you navigate the voyage within.

Dare to sail beyond the horizon.

Be well, Voyager.

Table of Contents: Writing

Table of Contents: Art

Sierra Truong | 6th Grade (2022)

“Ode to a Book”

The exhaustion at the end of the day is taken away, by the excitement of how a book might turn out in a single page.

Your perfume has a distinct, papery, and unique smell. Comforting and warm, nostalgic, new. Different for every story you tell.

Curling up into a cozy chair, diving into the magical world of a story. The crisp turn of the page brings new surprises and adds more depth to your personality.

Getting warped into a portal where I can finally see the words you say, come to life into reality both a mixture of truth and fantasy.

The history and future of what life could have been like. From all the different perspectives opening up before my eyes, Acting as that person, and getting lost inside their story. It’s something that wouldn’t happen unless you open up that book.

The beautiful process of drawing out a story where what we create comes alive. The magic and the fantasy, imaginative art, coming forth to life, as tiny words on paper.

And when the time comes to part our ways at last. I shall call for our hero.

The bookmark that saves all the dreams you wrote to entertain me. It could be of silk or cloth, its tassels flying in the air, or of paper that’s practical and simple.

No matter what form this hero takes, it shall always be the knight in shining armor who has come to save the day.

I close your different covers of different material with every fancy. I hope that you enjoyed the story quite as much as I did.

In your simple garments, you might not seem so fabulous, But never judge a book by its cover for you may never know what adventures lie inside.

“Never-Ending Cotton Candy”

The floor was soft and fluffy, and tasted like cotton candy. I was delighted, but only for a moment, because when I opened my eyes, I saw an alarming amount of smoke rising from a meter away. When I opened my eyes a little more, I realized it was coming out of an open spellbook. There was also a glowing light from a sparkling red box that was barely open. As I walked towards it, my feet sank into the pink fairy-like cotton candy, and I realized that the smoke from the book was soon followed by flames, so I hurried over to the glowing light. As my eyes loomed over the glowing box, I saw what I never imagined I would see in a million years!

As I stared down into the glowing box, 20 neon green eyes stared back at me. I froze for a moment, as my brain processed the fact that there were 10 rats with glowing eyes and neon green goo dripping from their bodies, overflowing from a cauldron that was filled to the brim with acidic pink and orange potions. So that’s where the mysterious glow came from! “AHHH!” I shrieked at the top of my lungs and ran as fast as I could, as they started to climb out of the box with their shiny sharp claws and started to chase me. Each rat was about three feet tall, and much scarier than a normal rat. Their eyes were streaked with pink blood vessels, their fur was stained orange, a green slime-like mixture dripped off of them, and they each had on atrocious bright blue shoes. As I ran through the heaps and piles of heavenly pink cotton candy, I finally began to take in the situation.

As I ran faster than I ever had in my life, I looked back every few seconds while aimlessly running towards nothing, and when I thought it couldn’t get any weirder, it did. Up ahead, I saw something… At first, I was relieved to see something other than the miles of cotton candy floor, just like the sand dunes in a desert, but I soon realized that what I saw was a cotton candy island filled with patches of plants and trees, filled with creepily cute jungle animals. Then when I looked past that island, I saw tens of thousands of these islands, surrounded by a moat of the same neon green goo that was on the rats, with a rusty bridge connecting them to the rest of the endless floor of cotton candy. Some islands were little, some big, and every one of them had something different going on, such as an amusement park, a news broadcasting set, and even the Eiffel Tower! I decided I would run towards one of them with a sweets

shop on it. The rats were catching up to me, so I desperately kept on running, while I checked my watch. It’d been only two minutes since I’d woken up in this Cotton Candy Land, but it felt like an eternity!

Finally, I was just a few meters away from the island, when the cotton candy floor under me felt unstable all of a sudden, and started to fall apart right under me! Frantic, I tried to run away, but I couldn’t, and I fell down, down, down, down, down…

And then I woke up again. This time, the floor was soft and fluffy, and tasted like cotton candy, and –

Oh no, I thought. Am I reliving the same exact experience? As the blurs in my vision lessened, I was relieved to find that I fell asleep in the cotton candy and sweets shop I go to every week, and an employee was trying to wake me up.

“Hello there? Anyone there? Your cotton candy’s about to fall off of the table!” The employee said jokingly.

“Oh, I guess I was just tired,” I said, sitting up and picking up my cone of cotton candy from the edge of the table. I was still a little shaken up though, because that dream felt too real for my own comfort. I looked around to make sure I was in the sweets shop to calm myself down a little, and I was just about to take a bite out of my cotton candy when suddenly, I woke up, and the floor was soft and fluffy…

Ella Kimura | 8th Grade

Sae-Eun Kim | 7th Grade

Aurora Sullivan | 7th Grade

“Cupcakes & Blood”

Today was the day of the ball, so Empress Aleisha Hemmingloy had to keep everything in check. She made sure everything was set and the food and beverages were all prepared.

In the ballroom, there was a performing orchestra to the left corner, the throne at the back, and round tables circling the dancing area. Most parts of the decorations were white — a neutral color to prevent any insulting looks from foreign nobles — and pristine silver. Guards were stationed around the edge of the room, their uniforms pristine.

Once the room was perfect, she went back to her quarters to showcase her incredible royal blue dress, representing the Eastern Empire’s color.

The beautiful sleeveless ball gown was quite large and consisted of many layers of fabric, adorned with ribbons and lace. The many layers created an entrancing effect, but not so great as to boast. The dress was accompanied by blueberry shoes with silver, rose-shaped heels. On top of that other accessories were also worn, such as sleek white gloves and sparkling jewelry. Her hair was intricately styled; brown curtain bangs framed her face and a braided crown around her head.

Aleisha sighed as Ayliana put the finishing touches on her outfit. “What’s wrong, miss?” Ayliana asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I just have a feeling that everything will go wrong.”

“Oh, don’t worry, miss. You worked so hard to make sure this party is perfect. It’ll be great!”

The comment was meant to reassure Aleisha, but she was still worried. Aleisha repeated that in her head, closing her eyes. She was the empress of this empire and its people, and she would be a good one.

Aleisha checked the clock once more before going down to the gates, where Emperor Selo and her would greet the guests.

Once she arrived at the entrance of the palace, she saw carriages waiting to be welcomed inside.

They greeted everyone with warm smiles, including the two other empire’s representatives. From the Southern Empire were

Emperor Darlem and Empress Historia Vance. From the Northern Empire were Duke Vanquan and Duchess Rose Arch.

The ball was mostly a fancy party to discuss further trades, bartering systems, and to show one another’s culture and style. Aleisha also noticed that some nobles dressed for more of a bragging contest.

Ambitious women had large dresses, overly powdered hair, and heavy makeup caked on. Aleisha tried not to grimace as she glanced at Mavia Kim, the young woman’s makeup looking more ‘clownlike’ than ‘elegant.’

The whole ballroom was filled with people from around the globe, chattering and gossiping with one another.

Emperor Darlem of the Southern Empire walked up to her, sipping from a silver glass in his hand. “What’s on your mind, Empress Aleisha?”

“Ah, not much,” Aleisha replied, offering a smile.

He cleared his throat, “Now, about the trading system… our empire is abundant in elomae, which may be useful to you. In return, we wish for something beneficial for lighting.”

Elomae is used for enhancing food taste and health properties. It’s also a valuable resource to the Eastern Empire, and Aleisha would have to check with Selo about this trade.

“Although that depends on the amount, we do have supplies for light, such as oil, wax, and gralo,” Aleisha said after calculating the value of the items.

After a lengthy conversation on trade prices, the two finally agreed on an acceptable trade to be fulfilled in the future.

Then, Aleisha checked the giant clock on the wall and concluded the time – 10 o‘clock.

As she walked up to her place on the throne, Selo began to speak. “Thank you all for coming to the Grand Ball today. We are excited to start new trades with different kingdoms and create new relationships.”

“Now then, a toast to all empires!”

“To the three empires!“ The room echoed back, silver goblets raised in the air.

The ball went on for hours more until it was finally midnight. The toll of the bell resonated loudly, pausing conversations. On the third strike, though, the lights went out.

Whispers passing each other were like a blanket of fog, hiding other sounds.

Aleisha tensed, her heart pounding in her ears. What went wrong this time, she thought.

The darkness continued for several more strikes of the clock.

Suddenly, at the seventh strike, a distressed cry went out like lightning. Guards were alerted, frantically searching the castle for the root of the sound.

Bong, the eighth strike.

Aleisha couldn’t see a thing. Around her, whispers passed back and forth. But then she smelled something odd… iron.

Three more strikes hauntingly reverberated through the room.

There was never a drill for this; Aleisha would have to hope that the lights would be back on soon.

Bong, the twelfth strike.

At that instant, they all heard the last strike of the clock, and the lights flickered back on.

Aleisha’s eyes widened with shock, and Doval burst out crying. Mavia’s poor makeup was ruined with tears as she screamed. Selo was stunned, for this was something nobody had expected. Guards stationed by the walls rushed to the site.

The body was only a few feet away from Aleisha’s feet, and blood seeped out from under it. The man lay on the white marble floor face-up, his eyes closed. His body was frozen in a scene of panic. A pool of blood had formed, coming from the single steel dagger that struck his heart.

Aleshia recognized the body’s owner. It was Darlem Vance, the Southern Emperor. Empress Historia, his wife, cried out, not trying to hide her grief. Historia’s queen-like resolve crumbled as she saw what just happened. Sobbing, Historia dropped to her knees, her heart aching at the sight of her loved one murdered.

As the ballroom grew louder with panic, they all had a conclusion forming in their mind.

If the lights were planned to turn off, then the killer was in this very room right now.

Damitio

Kamalei Jacobsen | 6th Grade

This represents my soul, as the globe is like my mind. Most of the time, a globe is usually spinning, like how my mind is always wondering about things. I like learning about world history and just learning in general. The moon represents my more quiet reserved side and the sun is my happy outgoing side. The moon side also represents my outlook on life: Although there will always be bad things in the world–the never-ending darkness–we have to look for the good things in life–the bright stars! Lastly, the music notes and the pencil represent two of my passions, music and art, that flow through me.

Navarro Dondur | 7th Grade

David Gray | 7th Grade | Titanosuchus

“The Symbol”

Sybil was posted at the jagged front gates of the castle in the inky darkness to keep watch for assassins. In her opinion, it was the most boring of the tasks she had to do to pay off her debt. But that night, something seemed strange. It wasn’t something Sybil could see or hear, but rather something she felt, like an instinct. Still, she remained outside until the next guard took the shift. She made her way through the warm, torchlit corridors of the castle leading to her room. As she was about to creak open the door, she spotted a small engraving scratched into the wood above the doorknob. The symbol was faded and ever so slight, but Sybil could have sworn it had never been there before. It was a shield with a design of a four-pointed star surrounded by arrows. The engraving seemed so familiar, but Sybil decided to ignore it after the tiring, tedious night. She crept into her room and drifted away to sleep.

That night she dreamt of four years ago, when life turned upside down. It was her 14th birthday, and Sybil was helping her mother make a cake in the kitchen. Her mother had a warm and gentle smile on her face, but calloused hands from working all day. Her father was supposed to be at work, making weapons for the armory. Slam! The door had suddenly swung open and the king’s guards dragged Sybil’s father inside. There was a trickle of red liquid on her father’s forehead, dripping onto the floor. Sybil remembered the piercing screams of her mother as the guards captured the two of them as well. As her mother resisted, Sybil just stood there, petrified by the sight. The scene shifted, and Sybil was locked in a room inside the very castle she was confined to in the present. She was told her parents had been executed, but they had never revealed why. The king and queen had given her an ultimatum; work at the castle as a servant for the next five years, or be sentenced to death like her parents.

Sybil awoke with a jolt. That memory still scarred her deep inside, a reminder of how useless she was. Sybil never dared to risk death, and instead chose to work for the very people who killed her parents. Even now, she still felt like a coward. Sybil stayed in bed and tried to calm herself until dawn arrived. She eventually got dressed and went down to the kitchen to work, her mind now pondering over the strange symbol etched into her door. Eventually, she forgot about it and was distracted by her work in the kitchen.

Worry lingered within Sybil all day, though she wasn’t exactly sure why. After the other servants had left, Sybil decided to bake the cake she and her mother never got to finish to honor her memory. She only had an hour before she would have to guard the gates again.

“What are you doing?” a voice behind her inquired. Sybil turned and looked up to see her best friend Esther leaning against the door, arms crossed. Esther had been the only one who talked to Sybil when she first came to the castle. They were the same age, so they got along easily. Esther’s bubbly, extroverted personality fit well with Sybil’s quiet, introverted temperament, but Sybil never told her about her past.

“Baking a cake,” Sybil replied with a hint of sadness in her voice. “Do you want to join?”

“Of course! As long as I get to eat it after.” Esther laughed. She ambled over and followed Sybil’s instructions as they began to make the cake together. By the time they put the batter in the oven, Sybil only had three minutes left.

“Shoot, I lost track of time! Sorry, Esther, I have to go before I’m late. You can eat the cake without me once it’s done.” Sybil said as she rushed out of the kitchen to her room to grab her armor and spear. When she got to the door of her room, she examined the symbol above her doorknob one more time, her mind slipping off the fact that she had a job to do. Unexpectedly, the realization hit her. The symbol was her father’s seal that he would stamp on all the weapons he made. But Sybil was still confused; who scratched it into her door, and why? Before she could stop to contemplate, Sybil hurriedly put on her armor, snatched her spear, and ran out of her room. She was probably about 10 minutes late by now, and the king wouldn’t take that so well.

As she descended the stairs, Sybil heard a crash in the kitchen. Esther can’t even be unsupervised for 10 minutes without causing chaos, she thought, chuckling quietly to herself. As Sybil walked through the halls, attempting to keep her armor from clanking too loud, she heard voices coming from the throne room.

“We don’t even know if she knows they’ve escaped. They could have already met and are plotting against us this very second!” a man argued desperately in a hushed tone.

“Yes, but they haven’t attacked us yet, and the girl has shown no traces of treachery so far. She makes a good servant.” another man calmly stated.

“It doesn’t matter how well she can work, we can’t risk another disaster. I already sent someone to capture her friend as a hostage.” a woman’s voice uttered.

Sybil’s heart stopped as she realized they were talking about her. That crash in the kitchen wasn’t Esther being clumsy--she was being abducted. Angered, she stormed into the throne room, her spear at the ready. The king and queen sat on their thrones and the king’s advisor was in front of them. Without thinking, she threw herself at the advisor, fighting with all her might as the king and queen also snapped into action. Despite her best efforts and adrenaline rush, Sybil was soon surrounded by her enemies.

Two figures stepped out of the shadows, and Sybil almost had a heart attack. Her parents were standing at the corner of the throne room holding swords, very much alive. They had new scars, and their dirty clothes were tattered. Their hair was much longer than she remembered.

Eyes wide open, Sybil let her guard down in shock. “Mom… Dad?” Faster than she could process, the queen took the opportunity to disarm Sybil and capture her in a headlock.

“Foolish girl! Your parents are traitors. Fight with us!” the queen hissed.

“Liar!” her father yelled back. Sybil’s parents started attacking the advisor and the king, leaving her to suffocate. It didn’t matter which side she was on, Sybil just had to survive for now. Her breathing came out in ragged gasps as she frantically struggled to break free.

A guard walked in through the door with an unconscious Esther in his arms. That was when Sybil snapped. Esther was the only part of Sybil’s life that meant something, and she wasn’t going to let her die. Another rush of adrenaline fueled her body, and Sybil elbowed the queen in the ribs, retrieved her spear, and knocked the queen out in a matter of seconds. She then ran toward the guard holding Esther. Terrified, the guard fled, dropping Esther onto the ground.

Sybil scanned the room. The king and his advisor were also unconscious on the floor, defeated by her parents. Now that she wasn’t fighting for her life, Sybil felt entitled to answers.

“What happened?” she asked. The question was simple, but there was so much to process even Sybil herself didn’t know which part she was asking about: why her parents were arrested, why she was told they were dead, how they were alive, or the disaster the queen had mentioned.

Not answering her question, Sybil’s parents raced over and embraced her in a hug. All three of them wept there for a while. Finally, her mother spoke.

“Sybil, honey. I’m so sorry we never told you. The truth is, you’re

a princess. Your father…he’s the real heir to the throne. When he made weapons, he found a secret chamber in the castle and discovered the truth. There were scrolls and diary entries written by the past king, talking about assassins that were going to kill him. That king was your ancestor many years ago. The monarchy lied and slaughtered everyone who questioned the change. On your 14th birthday, your father confronted the king, and they captured us. I’m so sorry we had to leave you alone.”

It took time to process, but once she did, Sybil put the pieces together. “You scratched the symbol into my door. But how did you know it was my room? And why didn’t you just tell me right away? Why didn’t they kill you?”

“They didn’t kill us because we were the only ones who knew where the chamber was. They wanted to burn it. Of course, we never told them, but they kept us alive in hopes we would confess. As for the symbol, we’ve been watching you for days, trying to find a way to tell you without getting caught. The symbol was the only thing we could think of,” her father explained.

Esther started to stir, and Sybil’s parents gave them space.

“She’s a good friend,” her mother said. “Spend some time together. We’ll tell everyone the truth.” Sybil’s parents dragged the unconscious bodies out of the room, likely to lock them in the prison chamber, leaving her and Esther alone.

“What happened?” Esther mumbled, sitting upright.

“I’ll tell you later,” Sybil said, sighing with relief. “Let’s go back to the kitchen.”

Once they were in the kitchen, Sybil opened the icebox and took out the cake they baked a while ago. She thought of how much her life just changed in the past 15 minutes. Now, Sybil had one thing etched in her mind. Always fight for what you believe in. She would never back down again.

“You didn’t eat the cake,” Sybil observed.

“Why would I? We made it together, so we should eat it together too.” Esther responded.

Sybil’s eyes started to water, and she tried to keep her emotions in. But soon, she snapped and broke down into tears at the simple but moving act of kindness. They sat down together and Sybil recalled the whole story to Esther. When she finished explaining, Esther hugged her close and whispered comforts to her. They ate the cake together in peace, and for the first time in four years, Sybil didn’t feel alone.

“A Dark Trance”

“Help!” a voice yelped. Mysterious, shadowy figures of the dark and dangerous Gloams, the sworn enemies of the Elves had succeeded in surrounding Allene, with no gaps left for her to escape. They taunted her to join their forces and become a Gloam herself.

“Join us, Allene,” said one.

“You’d be an excellent addition to the Sunless Battalion,” said another. The Sunless Battalion consisted of tens of thousands of Gloams. The ghost-like creatures were once Elves; though they gave into their temptation for power. Each one was persuaded by the almighty Mors that they would be feared and powerful if they agreed to serve beside him, only to be used as a mere pawn in his destructive plan.

Squinting intensely, Allene scanned the unlighted, crooked trees swarming the dismal landscape for anything to use as a defense, but her search was in vain.

“No!” she cried. The Gloams attacked by removing the energy out of their victim, then when the time was right and their target couldn’t go on any longer, they moved in and took their victim’s soul. Feeding on living creatures’ souls was what sustained the Gloams; it was their bread and butter.

One lunged for Allene, trying to grab her with their bony hand. At a single touch, the elf’s legs collapsed, sending her tumbling to the floor in a crumpled heap. Each Gloam reached for the elf, arguing over who would get to consume her soul when everything faded. Allene jolted upright, sending her golden hair flying forward. She found herself in bed practically shaking from the sight of Gloams. The sun shone through her window and a gentle breeze enveloped the room. The peaceful atmosphere comforted her. “Thank goodness it was only a dream,” she sighed.

“The Last Thing I Wanted To Do”

Today I hate the world. I want to go back. To my happier memories, to her. I can feel her hand clutching mine, her smile warming my face, our outfits clashing as we tried to be different. I remember the mysterious powers I never used until her clothes hung unused in the closet next to mine. They had seemed useless. Why go back to the past when the present and future were gold and bright? But Mother told me I had to stop living in the past–that I had to move on. Today’s the last day before Mother revokes my powers forever. So I’m doing it, I’m closing my eyes, I’m going back.

The world opens up to me. I see her dancing in the fields, her hat with the ribbons and flowers we picked tied around it. The grasses sway gently in the breeze, a hypnotic reminder of what I can never forget. There’s a picnic blanket on the ground, strawberries and sandwiches on paper plates. I run towards her as fast as I can.

She smiles, “What took you so long?!”

Her golden laugh is carried away by the wind. I start breaking down, sobbing. I only have a limited amount of time before I lose my powers. I have to act now. Tear droplets roll down my face as I say the simple words.

“I miss you. I hope you’re happier now. I- love you.”

She looks at me, confused. I gaze back through my hazy tears.

“I-I love you too?”

“Goodbye,” the whisper barely leaves my lips before the world spins and my vision goes black.

I wake up on my bedroom floor. The sunshine streaming in. The grass sways again outside. I know I should be grateful but, I wish you were… still here… sister.

Navarro Dondur | 7th Grade

My Waves of Regret pass over me

All the things I’ve done, all the things I could’ve done

All the things I’ve said, all the things I could’ve said

I wish I had made a different choice. I could have prevented all of this.

Everything I want to tell you must be shut behind an iron dam. The dam wants to be free, but I force myself to keep it all inside

I wish to free of it too, to flood all of my feelings and emotions to you, but I will never let that happen.

I want to reset my life and go back to the beginning but I can’t

Because if I do, I would just watch you get hurt over and over again.

I shouldn’t have put all this pressure on myself, but I chose to.

I chose to because I wanted to save you, To save you from all heartbreak and hatred in this world

But you chose to take advantage of me when I was there for you There for you when it felt like the whole world stabbed you in the back, but you never got hurt…not a single scratch

I regret everything I have done for you And because of it, I drown in the Waves of Regret

Michelle Kabasawa | 6th Grade (2022)

Yeung | 6th Grade (2022)

“Where I’m From”

I am from the plants that grow in rich soil, Plants that live for a long period of time. Even the ones that are on the verge of breaking, they keep growing

The plants that try their best to keep on going, to never give up until they crumble.

I strive to be the best

To try and improve my academic skills

And to practice and get better at specific subjects that I want to improve on

So I work hard and pull all nighters to finish my work

I am from my hard working parents

Who try their best to provide for us

Make my sister and I feel safe

But...

I am from the pressure that is put onto my shoulders I hate the feeling that’s pushed against me I want to make my parents proud

But whenever I try, I can never do it

And the only thing I want is to have time for myself

The only time I get for myself is when I read the murder mystery books at night

The only light is my lamp that flickers every time I turn a page

The way I feel as I’m reading, As if I’m actually in the book experiencing all the plots and twists

I am from my unicycle

The wheel riding against the slightly rocky ground

Sometimes I fall down onto my knee or the palms of my hands which turn red after

But once I fall, I get back onto my unicycle and I keep riding

I am from the positive words like, “Keep trying!” and “Never give up”

This is the other part of my mind that remembers the positive stuff.

Whenever I think about the negative things that may happen, I try to use my positive mindset to overpower it. This is what helps me stay glued together and not fall apart It’s like gluing the broken pieces back together to form myself

I am from the loud construction noises, The barking dogs and the yelling

Even though there’s noise going on the outside I can sometimes hear my parents and grandparents yelling at each other

To block out the noise, I listen to music or mind my own business

I am from the words that crush me ‘till I become flesh and pulp The words that try to become my insecurities

Words like, “Do better” to “Why don’t you be like them”

These are the words that are chasing after me, Ones that try to change who I really am

I am from my nightmares every time I go to sleep Always something chasing me. But whenever I try to move or run away, I’m standing there, stuck in pitch black emptiness. Whenever I see this nightmare, I always try to run, Even though I know I’ll never escape. I’ll run into the garden because it’s all I have left, To see the tiny plants grow into flowers with Reds, yellows, blues, pinks, and more. The greenness of the leaves, Birds singing happily with the wind blowing freely

Sounds of Mother Nature and peace. Oh, all those beauties are the things I will cherish with my last bit of light.

I am from the plants that grow in rich soil. Plants that live for a long period of time. To fully bloom by trying my hardest when things are tough, I try to hide my sadness to make other people bloom. I try to laugh things off so that it won’t become my next insecurity. But what I know is that making other people bloom is what makes me grow.

Lunare (pen name) | 6th Grade (2022)

“My Soul is a Mirror” My soul is a mirror. I am not my own person; I am a reflection of other people. I am nothing without them. I am empty, alone.

I am a mirror. My soul is a mirror. A mirror is complex, But it is nothing Without something to reflect. My soul is nothing. I am nothing, But I want to be something, So I’ll reflect everything I can. Then I’ll store it so I can be something.

I am a black hole Something that takes from others. I do not take their items; I take their actions. I use nasty language Because Dad never held his tongue.

I feel stupid when I don’t learn quickly, Because Mom always did. I am not her, But I will work to be like her. I am nothing on my own.

I have a love for nature But I do not know who that came from. No one else in my life cares. I am a reflection, So why do I act differently?

But maybe I’m not just the mirror I was thought to be.

Maybe no one is truly based on themselves, But if I consider them whole, Do I consider myself whole?

Maybe I am something. Maybe I am not just a mirror. Maybe I am a person Who takes traits, But also has their own.

Maybe that’s what makes me whole. Maybe I am something on my own. Maybe my soul is something even alone. Maybe I am someone. Maybe I’m not just a copy.

Maybe I am someone. I am someone.

It feels weird to think I am whole. I am someone my parents are not; It’s confusing.

But I will say to myself, I am someone.

I will work it out.

Because I want to be proud of Who that someone could be.

suffocated, my words a dry desert an eternal wasteland of desolation judged endlessly by my thoughts mentally i begin to crack losing grip slipping into the void.

hopelessness and uncertainty devour my voice feeling cautious to be alone in my head quickly losing a sense of normalcy – a warm stroke i once felt a consistent battle i spiral into the abyss

decapitated by my thinking slow yet agonizing out of control constantly crave an end that never seems to emerge one day maybe i’ll gain asylum from my confinement someday… maybe tomorrow… maybe …maybe

A contented facade covers my tragic eyebags

Sleep deprived from the nights before Endless Google Docs and textbook pages

Memorization and breakdowns and nervous stomach aches

My brain drained and squeezed dry

Everyone tells me I’ll surely be accepted Into a top college, a great job position Yet, I wonder if Is it worth the fatiguing pressure Or the expectations that it brings And the adolescence that was snatched away

What if I don’t get that perfect score or write that distinguished essay? What if in fact this path is not one to success? But one of continuous self destruction I’m a gifted kid–a smart kid I read and I write and I solve and I produce To always exceed To never fail

So that I don’t ever disappoint

“Growing Up”

I still remember feeling butterflies when I witnessed at school, a beautiful sunrise. stepping foot in here felt like a new beginning but now I am completely spinning.

only three years have gone by but why am I about to cry? was it the memories I made or the people in each grade?

the first year was the most formidable, moving to a new school only for it to be all digital. isolation was the worst part, forcing everyone to socially restart.

I was becoming used to the new reality until we were asked to go to school rationally. nonetheless I was able to socialize again experiencing adventures that were a ten out of ten.

this school was my first start but now I am not ready to depart. my teachers offered me education, while my friends became my motivation.

it’s approaching, the end of middle school and I know I won’t be able to keep my cool.

will I be ready for the next phase, growing up in many ways?

“Atelophobia”

a star that dimmed excellency of others causes agony often a mindset of self-scrutinization the eclipse is brighter than my thoughts i’m slowly becoming an irreversible tragedy disappointed, always distressed, now distanced others’ pristine scores reflect a person i strive to be complete accuracy, nearing a diamond’s optimum one who craves and aches, remains unfulfilled the discontented perfectionist never perishes a consistent demand and lack of supply lost on the marked trail of honor losing my ingenious touch i ask, what am i? who am i? why…

Sarah Lee | 8th Grade

I had just begun to live the life of my dreams

My emotional health was finally stable I had good grades

My friendships were strong

I knew my people, I found my talents, my gifts I found me

Everything was perfect

Living the best life Without a single problem

But in a flash I only long to travel back

In the mirror, the face staring back is unfamiliar Since when did I look like this?

The people I once knew are no closer than strangers Even my best friend, who was always there Is leaving for new opportunities I should be happy for her So why do I feel hurt?

I try hard to hold tight to the perfect life I once had But it slips through my hands like sand. Things change, and I’m powerless

Nothing here lasts long Not forever

Arianna McDonald | 6th Grade (2022)

I am no more than a dull thought at the back of everyone’s head. No one seems to notice me. I get glanced at every now and then, But I don’t ever feel that I’m paid attention to.

When people do stare at me, They look at me with strong faces of anticipation. Sometimes they look excited, And sometimes nervous, or, almost scared.

I can’t tell if people like me or not, Since children tend to complain about me at night, And some others might complain about me in the morning.

I think I can control how some humans feel, Sometimes, their body needs rest at a certain time, And it’s my job to tell them that.

I tell people when they’re late, early, or on time, Sometimes, this makes them stressed, Sometimes it makes them at ease.

I do wish to try my best to help people, But time can vary, Sometimes I just fly by, While at other times, It feels like I take forever to pass.

Sometimes, I create stress and cause people to overburden themselves, But with good time management, People can reduce stress and overworking themselves.

I know that I am important in this world, But people might not think about me.

Usually, I silently help people out, Other times, I make mistakes.

I don’t wish to harm anyone, But I’m not perfect, and I can’t always look out for humans. Sometimes, they just need to work it out themselves.

Katie Ta | 8th Grade

Kainoa Alcain | 6th Grade

Leila Ruiz-Bouharkat |

I walk around in the middle of road, Looking for food, Then a car flies around the corner, Then I quickly take off.

I run as fast as I can, Then I’m off the ground. Just like that, I can see the tops of the houses.

I land in a tree to rest my wings, The wind in my feathers feel so cool, Then I’m off again.

I fly above the treetops, I dance around in the clouds, I fly above the ocean’s surface.

I fly to town, It’s so crowded there but they have the best food I’ve ever tasted, I find myself in a mall trying to avoid being stomped on. Going between these humans’ feet, And ducking under tables.

I steal food from the cooks, As they try to shoo me away with brooms. As I flapped around I heard them scream.

Some of these humans want to trap me, They try to lure me in with my favorite foods, But I’m smarter than that, I fly away.

I realized I had to feed my chicks, I searched under bushes and I found worms, I looked under tree roots and I found insects. My young are finally fed.

Next thing I do is teach them to fly, I guide them out of their nest, Prepared to take flight. Their light wings unfurl, with heartbeats aflutter.

Now they can see the beautiful sights that I’ve seen.

Jude Windler | 7th Grade

“Statue on the Shelf”

No one notices me much, Sitting here on this shelf, With all the other statues, All of us getting dusty and old.

But I’ve been here from the beginning, Since the day you were born. I saw you being carried right through that door.

I’ve seen you grow up, learn how to walk, Learn how to read, learn how to talk

I’ve seen you lose your first tooth in a pillow Fight with your cousins and your grandma.

I’ve seen almost every single thing you and your family do. Every single day I see you come home from school, As you run right by and up to your room to do something I don’t know..

Sometimes I feel like I’m invisible. No one even bothers to look up at me.

Sitting here on this shelf gets boring. I can’t talk to anyone Or join you and your family and friends Having fun.

All I do is sit here day and night, Watching you and your family live happily While I sit here not dead, but not quite alive, In the darkness and in the light. Through the day and through the night.

Up in the mountains, down on the ground, sitting forever and looking down, no matter where I go, the words follow me around:

“Those trees all look like paintings!” “Why do we need trees anyways?” “Trees suck, I have to trim the ones in my backyard.”

But did anybody register, the fact that I was listening? Did anybody think about how I had feelings, too?

I know I’m just a tree, but I think it’s time I spoke up, about how this world would really be if you got rid of all the trees.

You don’t want to admit it but it’s clear as ice to me. Without trees, you humans would be lost in your own world.

Did you know trees make you happy? It’s just our shade of green. And you know, about those paintings? They were all about praising me!

I bear you fruits and nuts aplenty, to help supply you with food! You really shouldn’t worry I’ll be here for your afternoon snack.

“A Tree”

We trees supply you oxygen, Something you always need. We suck up all your carbon dioxide, a gas which you call waste. And you want to know how that helps? It helps battle climate change!

We provide homes for helpless animals, and arms to swing and sit on for your tiny folk. We never purposely did you any wrong, and yet you set our trunks on fire!

You insist on chopping us down, when all we’ve done is help you… I really don’t understand, but us trees are much more important than you really think.

Just think about the paper! Oh yes, your toilet paper. And if you didn’t have it, well you’d still use my leaves and sticks. So it’s safe to say without me, a trip to the restroom would be a panic.

Oh there’s so much more I do, but I’d also like to say thank you! This goes out to the ones who recognized my efforts, the ones who loved and cared for me. So I’ll be ever so patient sitting here for eternity. Watching you from above Up in the mountains, down on the ground, sitting forever and looking down, until my long beautiful life finally ends.

Kainoa Alcain | 6th Grade

Inesza Bransford | 6th Grade

Sophia Damitio | 6th Grade

Kate Lampitelli | 6th Grade

“An Old Sketchbook”

Wrapped around in paper, I don’t know where I am, Should I be scared?

But then I hear a faint noise

“Happy birthday!” is all I could hear, I then listen to the sound of paper being torn As I am uncovered, I see a girl, staring at my cover and flipping through pages While saying “Thank you!” as she browses through

I’ve started to get to know this girl Sometimes she would fight with her sister Or argue with her parents

But other times, she would fill my blank pages with color or words I started to connect with her as she jots down her daily life

It’s been a few months since she drew on my pages I’m starting to realize that I am now seeing less and less of the world. Did she forget about me?

No, that can’t be true, she would never do such a thing. I want to bring back the old memories, but there’s nothing I can do except to watch.

Now I’m hidden inside the bottom of the drawer of the desk Not touched, not used for the past three years, My cover is now filled with dust and I have a few torn out pages The colors on my pages are dull and smudged, And everything else in the drawer is weighing against me

You used to show all your completed drawings to your parents, But now you’ve barely talk to them, Just like how you ignore me I was there for you for the past years.

But why,

Just why would you do this to me

I feel hurt, but mostly betrayed

It’s no use,

I’m now forgotten

I still have pages ripped and some are not fully colored

Some of the color from the drawings are now smudged and dull

My cover is slightly bruised on the edges

And dust is all around me

Huh?

I see light glowing from the small crack between the drawer

The drawer I was trapped in is now fully opened

Then I see a head poke out

I see you again as your hands reach towards me

You scan through the pages and thoroughly look through,

A smile appearing on your face

You then place me against the cold desk,

Blowing off the dust as you start to make a small sketch.

Ella Kimura | 8th Grade

Yeung | 6th Grade (2022)

“Hope

fake friendly facades hide the darkness a coat sweet as sugar yet the vast emptiness grows and grows and no one listens

emotions bubble over cracking the mask shadows control the body like a puppet standing atop a bridge–a disappointment lonely downcast eyes no longer glimmering but sunshine glows and the shadows vanish at long last–someone to confide in a new dream to live–not merely exist

life has meaning hope is never lost

Kapua Gebhardt | 6th Grade (2022) “A Tall Tree”

I am a tree, a wise one And I have witnessed the evolution of time. Accompany me as I travel, through my great archive of memories…

Let our journey begin. I remember as a sapling, The world was a big and glorious place.

I had always looked up to the great big Elder trees of our grove. I had always gazed at them in awe, Longing to one day be like them.

All until one day…

It was a broad day, and the heat of the sun Tingled my bark.

I heard the heavy thumping of human feet Heading in our direction no doubt.

It wasn’t long until they were at the roots of our eldest and biggest tree. I notice an odd looking gadget gripped tightly by the hand of one man.

He and two others peered up at the great Swaying limbs far overhead. One man pressed a button on his gadget. It made a loud whirring sound.

He neared the gadget toward the trees base I blinked once then twice as the blade Cut through the elders trunk

Like a butter knife through butter.

I gasped a breathless gasp.

Our elder’s body lay lifeless on the Red and yellow leaf covered ground.

The men left without looking back. I was deeply pained by the loss of our elder… Later the evening the men returned only to drag the tree away.

That night the grove was lost in the depths of sorrow, and I peered at the star littered sky

As I decided that maybe it was safer to remain a small sapling instead.

But my growth was not something I could avoid. I grew and grew into great big tree that towered far over the others.

Now no longer do I sway to the rhythm

Of the birds on my branches

But instead listen to the cars that pass by on the highway.

Now I gaze into the flush green valley? No, now peer through the air thick with smoke and chemicals to just catch a glimpse of the gray buildings that lie behind.

For you see the world is not the flourishing planet it used to be. It has been conquered by the evolutions Of humankind.

There’s my perspective and there’s yours, but combined, they’re something completely more. A theory? A story? One cannot say but maybe Now that you’ve discovered, you’ve explored You’ve found some perspective, could you change it to be yours?

Imagine your perspective just like mine! We could restore the world to its former glory. Maybe, just maybe.

Editors’ Note- 2023 Editors

Kiana Alcain is a twin sister who is kind to other people except for her twin brother. She loves folding origami and watching anime or reading manga. She takes care of her guinea pig and always procrastinates on homework because of her brother’s distraction. She’s not weird or anything but gets riled up while playing Super Smash Bros. with her friends. Most of the time, she expresses her feelings nonverbally (via facial expressions) instead of talking verbally.

Tina Au enjoys listening to (but not playing) music. She loves mindlessly browsing Scratch for project ideas, though never has the motivation to finish a project. She spends a lot of time in her head, thinking. A lot of thinking. It’s not hard, just think about it…

Alex Blake likes playing tennis. When not procrastinating on an excessive amount of homework, she likes to play video games.

Skylar Chang has a little brother who she fights a lot with, but knows how to end it. In her spare time, she calls friends, draws, goes shopping, does photography when she finds something cute, and play games. In school, she loves to hang out with friends and procrastinate on her work. She enjoys listening to music, everything Studio Ghibli, all things Sanrio, and is a hard core Disney fan.

Vanessa Ching is a younger sister and fights with her older brother everywhere she goes, but in public they seem nice to each other. Says she wants to draw more and explore more activities, but always procrastinates on everything she does. Will most likely find her complaining about the cold in the morning, but never wears a jacket. One can say she is a very introverted shortie except when she is with her friends, she suddenly becomes an extroverted shortie. Spends most of her time on Discord even though she is supposed to be studying.

Leala Florendo likes to procrastinate all of her work but sometimes gets things done. She enjoys playing the viola, swimming competitively, hanging out with family and friends, and listening to music.

She has a twin sister and a younger brother. She loves to try new things from different cultures or even something that she has never had before as well as to watch different shows and movies. She stays up late trying to finish all of the work she did not complete during the day as well as finish all of her episodes to her favorite dramas.

Lilyanne Florendo enjoys hanging out with her friends and family. When she isn’t with them, she can be found binge watching TV shows or at soccer practice when she isn’t injured. She can be a mess and all over the place, but she will always find a way to get the job done. She also loves to blast her AirPods with her playlist playing at full volume. Lilyanne enjoys playing soccer and hopes she can play in high school.

Julianna Fujimoto, a dramatic, weird, YouTube shorts addict, can be found curled up in a little ball in her very comfortable bed. In her free time (when she stops procrastinating), she likes to write books. She also really enjoys listening to k-pop (BLACKPINK, BTS, and ITZY), and she is also really obsessed with musicals (Hamilton and Six).

Elizabeth Huang plays soccer, tennis, violin, piano, and French horn. Though she probably doesn’t have the time for it, she does it anyway. Her packed schedule would make you assume she can manage her time, but she still procrastinates on her school work. She laughs and smiles at everything, although most of the time those things aren’t even funny. She also has a weird habit of sticking out her tongue like a lizard.

Michelle Kabasawa doesn’t always use her time wisely, and isn’t very productive most of the time. She’s tried lots of after-school activities in her life, but she mostly enjoys drawing, golf, volleyball, and something to do with technology in her free time. Although very lazy, she loves going outside and in nature, and spending time with her family and friends, but isn’t the most social person all the time.

Luke Kaneshiro enjoys watching anime and staying indoors with AC. Although he hates going outside, school is the one time a day he realizes he takes being home for granted. He likes to do piano and violin as a hobby outside of school.

Alexandra Knight enjoys doing everything that doesn’t conform to society’s expectations. She does drumming, archery, and LOTS of charity work. She has a very literary (and artistic) brain, and enjoys using it… but not both literary and artistic type at the same time. She won’t say that she’s a perfectionist with extreme anxiety yet, but everyone knows she is, and it’s annoying that she won’t admit it.

Atticus Lin loves creating art but is constantly on art block. He likes a specific type of vampire/detective animanga, especially Vanitas No Carte, Bungou Stray Dogs, Moriarty the Patriot etc. Once you mention a single reference to his favorite media, you’re in for a ride of non stop rambling. His headphones are always playing songs by The Smiths, Mitski, and Malice Mizer.

Brayden Park enjoys drawing and playing with friends. He also enjoys socializing and likes supporting everyone in some kind of way and he loves talking about TV shows. He also likes taking walks and going to the park in his free time.

Aurora Sullivan enjoys writing and making up creative stories with her best friend. They dream that one day they become famous authors, but enjoy their small world of Google Docs for now.

Katie Ta is the laziest perfectionist you’ll ever meet. She often procrastinates to the point where her sleep deprivation is a trademark. In her free time or while putting off work, Katie enjoys reading, listening to music, and playing video games.

Rohm Takamoto has always been a black cat and likes to stay in the shadows. When you first meet her she will be very shy, but as you get to know her she will open up and crack jokes whenever she can. Rohm picks up a volleyball almost everyday and never has free time because of it. When at school left with nothing to do, she

loves to read a good romance or murder mystery novel. She enjoys traveling around the world and one day hopes to explore every country and state.

Jolie Uyeno-Pidot has been drawing since the day they picked up a crayon at six months old and has been exploring different type of art since then. They recommend listening to any Red Velvet or TXT song, and they want to go karaoke one day.

Aaron Joshua Vendiola loves to draw and color since he started drawing. He also likes to watch anime and play tennis in his free time. He loves to play any instrument that he has. He also likes to meet new people and make new friends.

Susan Zheng loves writing and all kinds of art. She uses writing as an outlet, and she tends to be harsh–not out of malice, but out of a determination and respect for anything she cares about. She also tends to find interest in almost anything, and prefers plants and pets over people. She has a present view of things and a mostly realistic centered view on life.

Advisor | Mr. Matthew Tom is an optimist who believes in the phrase, ichi-go ichi-e. He interprets this phrase to mean: each moment in time is fleeting and presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Each interaction with someone is an opportunity to do good, and this opportunity will not present itself again in the same way. He believes in the power of students sharing their stories, lived experiences, and talents, for he has hope that the youth of today will write tomorrow into peace.

You are important. Your story is important. You have a story worth telling.