PEER 2020

PE​ER​ 20​20

Literary Works from GSWLA World Literature and Composition I Tallwood High School June 2020

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PE​ER​ 20​20 NOTE from Editor: 2020 was a year of vision and speculation, and the blurring of those visions and speculations.

Months of classes and build up, to many, seemed to be wiped out by this very historic year that turned physical classes into virtual ones. Just the same, students of my World Literature and Composition class worked throughout the months leading up to the physical closing of schools with multiple writings, and some of them made it into this anthology. Others were created during the COVID-19 shutdown, when school turned into a place with Emergency Learning Plans. Concerns shifted to making sure everyone had what they needed to access the school work, and of equal import, how to survive the months’ long stay at home orders.

The weekend in which I first wrote these words represented a horrific milestone; the following weekend was a reminder of another one. At the time of the first draft of this writing, 100,000 Americans died of the CoronaVirus. Although I personally did not have any loved one suffer from its horrific effects, I have close friends who’ve lost family members; I have students (some of them in this very cohort) who are presently grieving the loss of a grandparent, an aunt, or an uncle.

The weekend coming up marks a dark time in Virginia Beach history and represents the one year anniversary of the Municipal Building shooting on May 31st, 2019. This happened by my home, and I have my own story of what could have happened to a member of my family, a story thankfully I won’t need to tell, but one that involved simply being in the right turning lane at the right time. Just the same, I don’t know how this weekend is going to be for me.

Certainly writing’s soul function is not its sole function. And variety is what readers will get in this edition of Peer.

What readers will see here is a compilation of the work of some young writers, early in their careers. The students were challenged to create 12 publishable pieces of writing and some of them really did. This year’s students, the eighth to do the “12 pieces” took the challenge to heart. Some actually got published in outside online magazines, many writings found their way to the school Literary Magazine (LIT X), and quite a few made it into a student founded, student run literary magazine called ​Literary Sanctuary​.

Even though many classes have done the assignment, this is only our third edition of Peer; we’ve Peer 2016, Peer 2019, and this one, Peer 2020. The year is the year students finished their first year at the Global Studies and World Languages Academy, not the year of their graduation. To see the editions of “Peer”, please please visit: https://issuu.com/demottissuu/docs/peer_2016​ .

As in prior editions, I’ve attempted to rearrange the pieces in a sensible order, reformat pieces if needed, and title untitled pieces, occasionally adding an explanatory note. Despite this, please Peer, 2020

know that the work, the concepts, and the construction of the writing is solely the original authors. Any errors, or lapses of judgment are mine and mine alone.

EDM, May 28, 2020 As I prepare for the presentation of these contents in an event entitled “Sharefest”, I update this document, and am reminded that in the short time between the first draft and the update, the murder of George Floyd has layered yet another historic movement upon what is already historic. Protests, riots, and looting dominate the news as tens of thousands of people react to his death globally, and in Virginia alone, both Richmond and Virginia Beach were put on curfew.

These things, and the thousands of untold things take a toll on the human spirit, and my hope is that my students, who’ve revealed quite a bit to me in our shortened year (remember the “reading your soul” thing we did), my hope is that they will realize and embrace the idea that writing is not a cure for the ills of the world, but it is a therapeutic means to cope.

EDM, Updated June 4, 2020

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Table of Contents Things of the Heart Heartstring Tugging Stuff

Things of the Head Intellectual & Researched Stuff

Things of the Bones Deep Stuff

Things of the Arms Embracing New Stuff

Things of the Legs Journeys: Inner and Outer

Things of the Eyes Observations of Stuff

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Contributors (Class of 2023) Introduction:​ Earl C. De Mott Heart: Paytyn Carr, Arianna Lawton, Hunter Tufarelli, Brenna Pope, Despina Drosinos, Danielle Crabtree, Avery Coleman, Reese Joyce Olazo, Kayla Blake, Ashiya Lawrence, Ashli Perez, Crystal Vargas, Kasumi Hall, Hiba Aslam, Mollie Donovan, Elizabeth Telkamp, Roi Dela Cruz,Heaven Glover, Marissa Whyte, De’Esca Stancel, C.J. Mainor, Alana Whiteside

Head: Kendall Hayes,Callie Weeks, Molly Meinen, Coren Huff, Lydia Sachet, Eliza Hendrick, Katrina Krueger, Tucker LaRue, Gyzelle Kay Bagsic, Grace Medina, Kaden Ellison, Tariq Harold, Theo Pahl, Amanda Cardenas, Caleb Vakos, Kasey Hernandez-Molina, Bryan Ortiz, Elizabeth McCardle-Blunk, Abigail Saint Fleur

Bones: Amanda Terveer, Zarria Russell, Micah Poynton, Laniyah Buchanan, Amani Anderson, Kaine Durning, Curtis Price, Sutton Shull, Cameron Fortuna, Ethan Merry, Inaissa Sylla, Matt Cirbo, Linna Deng, Camryn Ruth, Helena Elatheratos, Alana Kronenburg, Solana Lamoso, Issa Garcia

Arms: Taylor Nixon, Mallory Kopin, Mina Weisenburger, Ao Sterner, Ellagrace Kays, Jenna Hendrich, Arrow Honiball, Seth Whipple, Jordan Nathan, Salima Juarez, Anayris Sepulveda Sanchez, Samantha Dickerson, Kade (Kiera) Piro, Juan Santiago Smith-Jordan

Legs: Andrew Hyams, Bradley Martin, Kelsey Freeman, Isabella Bejarano,Martina Ortiz,Stephanie Badillo, William Rapp, Camani Hill, Julia Dziegielewski, Ariel Fletcher, Cassie Smith, Ashley Burns, Nicholas Espinosa, Melanie Hewitt, Jayla Rice, Maeve Ragno

Eyes: Arielle Walker, Anaya Aurthur, Jennifer Yang, Elijah King, Charles Calevas, Ashlynn Clayton, Evanthia Bantelas,Amanda Vallieres,Oath Balane, Grace Weeks, Antonella Harison, Riley Leblanc, Alex Shade, Marli Hynes,Lindsey Kester, Mary Dacuba, Birdie Abina, Madelyn (Duh) O’Neal

Appendix: E​ arl C. De Mott

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Things of the Heart: ​Heartstring Tugging Stuff

Out of place By: Paytyn Carr (Rainbow Poem) A sharp edge tool that cuts into the dull rose Points towards the sunrises and sunsets Out of place, it's only surrounded by sunflowers In a long pasture that goes on for miles, matches the stems The sky reflects on the flowers making them a darker tint When it turns night time, there is a twilight glow among them Moonlit shadows from the rose stretch towards the heavens

Deep By: Arianna Lawton (Poetry- Tricube) in deep yet daring to fall deeper because i remain stuck not knowing where to go where to look how to leave

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Realism By: Hunter Tufarelli (Rainbow Poem) A flame of anger colours my cheeks, fuming at the naivety of most Something just short of fire ignites, deep in my mind setting all optimistic thoughts ablaze Why can’t you see that my smile doesn’t mean I’m cheerful?

That it doesn’t mean I’m happy?

The balance between the soft grass and the sharp wind is slim to none, the wind taking over my senses and leaving the threads of grass forgotten A frigid breeze bites at my skin, freezing the tears on my face I can’t look away, can’t close my eyes, straining against the air as I stare at the stars in the almost night sky It’s not sensible, not realistic, to assume a smile is happiness, like assuming all crystals are amethyst gems

From the Poem “The Soldier” Brenna Pope (Prose) If I am to die today please don't think of me as scared to die but to rejoice for If I die on the battlefield then that piece of land will become a piece of England. In that rich earth a richer dirt will be uncovered because that land will be England. For since I have been shaped my England for where I lay her flowers will overcome me and her and I will once be reunited. My earthly body will become England and my spirit will find breath in life. Her cool water will help the flowers grow, and her sun will be there to lift them up. No evil shall dwell in her for she is too pure. The mind will think of her forever, no one will ever give so much love. Her sights and sounds will live in my eternal dreams forever as I am english. Her laughter and friends shall not mourn. My heart is at peace under her heaven.

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Music & Moving

By Despina Drosinos (Free Form Poetry) i I love music.

It’s so much better than people.

Music is my friend. It Hugs me when I’m lonely, Cries with me when I’ve had a rough day, And supports me when I’m hurting Inside And out Music doesn’t talk when I Need some peace and quiet, Or don’t feel like chatting In fact, I have a playlist called music-for-when-you-had-a-rough-day-and-just-need-some-peace-and-quiet-or-a-song-to-cry-to.

Music has always been there, And it always will be. ii It understands me more than people do.

People are too complicated.

They have too many feelings, too many emotions, too many situations That I never know how to respond to.

Drama comes with people.

And so does awkwardness, And embarrassment, And judgement.

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Friendship comes with people too, My mom reminds me.

So does comfort, And sisterhood.

Be social.

Talk to someone.

Invite a friend over, She says.

But I don’t want to do that. iii I’ve tried before, to be friends with people, And you know what happened?

Either they revealed their fakeness, or I moved. Again. The military moved us again.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love moving.

I love learning new Languages Cultures Foods Traditions I love seeing the history and beauty of a new place!

But I don’t like the people part of moving.

You have to go into a new school, One where kids have gone for the last nine months, One where kids have known each other since birth, And say: Hi. I’m the new girl.

I just moved from my ‘home’ and

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I’m going to move in another two years and leave.

Wanna be friends?

You have to endure the stares of your new classmates As you walk to your seat, The pity of being the new kid, Fake sweetness in voices, Fake helpfulness, Fake understanding.

Judgment, Gossip, And people asking: Why do you talk so weird? iv Everyday, I eat lunch in a classroom with my friendOne of the only ones I have here.

Sometimes I go there to talk, But most times I go there not to.

Because I know no one will talk to me.

Because I know she will hang out with her other friends, And her other friends will hang out with her, And everyone will leave me alone In peace.

Alone in a corner.

And I’m fine with that.

That’s why I eat there.

To be alone. v Because People may say they understand.

And they can say that all they want.

Because I know the truth.

And the truth is that

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IT’S. ALL. LIES. That they will NEVER know what it is like.

And they will NEVER know how it feels.

When, as soon as you have friends and start to feel at home somewhere, And can actually give someone directions, Your parents come home And announce that you’re leaving in however-many-months, And you have to start the whole process all over again.

You have to make new friends, And ignore new bullies, And meet new teachers. vi So why not just make it easier on myself And not make friends in the first place?

That way, I don’t have to go Through the pain of saying goodbye to them, And the stress of making new ones, Or the countless nights that I remember myself to sleep After a day of school Where everything and everyone is unfamiliar and wrong.

Just. Plain. Wrong.

Why not make it easier? vii I have homework to fill my mind, Sports to fill my spare time, Books to play ‘imagine that’ with,

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And music to be my friend.

All of that will never change.

Homework and books and sports and music Will never go away.

Besides, People are too complicated anyway.

I don’t need them.

And they certainly Will never Need me.

Except‌ when they do.

Season Has Ended

By Danielle Crabtree (Elegy) This season was different from any other I made a lot of friends This team felt like a second family Ran down the field a many of times to score goals Had some great moments had some bad moments I have improved Scored many of times Became friends with everyone But then the season came to an end Now we have to see what next season holds Until next year

Coronavirus Changed Us

By Avery Coleman (Blitz Poem) Schools full of students Schools shutting down Down the drain education goes Down mentality follows Follows no race Follows no rules Rules broken

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Rules abandoned Abandoned ways Abandoned life Life of no order Life taken Taken awayTaken time Time wasted Time lost Lost freedom Freedom seized Freedom arrested Arrested to houses Arrested from travel Travel around the house Travel nowhere Nowhere claimed safe Nowhere to go Go home Go away Away from society Away at six feet Six feet away Six feet no more More worry about how long this will last More worry about education continuation Continuation of not listening Continuation of spreading Spreading without knowing Spreading germs Germs of sickness Germs contaminating Contaminating surfaces Contaminating all All suffering All turning grey Grey faces Grey skies Skies to watch alone Skies without pollution Pollution from nowhere Pollution stopping Stopping for one reason only Stopping for the coronavirus pandemic

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2019 Reese Joyce Olazo (Sonnet) I am extremely unmotivated.

Day after day, more work projects up.

The assignments are uncomplicated, But each class, I keep failing to catch up.

How long will I continue on like this?

When will I get myself put together?

I know they all say ignorance is bliss, But it’s hitting harder than cold weather So much work keeps on building up and up; I always turn in work after it’s due.

Sometimes I don’t think I’ll ever catch up.

It’s my fault though, I don’t know what to do.

I will just continue to do my best And try hard to go the rest of the year unstressed

Family Gathering By:Kayla Blake (Nonet Poem) In the bed of a hospital room Gathered by all her family Sitting and reminiscing She starts to fall asleep While looking peaceful As they watch her And say how They love Her

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Untitled By: Ashiya Lawrence (Free verse poem) Weeping Like the morning dew Trying my hardest To get over you Breathing In the moist air Feeling Myself fall into despair As I close my door Stuffy How my room feels Suffocating From heat and sweat As I open my window Air rushes in And takes my breath away I feel so free I open it wider I lean inch by inch Out of my room Out into the sky The feeling of Euphoria Taking over me But then An arm, a hand, teeth Pull me right back in

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Escape? Impossible.

Even though I was so close

Rebellion and Denial

By Ashli Perez (Reflective Journal) If rebellion defines us, then who are you? If rebellion defines us, then we are just humans. A lot of people can rebel on a certain issue or situation. Rebellion is not necessarily bad. People can rebel on a political issue, like sometimes other politicians would make a commercial saying how the other politicians are bad and evil while they enhance their own campaign by saying that there's are better and can help out the country. Humans have always rebeled you might not have noticed, but when you don’t do your homework that is being “rebellious”.

Rebellion can sometimes define you as a bad person​. ​Sometimes being a rebel can make people think this about you because you are doing something you weren’t supposed to do, but in reality you are just doing things that nobody would actually do because they want to follow the rules while you just want to be more adventurous. People all around the world have done one or more things that have defined them as a ‘rebellion’ and just because you were defined as one by that one person doesn’t automatically mean that you are a rebellious person and also a bad person. Like in the book, ​Siddhartha Herman Hesse​, Siddhartha wanted to change his religion and be with the Samanas, so he asked his father but his father had said no because he wanted Siddhartha to stay with him and stay with his religion, but because he didn’t want to stay he did a ‘rebellious’ thing by standing in his house waiting for his father to let him go with the Samanas and change his religion. Siddhartha had left all his friends, family, and all his “popularity” because he had a ‘rebellious’ thought about changing his religion. But that one rebellious thing you do doesn’t define who you are as a person.

How does denial bring you closer to your inner self? In the book ​Siddhartha Herman Hesse​, in the first chapter, Siddhartha was denying his religion, so he went to ask his father if he could leave with the Samanas to practice their religion. Since he’s been with them he has lost a lot of weight, his muscles, and his looks, which is how he got all the girls, but now that he doesn’t look the same as before none of the girls are going after him. He doesn’t have to worry about being perfect all the time for his family, his friends, and all the people around him. When he left with the Samanas, Govinda went with him so he still was trying to be perfect for him because Govinda was someone that admired Siddhartha too, but when he left Siddhartha could finally let go and get closer to his inner self. Siddhartha was in denial that his life he was living before was all there was, but when he left and was starving himself, as part of the religion, he was finally becoming more closer to his inner self. Practicing self-denial is a way to measure our control and commitment to God. It’s a way of every once in a while just gauging how much am I in charge of my life? Does food or habits or smoking or drinking or

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any of the different things we do by habit are really in charge?​ ​Denying ourselves can be big, like overcoming a deeply-rooted addiction, or smaller, like refraining from an extra cookie.

When we’re dealing with serious addictions, narcotics, alcohol, pornography, etc, it’s a difficult and sometimes lengthy process to break free. “That’s why the most positive, the most effective campaigns to give up strong addictions are to make promises of self-denial for very short periods of time.

Who Am I?

By Crystal Vargas (Reflective Journal) Who am I? Who am I really? ​This question dances in my mind, never fully answered, even with the advancement of time. I grow older and older, yet I still do not have the answer.

It always changes, sometimes just a bit, while other times there is an overwhelming amount waiting for me. Change, it is the only consistent force acting on and in my life. Since I was young, every day was new, fresh, a brand new start. Yet, I still held tight to what I knew, more like what I thought I knew. Change was always there, at first a worry in the back of my mind.

But it did not stay that way. I fought against it, wishing that life would stay the way it was, foolish or not, childish or not, I will never truly know.

It was not always consistent, the irony of that, the very force that flipped life around, upside down, and every which way, was not consistent either. The consistency of its inconsistency was what kept me going, the only change I can make is to accept it and move where it leads me. It acted in different ways, even my daily routine was different with each new day. The outline or general layout of my morning changed with each school level, but within them, variations occurred, at their smallest being minutes off-target, others where I woke up a half-hour later than “normal.” Missing the bus, rushing to my first class after being dropped off, keeping that pace throughout the day, all of those made me speed through the day, instead of truly appreciating it. If I slowed down I would be caught by the demons in my mind. I was so tired of fighting, so I ran, and ran, and continued to do it until I could not anymore. Then, I got up and did it again, refusing to get caught, yet at the same time yearning to get caught. Not so I could quit running, if that was so, I would’ve already stopped, quit, given up hope. I was rebelling against my own actions but trying to fight against everything else too.

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Does Rebellion Define Us? Kasumi Hall (Reflective Journal) If rebellion defines us, then I am a failure. It is not like I want to rebel against these specific rules, but I rebel against completing tasks like work. I even rebel against my own standards of not being a disappointment to myself. Defining ourselves with rebellion can show our true character. This can either reveal something positive or negative deep inside you. Rebellion can show our true character through what we believe is necessary in certain situations, regardless of what the rules are. Rebelling can truly test us, test our character.

Let’s take Rosa Parks for example, a true test of her character was when she stayed still and sitting when asked to move to the back of the bus. This rebellion defines her as a hero and a justice leader. When the word ‘rebellion’ comes to mind, most people don’t think of positive acts of rebellion. Instead, they think of the negative and where many acts of rebellion would have someone end up in jail or worse.

The google definition of rebellion portrays a tone of someone disobeying authority or a higher power in inhuman ways, but in the situation Rosa Parks was in, maybe rebelling against authority was for the better of society. Sometimes an act of rebellion is necessary to change what we believe is injustice in the system. Circling back to how rebellion defines me, this is an example of negative rebellion. Correcting this rebellion is currently a challenge for me and I’m not sure if I can overcome it, but this is what currently defines me whether I like it or not.

Negative acts of rebellion can be personal, or on a wide scale, like doing something that is illegal and is meant to harm someone.

Love

By Hiba Aslam (Poetry - free verse) Love comes in many ways It can make a person’s heart ache Just make sure that it stays And don’t let it break Love can bring in joy A person can feel alive Don’t treat it like a toy Without it a person wouldn’t strive However, love can have danger Just like hate it can kill Those madly in love would do it for a stranger Thinking about it can give one a chill

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Taste Like Girl By: Mollie Donovan (Freeform Poetry) My heart is floating, I swallow my fear, I’m not crying, Then, She stares at me, I stare at her, She burst out laughing, I know what I want to say, “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes” I step forward and gently put one knee on the bed, And kneel so our faces are the same level, I drop my gaze to her mouth, slowly I tip my head forward and her mouth rises to meet mine, I marvel at the warmth of her, She likes me and wants me to kiss her, So I kiss her, And she tastes like girl.

Fireside By: Elizabeth Telkamp (Rainbow Poem) Young Lovers, hold each other close, By fireside’s honey-like glow, Encased in warmth within each other’s sweet embrace.

Sipping on tea that grows cool as they drift off.

Ignoring cold feet, they think only of comfort.

Present in the twilight moment with only each other.

Safety gains clarity as spirits grow closer in the everlasting night.

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Worth The Hurt?

By: Roi Dela Cruz (Sonnet) Is anything as hard as it may seem?

Are your tears worth the energy you give?

For all it is worth, what would you redeem?

Think, is death something you outlive?

If not then why do we waste our time crying?

Then why waste our time in lonely sorrow?

And instead of speaking we start lying We think, “happiness will come tomorrow.”

Well why wait when we can fulfill it now?

Don’t ever let what hurts define who you are Let being happy in life your life be a vow Things in life are hard and can leave a scar Though our scars show how far we’ve come They can also show who we have become

Hard Love

By Heaven Glover (Shadorma Poem) I love you But I know you don’t I hate you I miss you You don’t care about anything do you?

I know that you don’t

Untitled

By Marissa Whyte (Poetry) I hate his hands How they caressed and touched.

With muscular veins And a disgusting roughness When he held me I felt powerless

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The Color I Wear De’Esca Stancel (Reflection) Black and White, Nice colors that go with a lot.

Individuals say black goes with any object you can think of and attracts the heat while white also goes with any object you can think of however, it attracts the air.

I love air.

So I love white.

Then the thought of black is comforting.

You wear black to a funeral While You wear white to a wedding.

So does that make black sad and white happy?

Being a Young Man of Color

By C.J. Mainor (Poetry) Im scared Even fearful one might say That more of people die everyday Im Scared Of becoming another name on a list I pray the bullets will miss Im Angry At the injustice we face You say we all run the same race But you don't see the obstacles in our place Im Angry ‘Cause you assume you know my struggle But when we cry for help, cry pain

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To only end in vain Im Angry Im Hurt Im Scared Even fearful one might say that more of my people die everyday

Am I Alive?

By Alana Whiteside Zappai, Reaction to “Not waving but drowning” by Stevie Smith Nobody heard me As I yell and scream for help I am alive right?

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Things of the Head: ​Intellectual & Researched Stuff

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How to Pass Freshman Year By: Kendall Hayes (Advice Column) Passing Freshman year, an easy task that a student can do with these rules and tips.

If students learn these tips at the beginning of the year, then their lives would have less stress. These tips include having an optimistic frame of mind, hard work and dedication, and just simply enjoying it.

When the school year starts make sure that you have a positive mindset, having an optimistic frame of mind helps prepare the student, so that the individual becomes prepared for assignments. If a student goes to school with a bad or negative attitude then their work will not be as good as others just because the student does not want to be at school. So having an attitude that says “let's do this, I am going to work hard and get a good grade” means that student will do good and will not fall behind on work.

Another way to pass Freshman year without a fluke involves hard work and dedication. Without those characteristics getting all of the work done will be extremely difficult.

High school workload contains a lot more than middle school. Teachers assign a lot of work and most of it due at the same time. A main constant in highschoolers routine after school means going straight to the couch and not worrying about school or homework at all. That turns into a major problem because then the work that the student got assigned never gets done. Also especially in high school the grade book can act brutal sometimes when work does not get turned in. So you need to go straight to your room and sit down at a desk and get started right away so the student will not become behind.

Lastly, you need to have fun while you live in the high school world, especially freshman. This will never happen again, so live it up and enjoy it. Enjoying freshman life can have difficulty because of all the work, but make sure to take a step back for a second and think “wow I’m a freshman” and think about all the fun opportunities that become available.

When you think about how to pass freshman year remember not to stress. Remember these tips, word hard and have dedication, have a positive mindset, and enjoy it. Follow those tips and your high school experience will remain enjoyable.

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Surviving Freshman Year By: Callie Weeks (Formal Letter) Dear Incoming Freshman, Welcome to GSWLA! You've never experienced the academy before, here's how I survived freshman year.

The teachers: At times the teachers ask a lot and they may not seem helpful. But I promise their reasonable. They want to help, if a grade gets messed up, or if an assignment needs an extension, just ask and talk to them. If you can’t reach them during lion lunch then try Remind, email or a schoology message. They’re human too and I'm sure their more than willing to try and accommodate!

Do your work. Stay on top of your work (even if that means homework and working on weekends) do it!! It will help your grade tremendously. If your grade needs improvement many teachers offer retakes and will want to help students that work hard. Trust me it will make your life easier. The workload may seem like a lot at first but once it becomes regular it will feel normal.

Use resources!! At the beginning of the year I didn't utilize lion lunch and after I used it to catch up on work and ask questions, it really helps. Plus we all use our phones so utilize an app like reminders or time tree to keep track of important dates and time trees and can even work with others to plan events. (ex. A meeting with your presentation group) Also read the weekly academy email. That email wants to help students find opportunities. Keep working on your important volunteer hours and cultural points. Don’t get behind or your workload will get much worse.

Communicate with your peers. All freshman going through the academy have to deal with the same stuff so make a group chat for every class, or make sure there's a go to person in every class . Lots of times when your working on work outside of school your friends can help to clear up a question. Different students understand different topics so help each other out, trust me clearing up confusion with my friends has helped me endless times.

But lastley, have fun. Go to the cafes, the academy ball and join clubs. You're only in the academy once so work hard, have fun and don’t miss out on great chances.

Have fun, Callie

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How To Walk

By Molly Meinen (Tutorial) Do you need help learning how to walk? Here, I will show you how. Walking, for most people, exists as an everyday skill. You need to transport yourself somehow! However, if it appears impossible for you, please do not try, because you may end up injuring yourself.

First, make sure you stand in an upright position. If you sit or lay down, it will not work.

Try to keep your back straight and your shoulders back in order to have better posture while you walk. Even though you just began learning how to walk, keep your head up. It appears as a good idea to stay aware of your surroundings.

Now, the time has come for you to get moving. You will move one of your legs forward at a time while the other leg stays behind, helping you move forward. When your foot touches the ground, it should first hit the ground with the heel then go up towards the toe. When you walk, you must always have one foot on the ground. Both of your feet should not end up off of the ground!

Here I have another tip. Move your opposite arm at the same time as your opposite leg. So, while your left leg moves forward, so should your right arm, and while your right leg appears in the back, so should your left arm. I recommend not trying to move your right arm forward with your right leg. It will feel uncomfortable and may look silly.

Also, have a slight bend in your legs at your knee. Never hyperextend!

Hyperextending can harm your legs. Having a slight bend may help you keep balanced. You may lose balance when walking when you try for the first time, or your first time trying in a while.

To sum everything up, make sure you stand upright. Keep your back straight, shoulders back, and your head up. Move one of your legs forward at a time, and when your foot touches the ground, walk heel to toe. Keep a slight bend in your legs for better balance.

Always keep one of your feet on the ground. I hope this helped you learn how to walk!

Thank you.

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How to take Your Dog Out In the Middle of the Night

By Coren Huff (Tutorial) If your luck resembles mine, on those scarce nights you find yourself falling into a heavy, glorious sleep, your dog has the urgent need to be taken outside. In order to do this effectively, follow the steps below.

First, you will feel a wet, rough, tongue lick on your face. After several attempts to stop the insistent pestering it turns into light pawing by the soft, yet sharp paws you have forgotten to cut for weeks. If this does not get your attention expect a series of whines in every key ringing in your ears.

Eventually, you will realize that having your pal urinate in your bed is far worse than getting them to the great outdoors. Whether that is your back porch, the woods, a pad in your living room, or maybe even your own toilet if they are that skilled. In order to do this, you will want to wear slippers so you can stay comfortable in your sleepy haze.

Walk to the nearest exit, open the door, and stand back as your pooch bolts through the doorway. Step out, fold your arms, scrunch your nose in an attempt to stay warm, and wait patiently as your dog searches for a portion of land to urinate on.

Once they finish their business, walk carefully back inside, praise your buddy, and hop right back into bed.

How To Build A Fire By: Lydia Sarchet (Tutorial) If you are stranded or living outside and need warmth. Then, the only logical way is to build a fire. In order to build a fire, you must follow these steps carefully.

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First, find ground that is not very wet or dry. Once you find a moist ground, gather dry leaves, pine cone seeds, or sticks. Plastic and paper is not the best option.

You may make a medium size circle out of large rocks as the border. Next, make a cone shaped or teepee out of sticks. After you make a stable cone, put the dry leaves around it, or you can put the leaves inside the cone.

Next, find a flint rock and a piece of steel. Make sure you point towards the bottom of the sticks when striking them. Once the fire starts going, blow on the flames but not too hard. If the flames are going out and blowing does not work. Then, put the pine cone seeds in the flames. The pine cone seeds have a popping reaction which makes the fire grow.

Do not keep throwing leaves or sticks if the fire is big enough. Slowly feed the fire, but you must not feed the fire if you want to put it out. Instead use little amounts of water and do not flood the fire with water. You might be able to use the firepit again if moist enough. And that is how you build a fire.

How To Read a 400 Page Novel in One Day

By Eliza Hendrick (Tutorial) Many like to read, but find the process of reading an entire novel slow and time-consuming.

This guide will attempt to take away these negative parts of reading by teaching you to read a 400 page novel in one day.

Below, you will find the definitions of words included in the guide that you may find unfamiliar.

Novel: “A fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing character and action with some degree of realism” (Oxford Dictionary).

Lexile Measure: “The measure of how difficult a text is or a student’s reading ability level” (Scholastic).

Reading Speed: The number of words you can read and comprehend in a minute.

Text Complexity: “The level of challenge a text provides” (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.)

This guide assumes you know how to read. If you do not, you may find the following resource useful to use before you attempt to use the guide.

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_qs3c0ehDvZkbiEbOj6Drg 1. You must pick a novel to read.

When picking a novel for this, you should consider several factors. First, the definition of a novel only considers a “fictitious book” a novel, so you must choose a fictional book as your novel. A fictional book also generally holds one’s interest more, making it easier to read quickly. Relating to that, the novel should relate to a topic or story interesting to you, so you actually want to read it. You must also make sure the novel has about 400 pages, as this guide only advises on reading novels of that length. Finally, you must make sure that the novel’s text complexity stays within your realm of understanding. This means that you should understand and comprehend the text when you read it. You can find a novel within your personal realm of understanding using your Lexile Measure or a similar measurement of your reading ability. However, know that novels appropriate for readers with a low Lexile Measure often do not meet or exceed a length of 400 pages. If you cannot find a novel fit for your reading ability that also meets the length requirement, you should improve your reading ability, then return to this guide and start this step again.

2.You must calculate your reading speed.

To find your reading speed, you should find the number of words you read per minute. Many websites can calculate this for you. Any of them can work for this step, but below you will find one example. http://www.freereadingtest.com/ 3. You must find the number of hours it will take you to read your novel.

First, you must find the word count for the novel you plan on reading. Sometimes, a simple Google search of the novel title followed by the words “word count” can give you this information. However, if you can’t find the word count this way, you can calculate the approximate word count of your novel yourself, To calculate it, you should begin by choosing five lines in the novel and counting the number of words in the lines. Then, you should divide the total number of words by five, to find the average number of words per line. After that, choose five pages and count the number of lines on the pages. Divide this number by five to find the average number of lines per page. Multiply the average number of words per line by the average number of lines per page to find the average number of words per page. Finally, multiply the average number of words per page by the total number of pages in your novel.

This will give you the total (approximate) word count for your novel.

Now, you should calculate the number of hours it will take you to read your novel, based on the number of words and your reading speed. Simply dividing the total number of words in your novel by the number of words you read per minute (your reading speed). You will get the

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number of minutes it will take to read your novel by doing this. Divide this number by 60 to find the number of hours needed. You should round your answer to a whole number. You should round up to the next highest number because you have only calculated approximately how much time it will take you to read your novel, not the exact amount of time it will take you, and you will likely need slightly more time than what this process tells you.

During this step, you may encounter the issue of your calculations predicting you will take 24 or more hours to read your novel. Obviously, this means you would not finish reading your novel in one day. To fix this issue, you must improve your reading speed. You can do this by simply reading more, however, you may use one of many methods for improving your reading speed. This article provides one method of improving your reading speed: https://tim.blog/2009/07/30/speed-reading-and-accelerated-learning/ After you can read fast enough to read your entire novel in fewer than 24 hours, you can continue to step four.

4. You need to clear your schedule.

Since you will need most or all of a day to read your novel, you must pick a day to dedicate to reading your novel and clear your schedule so you have no commitments other than reading.

This will allow you to take as much of the day as you need to read, and eliminate any distractions. Going forward in the guide, “reading day� will reference this day.

5. You need to make a schedule for your reading day.

Making a schedule for your reading day can help you stay on track to finish your novel. First, you should schedule the time you will wake up. You should choose a time that gives you the number of hours to read you calculated needing in step 3. Giving yourself a few extra hours can never hurt either, as you may fall behind schedule and need more time than anticipated to finish your novel. Next, you should schedule breaks. You may use these to eat, or simply to give your eyes time to rest. Scheduling breaks will keep you from taking breaks too often or for too long on your reading day. They may also motivate you on your reading day if you end up having trouble staying interested in the novel, as you will have times to look forward to where you can stop reading.

6. You should get extra sleep in the time leading up to your reading day.

In the days, or even weeks, leading up to your reading day, you should get extra sleep because on the day you read, you may end up waking up earlier than usual or staying up later than usual in order to finish your novel in one day. Getting extra sleep in the time leading up to this will make losing sleep on your reading day easier.

7. You need to make meal plans for your reading day.

On your reading day, you may not have much time for meals. To make it easier to eat on your

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reading day, you can make premade meals in advance that you can eat while reading. Having premade meals helps you because you won’t need to prepare food before eating. Making the meals easy to eat while reading helps you because you may not have much time dedicated to meals. By having the ability to to eat and read, you can have more time for meals.

8. You need to set your alarm.

The day before your reading day, you should set an alarm for the time you scheduled to wake up at in step 5. Setting an alarm guarantees you will wake up at the scheduled time and not lose any reading time.

9. You should start reading.

It seems obvious, but when you wake up on your reading day, you need to make sure you start reading and don’t get distracted. One can easily forget what they need to do if they invest themselves in another activity, but you can avoid getting distracted on your reading day by beginning to read soon after you wake up.

10. You should find ways to stay interested in the novel.

Many begin to lose interest in a novel after starting to read because the action usually doesn’t start right away. However, if you lose interest in your novel on your reading day, you may not finish your novel in one day. To successfully read a 400 page novel in one day, you must maintain your interest in the book. You can maintain your interest in many ways, including by setting small goals of when you want to have finished reading a certain chapter or page. This way you have a smaller, more specific goal to work towards, which can help motivate you.

11. You must stick to your schedule.

No matter what, you must stick to the schedule you made in step five. If you stray from the schedule, it can keep you from reading your entire novel in your one reading day.

12. You should get excited when you get to page 300 Making yourself excited about getting close to reaching your goal will motivate you to finish because you won’t want to disappoint yourself.

13. You need to finish the novel before your reading day ends.

When following this guide, you want to read a 400 page novel in one day, and you can only do this if you start and finish your novel on your reading day.

14. You should feel proud.

After all, you just read a 400 page novel in one day!

Once you have completed this guide with a 400 page novel, feel free to try with novels longer than 400 pages. Experience will make it easier every time, and soon you will have the ability to read extremely long books in one day.

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How To Eat Oreos

By Katrina Krueger (Tutorial) Do you like to eat oreos? Well, I do. A creamed filled cookie with two chocolate cookies on the outside. Oreos have many different flavors from vanilla to jelly donut. Many kids come home from school and eat oreos as a snack or bring them to school in their lunch box. I am going to tell you how to eat an oreo properly.

First you get all of your supplies. You can eat oreos in many different ways. The first way, you get a fork, oreo, mouth, cup, napkin, straw, and milk. The second way you will need your hands, sink, soap, water, mouth, and hands.

For the first way you need to get all of your supplies ready. You pour the milk in the cup and put the straw in it. Once you have done that you can put the oreo on the fork. This makes it easier to cover the oreo in milk and makes it cleaner to eat. Once you have dipped the cookie in the milk you bring it to your mouth and eat it. Once done with eating oreos or having ran out of them you can drink the milk with the straw.

For the second way to eat oreos, you will need to get a pack of oreos (of your choice) and all of the other supplies I listed earlier. You will need soap, water, and the sink to wash your hands. To do that just wet your hands, put soap on them, and rub. Once done singing happy birthday in your head rinse of the soap. Now you're ready to get started. First get the oreos and pick the best one. I recommend getting double stuff, it works better. Then you grab the cookie and twist it in opposite directions until they come apart. Once they are apart, eat the plain cookie. Also known as the one without the frosting. Then scarp off the frosting with your teeth on the other cookie. Then eat the last of the cookie. Do this until full or have eaten all of the cookies in the package.

In conclusion, I hope you have learned how to eat oreos properly.

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How to Make Sukiyaki with Homemade Tofu By: Tucker LaRue (Recipe) You will need ● Soybeans ● Nigari (recipe can be found online) ● Lettuce ● Green onions ● Carrots ● Mushrooms ● Sake ● Mirin ● Sugar ● Soy sauce ● Beef fat or other fatty substance ● Pork slices ● knotted konjac First soak soybeans For about half a day, then blend it to make namago. Add the namago to boiling water and stir for about 10 minutes. While stirring make sure the namago doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pan. Then strain the namago with a filter cloth to get soy milk.

Next prepare a nigari to curdle the soy milk you can use lemon juice as an alternative. Then heat up the soymilk and keep the temperature at 75°C, add the nigari and stir gently. While resting the soy milk, prepare a container for shaping the tofu, you can use a sushi shaper as a mold for the tofu. Next soak the tofu in cold water for about 30 minutes. Then cut to a thickness that you desire. Lastly torch the top until crispy (this is optional).

Now we prepare vegetables for the sukiyaki, first cut your lettuce, then cut your green onions, then slice your carrot thinly, then cut the stems off of your mushrooms and create a star shaped incision across the top and remove every other panel of skin (watch the full video to really understand). next we will make the sauce.

First you add sake and Mirin to a pot and boil it. Then add sugar and soy sauce and let the sugar melt.Melt beef fat and cook green onion in the sukiyaki pot to add flavor to the sauce.

Then fry your pork slices to add more flavor to the sauce. Then add the prepared sauce and cook the tofu, mushroom, and konjac. Lastly add all your other ingredients to the pot, and enjoy!

Video recipe:​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdNqWcUdm6I

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How to Make Tomato Paste

By Gyzelle Kay Bagsic (Recipe) How to Make Tomato Paste You will need:

- A food mill - An oven - A sheet pan (any size) - A stove - A paring knife - One 1.5-2 quart saucepan - Parchment paper - Two whole beefsteak tomatoes - Salt

Define Tomato Paste Tomato paste: a dark red concentrate made from tomatoes that have cooked for several hours before straining and reducing the pulp. This Italian pantry staple can thicken sauces, chilis, and soups, while enriching the flavor and adding depth to your meal. The deep umami flavor of the paste, although difficult to make and utilize with full succession, can advance your palette and transcend your taste-buds to a higher level. After this step-by-step instruction of how to make tomato paste, you may find that this condiment used as a stand-alone has the potential to perfect your favorite condiment-less Meditteranean sub sandwich!

Step One: Make a Passata To create tomato paste you must start from the most basic form of Italian tomato sauce: a tomato passata. To create the passata, conduct the following:

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1. First, take your two whole beefsteak tomatoes and dice them into petit bits using a paring knife. After you have diced the tomatoes, put them into a 1.5-2 quart sauce pan.

2. Then, place the saucepan filled with tomatoes onto your kitchen stove and cook them on low heat for around 10 minutes, or until they have broken down and look almost like chunky soup.

3. To conclude, transfer the cooked tomatoes into a food mill and grind. This will ensure that the seeds and skin of the tomatoes will not make it into the passata, and will keep the consistency of the passata smooth and watery, as it should.

As you see it, your passata should have a loose, homogenous texture— fit to use as a base for the next step: making a cooked tomato sauce.

Step Two: Make a Cooked Tomato Sauce In contrast to the sweet, free base sauce that identifies as the passata, cooked tomato sauce will have more form and concentrated flavor.

4. After processing the passata through the food mill, transfer it to the same 1.5-2 quart saucepan you had previously used. Pinch in a couple teaspoons of salt to taste.

5. Next, cook the tomatoes on low heat once more for 45-50 minutes and let simmer.

Just like that, you have cooked tomato sauce! It should have a noticeably thicker consistency and taste more savory, not nearly as sweet as the passata. This has no aromatics typically associated with tomato sauce, but you will benefit from adding aromatics to your own preference once you start assembling a dish after completing the final step of this recipe: making the tomato paste.

Step Three: Make the Tomato Paste To end this triple-tiered instruction set, you must do the following:

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6. Before taking your cooked tomato sauce off the stove, preheat your oven to 350℉, and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Take your cooked tomato sauce and transfer it onto the sheet pan.

7. Once you have spread the cooked tomato sauce onto the sheet pan, place it on the middle rack of your oven and bake for four hours.

8. As those four hours in the oven come to a close, you will finally have a delicious tomato paste ready to store in a jar or use in another dish!

The tomato paste should look darker beyond the cooked sauce and even more thick, almost gelatinous. Unlike store bought tomato paste, which usually tastes of tin and rawness, your homemade tomato paste will have more of a roasted, umami flavor.

Title: How to Make Iced Coffee By: Grace Medina (Recipe) 1. First, you will need to brew some coffee, if you have a Keurig, simply pick your flavor and let it run.

2. Second, you can either let the cup of coffee refrigerate and cool down* or you can instantly make the iced coffee.

3. Next, you will need a cup full of ice, this is optional but you can drizzle caramel around the cup for decoration.

4. After that, you will pour the cup of coffee over the ice and let it sit for 2-3 minutes, if you refrigerated it already, you can skip that step.

5. You will add a splash of milk, whichever type of milk you want.

6. Then you will add the cream of your choice, a personal favorite is french vanilla.

7. Enjoy! * If you decide to let the cup of coffee refrigerate, then you can leave it in the fridge for about 1-2 hours and resume.

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“One who Chases Two Hares”

By Kaden Ellison (Essay) Language and culture have continuously evolved since the time of cavemen, and it will continue to evolve until the human race dies out. Although throughout every generation will most likely create an artifact or multiple that stand against the test of time, whether it either survives to act as a memento from a bygone era or it becomes useful in modern life. Whether physical, such as clay pots, or a cultural artifact that has remained a family heirloom , such as a book or quote. An ancient Chinese proverb “One who chases two hares won’t catch even one” can still have use in modern times because the interpretation can have many different meanings, even after technological growth of the 21st century it has stayed truthful, so it will most likely stay like that, and individuals will always need to follow it.

While “One who chases two hares won’t catch even one” has one meaning that most think of at first, If one tries to achieve a goal that has a higher stipulation than one can realistically achieve, then he or she will fail and get close to no reward. However, it can also have an interpretation along the lines of, if one tries to go down two paths in life that lead in opposite directions, he or she will go nowhere. Both of these interpretations cannot have the label of “correct interpretation” because individuals can not ask the writer now to know what they had in mind while writing it, so individuals must assume that they have the correct interpretation of the quote. When having a quote that can mean two completely separate ideas that means that it will have the opportunity to change an individual's ideals than if it only had one making it useful in the modern age.

As technology grows, many individuals think that technology will help them pursue their goal, even if they cannot reach their goal. However individuals should not think like this, as it encourages making goals that will not actually test what they can do, but how fast technology can keep up with them. This goes back to the quote which says that if an individual puts in an implausible goal then they will come out without any progress. Although back when the creator of this proverb might not have made this because of individuals relying on technology when they made the quote, it still works even if the cause has changed.

With the influx of new jobs and career paths, more individuals than ever want to follow many different paths, and some even try to. Although this sounds like an enticing idea, it has

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shown to work for a very small minority of individuals. For that reason this quote such as this could have a use in preventing individuals from trying and failing to complete too much in life, and ending up disappointed in oneself. Knowing that you can not reach their unreasonable goal would help individuals continue in a path that will not disappoint themselves.

No matter the era “One who chases two hares won’t even catch one” will provide a useful guideline when making goals. This quote along with many other warn individuals about what they should not do in their life, because they have either experienced the repercussions themselves or have​ seen another individual experience them. Individuals have made proverbs such as this to try to pass down their wisdom since thousands of years ago, and they still have basically their original meanings. Even though language and culture has evolved over hundreds to thousands of years, the basic fundamentals of how individuals should live their lives has not changed.

Light a Candle

By Tariq Harold (Essay) “Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” This saying has a lot of depth, so it will act as this essay’s subject. What makes a saying superb? Its relatability, and this saying works on many levels when compared to real life situations.

Principally speaking, this proverb serves as a motivational saying. Taking the easy route when presented with a problem, even if that seems right at the time, can be considered an act of procrastination. Complaining about darkness, without even attempting to light a candle, creates a hypocritical argument.

A relatable example that I thought of for this prompt has to do with school, when I possessed bad grades. The explanation for my inferior grades at that time: A conscious choice to neglect some of my assignments due to me considering them easier, and thus not worth my time.

Eventually, I had to get around to doing the assignment. I could have saved time if my past self completed the assignment during the original time frame.

Say one’s parents instruct them: Do the dishes by a certain time. While they tell said person that, they happen to be watching an episode of their favorite show. They can either do the dishes now and get it out of the way, or watch one more episode of the show. The consequence of choosing to watch the episode: Losing track of the time. Consequently, after making the choice of watching the episode and losing track of time, they have their phone

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taken. Our friend in this scenario clearly made the wrong choice.

Wondering how these examples relate to the candle expression? In both the flashback and hypothetical scenario, our main characters made a choice of procrastination over getting the hard work done with. If they had known about this saying, maybe we would get a different outcome.

Thread

By Theo Pahl (Essay) “I saw a thread.” her mother said. “The way it spiraled around their arms, as if destiny was working to guide them”. Such a mistrevous tone she had. “What are you talking about?” asked a young girl. “Well my child, in this world, some people are just destined to meet.” her mother said, holding her daughter's hand tightly. The Chinese proverb “An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet” relays a very interesting thought about how humans discover each other and build strong bonds. These threads, while not visible to the eye, foreshadow the relationships some will experience. In one place or another, humans wound up pulled by strings to meet each other. Does destiny really exist? How does this quote of “an invisible thread” connect to daily life?

There comes a time where even though one may not know a particular human, they seem to connect. Some get this feeling, like their heart starts beating really fast, and they swear they have met before. I have seen this happen in my life and others’. In actuality, I have met so many friends due to us having mental connections in some way. Sid, whom I just met earlier this year, has become my best buddy. We wound up being soul-friends right off the bat. The moment a compliment travels to a student in the hall, it seals that thread, and solidifies that connection.

This quote signifies the bonds I have built with my closest friends. I had actually met Sid long before we became friends here at Tallwood. Last May at the Tidewater Comicon, she had walked up to me and complimented my Bakugou costume. Just as I stated earlier, a simple compliment can seal that thread. The thread between Sid and I was invisible, until we met again this year. It proved to me that no matter how far we go, we will always go back to that connection, with that non-existent string of hope.

In our modern day and time, we have grown very social with each other by interacting on the spot with one another. It starts with some kind of trigger, whether it symbolizes a dark future or a happy one. We begin our days, walking into this large, dangerous world, but I have

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noticed many build strong bonds with each other. Humans cannot survive without interaction with others, at which this point, the rope comes in to strap the two together. The rope can break, but even with that brute force, destiny will not let the two escape each other’s lives. We see this with modern day students, they get really attached with their best friends, and then wound up having to go to different schools, but that destiny has tied them for life. For instance, relating to adults who went to school back in the 90s, many still seem to talk and meet up with friends of theirs, some even taking the next step into marriage.

In the end, this quote represents the world as a whole, how it functions, and the ways it can throw some under the bus. Destiny decides your future, Moments in one’s life happen for a reason. This acts as a guide to help those to the right path, the path that will give one the full rocky-road journey. Destiny decides those who become intertwined with that invisible rope, and that shall stand as a viable prospect.

Comparative Communisms: Red Scarf Girl and Animal Farm

By Amanda Cardenas (Essay) Some of the topics told not to discuss in school fall into the categories of religion and politics.

But, what if for some students, those topics occured as just casual conversation at the lunch table? In these books the characters got treated differently because of their political views.

Many examples shown throughout the story transpires as the treatment of the main characters from different (antagonist) characters. These examples include evidence unlike the logical fallacy of hasty generalization. The main ways that they got treated differently happened because Ji-Li’s family got exposed, Snowball had other plans, and when Ji-Li wanted to apply for the academy.

First, when Ji-Li’s family got exposed, her father got arrested. From there on, her family started to go downhill. In addition to this, not only did she get bullied, but she got taunted even more when an exposing article came out about her family and their wealth.

Whilst her father continued in jail, he remained calm for now. Ji-Li got taunted for her grades more than ever now that all the students in her school knew how wealthy she turned out to befall. Soon enough, her dad’s charges got dropped, but he still could not come home to protect his daughter from the horrible words of her peers.

During Animal Farm, Snowball had other plans. Once Old Major made his proposition to take over the farm once and for all, the three pigs Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer became inspired. When Old Major passed away, mainly Snowball and Napoleon took over

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the actions on the farm. They created the commandments and laws of Animalism together and Napoleon even trained puppies to learn all about Animalism. But, little did Snowball know, Napoleon trained them for a different action. When Snowball started to make ideas that Napoleon disagreed with, he ran him off the farm (using the puppies). This shows how Snowball got treated as an outcast for his new economic ideas, (windmill/communism) even though the windmill still got built.

Lastly, Ji-Li wanted to apply for the academy. She became known as an advanced student in her class, so it became no surprise when a liberation soldier wanted her to audition. But, when her father said no because she would not pass the background check, she wondered why. Later on, the background check would have shown her connections to her riches and grandfather, which became looked down upon because of four olds. The judges would have discriminated or looked down on her because of this, therefore, causing her to not make it in. Even though Ji-Li occured not to become involved with her family’s past, their social status caused her to not audition, in fear for her safety.

In conclusion, though we have freedom of speech here today, it became known as not always relevant back then. Usually, the majority vote of an issue won, like how the voting system works today. Sadly, a lot of citizens really did get shunned for having different opinions of their family's past. The authors filled these books with so many answers to this one question. The main ways that they got treated differently happened because when Ji-Li’s family got exposed, when Snowball had other plans, and when Ji-Li wanted to apply for the academy. Remember to always speak out today for your side of an issue because it can make a huge difference.

Rifts in Animal Farm and Red Scarf Girl

By Caleb Vakos (Essay) The powerful and powerless pursue mutually exclusive interests which results in conflict between them. For centuries, the cycle of class conflict continues to cause a rift between the upper and lower classes. In both China and Russia, this rift became the communist revolution which installed communism as an attempt for the lower classes to rid themselves of the failings of the upper classes. Two books help to paint the picture of life in communist nations.

Animal Farm, an allegory for the Soviet Union and story about an animal revolution, and Red Scarf Girl, a book about a young girl living through the tumultuous time of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, help to show the reciprocal treatment of the classes, and the failings of

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both. This treatment of the upper and lower classes by each other displays how the power weaponizes hatred and how this hatred stems from ignorance of the other.

Both stories show the common public’s disdain for the upper classes. In Red Scarf Girl, the Chinese government demonizes capitalists and landlords to the point that any relationship to one in any way becomes an offense to the ‘revolution’. However, it makes sense why Chinese citizens easily fell into this mindset. In Animal Farm, the allegorical story of the USSR, Mr. Jones takes the role of tsar, or king, in the Russian Empire. Mr. Jones reigns brutally with starvation and slaughter becoming the norm in Manor Farm. With the animals’ basic needs ignored, they rebelled and took the Farm over, ousting Mr. Jones. At the beginning, the upper classes consistently exploit the workers, quite literally taking some of their children to sell in the market. In Red Scarf Girl, the fear of capitalists and landlords overwhelms the society due to many fears of the evils that these higher classes may commit and previously did.

Over time, the anger that builds up in the lower social and economic classes becomes a tool of manipulative individuals like Napoleon and Mao Zedong. Higher social and economic classes become completely evil individuals and those even slightly related to those classes become targets themselves. In Red Scarf Girl, the Cultural Revolution targets Ji-Li Jiang’s Aunt Xi-wen. When Xi-wen received a dai-zi-bao for simply wearing makeup and fancy clothing, she broke down, “Aunt Xi-wen tried to show her support of the proletarian revolutionary young guards, but the smile froze before it was fully formed. It was hard to tell whether she was smiling or crying” (Jiang 46). Animal Farm consistently demonizes Mr. Jones and humans as the enemy in order to control the farm. Throughout the book, Napoleon uses the threat of the return of Mr. Jones as a way to dodge criticism of his regime. The ruling government simply redirects the anger at the regime to the anger of some enemy, for example, Snowball and Mr. Jones in Animal Farm, in order to appeal to the emotions of the populace.

For both the higher and lower classes, much of their ill treatment towards each other comes from a lack of understanding and as a tool for another’s gain. The lower classes use a hasty generalization, especially in Red Scarf Girl where the Cultural Revolution generalizes the upper classes as cruel and exploitative. They make a claim about those in the upper class based on incomplete data. During the Cultural Revolution, the fear of a return to China’s past compels many to turn on their neighbors, revealing them to the Red Guards because they believe that their neighbors fall into this generalization. A lack of understanding strains society.

However, it takes lifetimes to remedy the damage a mindset like this causes. In these

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books, those who treat the opposing class terribly maintain that mindset for a long time.

Those ​powerful enough often use this hatred for the other classes to turn friend against friend, in both capitalist and communist nations, in order to increase their own power and wealth.

Unfortunately, that remains the problem underlying hierarchical systems. Dividing the attention of those under them limits their ability to fight against that which truly oppresses them. Tyrants may come and go, but the systems of absolute power remain, as shown by both Animal Farm and Red Scarf Girl. Tyrants will rule forever if the rebels that fight against them do not understand the humanity of the enemy.

Who’s the Hero in a Heroless Book?

By Kasey Hernandez-Molina (Essay) Animal Farm ​and ​Red Scarf Girl were​ far more interesting books that I’ve ever read.

Both of them talked about loyalty, leadership and of course many more. Both having a good guy and a bad guy, I’d have to say that for ​Animal Farm a ​ nd ​Red Scarf girl,​ Boxer and Ji-li are both heroes. Even though ​Animal Farm ​had multiple heroes or ‘good guys’ like Clover and

Snowball, I think Boxer was the one who stood out to me more in terms of the real hero of the story. I believe that both Boxer and Ji-li are both heroes of their own story because of strength, determination, and fearlessness.

Strength is a very powerful word. It can mean being physically strong or having mental strength. Boxer’s work ethic and loyalty were his strengths in ​Animal Farm​. Even his physical appearance was his strength, being an enormous animal and being much stronger than any other horse put together. We can all agree that in the end, Boxer worked harder than any other animal in ​Animal Farm. ​In ​Red Scarf girl, J​ i-Li shows strength all the way up to the end, by freeing her dad from jail and even starting a new revolution for her own. Even all that her family has been through, most of it affecting her mother and grandmother, Ji-li had the strength to keep pushing forward with every idea and thought she had to save her family.

In ​Animal Farm, ​Boxer showed a lot of determination. He was determined in his work and what he was doing. His mottoes always being “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right,” showed his determination not only for his work but also for Napoleon as well. Ji-Li in Red Scarf girl, ​Had a lot of determination in if things didn’t go so well for her or even if she

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thought all this hard work was for nothing, she kept pushing forward and was determined in what she was doing. In the end, all her hard-working and determination helped her get out of a tough situation to save her family.

Not only does Boxer help the animals in the Battle of the Cowshed but he also does the majority of the difficult work in ​Animal Farm. ​Boxer isn’t afraid of anything, he’s a fearless horse. Working hard and showing his loyalty to Napoleon, showed him how fearless he was.

Ji-Li in ​Red Scarf girl ​showed that she was a fearless girl. Her confidence, determination, and braveness is what got her through the end of the story. There were times that were tough and feared her, like the time her dad was arrested, but she had to make it through and become fearless to help save her dad and her family.

In the end of the story for both characters, one of them was remembered as a well hard-working character and did so much to help his friends make it to the end, while the other one helped her family and friends get out of a hard situation. In the end Both Boxer and Ji-li showed such a great personality and were hardworking. They were both the heroes of their stories because they showed strength, determination, and fearlessness.

Syrian Refugee Crisis

By Bryan Ortiz (Research) In 2013, from January to April, the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan increased by nearly 400,000, going from 75,439 to 473,827 (Operational Portal). This influx of refugees is just one of many results of the Syrian civil war which has been ongoing for 7 years. With 654,692 registered refugees, Jordan is the third largest Syrian refugee host in the world (Operational Portal). Although it's a good thing that the Syrians fleeing the war were accepted into Jordan, the overwhelming number of refugees has brought up new obstacles for Jordanian government and citizens alike.

The preliminary to the war began in 2011, when the people of Syria had requested that their president, Bashar al-Assad, resign (Wikipedia). Many citizens wanted to implement democracy instead of the authoritarian government that was in place. So they took to the streets and began protesting for change. In a forceful attempt to end the citizens’ nonviolent demonstrations, the Syrian government used violence. For example, they threw tear gas, used water cannons, live fire, and even killed at least 44 peaceful protesters (New York Times). In retaliation to the forces used by the government, the protesters formed opposition militias. As these conflicts continued to increase gradually, they turned into what is now, and has been since 2012, a civil war. The war forced citizens to flee the country by the thousands. Additionally, it

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has left millions displaced and homeless.

The Syrian refugee crisis has affected various aspects of Jordanain life, including the economy. Residents from northern cities, like Mafraq and Irbid, have also reported that the rental prices of housing have gone up, claiming that housing prices have not only increased, but have more than doubled, going up by more than one hundred percent since the arrival of the refugees (Mercy Corps). Although prices have gone up a notable amount, these reports do exaggerate compared to the actual results. One study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that from 2013 to 2015, the rental costs of housing went up by 14 percent (Mercy Corps).

But the arrival of the refugees has affected the environment as well. According to the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, or MOPIC, seventy percent of Jordanians and Syrians didn’t have access to the national standard of 100 litres of water per person per day in 2015 (Mercy Corps). This, of course, is due to the large increase in population brought by the Syrian refugee crisis. Also according to the MOPIC, the presence of Syrian refugees has caused sixty two percent of the total water vulnerability index. This means that their residence there increases the likelihood of the water getting contaminated. (Mercy Corps) Another part of Jordanian society affected by the refugees is the social aspect. Many Jordanian citizens believe that the Syrians present a threat to tranquility in their communities, and although they have already taken in so many, they still shut out 60,000 others in need (Washington Post).

It is understandable that the Jordanians get upset with the unfavorable results of the inrush of refugees. However, the results don’t negate the fact that these refugees deserve sanctuary. According to Mercy Corps “A nationwide poll carried out by Harvard University in 2013 found that 60 percent of Jordanians opposed allowing more Syrians to enter the country and 80 percent preferred segregating Syrians into refugee camps.” (Mercy Corps). This proves that a significant portion of Jordanians have a negative connotation of the refugees. This is a prime example of the xenophobic ideals that plague too many countries today. For these reasons, there is tension between the citizens of Jordan and the Syrian refugees.

The Jordanian government has made a few attempts to act in order to deal with all these economic, social, and environmental issues. For example how from the summer of 2016 to the present, the Jordanian government has granted more than 100,000 worker’s permits to Syrian refugees in need of jobs (World Food Program), giving them all new opportunities. This may seem like it is only a minor step in the right direction, but it can open quite a few doors to help them as most of the Syrian refugees struggle to pay for rent or even obtain food.

In conclusion, The Syrian refugee crisis has pushed hundreds of thousands of Syrians out of their homes and into Jordan, causing a number of negative, unprecedented repercussions. These repercussions have affected the economic, environmental, and social aspects of Jordanian society. The abrupt growth in the population has left Jordan with concerns like rising prices for housing, water sanitation issues, and social tensions and resentment.

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Racism in America in the Past and Present

By Elizabeth McCardle Blunk (Research) Racism is the belief that because someone is of different color, that they are lesser or unworthy of rights, or that one race is superior over all others. The first recorded use of this word was in 1902 and it is sadly still used today because there are still people who believe in the idea of a superior race. While some people believe racism in America in the past was worse than the present, seven in ten Americans believe that discrimination of certain races is currently worse than ever (Pewsocialtrends, How).

In America’s past, as most American’s know, racism was a very big deal. White people were deemed superior over Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians. Racism was first clearly documented when slavery began in 1619. Africans were sold and bought. After being sold, African’s were forced to work on plantations for wealthy white men. The slaves were prohibited from learning to read and write. Owners of these slaves would enforce strict rules that would cause the slaves to become dependent on them, making it highly unlikely the slaves would attempt to escape. On top of mistreating all slaves they had, the owners took sexual liberties with the women and rewarded good behaviors with favors. While marriages between enslaved men and women were not legally bound, many would do so and raise large families, which was encouraged by owners who wouldn’t hesitate to separate said families. September 22, 1862 slavery was ended by Abraham Lincoln, after the Civil War (History, U.S.).

Although slavery was abolished, the Jim Crow Laws were enforced in 1865. These were strictly enforced local and state laws that spread throughout the south of America to put black citizens back into servitude legally. During this same time, one of the most ruthless and well known organizations were formed, the Ku Klux Klan, the KKK. They were formed to terrorize black society, to “keep control over them”. In 1964, President Lyndon B Johnson legally disbanded all segregation by signing the Civil Rights Act (History, Jim).

While all of America’s past in racism is terrible and slavery is no longer legal, racism is still an enormous issue in our country. In 2013, the hashtag BlackLivesMatter was created in response to a man’s murder, Trayvon Martin, one of the many deaths cause by current racism.

The hashtag mission is to rid the world of white supremacy (Blacklivesmatter, About). The hashtag is now in 7 years of use, but the killing hasn’t stopped. One of the most recent of these murders was of George Floyd. He died May 25, 2020 when he was accused of paying with a fake twenty dollar bill and had the cops called on him. The cop put his knee on his neck while

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George said he couldn’t breathe, and died minutes later, over a twenty dollar bill that turned out to be real. He was never violent or resisted, but he was killed anyways. Even though the police are at fault, they are not being charged or being disciplined for their wrong (Nypost, Here’s).

Since 1980, over 260,000 men of color have been killed (Theatlantic, Why). The numbers are devastatingly high, and mostly due to ignorance, hate, and power-loathing white men. Police have become scared of 13.4% of America’s citizens, and those same citizens are scared of the society they live in (Census, U.S.). However, not only are African Ameican’s affected by the current racism but from 2001 to 2007, 60% of people deported from America had not committed any crimes and had legally immigrated (Pewresearch, Key). Families shouldnt be afraid that their relatives will be deported when they have done nothing wrong.

Overall, racism in America has changed, but not for the better. Black citizens are scared to go for walks on the off chance they run into a police at the wrong time. Immigrant families are terrified to lose their husbands and fathers who have done nothing wrong. White American’s boast about their country, ignorant to the racism and murder surrounding them. At this pace, many believe that racism will persist, possibly even advance. Racism is one of the world’s most persistent evils, and unless change happens, it will continue to be.

‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ Song Review By: Abigail Saint Fleur Song Review Originally, Sam Cooke wrote ‘A change is gonna come’ to talk about the struggles African Americans and the Civil Rights movement went through in the 1960s (“A Change”). The Civil Rights movement was to fight for equal rights and treatment for African Americans in the United States (Roy). Bayard describes in his review that the song was a ‘cry of anguish yet far more a beacon and declaration of hope and faith in the ultimate triumph of justice and good over hate, and for the end of racism’(“Rate Your Music”). I completely agree with this statement because African Americans go through so much in society and ultimately, this song was Cooke crying out about the injustice African Americans endure on a daily basis and how he believes change is going to come eventually. As the years have gone by, this song has been used as an anthem for

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civil rights and other social movements (Freeland). This proves that this song is powerful enough to be used as a symbol for injustice in any way, shape or form

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Things of the Bones: ​Deep Stuff

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BLM By: Amanda Terveer (Sonnet) My name is Peter, I am a white male.

I was accused of murdering two men.

The cops found me and took me into jail.

I wasn't harmed though, force was not used then My name is George Floyd, I am a black male.

I was accused of the use of fake cash.

The cops murdered me, I could not exhale.

I was innocent and killed in a flash.

Thirteen-Twelve, the system is so corrupt.

People of color are killed all the time.

This is unjust, we have to interrupt.

That isn't fair, it was no type of crime.

We are so tired of hearing the chatter This has to end, because black lives matter

No More

by Zarria Russell (Sonnet) History has repeated once again, Bullets fly from street corner to corner Another life lost, please stop the gunmen Individuals all become mourners Injustice served all across the country, Dealt with this for years, way more than fifty We need to get our point across bluntly Our messages need to get spread quickly We protest and protest til the streets flood Fighting for rights, what we always wanted We are all human, we bleed the same blood Signs that say “BLACK LIVES MATTER” we flaunted Let’s stop the madness and love each other, Get along just like sisters and brothers

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Untitled

By Micah Poynton (Freeform Poetry) We urge ourselves to act with humanity While the true nature of humans is so far from humane, And fight fire with fire, Acting surprised when all the world goes up in flames.

We declare war on peace, Make order from chaos, Yet the methods of both are forbidden, And the outcomes of both are desired.

The jester dances in a court of fools As the king declares his righteousness And the queen watches them both, But often it’s difficult to tell who is who.

Enlightened men can see all, But those declared righteous can hear none, And the blind man can see things that they cannot, While none see eye to eye And humanity dooms itself to be destroyed in fire, While the dreamers await a world of light.

And the hopeful await salvation, With the savior burned at the stake.

Our Similarities By:Laniyah Buchanan (Essay) In our society difference has a leading role in how we look at each other, but we need to remember that our similarities bring us as a society together. For 401 years similarities of two types of people could have changed the outcome of our world."We are more alike than unalike." ~ Maya Angelou Caucasians and people of ebony all have more similarities than differences. We all have the same human body blueprint that makes us human. Majority to all of us have 78 organs that makes us whole. Brains we have to educate, remember, create, and brainstorm for ourselves and others. The ears that we have to listen to the people we care about. Eyes given to us to see what others are going through. Noses given to us that we use to smell and take in

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all of the fragrances around us that our world produces. The mouth we have to talk to uplift others and preach to others about our beliefs. All different sizes of hands we have to pick up those who fall and guide others who need a helping hand. Arms that can stretch around another to embrace them. The legs and feet we have to sit, walk, run, and stand for what we love and believe in. hearts given to us that bring us love and life.

All of the things within us that we have that already makes us similar, Instead of the things created to make use different. Such as stereotypes, racism, colorism, And discrimantion that are used against a group of humans to greater others. The similarity we have brings us together.

Because i’m your daughter By: Amani Anderson (Free Verse) What am i I don’t quite understand You’ve torn me up to shreds Yet you don't seem to care What am i A waste of time for you A waste of space a waste of air I'm dying to know What am i Did i do something wrong I gave up everything just for you yet you know nothing of your wrongs I’m sorry I’m sorry that my behavior wasn’t adequate I'm sorry that my accomplishments didn’t take you far enough What am i Maybe your depression in a person Maybe you gave up on me in hope of getting better Im sorry I may have not been born in your light Maybe your darkness was the place i was meant to shine Never Will i be your understatement Maybe i was meant to be your very rude awakening Im sorry That your heart was never in it But you’ve been jealous and I know you just need to admit it.

What am i

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A person Full of pride of dedication You will never be the person to bring me down I will never say that you’ve won You are nothing more than you’ve made me feel But I've come to notice that it's because I'm not your son.

Answers

By Kaine Durning (Reflective Journal) I can definitely say, there is no one right answer. There will always be repercussions as our world has evolved into a confusing mess where it’s tremendously difficult to find everything that went in and will happen due to your actions. This was even the main plot in the NBC sitcom “The Good Place” as they struggled to figure out if there was a right answer for anything, attempting to get into the Good Place, Heaven, and always ending up failing.

This is because we do not live in a world simple enough to comprehend “one right answer” as there are always moral dilemmas and other factors that come into play. Additionally, one right answer could never be agreed upon within this society as we have a diverse range of people and opinions.

Philosophers have different ideas, religious people have different beliefs, and there’s so much more evidence to show how confusing this world can be. This is why, personally, I have so many problems with being indecisive as it impacts everything. The world has become a moral dilemma where so many factors go into everything nowadays, which proves difficult to me, my friends, and anyone else with problems of indecision. If this question implies a bigger answer, the one to describe our entire world and its meaning, then I’m siding with a definite no. There are many sentimental quotes that tell people to simply be kind to everyone, but there’s so much more to life than that.

If someone hurts you, then you have to confront them, and sometimes it’s impossible to be kind with that. It may work out from time to time, but I don’t believe there’s a single person dead or alive from this world who’s been kind every moment of their life. You can always try to be kind to everyone, but the dilemmas come in when the sides mix. Being kind to a racist, sexist, homophobic person isn’t worth the number of people you’re going to hurt by being kind; and many rude, ignorant people don’t accept nice criticism. There are people who will feel attacked even if you’re calmly talking to them about your own opinions and why you think theirs are harmful.

Treating everyone with kindness can kill you, we’ve learned that from the beginning of life from teachers, parents, every adult who just wanted to prevent us from being taken, tortured, raped, or killed. The quote by Moïra Fowley-Doyle, “Do no harm, but take no shit,” is genuinely profound to me. If there has to be an answer for this confusing world, then it’s to do as little harm as possible but to stand up for yourself and others as well.

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The Unknown

By Curtis Price (Free Verse) The unknown is often regarded as the scariest thing known to man It is nothing, it is a blank canvas of emptiness We want answers, we want to know But with science we are learning more and more of the mystery It has something, it is not as empty as we thought We are getting answers, we are learning.

It is often said too much of a good thing is bad.

What if we learn too much, what if we would rather not know?

We are learning fast, we may learn too much.

There are pictures of UFOs being released.

We have confirmation, we have learned too much.

Maybe we were not supposed to know. Is that why it's called the unknown?

“Better�

By Sutton Shull A poem inspired by the story Before A mass of white, As pure as the angels above A touch of green The matriarch, an ambitious color A pinch of blue The dreamer, a shade of passion So light, more profound than the morals of society But free Free as the wind Sent into the world Strangled by the devil Slit its veins and bled black But somehow Even with the darkness It was even more beautiful

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Completion

By Cameron Fortuna (Reflective Journal) I am a complete person unless it's something that affects me personally. There's no one who can rebel against their beliefs.

In modern society people don't usually rebel against something because they would face retaliation from someone who believes in that belief.

In the old days, wars were how disputes were settled.

Rebellion can be an action or it can be a noun or it can be an idea or it can be whatever you want it to be.

An idea is not limited to the person who thinks it.

An idea can spread to a lot of people.

Without religion there is no challenge.

Without challenge, there is no goal.

Without a goal, there is no improvement.

Without improvement there is no reward.

Without reward there is no pain.

Without pain there is no life.

Without life there is nothing.

Without nothing is still nothing and so on and so on.

We need pain to at least know that we’re still alive because if we start to feel numb from the pain then we won’t know if we are still alive or not.

With pain comes learning and understanding.

In life there will be times where the pain is so much that we become numb from it and we focus on that exact pain and not on anything else.

Life is filled with all the good stuff and sometimes even more filled with the bad stuff. but we need to learn that that's ok and we should be fine to go through it.

I’m complete only when I’m incomplete and I’m incomplete when I’m complete, so there's no such thing as actually being complete.

They fall into each other and correspond with each other and make sure you think you are complete.

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Denial

By Ethan Merry (Reflective Journal) Denial of what you do not need can bring you closer to your inner self. Treasured possessions and ritual activities, like a car and driving, a computer and video games, or a book and reading are part of what make us ourselves, but these things are only the meat on the skeleton of our souls.

Peel the outer layers of the onion and stop once you reach the part where peeling would make the onion disappear. That is the center, the core, your inner self. When you are stripped of your outer defining layers, whether by yourself or by force, little is left to do but think. It is clear thought, like having many pairs of sunglasses removed.

It can change what you know about the world. It is often so unique compared to the majority that it is regarded as weird or ridiculous, or maybe even insane or lunatic. One example could be Diogenes.

You might find true purpose, find peace in contemplation, how to better restructure your life, or maybe a mix of these things, two of them, all of them, or more.

Yellow

By Inaissa Sylla (Reflective Journal) If I could choose anything to symbolize me it would be the color yellow. I personally love the color yellow because of how pretty and bright it is.

When I think of the color yellow I think of confidence, happiness, energy and joy.

Therefore, all those describe what I want in life. When describing me I would say it is very similar to how the color yellow is represented or described. For example, me and the color yellow both would be described as cheerful, confident, imaginative, and idealistic.

According to my research,a person loves or likes the color yellow is a very communicative person who also enjoys a challenge. I loved the color yellow before I did research but after doing research I learned how much I am so similar to the color yellow.

If you ask someone or ask myself I would say that I can be very communicative at times and I love to do fun challenges. Also, the research i did says that the person that loves or like the color yellow is dynamic, but also very calculated, not making any step further until a full analysis of the situation is made, which is very like me because I don't like to do things unless

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I know all information as possible so I won't have an altercation or surprises along and I like all things to be well put together for the best.

The color yellow and me share the same traits such as high energy, enthusiastic, fun, and hopeful. Yellow is a color that describes a person as fun, entertaining, and a real live clown because it is always great to have them around since that can brighten your day and make you laugh.

Therefore, when you ask the people around me daily they would agree that that is a perfect description of me and that's why yellow is my symbol.

Measurement

By Matt Cirbo (Reflective Journal) The symbol Mr. De Mott gave me is a hockey-puck sized ivory white measuring tape, with a round hard plastic case. The measuring tape is about a half-inch wide and the same colour.

There is a button on the side of the case that pulls back the tape whenever it is pulled out, and the button is the color of the tables in the World Literature classroom. The tape is a soft cloth texture, and it has been pulled out like it has been used and not put away.

The thing about this measuring tape is that it is specifically metric, something Mr. De Mott said he has never seen in an American before. I can understand this symbol deeply for some reason, like it resonates within me.

My mom has a measuring tape that is almost exactly like this, although it is green and does not have a case. I think it is so interesting that it is metric, because first of all, I was not born in America and English is not my first language, and I don’t remember telling Mr. De Mott that before he chose my symbol. I have always used metric, and only in recent years have started to understand and use the Imperial System. I still do use Celcius, though. I think the meaning behind the hard plastic case is that I have a certain exterior shell that blocks everyone from getting to know me at first, but once I open up, I am better than what I seem to be. However, when I feel threatened, if you can put it that way, one push of a button can send me back in my shell.

The colors also mean something for me. I believe it means that I am imperfect, not in a bad way, but different than pure white, something other than the norm. The tape means that I have a purpose, and the fact that it is still unraveled means that I have been fulfilling my purpose, but am not quite done yet.

The metric means that I have a different purpose than one might be led to believe, but an important purpose nonetheless.

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Symbol

By Linna Deng (Reflective Journal) In my definition of Symbol, it refers to a generalization of groups with similarities.

I am carbon-based life, due to the explanation of carbon-based life “Carbon compounds occur naturally in great abundance on Earth”.

I am an animal, due to the explanation of animals “consume organic material, breathe oxygen, are able to move, can reproduce sexually, and grow from a hollow sphere of cells, the blastula, during embryonic development”.

I am a warm-blooded animal that can maintain my temperature higher than the environment.

I am ... , etc and etc things I can talk about my symbol in science, and you can see by that, my symbol is the similarities I have with other individuals or groups.

I am the wind, while I am walking on the empty street.

I am sugar, while people who feel happy and joy from me.

I am a piece of paper because I used to be unknown for everything.

I am a hedgehog, while having a conflict with others.

I am a rock, while time passes and thinks nothing.

I am fair, transparent.

I am a niche book in the library, waiting for someone to resonate and find me.

I am durian, hard outside and soft inside.

I am a black hole, forgetful.

As the writing in the first prompt, I talk about how rebellion defined us and we defined rebellion. This is the same application as in the first prompt. I defined my self as forgetful, second, I defined forgetful as a black hole, therefore, I defined myself as a black hole.

I can be my mom since we have a similar gene, I can be trump since we have a similar gene as well.

I can be the demon since it was created by humans, I can be the god since it was created by humans as well.

I can be a vegetarian while I only drink water, eat only fruits and vegetables; I can be carnism while I only eat ribs.

I can be symbolized every single thing I can think of, I am flexible like water. Therefore, I am both every single thing I can think of and water or flexible.

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Style

By Camryn Ruth (Personal Essay) Over the course of seven years, I had a very specific writing style drilled into my mind over and over again. With all my time spent at Old Donation School, every single teacher set a detailed standard of how to write essays and papers for the students. Not knowing anything else, I blindly followed.

Once I entered high school, I still felt the pressure to remain writing in that particular style.

With new standards set for essay writing, I began to feel very trapped and confused with feedback I was getting. Feedback I was receiving was forcing me to cut down on my work in terms of information and vocabulary; this was something that was very foreign to me. My theses felt repetitive and my overall introductions seemed excessive. As we began writing more drafts, I found myself seeking an extraordinary amount of help to make my essays flow.

After coming to Mr. De Mott’s desk a few times, I finally went up one more time. I was lost with my thesis and introduction and didn’t know how to word it in order to include everything my research paper had to offer.

Explaining my issue to him, he asked one question: “Where did you go to middle school?” The reply of Old Donation school prompted him to say, “You don’t have to have a thesis.” Initially, I was dumbfounded. He explained that many prior students of ODS felt confined to the structure that was originally taught to them. Simply, he said that I don’t need to have a strictly composed format for my introduction, body paragraphs, or conclusion.

Although it is something seemingly very simple to think of, it completely changed my writing world. Telling me that I don’t need a specific structure opened my mind to a style of writing that I would have never done before. Overall, I suddenly felt more comfortable writing without adding an extreme amount of superfluous information or excluding information that seemed unnecessary. Small details that I added simply to fill a void of the structure I felt I had to maintain went out my metaphorical window.

A comment that, in truth, was quite small, had one of the largest impacts on my educational career. While initially being about writing, it applies to much more than that. I should never have fear of going outside the lines or doing a task in a more abstract way. Sticking to the status quo is not truly necessary.

Even if I was taught that way, I am allowed to rebel a little and mold items to fit my style. This little comment let me know that I am able to create my own style and relish in it. Without that almost minuscule observation, I would not have the confidence to be my own person in terms of education and even life.

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Vintage Academic Setting

By Helena Eleftheratos (Reflective Journal) When Mr. De Mott essentially peered into my soul, he made a comment that intrigued me. He said something along the lines of, "Very interesting. Why do I vividly see Indiana Jones and one of those university-type chalkboards that sits on a stand and can flip, with lots of leather and the Indiana Jones classroom scene-type thing that looks like the 1930s?"

That's not exactly what he said, but those are the things he mentioned. Then he said he had seen Albert Einstein in the fray; he was writing something on the chalkboard. He then claimed that he saw me as the chalky words that Einstein was writing, but he didn know what those words said. Even more than ten minutes after this, I'm still a bit confused on what exactly it could mean.

My first thought was like, "Hey, Albert Einstein is an idol of mine, Indiana Jones is one of my favorite things ever, and I love leather and the old stuff!" Though . . . what does it mean? What does it mean to be the chalky words that Albert Einstein was writing in an oldie, Indiana Jones-like classroom on a chalkboard that flips with some university vibes and a bunch of leather around?

What does the leather mean; why is it there? I don't even know what the leather looks like, whether it's hard or soft or cured or not, and where it is in the classroom?

What does it mean to be words on a chalkboard that can't be seen, anyway? I mean, I am very glad that I am seen as the words that Albert Einstein is writing, and I'm glad that everything that was in Mr. De Mott's vision was the way it was, but I'm not so happy about the fact that I'm unknown.

Kind of like a mystery.

Perhaps that's what it could be? Even though I'm there, I'm unseen, like something invisible?

That would make sense. It seems I am often forgotten and ignored as if what words were written were insignificant. I'm not sure that's right, though.

I did a bit of research as well, and some disadvantages of chalkboards caught my eye. It claimed that what's written on a chalkboard is only temporary, yet it is often complex; maps, chemical and mathematical equations, and elaborate diagrams. That really surprised me. I thought for a moment and realized a lot of things in my life, especially what's supposedly written on me, has been temporary. I have never really kept something for very long, as if most of my moments are fleeting.

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The things I have retained throughout my life aren't necessarily substance, though. The hobbies and passions I developed as a very young child have stuck with me, but everything else such as friends, success, simplicity, emotions, and even personality were there for a bit and sort of disappeared. Like words being erased off of a chalkboard. I also pondered for a moment on the board and general existence of the words, and I kind of thought of something.

I am not the board that's being used, and I am not the person that is using it - I am another person's thoughts. But I'm not another person's thoughts, am I? I can't be the product of another person's hand, can I? Does that make sense? I don't think it does. I don't think what I'm saying is the right answer. I have no idea how any of this has association with our Lord and savior Albert Einstein, the amazing Indiana Jones, the old-timey university setting, and a bunch of leather.

Maybe those are just there because they make a big part of who I am. I adore all of those people and all of those things a lot, so I guess it would make sense if they were there, but I wonder why. I wonder how me, the chalky words, is associated with them.

I wonder why Mr. De Mott would see things I liked instead of something mystical and philosophical like he did everyone else. Mine seemed to have a lot more detail than a dung beetle or narwhale in the night. Why were the words unintelligible anyway? How could they be there and my soul-searching teacher not know what is written? Is that saying I'm this sort of blank page?

As if even though something's there it's not written in stone, and I can make it whatever I want it to be? That actually kind of gave me a revelation while writing it. Is it saying that who (the words that are written) I am now does not have to be who I am in the future, and all that I have been in the past is not who I am now? Is that what it means?

It would make sense with the words, since what is written on a chalkboard is only temporary.

It's also logical in what is happening now, seeing as I regret a lot of past decisions and actions and am trying to be the kind of person I used to be before all of that.

It's a good thing to know, honestly. I've told myself that before but I guess when it's seen in a vision it really makes an imprint on you. But honestly, I just want to know why it's in the 1930s Indiana Jones classroom scene with a chalkboard that flips and why Albert Einstein and leather is there!

Why is he writing? What is he writing? Why am I the thing that he is writing? Why am I chalk?? Beans and gravy, this sure does twist my brain. It's kind of making me less sane at this point. But wait, hold up. All of this old-timey stuff and Indiana Jones . . . it gives off a sense of nostalgia, right? Perhaps that might be something to do with the vision too? Man, I just wish I could see exactly what Mr. De Mott saw!!

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Symbolic Me

By Alana Kronenburg (Reflective Journal) Symbolically speaking, I was told that I am the unintroduced and nameless character in a horror movie, who disappears or gets killed off almost immediately. Although it was sort of confusing and hard for me to understand this at first, after some time taken for thought and reflection on this statement, I think I can understand why I was given this as my symbol. This horror movie character is barely known about until after their death. They end up being important and a big deal, other people worry and grief after their death.

Sometimes, audiences end up being interested in this character, so a sequel is made to properly introduce this character. Since this character goes so quickly, all you really know is that they were wanted or a target for some reason, but you do not know why. Also, with this character, you don't know their thoughts and feelings, and you don't know what they were personally going through at the moment.

I think that this aspect of the character relates to me, because even though it is hard to tell, I have been through a lot. I´m not necessarily one to hide how I am feeling from my peers or those who are close to me, I do not often like to open up about my experiences or thoughts on my experiences. I will open up to those I trust and talk to them about my continuous experiences, but it takes a lot of time and effort from the other person for me to end up trusting and opening up to them.

Even though I don't necessarily lie about my feelings or hide them from everybody, I feel like at the beginning of everyday I am putting on a mask. I put on a mask that fools anyone that doesn't know me well, and it tells them that I'm completely fine, concealing all of the feelings underneath.

Description

By Solana Lamoso (Reflective Journal) I had a difficult time figuring out what symbolizes me so I asked my teacher if he could help tell me what symbolizes me. My teacher told me that I was a thin layer of snow covering up a flower bed with bright red tulips and in a couple months when the snow (me) melts it will help nourish the tulips greatley. I interpreted this analogy to mean that at first I smothered the people in my life but when I stepped back a little more from the relationship it turns out that I had helped those in my life. I do not believe that this applies to me because I do not think that people in my life benefit that much from me being in their life.

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So I believe that I may have come to the wrong conclusion as to what this symbol means.

One of my friends said that she believed that this analogy means that I ground the people in my lives but then when I leave briefly they grow stronger from me grounding them and when I return the process restarts. In my opinion this meaning is more accurate to who I am.

However, I do not believe that the symbol that he gave me is accurate to me any way that you interpret it.

I believe that I am like creme brulee. I believe creme brulee symbolises who I am because the burnt sugar on top is me compensating with humor but when you break the sugar I have a soft inside, and that knowing me is very exciting so I am kind of like an explosion just like breaking the sugar on creme brulee.

One of the people that knows me best Melanie said that I was like her pet hermit crab Hermie he is blind in one eye, shy, and has a bat man shell, he typically does not come out of his shell but when he does he is really fun and exciting. She said that I am like Hermie because I hide behind a lot of my friends and act shy but when I come out of my shell I am really hyper and fun. The blind eye represents that I am a little rough around the edges and have been hurt before. Lastly, the Batman shell represents all the silly little things I get excited about like the muppets. In summary, I believe that what Melanie thought symbolized me is most accurate because she knows me best.

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By Issa Garcia (Personal Essay) It’s three in the afternoon, school’s ended. I toss my backpack on the couch and head for my room. I lay in my bed, exhausted mentallly and physically. I sleep for longer than expected.

It’s now eight pm, outside is dark and the only light is from the moon cascading through the window. Despite the fact it appeared light earlier, all stayed the same filter of dark. The entire apartment is dark and old, looking absolutely dreadful. This cycle goes on for weeks. Even with days that seem a little rose colored, it looks dark. It seems the light that does show is superficial. All that has even a bit of color is fake. Any brightside is nothing but a figment of what's left of hope.

A barrier that I have faced in my life has existed as struggling with mental health.

Since I remained in middle school, I started experiencing issues with anxiety and depression.

I compared myself to others and how compared to them, I felt like nothing. I felt like a failure and disappointment in all aspects of my life. I compared myself because every person in my life seemed happier and smarter than I felt. This made me feel like an outsider and alone. I

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hated feeling alone. Loneliness existed a problem for me, however I felt better with my friends. My friends made me feel not alone. This helped me on the way to coping with my issues.

I felt extremely uneducated on mental health and many around me would self-diagnose themselves and not get help. Due to my peers around me struggling with mental illness and not seeking help, I sort of accepted that this appeared normal to feel extremely upset all the time. Told constantly that all humans are depressed sometimes and all humans have anxiety, I felt worse. However, it wasn’t until the end of seventh grade did I realize I shouldn’t feel this way. I shouldn’t have had to constantly battle with myself and my self worth. It took me until this year to accept myself and try to prioritize myself.

My view of mental health existed warped. It wasn’t until last year that I felt completely confident in my understanding. I lived around humans that would glamorize mental illness and turn it into a trait that appeared “cool”. The words “depression” and “anxiety” became thrown around so much. I believe beyond depression and anxiety, general mental health is often glamorized and humans don’t realize turning these terms into daily vocabulary is harmful, whether intentionally or not. For example, humans often say they have “OCD” or they say “I’m so OCD!” just because they’re neat. While most humans think this is harmless, it destroys the legitimacy of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Glamorization of mental illness destroys the seriousness and importance of these illnesses, and turns it into “quirkiness” and “relatable” when it isn’t. Mental health deserves serious attention, as it can completely destroy a person.

More recently, a bigger concern for the wellbeing of youth and older humans and more genuine attempts at diminishing stigma.

In many ways, there are steps forward and backwards in mainstream media respecting it. It’s often romanticized, made up to exist as easier than it actually is. There are many misconstrued aspects of mental health, especially. The most common misconceptions are that humans with depression are only sad, humans with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are “just neat-freaks” and that humans who are anxious are nervous. That is not the case.

Depression is bigger than sadness. It is exhaustion, hopelessness, and a lack of ambition.

The signs are also commonly mistaken. Signs are as clear as losing sleep or oversleeping, overeating or undereating, and generally not caring for yourself. These symptoms are often overlooked. Because of how overlooked they are, the person suffering cannot get help. When problems are overlooked, the consequences can result fatally. One idea humans often miss is the fact these illnesses are illnesses. More humans need to see it’s not easily solved.

Honestly, I don’t think there's a way to ever permanently rid yourself of these illnesses.

However, you can accept it and help yourself to the best of your abilities.

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I had to use persistence and courage in order to face my mental health. Mental illness existed taboo in my life and I felt unsure how to come to terms with it. Allowing myself able to speak about this--even now, is still hard. Younger humans speaking out about mental health are still open to criticism by many, due to many humans uneducated with the terms and self diagnosing themselves despite only showing maybe one or two symptoms. It is mostly the older generation criticizing them, as they grew up to just take these issues and move on, instead of talking about it and getting help. Because of the constant downplaying of these issues, it’s hard for the younger generation to speak. However, I kept expressing myself and my feelings, and I continued to do so despite the fact it felt hard.

This has caused me to miss out on many great memories of my life because I became too busy focusing on the flaws I had. Not only did I have a bad self image, but the effects of these feelings impacted my daily life a lot. I lacked the usual ambition I once had, I felt tired all the time, and the various songs or friends that used to make me the happiest would make me saddest. This greatly impacted my relationships with all of my friends and family, and it greatly impacted my academic life as well. It took me a while to talk about this with my family, who hesitated at first. In my family, there is a history of mental illness. The only person that I knew experienced this and my sister understood. Despite the fact I eventually had gotten help, I found it hard to tell my problems to a person. I felt like I could express my feelings to my closest friends but I felt intimidated whenever I told an adult. I began to feel like a burden whenever I talked about it, because it seemed like my problems weren't important. I was constantly told that all humans feel this way sometimes, and that it could always worsen.

That’s what made me feel so guilty. I began to blame myself for my problems. From there, I felt that my problems didn’t matter and that I should just stop caring. For a while, I didn’t feel those feelings and they didn’t affect me as much.

However, they came back this year and I’m still struggling with them. I don’t see my mental illnesses going away completely for a long time, but I’ve learned to deal with it. I began to educate myself and realize that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. In fact, there are many humans my age with similar issues. Those of us with these issues have many ways of coping with our issues. Art and music has also contributed to helping me and making my depression and anxiety easier. I developed strong interests in art and music at around age nine, and it has since helped me express myself creatively and emotionally.

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Things of the Arms: ​Embracing New Stuff

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Like Cats and Dogs

By Taylor Nixon (Humor / Free Form Poetry) Mishapen but blemishless.

Perfectly round but full of pores.

Has it all together.

Falling apart one segment at a time.

Beautiful blend of colors.

One delightful shade.

Solid core, strong and sturdy.

Soft and delicate, easily torn.

Crisp Thirst quenching.

From the Rosaceae family.

Of the Rutaceae family line.

Peels are optional.

Please don’t go there.

Well at least people actually want to use me in a pie.

Dude, I’m way too flavorful to be downgraded to a pie ingredient.

I don’t roll off of tables.

Yeah, because no one wants to eat you.

How come schools always have me then, huh!?!

Because you’re cheap and no one ELSE WILL BUY YOU!!!!

Gosh, no need to be so intense…

Well, at least don’t taste like a knock-off pear, poser.

I’M a poser!?! You are literally named AFTER A COLOR! Actually, red-yellow was named after ME! Either way, YOUR aunt is named after a color, as well as a whole different SPECIES! Who even does that!?

HEY!!! Don’t bring aunty Pink Lady into this! Besides, I have a trillion dollar company named after me.

Oh, good job. Someone took your terrible name and gave it some positive connotation. Happy birthday, the internet no longer recognises you by your name without specification of the word fruit. A job WELL done. (＃`Д´) !!!I’M TELLING GREAT GRANDMA ROSIDAE!!! ( `皿´＃) Disclaimer: No fruits or pastries were hurt (emotionally) in the process of making this poem.

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My Refrigerator

By Mallory Kopin (Sonnet) My refrigerator was not broken; Maybe dirty, but she still worked perfect.

Enough cold to keep my ice cream frozen; She’s twice my age, an elder I respect.

Her coat of paint peeling on the outside, But my mom says that beauty lies within.

So what if there’s rust on her left side?

Those stains reminded me of what had been.

Who cares if her handle fell off sometimes?

And I had to fix it at 3 a.m?

I could put it back on most of the time; So I loved her despite all of her mayhem.

Yet here I stand at the appliance store Because she leaked, and fell right through my floor

The Dance

By Mina Weisenburger (ABC Poem) A woman dances Blindly she sways Crying, realizing she is alone Death has scared her Elegantly she whirls Finding her bed, she stays Gliding into her sheets Hiding her sorrows with her dance Imperfect, she no longer rests Jeopardizing she gets up Killing her every time she wakes Loathing her every step Marvelously she begins her solo ballet No longer will she depress herself Opening her heart Prompting her feet to the steps ̈ ̈Queen of dance ̈ Respectful the crowd screams Standing on her feet no longer Times up her dance was perfect Up onto her feet she bows

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Very proud she prances off stage Waltzing on her own once more Xenodochial she thanks her new self ¨You are me now ̈ she tells herself ̈ ̈Zegedine!̈ as she continues her dance

Water Flavored Popsicles By: Ao Sterner (Humorous Poetry) -

My water flavored popsicles are the talk of the town

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No matter where you put them in the world, they never rot or go brown

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The flavour is like nothing to the taste buds

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But from out my casement I hear many rambunctious thuds

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“You said this popsicle would give me youth!” and old man cried

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I then looked out to see an innumerable amount of satisfied customers and sighed

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“It did give you youth! You’re not dead! I see no grave!”

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Plastic surgery I’d never need, for even though I said this, STILL a new nose they wanted to pave

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Knocking on my door repeatedly, I was given quite the scare

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Yet I continued to smile, thanks to their wallets not a single hoover flag did I bear

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After a small fit of rioting, refunds were demanded, claiming me as one big scammer

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Which roused explanation on a topic called “fine print,” notwithstanding they got out their rammer

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All my home entrances were locked and golden barred, so I thought I was safe

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However they bludgeoned my door incessantly, like I was a part of their pious faith

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Not much time passing, which I just sat smugly with my register tills, my castle gates fell

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Up three persian carpeted stories worth of stairs, and some fuel called anger, they ran quite well

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The first thing out their mouth was “Where’d you store all our cash!?!”

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My only reply, my sarcasm now gone, “Okay, the register! Let’s not be brash!”

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They took it all, afterwards wanting to beat me senseless.

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I shrieked, “Come one guys now I’m penniless!”

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It didn’t take too long for them to blurt out that they had a warrant which was quite amiss,

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as the police, who were not visibly present, had been one of my customers that ate a water popsicle of bliss

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A townsfolk of good composure compliantly explained to me,

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that they had the legal right to stay here till all had left, everything of mine now to them free

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They eventually calmed down, all the reason to state, money back in their good hand,

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as my mortgage was due next week, they were ​oh so kind​ to continue to allow me the privilege to stand

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The people hung in my mansion for quite some time, a party they had, as it was the end of ​my​ poor campaign

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Helping themselves to my food and drink they did with great voracity,

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The 30,000 year old cheeses and specialized ice cream griller would no longer be my feeding tenacity

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Happily enough for me, as you will soon understand, it started to “rain”

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It was a cloudy night on the dawn of their revolution

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But this thing, which many had thought to be of chance, was my financial solution

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As they all had just exited my manor, the festivities now over, the water came splashing down

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Turning back they knew not what to do except frown

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The beauty of it was they were all out my house,

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my place no longer their property, with them out in the cold, ceaselessly doused

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Before I expected, they came back knocking on my door,

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Only to soon drop, knees, hands, the dirty floor

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“Please let us back in! We’ll do anything!” they pleaded

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Everyone got equitable distribution of my smile, this the exact thing I needed

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“Line up at the door, take out your leather money beds! Show me everything that you got!”

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I brought my favorite potato sack exhibiting a green dollar symbol, ready to make them wait in the chilly rain, but return what was mine in there shielded and hot

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“What a pretty broche!” I exclaimed with my same ongoing smile to a rather fatigued women

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She didn’t even argue and softly placed it in, surprising me that I didn’t have to ask “When?” Nothing was going to ruin.

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I’ll spare the rest of the details of the cash back on my money from every disgruntled peasant

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But they went through the doors single file, nothing was ever more pleasant

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To keep away from the cold, wet, and dark, the people had traded their funds

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Thankful I was that this group was docile enough for me not to bring out the guns

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The rain passed 15 minutes later and they all walked on to their far away shacks

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As soon as they were gone I went from the front of the mansion, all the way around back

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“Thanks Pedro!” I smiled at the men with buckets and sprinklers at my roof top

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“I’ll send your check by mail, so you can go home and let the water stop.”

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Climbing down from my roof, that was done for,

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I attended my last bit of business I for once did not have to use on the poor

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“Officer Jamie, Officer Mark, same on the money but quadrupled, I bid you good day.”

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I turned, thinking that they would both go their own way

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“Question!” retorted Mark. “Why did you let them take your money, and gave a legal warrant to them folk.”

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Stopping then and there, I quietly spoke:

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“I can’t say that this plan was the bumpiest of rides, they were many worse years engineered by my fellow self proclaimed barons that have betide, but there is something to you only I will confide. Whenever you deceive, it’s about loopholes and the mind, in the end we had to make them think you were on their side.”

Victorians & Werewolves- Adeline By: Ellagrace Kays (Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Humor) Adaline Part the First

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In which Adaline regales the tale of her majesty Victoria and Albert the Werewolf.

“Ready Girls?” says our teacher, Mrs. Docia Lockwood.

We all say yes, for it is the only polite thing to say.

“Good. Now Sophie, please straighten your grip, your task is to kill the dummy, not yourself.”

“Yes ma’am.” Sophie said as she adjusted her grip on the silver dagger while trying not to accidentally rip out the hem of her new petticoat.

It’s one of the new ones that all the girls have found their attention caught by in the display windows of Harrods. The one with iron panels that could stop claws and sheaths for knives, daggers, and other silver weapons.

I looked down on my own petticoat, which was torn and stained with things that would receive many “Hail Mary!”s from mothers across our fine nation. But that was just part of life now.

“Now knives drawn! Foot forward! Your other foot Ada, yes that one. Good. Now wind, draw, and FIRE!!” Instructed Mrs.Lockwood.

A chorus of thunks echoes throughout the room as the daggers hit home.

I look up at my dummy and see that I hit the heart, as always. I’m the best knife thrower at Miss. Caroline's School for Female Armed Combat. Even though it is considered very improper for ladies of my societal stature to learn to fight werewolves in their underthings. But that, of course, was before Prince Albert was bitten. Poor Victoria discovered the attack too late and was left to her own devices to dispatch her hubby before he killed her. Thank goodness for the sheathed stocking, without it her majesty would be dead. Not long after the attack, a decree was issued that all men aged 18-29 would have mandatory service until all the lycanthropes were killed, and all young ladies would learn how to defend themselves.

Soon enough schools like Miss. Caroline’s opened across the country, and all ladies young and old attended classes with ranging topics from “Deadly Fashion” so “Strangulation using the Strings of the Great Corset”, the Queen even hired a tutor to teach her the great art of the bladed fan.

Miss. Caroline’s is only for girls aged 12-19, but Sophie is only 10. Her mum's the chaperone for the school, she takes us older girls to balls and makes sure our dance cards are filled with only the finest of folks. Many of these consist of military balls since all the eligible men are off fighting the werewolves.

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After a couple more throws Mrs.Lockwood said, “Good job girls! Now those over 14 must go prepare for tonight’s gala on the embankment. Your maids are in your rooms. Now others please come with me to ‘The Etiquette of Poisoning’.”

Part the Second In which Adeline is squeezed into a corset and a very crowded ballroom.

“I finks the blue one suits you ’ery well miss.” said Ivy, my lady's maid at Miss. Caroline’s. She was from London, Cheap Side and spoke with a very heavy accent that I could barely understand on a good day. I looked over the robin’s egg blue dress with the cream lace on the sleeves and hem she had chosen for me. Ivy was right, as always, this dress would drape over me nicely, the cut would show off my, dare I say, assets, but not to a point of rude names. The blue really did bring out my eyes and attention to the almost blue hues to my brown hair. The only issue is this dress would require the tightest lacing that I have ever endured, and though it is romantic, I do not wish to faint into the arms of an unsuspecting general. I thought for a moment, then gave in. “Fine, please fetch my corset and largest crinoline while I find my sheathed stockings.” After I had slipped on my cream stockings and silk petticoat Ivy returned with my other undergarments and started wrestling me into my corset, the brand new one that was fitted with silver instead of bone. “May the comfort gods smite the person who invented this fashionable torture machine!” I exclaimed as Ivy started lacing me up. “But miss, it does giv you won’erful posture.” said Ivy, while not-so-slowly tightening the strings of my corset, and my waist. “That… is… a good… (gasp) Point!” “ ’ ere you go miss.” said Ivy as she helped me with my second petticoat and crinoline. Next came the bustle and finally the gown. After what felt like hours I was finally dressed and on my way. “ ’ave a good nigh! Say ’ello to ’ouse perdy boys for me!” shouted Ivy as I exited for the carriages. “I will” I shouted back as I walked out to my carriage.

When we arrived at the gala it was already spilling over with wine and partygoers. We were still early enough that the wine had not gone to the soldiers’ minds, but that would not take very long. I stepped into the room to place my card on the table only to find myself shoved between a wall of plaster and one of crinoline skirts. A snail moved faster than I was as I walked toward the dance card table. It appeared that every mother and her eligible daughter

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was here to find a match. The crowd was that of the queen’s coronation, not a military gala.

“Gracious!” I thought “Let the comfort gods smite the inventor of the crinoline as well.” …

After about 20 minutes I received my dance card and scanned it for any names I recognized.

There was Hiram Crossdale for dance number one. He must be Rosella’s older brother whom she was constantly speaking of. Ellsworth Ollivander was for dance number two. I did not know him personally, but I knew the Ollivanders had a crazy British uncle who believed he could create magic sticks. Next was Arte Shipling, very rich, but very gawky. Then came Darrel Eckert, who was as disgusting as his surname suggested. After came Elwin Quincy, Sebastian Worthington, and the lovely Oran Stebbins. I knew all of these boys from other balls and had danced with most before. All except the last name on my card, Maddern Woolworth. I had never met or heard of this Maddern Woolworth. Perhaps this evening will be interesting after all…

Part the third In which Adaline dances with nine men in rapid succession, ending with one mysterious offer, many awkward dance partners, and two sore feet.

Hiram was the first, and I could feel his gaze slipping down my neckline the whole waltz. Why didn’t I wear a high necked dress this evening?? Then came Ellsworth, who apparently also believed in magic sticks and tried to give me one. Arte stepped on both my feet three times in a row, Darrel seemed to be having a love affair with my bustle, and Elwin never showed.

Sebastian was from Norway and spoke little English, but did a charming box step. Oran was very lovely, except for that he continued both the affairs with my bustle and neckline. Finally came Maddern Woolworth, who was surprisingly charming for a soldier, he was tall with Chestnut coloured hair that he kept neatly tucked under a top hat. He bowed, then kissed my hand. “Good evening Miss Bancroft, may I have this dance?” He did not stare at my assets or bustle at all, not even my painfully miraculous tiny waist. “Of course Mr.Woolworth.” I responded. I was shocked when he responded, “You may call me Maddern, Miss Bancroft.” “and you may call me Adaline, Mr. Maddern.” The band started up a lively waltz by Strauss, and his hand went to my arm and waist as the dance began. He never stepped on my foot, or

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misstepped, or dropped his hand for another bustle love affair. After the waltz, he slipped me a note that read…

Meet me in the Garden before the next waltz, -Maddern Part the Fourth In which Adeline has a brush in with roses and Australian werewolves.

Just before the next waltz, I snuck out into the garden to find Maddern. I found him sitting upon a marble bench tucked in the carousel and Cinderella roses. “I see you came, most ladies of your station would not dare come out into the garden with a mysterious man when there are werewolves lurking about.” said Maddern as a greeting. “Ah, but I am not like most ladies of my station. Besides if there is to be a werewolf about then I have come prepared.” I said, showing him my assortment of throwing daggers and bladed fans. “You are very prepared,” replied Madden, but this time he seemed slightly worried about all the silver on my person. He stared up at the moon, which was full, and seemed to fill with worry. “Are you okay Mr.Maddern?” I asked, surprised at how concerned I was about this young Australian soldier that I barely even knew. “I’m afraid not Ms. Adaline of your silver but, as you can see, the full moon is coming fast and I must prepare myself.” “Prepare yourself for what?!” I said with alarm. “For my transformation.”

With those three words, my whole sense of safety came crashing down around me. This lovely man that I sadly found myself caring about the welfare of was a werewolf. I pulled out a dagger and pointed it at him, “Pl-please don’t hurt m-me” I said, silently cursing myself for stuttering. “I promise I will not Ms.Adaline, clearly you nothing of werewolves. Here” he patted the bench “Sit.” I hesitantly lowered my dagger then sat down next to him. “What have they told you of werewolves?” Madden asked once I had sat down as comfortably as one could in a crinoline skirt (Just smite them already O Comfort Gods!) “That werewolves are bloodthirsty and lusty. They were created by the devil to trap girls souls like Krampus and drag them down on their fiery decent.” I said, directly quoting the queen. “Well,” Maddern said with a swallow, “I can tell you that none of that is correct. Werewolves are actually peaceful, and the lustiness is mostly a lie, but that depends on who you’re talking to. We turn into wolves every full moon

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and hunt deer and bunnies like normal wolves. In fact, in Australia werewolves are hired to help exterminate bunnies in the outback.” I looked at him with wide shocked eyes. Everything that I knew was a lie. But the queen doesn’t lie, she killed her own husband to save herself from the bloodthirsty monster. Unless the queen was the bloodthirsty monster, not her late husband. That can’t be right, she's our queen, protecting us the best she could. We are all equals under her reign.... I thought for a second. We're not equals, rich men rule our world, girls are married off to their rich cousins and the poor die in houses that collapse under a slight breeze. “SHUT UP!!!” screamed my mind as I erupted in confused tears. “H-how could the queen lie t-to us…? How could I have allowed myself to be blinded like a carriage horse??” “Because she was told these stories, and so was her mother, and her mother, so on so forth. She believed these stories, so she shared what she believed.” Maddern replied, and fished his hanky out of his pocket then gave it to me. I was an emotional mess by the time I finished crying. I apologised for crying and yelling at him, then got up to leave. But Maddern touched my wrist to stop me. “Will you do me a favour, Miss. Adaline? Could you perhaps keep this meeting a secret? I do not want my general to get angry at me, if he asks where I went then tell him I received urgent news from my mother that my sister was in an accident and rushed to help her?” “Of course.” I replied, but then I added on “can you promise me that I will see you again?” Maddern looked perplexed, then answered “You have my promise” then pulled out his gold pocket watch and gave it to me. It was gorgeous with little vines engraved on it and the initials MTW on the cover. “What does the T stand for?” I inquired. “Thaddeus” replied Maddern. Maddern Thaddeus Woolworth. My new favourite words were Maddern Thaddeus Woolworth. “I must go now,” said Maddern “ I do not wish for you to see the transformation, for it is very painful.” He bowed and kissed my hand. After that he lept up and bounded off toward the woods, leaving his hat, jacket, satchel, and pocket watch.

“Godspeed.” I said as he ran off into the night.

Part the Fifth In which Adeline vows to physically harm the queen if she ever meets her.

As I stood in the garden I decided to take a vow under the stars. “I, Adeline Magdelena Bancroft, vow that if I ever meet Her Majesty Queen Victoria that I will physically harm, well socially harm her for lying and causing mass panic over the peaceful race of werewolves. This I promise to the stars.” I took out my silver dagger and tucked it underneath the bench with a

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note for whoever finds them. The note contains the truth of what happened that night and the truth of werewolves. I tucked Maddern’s pocket watch into my right pocket, placing it next to my dance card. After I was satisfied I walked back to the ballroom with the howling of wolves ringing out in the night.

The End

Imaginary Friends

By Jenna Hentrich (Narrative) All children have imaginary friends in their early years, right? Wrong. Those “friends'' are not imaginary. Beware, readers will never see imaginary friends the same after today. Take a look at Lillie. A bubbly, bright, happy girl. At 5 years old, she has an imaginary friend. He calls himself Harley. Harley tells little Lillie stories when she can’t sleep. Harley explains that a long time ago, he was alive, but he did a lot of bad things. He does not explain much, as he only visits for short periods of time.

“Harley, where are you going?” Lillie asks her friend.

“I have to go home, but I’ll see you tomorrow, okay.” Her friend replies.

“Okay, bye Harley.” Lillie says in a sad tone.

Harley never tells Lillie where he lives, because if he did, he would never have a chance at going to The Good Place. Currently, Harley is enrolled in the Demon Rehabilitation Program.

The Bad Place created this program so that demons could cleanse themselves of their sins and relocate to The Good Place. Harley has had twelve kids already, but he has not gained enough points to go to The Good Place. He has given up hope at this point because he committed a large amount of sins in his time on Earth. Stealing, assault, trespassing start the list, but it continues for miles. To get to The Good Place, one must lose all of your Bad Place Points and get into the “green.” One must continually gain Good Place Points for a week to be “in the green.” Harley has never gotten close.

“I think this is the one that’ll push me over the edge. She’s different, she's actually a good kid.

I really think she will get me in,” Harley says to his friend, Milton, hopefully.

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“You say that every time, Har. I don’t know how you are so hopeful. You’ve had twelve kids.

That’s more than anyone I know. Just don’t get your hopes up my friend,” Milton replies.

Milton always keeps Harley realistic. Milton works in The Bad Place, so he doesn’t need or want to leave.

“Whatever you say Milton. I’ve gotta go though. Need to rest up for another big day of play,” Harley tells Milton before going to his shack. The next day, he does everything he can to help Lillie become an amazing young woman. This repeats day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Finally, the day comes. Harley knows this day he will say his final goodbye to Lillie. He stayed with her for five whole years. Through sleepless nights, timeouts, bullies, and more.

“You know, I had a daughter once. She reminds me of you. Bubbly, sweet, caring, and above all, beautiful. You have become such a beautiful girl, and I wish I could stay to see how you grow even more, but I have to go now,” Harley tells Lillie. He does not want to leave her, but she has grown out of imaginary friends. She does not need him anymore, and he does not need her, as he discovers that he has gotten well into the “green.”

“But I don’t want you to leave, Harley. You have been my best friend, and I don’t know what I would do without you!” Lillie exclaims, with tears beginning to roll down her cheeks.

“I know you don’t want me to leave, but it’s time for me to go. We both have bigger and better things ahead of us. I love you Lillie,” He replies, pulling Lillie into a hug.

“I love you too, Harley,” Lillie says between sniffles as Harley fades away.

Dear Esperanza

By Arrow Honiball (Vignette) Esperanza received a letter from her mother…

“Dear Esperanza, I hope you're doing well. I hope your wishes came true. I hope you have a house of your own, with a beautiful porch and your pillow, your pretty purple petunias, your books and your stories. Is the house quiet? Do you have your own space for yourself? I wish I had helped you and your siblings have a better childhood than the one you grew up with. I’ve always known you didn’t like the house on Mango Street. I’ve always known you wished you had a better

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story growing up. I wish your dad and I could do better to afford more. We were done with our growing stories too early. I hope you’re thankful for the things we did have for you though, even if they weren’t anything as you wished. One last question for you, can I visit you and your wonderful house you spoke of? I just want to see my daughter one last time. Please I would really appreciate this for I have a gift for you. It isn’t much but I hope it will do.”

“Mom”, Esperanza called her, “You can visit any time. I want to tell you about the stories I have created and I want you to see this beautiful house I spoke of. At first I didn’t realize anything about being grateful as I was growing up but now I fully appreciate all the things you and dad have done for my siblings and I. Come over any time. I don’t mind. I want you to tell me everything about the house on Mango Street. Can you? The gift, you don’t have to bring but I know you will bring it anyways. I hope to see you soon.”

No diamond earrings. No gold and expensive purse. No pastel colored scarf. The gift her mom spoke of, was much better and more meaningful than anything else in the world.

“Yes mom, I love the dress.”

Señora Gómez

By Seth Whipple (Vignette) When I was in 3rd grade I had an English teacher named Señora Gómez. She was the best teacher I had ever known. All the children and fellow staff loved her. Her smile was contagious and to those near her she gave off an aura of warmth, acceptance, and happiness. She taught me a lot such as math, science, and history, but most importantly she helped me better understand English. I would see her after school every Wednesday and each time she would teach me a couple of new words.

Then, one day I arrived to see Señora Gómez leaving the school. I tried to stop her and ask where she was going, but she got in her car and left faster than I could blink. I stayed after school that day, but like I had expected she didn’t show. When I got home mother had told me she got sick with Cancer.

At the time I didn’t know what it was, but knowing now only makes the truth hurt even more.

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Sorry Not Sorry

By Jordan Nathan (Vignette) I haven’t gone back to work in a few days, I caught the flu, probably from Nenny, she always has some kind of bug. Mama and Aunt Lala won’t let me miss anymore because it doesn’t look good, whatever that means.

I never told them what happened with that Oriental Man who grabbed my face and wouldn’t let go. I honestly don’t see it as a big deal, he said sorry after all.

When I got there, I did the same boring work, negatives, envelopes, repeat, negatives, envelopes, repeat forever, but I decided to actually sit down this time. When lunch came, the Oriental Man waved me over and I sat with him. He even brought me a lollipop. A cherry one.

Then he called me pretty and started playing with my hair. Then he put his hand on my leg.

Then I got a funny feeling in my stomach. He started to remind me of the bum man in front of the tavern. I didn’t like that. I got up and said I had to go back to work, even though I had 20 minutes left.

At the end of the day I left quickly so I didn’t bump into him. He didn’t say sorry this time. I couldn’t stop thinking about that and it made me cry. I tried to stop before I got home but couldn’t. I told Mama I didn’t want to go back. She didn’t ask why. Just hugged me.

Unwritten Chapters

By Salima Juarez (Vignettes) Must Be Hard The Vargase's kids are not bad kids. They just need more guidance in their life.

Don’t get me wrong those kids are annoying, But it must be extremely hard not having a father around. I know I couldn’t do it. The reason they act out is maybe because their mother is so busy working and taking care of things around the house.

Just not knowing why your dad left with no reason or nothing it must be hard.

They act like little rugrats and just do whatever they please. I feel bad for them but what can you do. People look at them and don’t care about them but their humans. They act this way as distract from the thought of not having their dad around. But everyone around them stopped caring about kids that aren’t theirs.

Porque No The state is nothing like home. Life back home is way different. I miss the people ,the food and how happy I was. My house was pink with startled lights.

Painting the house here won’t be the same. It actually makes it worse because it reminds me everyday of the old house. I don’t want to learn english and I like staying

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inside. I still hope that one day I will go back. So I don’t want to learn any english because I don’t want to adapt here. While watching my spanish shows and listening to my music I'll be just fine in the house for now.

I get sad because my husband screams at me because I don't speak english.

But he doesn’t understand I never asked for this. I wanted to stay in my home country with my people and my native language. In the States I don’t have family here. There is nothing for me to do here. I want my son to me in a country where he has family and where people speak spanish all the time. Instead of him watch these english t.v. shows.

What I Could of Been Esperanza doesn’t understand that I could have been something. When I was younger I was so smart. I could have been something big. I wasted my life worrying about unimportant things in school. In high school it's all about who has the latest clothes or who dated who. For me I had a kid so I dropped out of school.

Having a kid at a young age was hard. But I had made being a mom my number one job. I never went back to school. I stayed home while your dad worked.

A few years later I got pregnant again. So going back to school was not an option I had to get a job eventually. Don’t get me wrong I love my kids but I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I finished school.

I’m Sorry..

My husband doesn’t like when I go out. The only time I go out is if he is at work and I leave without telling him. I miss hanging out with my friends. Being stuck in this house all day is so boring. So I waited a few weeks to figure out his work schedule. He leaves the house at 7 to be at work at 8. Then comes home at 4. So I started leaving the house to hang out with my friends. I got away with it a few times.

But there was one time where he came home early. I came home after hanging out with my friends. When I got home my husband was so upset. He was waiting for me at the dinner table. He grabbed my arm and said I better never leave this house again and slapped me. Then went to get a drink and started watching football.

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The Mysterious Rock By: Anayris Sepulveda Sanchez (V ​ ignette) We had a great time doing a campfire in Hawaii. I went for a walk and saw an illuminating rock far away. I was curious, so I went to see it better. My glasses were blurred because it was foggy on the beach, and it was late at night.

The rock had a heart shape and was covered with glitter. I ran to my friends and told them what I saw. They came with me to see if it was true. The rock was more brilliant than the last time I saw it. We tried to look in Google for information in the foundation, NO LUCK! Or it just came from nowhere.

I wanted to go near and touch, but Mr. Perez said we are not allowed to go that side of the beach. I turned back and in my mind said I will be back.

Later in the night, I waited for everybody to go asleep and ran to the rock. I touched it and magically filled my hand of glitter and heard a voice that said This glitter is to spark your life forever. I was in shock!

Eija

By Samantha Dickerson (Fictional Journals)

Eija’s Journal You know what, I lead a good life. I have a family, a roof, food, all the necessities. So, why do I feel so lonely and like all the stuff that belongs to me doesn’t belong to me? I also do almost everything around the house. Clean, make coffee, do tasks for others, and I even do everyone’s laundry sometimes. So, why do I feel so lonely and like all the stuff that belongs to me doesn’t belong to me? I wake up at 6 am in order to make my father’s coffee in the morning. During that time, I also have to eat and get ready for breakfast. I leave at 6:20 in the morning for the bus stop.

Everyone works. Bills are behind and my older sister has a baby growing in her and of course, my parents want to buy presents for the baby. I don’t have an issue with it.

Awesome, buy gifts for the grandkids. I wish I could have gifts though. I do so much and I get treated like crap. My brother acts like a jerk and my family has begun to ignore me.Everyone fights and with good reasons too. My father has good reasons, mother has good reasons, my

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older sister does not have children, but my brother doesn’t. Ross, my brother, treats everyone like trash. I don’t know where he learned how to act this way and why. He throws objects or whatever he finds when mad and he acts sooooo dramatic.

Anyways here’s some personal information: my name’s Eija and my mother gave birth to me on December 31, 2003. I have 2 friends and a bunch of “fake” friends. The fake ones act like a bunch of fussy 5-year-olds. Lately, when I fell bad or I get hurt, I don’t tell anyone. I don’t want to bother anyone any more than I already do. Am I pathetic? Why does no one help?

Father’s Journal Another day. Eija has made my coffee already. I have to finish getting ready for work.

Another hard and long day of work. Sigh. Eija does most of the cleaning, laundry and basically the chores.She doesn’t like to ask for help. She works until she almost drops almost every day. She always has bags under her eyes. What do I do? I want to help or give a gift to her?

What do I do? What do I give her? Maybe I will throw a thank-you party. Hopefully everyone wants to participate.

(Later Entry) Thank god. Everyone wants to participate. I have decided to have a party next week. We will surprise her when she gets home with a present. I can’t wait. What about you?

Eija’s Journal School was okay today. Everyone acts so dramatic. I can’t handle it. Maybe everyone should take theater. Anyways, I came home to a surprise. Everyone came home including my sister (the one who has children). Having 2 older sisters makes life complicated and confusing. One just graduated and the other has a child and another on the way. Anyways I became confused when I walked through the front door. Everyone had a present and my sister brought a cake too. They said, “Thank you for all you have done. Come open your presents and eat your cake.”

I started crying. I became speechless. I opened the presents of course. I got a kpop album, an apple watch, and new books.

“Thank you all, but you didn’t have to do this and get these presents,” I said with tears of joy strolling down my face.

“It’s fine. I wanted to do this in order to show my thanks to you Thank you, Eija. I want to let you know that you can ask for help at any time. We are here for each other.

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The Wooden People

By Kade (Kiera) Piro (Script) Characters:

Narrator - Kaden Maker/Modeler - Kade (Kiera) Heart of the Sky - Roi Wooden People - Kaden Generic Monsters - Roi and Kade (Kiera) Grinding Stones - Kaden Dog - Roi Turkey - Kade (Kiera)

Narrator: Thousands of years ago, lived the wooden people. They were the draft of mankind, heartless, no memory, nor thoughts in mind.

Maker/Modeler: These wooden ones ain’t got no blood, don’t got no expressions, their bodies ah deformed. What’m I do for they can’t do nothin’ in life. I created dem to tend to the land, but they ain’t got no fat, no sweat, their arms and legs ain’t developed yet. They ah unable to work, care for da animals, tend dah land, what is the point of dem bein’ here?

Heart of the sky: What a shame that these like wooden people don’t like even remember us.

It’s honestlyyy like literally totally super dupers beyonddddd like disrespectful. Just like sooo disrespectful and stuff like ewwww. *wooden person begins to sing* Do they like ever even-... omggg you can’t be serious! *wooden person still sings* Maker and heart of sky: Quit it!

Wooden Person: *looks up* ehh *continues singing* Maker/Modeler: Perhaps providin’ den with a heart will aid dem in life. At least den they’ll have feelin’s.

Narrator: With their new heart they only got more aggressive Wooden Person: *aggressively inhales* DEMOLITION! KILL THEM ALLLLLLL Heart of the Sky: Orrrrrr like another solution is to like engulf their homes and like their lives in like a great flood and like stuff Narrator: The Heart of Sky rained down a great flood onto the land inhabited by the wooden people.

Wooden Person: (sarcastically) ooh nooo there’s water whatever will I do… *Chokes on water* Heart of the sky: They’re literallyyyyy dummmiesss omg!

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Maker: I regret makin’ dem…

Heart of the Sky: We should like totally punishhhh them they NEED to be like punished and stuff.

Narrator: The gods still wanted the wooden people to be punished so they sent them to eternal torture Gouger of Faces: Now that you have died it is time to punish you, I am here to take your eyes Wooden Person: *Holds a sign with the letter “I”* Oh no not my I’s… AAAHH! Oh you meant my actual eyes Sudden Bloodletter: Your head will be a lovely accessory (snobby) Crunching Jaguar: Your flesh is now my meal to eat Tearing Snake: You shall not stand as a whole, yet in pieces (rips paper) Narrator: Thus brought a black rainstorm upon the earth welcoming animals into the wooden people’s homes.

(Dog & Turkey begin to speak) Dog & Turkey: “You caused us pain, you ate us, but now it is you whom we shall eat.”

Wooden Person: Are you saying we treated you too ​ruff Heart of sky and maker: *facepalm* Grinding Stone: “We were undone because of you. Every day, every day in the dark, at dawn, forever. R-r-rip, r-r-rip, r-r-rub, r-r-rub, right in our faces, because of you. This was the service we gave you at first when you were still people, but today you will learn of our power. We shall pound and we shall grind your flesh.”

Dogs: “Why is it you can’t seem to give us our food? We just watch and you keep us down, and you throw us around. You keep a stick ready when you eat, just so you can hit us. We don’t talk, so we’ve received nothing from you. How could you have not known? You did know that we were wasting away there, behind you. So, this very day you will taste the teeth in our mouths. We shall eat you.”

Wooden Person: Well I’m going to make like a tree and ​leaf.​ Maker/Heart of the sky: *facepalm* Narrator: The wooden people ran away from their torture, but every location that they wanted to rest, the gods destroyed. So, they ran up the trees, and have lived there since. That was the story of how the creatures, monkeys came to be.

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The Concept of Life Juan Santiago Smith-Jordan (Short story) As lonely as it seemed, winter had come upon them. The smell of cocoa had begun to roam each room, soon to surround the small family of four. A lovely mother, a compassionate father, an innocent girl, and a thoughtful boy enjoy their time calmly while drinking their hot cocoa on their dining table. Shortly afterward, the boy and girl get ready to go outside. The boy gets their gloves while the girl gets both their boots and jackets. When the children go outside, both of the children set their eyes on the cotton-like snow. One tightly squeezes the snow into a sphere while the other lays in it. As night approaches the sky darkens and the temperature changes.

The girl, preparing to go home stops in her tracks because her brother reminds her of a trap that they set together. Each of them wanted to see if they caught a creature before nightfall, but the location of the trap lied a bit deeper within the forest in which they lived. The boy had decided to promise the girl that they would make it before nightfall, knowing that she would argue about the subject if he did not. With that, both children walked toward the trap within the woods.

Once nearby, the trap appeared empty, but with closer examination, a fluffy white rabbit that had camouflaged into the snow. “What are you going to do with it?� asked the girl. The boy looked at her and back at the rabbit with no response. Subdued by his curiosity, the boy took the rabbit out of the cage and held it tightly. The boy who still did not understand the concept of death wondered what would happen if he snapped the bunnies’ neck. His hands wrapped around its neck and a pop rang throughout the forest followed by a thump.

With what she had seen the girl seemed as lifeless as the rabbit that lay before her.

Though, the boy stood unaffected. As lifeless as it seemed the forest contained more than the eye could see. Out of the corner of his eye, the boy had seen a peculiar figure arise from the body

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of the rabbit. A heavily thick, black, smoke-like figure emerged and collected over and from the corpse of the rabbit. The girl and the have both fallen to their bums in utter fear. The figure extended an arm like a limb and pointed to the dead rabbit, then spoke, “ Tell me boy, how can you kill this creature without feeling? How can you feel no regret, terror, or pain?” “I killed it out of curiosity and only that. The rabbit’s life had no significance whatsoever.” The figure extended two large arms and grabbed a hold of both the boy and the girl. “In that case, I will kill one of the two of you out of curiosity and I will allow you boy to choose who will die” stated the figure. Full of fear the boy manages to speak, “ I cannot kill my sister, but I do not want to die.” “The rabbit did not want to die either and your lives have no significance to me. You see boy, you and the rabbit now lie in the same situation. Can you see it boy, living creatures should not die for no reason because their lives matter as much as yours,” exclaimed the figure.

Conflicted and pondering about what he had truly done, the boy had finally understood what the figure wanted him to see. The boy understood more than intended and began to feel the guilt of his action. Once the child had looked up again at the figure it had vanished leaving behind the two children. Both of the two children ran in the direction of their home.

“Honey they still have not come back, could you check on them,” stated the mother. The father nodded and left immediately. He ran through the snow, jumping over fallen branches and realized that a snowstorm had occurred in the area. Once it had caught his eye he slowed his pace. Before he lay a large branch over two crushed children and a trap with one live white bunny.

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Things of the Legs: ​Journeys: Inner and Outer

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Based on “To Build a Fire�

By Andrew Hyams (Short story) At Five AM a man walked along the main Yukon trail. In a couple of miles, he would get off of it to go on a little-traveled trail eastward. The man traveled to an old abandoned mining camp. He decided to test himself against the trail that lies ahead of him, and now he is surrounded by 200 miles of dense forest littered with snow. The man pressed onward through miles of trees and unmarked territory. He suddenly stopped realizing he must go east and set off again. Then he climbed over a high earth bank along the trail to stop and take in a deep breath. He stretched a bit to get his blood flowing and looked up. Although the morning had encroached on the world he could still see the traces of hundreds of little stars dotting the sky slowly fading into blue. The skies clear of any smog or pollution provided a view unlike any other the cities of the south had witnessed for many long years.

Onward he continued through more layers of pine trees. He continues through the level forest for several miles before traveling down a bank towards a small stream. The stream covered in ice made him grateful for the small wooden planks that forged a bridge in front of him. He knew that if he had fallen through and gotten wet it meant danger. Once crossing this stream he continued on his paths and came across many similar dangers such as this. Most of them had a bridge or a sign indicating danger and so he easily avoided them.

He continued on his path until around twelve and glimpsed the sun for the first time and only time for another day. The sun here only rose for an hour before disappearing behind the horizon. He decided to eat his lunch then. Unbuttoning his jacket and pulling out a sandwich from the inside of his left jacket pocket the man sat on a log and began to eat. The sun brought a brief warmth that the man had not felt since the lodge he had stayed in some ways behind him.

He then got up and continued on the trail hoping to reach the camp soon but knowing it was unlikely. Surrounding the old mining camp a village had formed that he knew would offer him a warm place to stay. He continued undisturbed until he tripped on a couple of sticks covered in snow. Gathering himself he noticed the tint of the wooden sticks and realized that at some point they had provided fire. These old and decaying sticks surprised the man in that

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they had lasted all these years but the cold must have preserved it for longer than normally possible. Suddenly from behind, he heard a noise and discovered two beady red eyes staring at him from behind a tree. He saw the beast and ran for his life under the assumption that he had seen a wolf. Stopping long enough to catch a glimpse of the beast chasing him he began running again. Realizing the bear behind him all logic left his brain.

He heard a crack and a splash from behind but ignored it and kept running for a couple of minutes until realizing he had heard the sound before. The bear had stopped chasing him because it had fallen in a stream and had to recuperate. As winter had all but ended the bear upon him brought no shock except for that of fear. The man sat down in relief yet found an unnatural crunch. He at first thought it a piece of dead bark but on closer inspection noticed two sinister black holes staring at him. These holes surrounded by bone on both sides stared right through the man and scared him more than the bear. A skeleton lied in front of him covered in all but worn out winter clothing. Seeing death so close after almost experiencing it scared the man into running once more. Ran he did until he found the trail again and traveled straight towards the village. Two months later he led a group to find the body but to no avail. It had disappeared. The man stared wide-eyed at the blank spot where the skeleton once lay, unable to get the thought out of his head that he was looking into his own future.

The Doom of Kavzar

By Bradley Martin Poem There once was a town, By the name of Kavzar, Where Men and Longbeards lived in peace.

The fields flourished, The children played, The sun shone high over the sky.

The men thanked their gods for their good fortune, And thought to display their gratitude, With a temple that towered over their homes.

The construction began,

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But soon month turned to years, and years to decades, And no stone was able to be placed upon the top.

One day a figure in gray robes approached the leader of the men, And spoke in strange jittery tone, The figure said he could finish the tower, and that he could do it alone.

The man looked puzzled, And then he asked, For what would you want to complete this task?

The robed one replied, Simply a dedication to the gods of his own, And need he remind he could it alone.

The man decided he had naught to lose, So he told the robed one he could do as he desired, And away the figure gyred.

The men all returned from their homes the following morning, And the task had been done, And the robed figure was already gone.

The only thing that differed from their own plans, Was a great horned bell, With strange carvings of origin they could not tell.

That night after the city rejoiced, The bell began to ring in the silence, And dark clouds formed over the night sky.

A bolt of lightning struck the bell, And dark ashy rain began to descend from the clouds.

It poured heavily, and it poured loud.

The rain went on for days, And none could complete their work, Soon many began to think that dark spirits had begun to lurk.

The food stocks were ravaged by rats, And the men began to starve, And away at their forms did hunger carve.

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They requested aid from their dwarven friends, But the men were shunned from their stone stronghold, And soon violence and death would begin to unfold.

Giant rat-men rose from the sewers, And sunk their yellow stained teeth deep into the weak human flesh, The men tried to fight back but their experience was too fresh.

All the men were soon gone, And now be grateful that your town has opportunities to go far, And that you don’t share the fate of poor, poor Kavzar.

Sequel to the Three Little Pigs By: Kelsey Freeman (Fairy Tale) After the big bad wolf ate the smart little pig's brothers, the smart pig wanted revenge, so he decided to build a trap for the wolf. Since the wolf knew that the weaker houses were easier to blow down, he built another house similar to his brothers. It was a weak straw house that could barely even stand. After he built the house he needed to think of a way to lead the wolf to the house. The smart pig created a speaker that was connected to his house, so he could talk into the speaker from the safety of his home, but make it seem like there was a pig inside the house. After setting the speaker up, he needed a way to hurt the wolf. The smart pig knows that fire needs air in order to grow, so he covered the straw in non-scented gasoline, so it is easily flammable and won't make the wolf suspicious by the smell. He lit the fireplace so it wouldn't burn the house down until the wolf made the walls collapse onto the fire, blowing it up into flames with the wolf along with it. Now that the trap was set it was time to lure the wolf to the house. He spoke into the speaker loudly, and the wolf came. “Little pig little pig let me in” the wolf demanded at the house. “Not by the hairs on my chinny chin chin” the smart pig spoke into the speaker. “Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down” the wolf chanted. The wolf blew down the house and stormed inside only to get blown up into flames along with the rest of the house while the smart pig watched from his window. After the fire

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died down the smart pig went into the pile of ash to find the wolf cooked to a crisp. His plan was a success, however nowhere is more lonely than ever.

White Cat

By Isabella Bejarano (Narrative) Once upon a time, a little girl lived in a cottage in the woods. She had a sweet smile and kind eyes, with hair like spun gold, and a heart to match. In her little cottage she spent her days baking treats she would give to the fairies who lived in the tree next to her. She kept the cottage tidy and neat, and always kept a bowl of fresh sugar milk by the door for her tabby cat to lap. Yes, the little girl was happy in her cottage, but she felt lonely. She loved her fairy friends and all the creatures in the forest, but she wanted a friend who looked like her.

So the little girl packed up a basket of treats and set off to the village on the edge of the forest. When she arrived, the little girl felt a shock at how busy the little village was. A stonemason swung his mighty hammer and sent hot sparks flying, an old woman sold tulips with brilliant colours from her window, and a baker placed a fresh tray of pastries on his display case. The little girl watched in wonder as horse drawn carts clattered past and children ran by, their laughter a pleasant chime. Her heart filled with joy as she walked through the town, her eyes searching the faces of each passerby with the wonder of a child.

As she walked a beautiful white cat began to follow her, weaving deftly between the busy streets and winding around the girl’s legs with a purr. As she picked up the cat, the little girl noticed a poster hanging in the window of a dressmaker's shop. Curious, she drew nearer to the window and read the poster. It said that in honour of the dressmaker’s recent loss of her daughter, the shop would be closed for a week. Below the writing a drawing of the daughter stared up at her. The kind eyes and sweet smile, the golden curls framing her face.

The little girl stared at the picture, trapped in a trance by the face staring back at her.

The door to the shop opened with a loud jingle and the little girl jumped back, white as a sheet. The tall woman walking out had long golden curls, kind eyes, and a sad smile.

Without a doubt, the little girl knew this woman. She jumped up and called out for the woman

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to stop, but she kept walking. Desperate, the little girl chased her, grabbing her skirt and begging for her to look at her. The woman glided on, as if completely unaware of the little girl clutching at her skirt.

The little girl cried for her mother to look at her, just one glance to realize that her daughter had not died, but the woman did not hear her. No one did. The little girl ran from person to person, begging for them to look at her. She ran to the kids she had seen running earlier and stood before them pleading for them to see her, but they walked through her. That took the breath from the girl and she fell to her knees, with no comfort but the white cat who curled around her. Finally, she asked the cat why no one could see her, and the cat told the little girl what she had known ever since she saw that poster.

You are dead.

The Story of Meli: La Cucaracha By: Martina Ortiz (Fairy Tale) Once upon a time it was a hot, humid and perfect day for Mel the cockroach to do the impossible. Meli's husband died a while back when the owners of the beautiful house were cleaning out their utility room for more space.

It was a sad day for her as she watched her husband curl up and drown in a puddle of Raid spray from the tree where she was waiting for him to return with some crumbles of food. From that day on, she vowed to stay alive for him and do what he died for; that was the day she made a plan to go inside the house. Overtime Meli had picked up daily habits of the owners and ways she would sneak in without them spotting her.

The first step in her plan was to sneak in on gardening day when the people would constantly go in and out to get supplies. After she’d accomplished that, she would speed as fast as her little legs would bring her straight to the kitchen and climb up the wall and into the kitchen window. Right as soon as her long climb would be over she would raid the kitchen and live like a Queen.

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So on gardening day she took action. Meli lept from her tree and attempted to spread her wings, but oh was she wrong. She instantly fell as her wings did not in fact work as well as she thought. Falling oh so close to one of the owners daughters she made her way to the grass and proceeded to go according to plan in hopes nothing was completely botched yet.

To Meli’s surprise, she had made it past the other owners and hid until the blasted screen door opened. She was getting impatient as it was taking longer than she anticipated, but she sneaked in with the wife as she was getting water for her thirst. Meli was so relieved that the longest part of her plan was over and that she could focus on the task at hand now.

Although she was taken aback when she saw that right next to the screen door was the infamous electric racket that every bug she heard talk about was the demise of their loved ones. Reassuring herself, Meli proceeded forward to the wall to execute her climb. She saw that it was way taller than she saw from outside, but that did not stop her.

She attempted multiple times aiming for her grip on the wall, but darn the family using high gloss paint. Having a little panic attack, Meli tried to find other ways to get into the kitchen.

She was debating whether she could try and climb the table and jump for the window or go around the wall from the main entrance.

Calculating the possible outcomes of each plan, she decided to go with going around the wall.

A quick 30 seconds later she found herself almost crying as she smelled the food, nearly feeling the sugar pumping through her little antennae. Snapping herself out of her very much real daydream, she hurried to wherever her nose took her and raided for spare food.

Coursing across the floor and squeezing through the cabinets, she had never been happier and sadder at the sametime as she had succeeded in her journey, but without her beloved husband.

Enjoying herself too much and forgetting to plan her escape plan in a timely manner, Meli found herself staring at an enormous shadow over her. The daughter had come back from her trip at the store and acted on her adrenaline. She raced to find the racket in hopes Meli would stay there and not get away, but she could not have been more wrong. Meli, dashing away in fear back to the way she came from was caught yet again with the daughter.

Using a technique her husband taught her, Meli zigzagged towards the daughter to confuse and scare her in order to get past her. But little did she know that as she could see success in her escape plan, Meli ran into an invisible force. Dazed she was, not knowing what had happened.

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She thought back to the stories that she had heard the other bugs tell about how their relatives lost to the invisible force. Some said it was glass, and Meli instantly knew she had not much time left to live. So she went to the nearest hiding place behind a box near the window and she did not plan what to do next, but she prayed that her death would be quick and painless so that if she were to die, she would not suffer and instantly be reunited with her husband in the heaven most other bugs call the “kitchen of sky”.

The time has come, Meli felt the box slowly moving with her antennae and made one last attempt to sprint elsewhere. But alas, she had met her sweet and wishful demise. As the racket had slammed the tiles like a carpenter bee being pushed into the window by the wind, Meli woke up with her husband by her side as she was shown to the gates of the kitchen of sky, which she was surprised was even real.

The End

Shyness

By Stephanie Badillo (Reflective Essay) Typing these words is the most difficult task anyone has asked me to do. Being painfully shy, talking about my “inner feelings” is not something I would usually do as I do not want to necessarily be a burden. Introversion was and still is an issue I have to deal with to this day. However, the barrier, which was introversion, was overcome by using Jackie Robinson’s nine principles of citizenship.

From an early age, I showed signs of being an introvert. I was not a child who was found usually with a group of others but instead with a single person. I did not really mind the fact that I did not really socialize with others for the most part as it did not seem like too major of an issue to me at the time. However, it was a cause for bullying at that age as I stood out to others in that sort of sense. I vividly remember being called names such as a loser or freak because of that. Then there was also being made fun of for my appearance, which just ended up in me being even less sociable due to the fear of being made fun of. Being teased about my appearance additionally makes me rather insecure about my body and distort my body image. That in itself still has consequences that I have to deal with to this day and it is still a major issue for me which sometimes gets the best of me every once in a while. That is why

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typing this paper is a barrier itself. I do not tend to get personal in writing as I tend to not really talk about my issues too much due to my low self-worth.

The value of citizenship that is linked to this barrier would be the value of courage as it takes courage to really open up to others considering that I do not really think I am worthy of really being able to do that due to years of bullying. How Jack Robison shows courage is due to the fact that he has the courage to face through all of the discrimination without losing his temper in public. That shows courage as he had multiple opportunities to lash out to others but instead, he remained calm and collected. It truly does take courage to do such a feat like that in order to show to the public that yes, despite what they believe, people of other races are just as civilized as them. Dismissing such things as a stereotype of having one's race seen as a sort of uncivilized group would be a feat of itself. However, to maintain that image in a long span of time is even more of an impressive feat. It truly allows for such discussions of how humanity is similar despite the social construct of race existing. In summary, the value of citizenship that I used to overcome this barrier is courage as Jackie Robison, it took courage to overcome the barrier.

How my barrier of introversion which essentially caused major consequences that are still present to this day was mostly overcome was due to finding confidence in things like the visual arts and musical arts. Why I decided to really choose that for a sort of interest in those types of art from a young age. After all, it was very entertaining for me to do and still is something I try to do every day, at least for the visual arts. So with those in mind, I decided it would be a somewhat good idea to really do a hobby I was interested in. Indulging in such subjects allowed me to be with people who were more on the reserved side as well as allow me to socialize with them without really being judged. So, in that time I grew somewhat of a support system which allowed me to gain some confidence to really socialize with those outside of those main two groups. Of course, there was the issue of some individuals still bullying me, however, after a while, they stopped bothering. With my former bullies out of the picture, I decided it would be time to really focus on recovery. So it started out with me deciding to go out of my comfort zone to create a very club of my own- an art club. It ended up with me being able to expand that support group even more and made me feel proud of myself to have so many people interested in it as I did not quite expect that to happen. It ended up improving my self-confidence and finding the courage to decide to really be able to type out these words.

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In summary, a barrier I faced and am still somewhat facing is introversion. How I managed to really overcome this barrier was being able to find the courage in myself to be able to accomplish things that seemed abnormal to me. Introversion is a barrier that managed to really get a grip on me and cause many issues due to the bullying I faced. A way to overcome that barrier would be finding the same courage in myself as Jackie Robinson did in himself in order to break it and be civilized at the same time. The way I chose to overcome this barrier was to get involved in the subjects I was interested in, which was the arts, in order to connect to others and have a stable support group. My final thoughts on this would be that despite what happened to me, I managed to find that courage to step up and break that barrier like I wanted to after all these years. Due to this, I am now able to type these words out when I otherwise would not be able to.

Breaking Barrier

By William Rapp (Essay) The lives of military children do not fare as easy as the media says it will. We fight our own battles. Some of the prerequisites involve understanding that you don’t get any say in where you go, psychological effects involve just one side-effect, and persistence to push through the hardships. I have moved more than ten times in fifteen years, which undoubtedly, shines as a high number, even for military standards. Military children face higher risks of developing mental illnesses and experiencing trauma due to this issue and others. Despite this, I managed to get over these hardships and better myself, all while breaking this barrier.

Moving with the military has significance in my life. I have moved over ten times in fifteen years, every three years, and it has caused me a sense of alienation from the rest of society. The first point comes from the fact that military families only move, on average, 10 times in twelve years. By the time I turned ten I had reached that number already. Another fact about the military shows itself in the fact that it usually has a three-year time span before they PCS you (Permanent Change of Station). My dad must move from Norfolk to another military institution now because the military would not accept his request for one more year here before retirement.

The psychological effects associated with military life affect me to this date.

Depression, anxiety, and emotional detachment disorder (EDD) gather among military

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children. Depression has factored itself in recent years, for me at least. I suddenly turned from this bright, cheery child into someone who faced issues with depression. I lived in Germany for two-and-a-half years at one point in my life, and the move back caused feelings of suicidal-ideation to appear. In middle school, it developed to the point where counseling necessitated itself. Along with my depression, anxiety shot over me like a viral video on social media when I heard my father had to go somewhere. The military expected him to go wherever they wanted. He missed out on a lot of important events in my life and was sent to war multiple times. The mental anxiety and stress built up extremely quickly in these times.

He went to Turkey for two weeks and I scared myself to death over it, due to political issues there. Lastly, EDD, a disorder, explains a bit of my alienation. I have learned not to make strong emotional attachments to people over the years because I have seen that these attachments will break in a matter of seconds by the military. I have lost foreign friends. I have lost close friends. I have lost contact even with some of my old best friends due to this. As a result, emotional attachments don’t mean as much to me as they used to. Hopefully, you can see that the psychological issues associated with involving myself as a military child rise in difficulty exponentially.

Overcoming the barrier of military life has a difficult task of responsibility that I am still dealing with. A lot of it comes from the ethnocentrism of former friends that I knew. They told me that I should just get over it or suck it up, but that’s not how I am going to overcome it.

Thus far, my persistence and perseverance have helped me to expand my horizons and reach to the stars for the solutions to the problems. The cultural experiences have fueled my desire for more knowledge of little indigenous populations, turning into a sort of therapy for me. Psychological issues and moving have stopped me for a bit, but the purpose of these barriers: to overcome them and fight the urge to give up. Persistence has given me the strength to push back the wave crashing down known as military life. Before, the stress hanging back at the rear of my mind always clouded my thoughts and spread doubt that I’ll get to keep my social status. Now, that stress is taken care of through my support system, even though it’s small, dissipates, I feel more at rest. I am very thankful to my father, mother, brothers, boyfriend, and dog because they have all helped me push through these barriers.

In conclusion, although the military brat lifestyle has shown itself as tough, I have overcome the barriers it has presented and expanded my viewpoint of the world in the process. Despite it not actually coming out as simple at all, I have found some clues to solve

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this complex puzzle. Persistence, family, friends, my dog, and the rest of my support group have helped me prove that I am capable of breaking barriers.

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By Camani Hill (Self-Reflection Letter) April 9, 2020 Dear Self: I take this time now to reflect on how my growth as a writer. Thinking back to last school year, eighth grade, I remember dreading writing pieces and just always having anxiety. It could have happened because I did not have much confidence in myself. My heart always skipped a few beats when I heard we would have to write either essays or other pieces of writing.

In addition, we got assigned an assignment in seventh grade that involved creative processes and it had to continue a book we read in class. I believe this assignment gave me confidence simply because it promoted creative writing and had no restrictions, only guidelines. I remember loving the finished product that I turned in to the teacher and having a sense of a job well-done. I think that piece of writing became my greatest feat in English class that school year. This school year, I got introduced to many new methods of writing and formats. Ever since the “be verb rule” got introduced to me I believe it has made me develop into a stronger writer, which most likely prompted Mr. De Mott to implement it in the first place.

It makes me have to find different routes of writing my sentences and it helps me create more variety in my writing as well.

Furthermore, I have written poems and essays this school year that have really exposed me to my full potential as a writer. It has allowed me to try new methods and leave my comfort zone of creative writing and miniscule “essays”. I observed some of my past writings from eighth grade and saw how much detail they lacked and just structure in general.

I used transitions and had correct punctuation, but my paragraphs needed more strength which would come from adding detail and elaborating. Freshman year, my writing definitely grew in length, but also value so to speak. I gave more thought into what I actually wrote and spent more time contemplating on what I could do to better my technique even more.

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I know I have come a long way as a writer since middle school and I expect to get even better as I advance in my highschool career. I hope to take advantage of every opportunity available to my disposal as I go on. I still had little motivation on some of my writings this school year and this could have possibly occurred due to the fact that before this school year I never had to write such lengthy pieces. Now at the end of this school year, I feel as though I have improved since middle school and I know I will continue to from now on.

Sincerely, Self

Chalk

By Julia Dziegielewski (Personal Essay) A sense of chalk comes your way, I hear some cheering in the background. I have now entered the danger zone of gymnasts, flipping could occur at any moment. I feel my body running fast towards the stationary floor, my arms reach out as far as they can. I use all my energy to form a perfect, powerful roundoff, my feet slam to the ground, as I throw my body backwards, seeing everything behind me. Hands landed for half a second, using my palms to push off the blue semi-squishy floor, I feel my fingertips brush off as I leave the floor, flying high in the sky with my body as straight as a board, landing with my feet as I never experienced, at that moment I realized I went wrong. My body falls rapidly to the ground, I scream out for help, seeing the blood pouring out of my ankle and the bone sticking out not in the correct place.

I lay sobbing like I never have before, thinking I would run out of tears eventually. My heart was running a marathon and my body was shaking like I was cold. Seeing my teammates crying and their bodies start to tremble, I try my best to comfort them and let them know I will be okay. My eyes became blurry, seeing so many faces over me started to terrify me. A lovely mother of one of the other gymnasts comes over to hold my hand and help me breath.

Felt like seconds later I saw paramedics racing towards me. One putting an ice pack on my head, another putting medicine up my nose, two putting a splint (temporality cast) on my ankle, people start to swarm over me as if i was a celebrity. They pick my body up as if I were a piece of glass from an antique store. Feeling my body form its own shape in the bed, they throw straps over me and tie me down. I am wheeled out of the gym, I start to feel honored as if I did something amazing for everyone, being pushed through a crowd that

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formed a hole for me to get out.

I see lights shining brighter than ever in the night sky. The sound of the ambulance pierces my head, as I am forced closer to the source of the sound. I am in the vehicle, continuously crying, I then start to hear my name coming from several radios, I focus my attention on the sound and I forget what has happened. A few minutes passed and I felt the roads starting to get bumpy, we arrived at the hospital. I come out of the ambulance seeing my mom in tears and my coach standing next to my mom getting ready to come and hold my hand. I was put in an emergency room and I shared the room with a girl who was in a motorcycle accident and she didn’t have a helmet on.

That night I was probably introduced to about 9 nurses and 5 doctors. The main doctor, Doctor Cardelia, required me to get x-rays. I ended up having to get so many that they had to bring the machine to my room. All I wanted to do was rest and try to sleep but what I did that night was the exact opposite. The nurses about every 15 minutes were giving me more medicine so I felt pretty good except scared out of my mind because they didn’t know what I exactly did to my foot.

The entire time I had my mom, dad and coach right next to me and my aunt who is an RN was with the nurses helping them because it was so hectic in the room. My body was feeling exhausted as if I’ve been running for miles, every time I would think about what was actually happening or that at this moment my life was changing I started to cry even more, I would start having a hard time breathing.

Many ​minutes later my brother arrived, I could tell he was scared and nervous to see me,

because he’s never seen me in so much pain in an emergency situation. Furthermore around 11pm I started the process to get ready for surgery. My situation was so serious that I had to get surgery that night, so much blood was flowing out of my foot and the wound was open so it was mandatory to get surgery immediately. Surgery ended and it resulted in being 5 and a half hours long.

Afterwards I felt pretty good, surprisingly, we were in a small room that was really dark, I remember walking up and seeing my entire family right next to me and the nurse at a machine. I ended up going to sleep around 7 in the morning. I woke up to my parents in my room and I had coffee on the table next to me from chick fil a.

My phone was blowing up with messages from teammates, coaches, friends and family.

My heart began to get so happy knowing that others cared about me. My gym also sent me flowers and all of my teammates made me cards with a paragraph to help encourage me.

The next 3 days were pretty much the same. Woke up, had breakfast, friends and family came and saw me throughout the day, getting medicine about every 45 minutes to an hour,

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but I was mostly sleeping.

On the 4th day being in the hospital pt came in my room to help me out of bed for the first time because they wanted me to try and go to the bathroom. This was the first time I have stood up since I’ve been injured. It felt terrible, I felt like I was a baby, couldn’t do anything on my own.

Finally the day came for me to be released home. Many gifts I had to carry out in my lap while being pushed in a wheelchair, with my little cousins who came to see me. While in the car I got a facetime call from my teammates, they called to remind me that I will get back to where I was and to always keep my head up. Additionally, with orders from the doctor, I had to stay home for about another week and a half.

During the first week of being home I had friends come over in addition to crying often. I was missing so many fun events that my friends had the chance to participate in and I couldn’t. In addition to the first week I went to the doctors and had my splint taken off and my full leg cast on. Leaving the appointment I felt more hopeless, the thought of never being normal again started to swarm and fulfill my mind. I started to only think negatively about everything.

I was always sad and whenever I talked to someone I started to cry. I was stuck on the couch or in my bed for the next couple of weeks before then I was forced to go to school.

When I finally came back to school all of my friends were excited to see me, everyone helped me with getting around school and to each class.

For the next month my teachers were very patient with me since I missed so much school. Coming back to school is also when I started going to my gymnastics practices and I would stay for about 2 hours (half the practice), I could only do stomach strength, meaning I was determined to get abs of steel because it’s all I could do.

Around the time I was almost done getting caught up with schoolwork, I was allowed to get my cast off about 8 weeks later and unexpectedly went into a boot. I had the boot on for about 5 to 6 weeks, my doctor then told me to go into a brace and eliminate the crutches and to start PT. Obviously this is where it started to get harder because I had to learn how to walk again and it was honestly just an awkward position to be in. My foot would hurt often and I didn’t know what to do about it. After weeks of PT or in other words 5 months later after my injury my doctor cleared me to go back to my sport. This is when life changed and I started to get happy again. My teammates were so proud of me and having them right by my side through this entire process has been a blessing.

My coaches were also very patient with me and spent extra one on one time with me

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coming up with activities I should do to get back into the routine of my practices. In February I was at practice and my coach told my team that he had big news for us. He told us that he would only tell us at the practice. This left the whole team nervous, confused, and everyone trying to guess the “big news.”

The news was not so great.. He told us that he had to move to California on April 24th because his spouse got a job offer and the best choice was to take it. I immediately started crying and the feeling of hopelessness came again. I hated this feeling because my stomach would start to hurt as if I did 1,000 sit ups. I went to the bathroom because I was crying so much and I needed to be alone and accept what was happening.

After coming out of the bathroom it felt as if the gym was a ghost town. No one was talking and everyone had a look on their face as if they were depressed. I couldn’t do anything so I just sat next to my coach in the silence and tears started rolling down my face again, my stomach then got the feeling again. Practice goes by so slowly and finally the clock hits 9pm and practice is over. As we were leaving I stayed back to give my coach a hug. We hugged for a good 2 minutes and I kept balling my eyes out.

The first thought that came to mind when he told us was my injury and my recovery process. I realized he would be leaving as I would be improving. My coach and I are super close and I knew I was going to have to get close to another coach and it seems exhausting because they wouldn’t understand my situation as well and they weren’t there through the bad times.

This injury has impacted me physically and at the start of all of this hecticness I expected it. I have been affected mentally and emotionally more than I ever thought I would be, I learned patience, trust, commitment, determination, and overcoming doubts. I have changed mentally and have become stronger, knowing I can overcome anything since I have almost overcome this injury.

Coach told me in the beginning “Julia beat and overcome this injury’s butt”, which is still my exact goal. Determination has been my best friend through this whole thing. I was determined to get back to how I was because I wanted to prove everyone wrong, I wanted to prove to everyone that this would not stop me and that it wouldn’t get in the way of me being the best gymnast I can be.

Acceptance

By Ariel Fletcher (Essay)

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Many in their lifetime have experienced a barrier that has prevented them from reaching their full potential which they needed to overcome. I faced a barrier that has prevented me from enjoying and experiencing moments of my life. My story relates to Jackie Robinson as he used determination to get through the harsh words and hard trials he had to face to have success and using determination, which I did as well.

The barrier that I faced has a name as a skin condition called eczema which caused me to itch and burn on the affected areas of skin. It also had visibility to others and the more individuals asked and commented about it, the more my insecurities grew. A classmate in my class had said that my skin had looked like snake skin and it made me so insecure I never wanted to wear short sleeves or even reach to get a piece of paper. Those incidents had really affected me and my view of myself as of the opinions of others. Not only did I miss out on fun opportunities since of the fear of how others would perceive me, but since it burned and itched, I had to keep my medicine close and have watchfulness for what substances could get on my skin. My emotions started to have mood swings from the irritability from my eczema. Having a skin condition that causes irritability, mood swings, and insecurities really took a toll on my life.

As I grew older, I started to get seen by more dermatologists and doctors as it started to get worse and prevent me from doing activities and living life as a normal girl. Almost all doctors and dermatologists that saw me, did not give me medicine that could get rid of my eczema. I tried several appointments that I could make and I started to lose hope to live life normally and I even started to question why it had to affect me, out of the other individuals who have this condition. As time went on I would get frustrated, but I learned to enjoy life for what it brings and to appreciate that I had breath on this Earth. My parents remained drained from making the appointments to see doctors and dermatologists since no prescriptions or home remedies seemed to have a positive affect for me, so they decided to do their own research and try to give me tips that could ease my pain. Eventually my parents did find a cream that could ease my itch and pain which made my life much easier and lifted stress off of my parents and I. Once I found my pain killer I would forget that I had eczema and when it did itch or burn I did not let it affect my day anymore. I moved on emotionally and physically from my condition. In school my classmates would comment on why patches of my skin had whiteness, but I did not let their curiosity and comments ruin my mood, I simply just told them

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what I had and kept it moving. Praying to God really helped me with my trauma and my pain with my condition and talking to Him really made me focus on the positives going on in my life, and I think He wanted me to learn to live with myself and all good and bad that comes with it.

Learning to accept myself and all that comes with me really pushed me to open my eyes and see how blessings I had. Facing my barrier positively affected me and I do not think I would have the characteristics of the young woman I embody today without facing my barriers. I accepted that some may have a similar mindset as me or opinions so I just had to deal with what other individuals had to say without letting it get personal. This helped me enjoy my life more and times with my family and friends since I had other life experiences to have gratitude and happiness about. Prior to getting prescribed the medicine that really helped me, I dealt with my issues with God, with my family, and with myself. Later on only two summers ago, my doctor then prescribed a steroid cream that completely made my eczema vanish. Having a life eczema free felt like I overcame a big tragedy, but having eczema opened my eyes to certain ways and actions of individuals and built up my character which has a play in my personality.

In summary, overcoming my barrier made me feel free but it also taught me lessons and molded me into the person I have become today. I suggest many should not only face their barriers but also accept them, and learn to deal with them. Barriers can hold many back, and life will and can improve once they face their barrier.. I love my life and I appreciate my blessings prior to and after my eczema came into my life, I realized I have more thankfulness about my blessings, than having unhappy thoughts about the negatives in life.

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By Cassie Smith (Personal Essay) February 24th. This was the day I lost my mom to cancer. People never really think about what happens if you lose a parent. I never thought about it because she was my mom, it felt like she would be there forever. She played a big role in my life and I didn’t recognize that until it was too late My mom was battling cancer for a while, six years actually. Everytime she got bad, she ended up getting better because she loved her life. So when we actually lost her this last

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time it hit the entire family pretty hard because we all thought “this is just one of her bad phases she’ll be fine.” But watching her take her last breath didn’t even feel real. It’s like all the memories I had with her flashed before my eyes and that’s when I realized I had taken advantage over her. I missed about a week and a half of school and I was so behind. But the night of her death I sat down with my dad and we both decided that i should go to school the next day. In the back of my head I knew I wasn’t ready. There was no way I was gonna be able to focus on school work knowing that I wouldn’t be coming home to my mom.

But the following morning I woke up and I felt that going to school would get my mind off everything. I sat in bed before getting ready and thought about how much school and maintaining good grades meant to her so this was really my only motivation to get up. That whole first week back to school sucked, I honestly got nothing done and I didn’t want to be there. But I had to catch up and I had already missed the first two days of softball tryouts and she was always my number one fan in sports too.

Before things took a turn for the worse, my mom and I argued a lot, probably more than the average family. It was about the littlest things and it would get so bad where the argument ended with one of us crying. I never realized how much words could hurt someone and I’ve never regretted the things I’ve said more than I do now. It sucks that I always had such an attitude and I wish I would’ve changed sooner because I will never get the pain that she went through everyday living with cancer. She always put on a front in front of my sister and I because she didn’t want us to see that she was hurting. And honestly she did a pretty good job. She was a stay at home mom and she was very good at it. She did everything for our family, cleaned the house, did our laundry, put food on the table and always knew how to deal with the bills.

Losing my mom has definitely made me appreciate my dad more than ever because he’s all I got left other than my sister family wise. This loss has shown me that teenagers often take our parents for granted because everything that they do for us is normal. It opened my eyes that our parents don’t have to be doing these things for us. My dad and I didn’t have the closest relationship either but since my mom passed I’ve been working on it and now my dad and I are the closest we’ve ever been. I make sure I appreciate the little things and help out more around the house. This changed me because if my mom was here right now I probably wouldn’t be doing the things I’m doing around the house and making such a big effort to change my behavior.

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The Crossing

By Ashley Burns (Freeform Poetry) Neon lights and blaring horns Eat here, buy this, look look look Too much to see, too much too do...too much Hotels cramped like matchsticks tower over the street Billboards, cars and traffic lights Concrete everywhere Shift to the right Turn on your headlights.

We head up the sweeping incline Flashing signs and seagulls greet us Clickety clickety clickety click The gate opens.

The sea ahead, flat and blue green Frosted grey and pewter sky A black gull crouches by lamp light Waves spit on pilings as I pass Rail rail rail light, Rail rail rail light Merge.

We descend below the waves swallowed whole - Leviathan Fluorescent lights diffuse in its eerie gullet Exhaust smoke filling its lungs I am blinded by a watercolor sky Dark foliage speckles the shoreline Birds float in trails of seafoam Fishing boats at anchor, wait A pale blue ferris wheel passes above me Strong muscular rigging squeezing beams together Seagulls preen, feathers shed saltwater tears

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Dolphins breech, shiny backs a metallic copper as I pass Rail rail rail light, Rail rail rail light Merge.

The wind rakes up the scent of the sea and cordgrass Pipers run along the shore Egrets wade in the marsh searching for a snack Clams lay asleep in their beds Osprey rearrange their nests clickety clickety click Winding down past fields of russet tassels of milo We feel the chaos slip away.

Deer bending down grazing on new shoots A watchful hawk staring down squirrels Leaned in deep, a fox darts across the road Overlapping sheets of the POST spread over sawhorses and deck boards Steamed crabs dusted in Old Bay Oysters open, breathing steam out on the grill I sit on the porch shucking oysters Melted butter and salt sting the cuts in my hands Family and friends gather This is Home.

False Awakening By: Nicholas Espinoza Short Story

Isaac, waking up as groggy as ever, got out of the bed and started to get ready for school. He did not feel like going, just like usual. He hated the other students there; he hated their energy; he hated their snobbiness; he hated their toxicity; he hated the immense wealth of their families. He put up with all of it anyway, because he knew his mom paid the tuition for this private school, and his mom always gave him support, and Isaac respected that. Issac went through his usual routine in what felt like a blur; his senses did not feel very sharp, except for his vision, which remained clear inexplicably. Disregarding this feeling and going along with it, his mom dropped him off at school.

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He had told his mom to drive him instead of riding the bus because the students on the bus would always make fun of Isaac and his family for having less money than them. One day, he recalls in the car, they said, “How many jobs she workin’ to get you in here with us huh?”. Isaac knew not to let their comments sting and scathe him but this one did anyway. It seemed as though they always did, regardless of what he tried to say back. Eventually he just stopped fighting back. When they finally reached the school, he made his way inside, looking for his friend Alex.

Alex, Isaac’s only friend, has stood as the only one to understand Isaac and his pain, and to understand and deal with the same kind of individuals that dwell in their school. Alex feels what Isaac feels, but in even bigger proportions. When Isaac began to talk to Alex and know her more, he learned her father left a while ago, leaving all the work to her mom to give Alex the best life she can, similar to Issac’s mom, and his dad who he never knew. After this, he started hanging out with her more because he had never met anyone else like him, who received the same hate as him. Isaac began to notice however, that Alex could not take it as well as him. He has endured it so much that he has become numb to it and just gets through the motions of it all, no matter how much it hurts. Alex, who came to his school later, has not, and doesn’t take what the other students say very well. She lets every insult get to her, and every jab and dig get to her, but she never gets angry like Isaac does. She just gets very sad and ashamed. Isaac understands this feeling, but for him it always filters to anger and pure hatred, but always against who says it. Isaac has come to understand that she never blames them for their ignorance and stupidity without any knowledge of her situation, and rather, she blames herself. One day, Isaac remembers, Alex wore a thick sweatshirt on an 85 degree day over her school uniform. He asked her why and she said, “I’m just cold”, and he said, “It’s hot outside Alex, you sure?”, and she said, “Yes Isaac I’m sure!” in a tone Isaac had never heard from her. Later that day, he saw red criss-crossed marks like red x’s on her arms. He knew then why she had that sweatshirt on. Isaac had never known all these snobby students and all this coming at her took such a toll on her up to the point where she took it out on herself. He knew she would never take it out on anyone else.

When he finally found her inside school, he expected her face to light up as it usually does when she sees him, but looked somber as ever. “Hey Alex!”, “Hey Isaac.”, she says with gloom, “I’ll call you later after school, I gotta go to class.”, “But I just got here, and class starts in like 20 minutes from now.”, “I just gotta go alright.” He couldn’t remember this

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happening before, thinking back to yesterday and the past week, but couldn’t really remember much at all from the past few days. He decided to shake it off and just wait for her call at the end of the day to see what made her walk off so fast and what made her so shallow that morning. He waited and waited, but never got a call.

This surprised Alex very much, considering Alex seemed perpetually thrilled to talk to Isaac, as Alex has told him before “to be a breath of fresh air”. So Isaac called her a few hours later, still no callback, and kept calling after that without a single reply. He stopped after a while, assuming she just has work to do for a project or class. Nonetheless ,he felt much concern and grew worried over the next few days as she continued to not call back and never go to school. At this, he told his mom because he knew the staff at his private school wouldn’t seem to care. They decided to call Alex’s mom’s number in her phone to check on her.

When her mom picks up, she says, “She’s gone”. Isaac’s mom says, “What do you mean gone?”, but Isaac already knows that it means he will never see her again.

Isaac put together all the signs and signals she gave off, and finally realized why she wanted to leave it all behind. She couldn’t take what so many students kept saying to her, and it became too much for her. Isaac, dumbfounded and speechless, could not believe it.

He knew she hurt, but didn’t realize before how bad. He felt like he could’ve done more to intervene or just help her, but the past few days had gone by in such a blur still as if in a dream. He started to think now of how he would deal with all the others by himself without Alex there with him.

The next day, he arrived at school, and by then, all of the students had heard what had happened to Isaac’s best friend. One of them started to approach Isaac, and he thought they would just come with another insult or dig. Surprisingly, they said, “I’m sorry for your loss, and all the pain I caused to you and Alex”. Isaac felt so taken aback by this, that he could only sputter, “Th...th...thanks”. Another came up to him and said, “Alex and her family stood as so much more than we gave her credit for, we’re sorry”. Isaac kept walking down the halls, in shock, and stopped at the spot they used to meet, but not in pain longing, but in mesmerization. A make-shift memorial took up the spot, overflowing with candles, notes of sorrow, flowers, and love for a person who felt hated. Even the most cruel, and most sour left an apology, and had come up to Isaac to say it themselves. Isaac started to experience a feeling he had not felt since coming to this school; appreciation. He appreciated his peers’

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efforts to even feel empathy, as he thought they could never. He thought, “Alex would love this only if she saw it, but I know she will”. At this, he looked up longingly, then pulled a note out of his own. Isaac had actually written this before Alex had gone, but never gave it to her.

The first few words of the note had said, “How I Feel”.

After he placed it in the memorial, his consciousness began to falter. He could not comprehend this feeling; the same feeling he had that one somber morning with Alex. This time however, it felt like a splitting and splicing of his mind. It pushed him from his own body, his own self, and he left his consciousness. Alex woke up.

Water Kisses

By Melanie Hewitt (Short Story) My mother sent me to go get some water for our cows, so I walked down to the lake. The atmosphere surrounding the water mesmerized me so, I did not mind walking down to the dock. I noticed that boats covered the lake.

I really wanted a boat but my mom says “we do not need one and have better ways to spend our money”. So I sat and watched the boats for a little while before filling up my bucket and going home. By the time I finished walking home it had gotten dark so I hurried back home.

Suddenly I bumped into my best friend Alfred. I have known him my entire life and he always makes me smile.

He turned around and smiled when he saw me “hey Rebecca” he said, running up to me.

“Here let me carry that” he said as he took the bucket from my hand.

“The weather really held out today, didn’t it?” I exclaimed.

“Yes indeed. Perfect night too” he replied.

“That's the truth,” I said while looking up at the clear starry sky. When we got to my house, I opened the back gate and let him in the cow pen. He put the bucket down and stared at me.

He always stares at me and I never know why.

He then asked if I wanted to go walk around the lake with him to which I said yes. I grabbed a coat and left. On the way to the lake I swirled a rock between my fingers.

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As we walked he watched it go back and forth in my hand. “So how has your little sister behaved recently?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“Still a terror like always, she still absolutely refuses to do any chores whatsoever.”

“I do not think she will ever outgrow that” he replied laughing. We walked in silence again for a little while. I walked watching his feet pass each other over and over again on the ground. A few minutes later he stopped walking and darted off the path shouting “stay here, I will return in just a moment” So I just stood there waiting, flipping the rock in my hand. I stood there for a couple minutes before he eventually came back. He held an object behind his back and had a big grin on his face. As he walked up to me he slowly brought the object to his front.

To my surprise he had a flower. “The other day while I gathered apples, I noticed a beautiful flower field,” he said, handing me the flower. It had silky smooth purple petals and a leaf on its stem. “I know you really like the color purple and when I saw them I instantlythought of you.”

He always does really nice gestures like this, just little kindnesses that he went out of his way to do.

“Thank you, the petals look absolutely beautiful.” we continued walking and once we got to the doc we both stood there looking out at the water.

We did not have any new experiences to say so we stood there in silence.

I thought about the upcoming bonfire that our town throws every year. All the teenagers went to the huge celebration. Everyone in the town goes every year, and everyone has a date, and I do not. I thought about who I would want to take me to the bonfire and no one came to mind.

“So has your mom changed her mind on getting you guys a boat?” he said, pulling me out of thought.

“Umm, no she hasn't, she still hates the idea of it.” he grinned at me for a moment and looked back out on the water.

I fell back into my thoughts and continued thinking about the bonfire. I really want someone who has a sweet and outgoing personality to go with me. But every guy in this town that has a sweet and outgoing personality already has a date.

“So….will your mom let you go to the bonfire next weekend?” he asked me.

I stood quiet for a moment.

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He looked at me with a smirk on his face and big open eyes. “Yeah, I do not have anyone to go with though” We stood there in silence again and I kept thinking about who to go with.

A bug had crawled on his hand and he freaked out for a moment and then ran to go put it on a tree. As he walked back he stared down at his feet and I watched him. He looked up at me once he got to the dock and we stared at each other for a moment.

Suddenly I realized that he had a sweet and outgoing personality. He brought me this flower and he has always helped me with no questions asked. I stared at him stupidly for a second and he just stared back.

I never noticed it before but...he likes me! All of the deeds he has ever done for me ran back through my memories, he always comes to help me when I need it. He always went the extra mile and he always helped me when I had a problem. I cannot believe I did not realize it sooner! He likes me, and….I might like him.

He looked away and I stood there staring at the ground where he stood. How long has he liked me for? I cannot believe I never noticed until now.

“Sooooo…” he said staring back at me.

“Oh sorry.” “I got distracted thinking about how I can convince my mom to let us get a boat,” I said laughing nervously.

“Have you found anyone to take to the bonfire yet?” I asked him.

“Well I might ask this one girl to go with me, I do not know if she will say yes.”

“Who?” I stood there nervously awaiting this answer. What if he asked me? How could he ask me? I want him to ask me.

“She has really pretty eyes and a super nice and caring personality. She has a beautiful smile and loves animals.” He had definitely described me. my heart pounding at the thought.

“So, who?” I repeated.

“You know that girl a couple houses down from yours, Alyssa? we have started becoming friends and I have a good feeling that she likes me too.”

My heart dropped. How could he ask me about another girl after he so obviously likes me?

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Did he like me? Or do I just like him? “Oh uh” “yeah. You should ask her.” I said in shock.

How could I be so stupid? Why else would he have given me this flower, or helped me with the water. Why did he ask me to come down with him to the dock if he did not plan on asking me.

“You okay?” he asked, staring at me.

“Yeah I'm fine, I better go home, it has gotten late.”

He walked me home silent and awkward. He just kept glancing at me and I kept staring at the ground swirling my rock in my hand. When we got to my house he stood there while I opened the door to go inside. “I hope you find a date.” he said.

I turned around to see him walking away. I watched him walk all the way to the corner and then went inside. I went up to my room and plopped down on my bed.

How could he not ask me? The question just kept running through my head. He must not like me like I thought he did. I would have loved going to the dance with him. He has such a nice and charming personality.

Then I realized. He might not like me, but I surely like him. My gut sank. He planned on going with Alyssa to the bonfire and I would not have anyone to go with. How could he not ask me?

Underwater By: Jayla Rice (Freestyle poem) Sometimes we feel as if we are underwater We can’t get enough air to breathe We struggle to stay afloat in this thing called life Everyday it feels like I am underwater Struggling to stay above the failing mark Always pushing to go farther to reach the goal But the goal keeps moving further away Sometimes it gets hard and we want to just stay underwater Where it is cozy, warm, and safe We look for the easy way out of things that we think are hard But we can do it, we can keep moving staying afloat Swimming to shore Because that's what life's hardships that we have to overcome

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Things get tough but we face it and move on That's how we get stronger That's how stay above water

Mare By: Maeve Ragno Free Form Poetry She walks along the rocky shore.

Her bare feet feel every corner of each smooth, wet stone.

The cool north wind whips her long hair into messy tendrils and waves.

She can smell the salty air as it fills her lungs and chills her body from within.

Sleet-like seaspray pounds her skin but she bears no welt.

The sun burning dimly is no match for the frosty air.

The harsh gust of wind is so cold it burns her.

Rocks become ice with each step she takes.

Her linen dress is blown around her tanned legs as she looks at the sky.

Through the grains of sand resting upon her eyelashes, she sees the grey clouds marching to the sun somberly.

As if they are being pushed to their death.

She turns her head to the sea.

Its rough waves are calling her. She must answer.

Almost as if she is floating, she makes her way to the violent tide.

Gliding along the cold rocks until her toes touch the course sand.

She removes the linen dress that once held her captive.

As she pulls it over her head she feels the wind caress her naked, sun kissed body.

Her sensitive body embraces the inclement weather.

She can feel every grain of sand as it hits her exposed skin.

As she reaches the water, the seagulls and pelicans fly inland.

For even their powerful instinct cannot face the great ocean’s wrath.

Her desire to touch the lapping water becomes too great.

She dips one toe in. The frigid water surrounds her soft, vulnerable skin.

She does not pull away.

The pain makes her desire the water more.

She continues to slowly walk, into the depths of the unknown.

As she goes deeper, the water encompasses her legs.

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Her feet are numb and her knees are tingling.

Her thighs feel as if they are being attacked by needles.

As each wave comes, her body becomes more and more numb to the pain.

The agony of the cold is only bearable because of her uncontrollable desire to go deeper.

The water reaches her waist and the waves rush around her as the sea encloses upon the smooth, flawless skin of her hips she sees the sky growing darker, so she closes her eyes.

Her hair is no longer controlled by the wind.

Now it is in the possession of the tempestuous ocean.

Her yearning for the sea is still unsatisfied.

Her feet can no longer touch the soft sand.

She begins treading through the icy water, allowing her body to slip further under as each strong wave passes.

Once she can no longer feel her arms, she puts her head under the water.

Her face feels the shock of icicle spurs attacking her skin.

The shore is no longer known to her, as if it has been erased from her memory.

Everything goes dark.

She goes deeper and deeper.

No part of her body can feel the pain anymore.

She has become accustomed to it.

She can no longer feel or think for the ocean has taken her.

Her feet lift off of the soft sand as she submerges herself.

Neither floating or sinking.

Trapped in the limbo between the floor of the sea and the air above.

The harsh caress of the ocean controls her vulnerable body.

She is no longer aware of the presence of her body.

She does not know where the ocean ends and where she begins.

She no longer knows anything.

As her fate is held within the tight grip of the dark, wise ocean.

Far away, a white linen dress blows in the wind, caught on a rock, never to be seen by the monstrous sea, just as she is never to be seen again on land, the wind speeds up and the linen dress dances somberly under its ruthless control.

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Things of the Eyes: ​Observations of Stuff

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Waves and Fire By: Arielle Walker (Comparative Haiku) The waves hit the shore Crashing in then pulling back Bringing salty mist Fire eats the land It devours in its path Bringing smoke and ash

Liquid Sky + Burning Core By: Anaya Arthur (Rhymed Poetry) Liquid Sky (Water) A foam dresses flowing waves The blues blend together Those who get lost in the aqua haze Will rise lighter than ten thousand feathers Or maybe they’ll feel swept by an enchanting lullaby Pulling them deep until their voice mutes In the navy hue, not even fish will hear your cries The soft blanket of white noise took them, more beautiful than flutes Burning Core (Fire) A smoke drapes fierce flames The reds mingle into one Dive deeper into the layered frames Six scars for those who can run Stay to explore the captivating misery Become engulfed in the blazing embrace The dreadful, bewitching mystery Their calls lie erased

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Polars By: Jennifer Yang (Comparative Haiku) Soft, fluffy, white snow Icicles glaring harshly A loquat tree blooms

Mockingbirds crying, Jacaranda’s blue petals Crape myrtles blossoms

Grizzly

By Elijah King (Haiku) Icy snow-covered A grizzly, frosty bear blows betrayed by the bird

Three Brown Bears

By Charles Calevas (Poetry) The three brown bears Saw their chairs, saw their beds The bears cooked in a big bear pot The daddy bear’s porridge was very very hot Then Goldilocks cried a lot Three brown bears

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Locked Box

By Ashlynn Clayton (Free verse Poem) Longing for the bottom of the ocean.

Elegant, put together with gold clasps.

Slowly sinking.

She doesn’t know what’s inside.

But it’s heavy.

Like it’s ready to burst.

Her want.

Her need.

For it to open is strong.

But the worry and fear of what’s inside is stronger.

When it opened everything came pouring out.

Nothing could be contained.

There was so much heartache.

So much pain.

Tears rushed down her face.

No one could see her like this.

She struggles to close it.

Finally, it shuts.

But it’s forever tied to her.

Forever pulling at her.

Will she sink with it?

Will it drown her?

In the Sunday Rain

By Evanthia Bantelas (Haiku) In the Sunday rain Sits a lady on the bench Feeding all the birds

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Flowers

By Amanda Vallieres (Cinquain Poem) Nature Beautiful leaves Come alive in daylight Rises above all, the beauty Of this

Winter

By Oath Balane (Haiku) A Never ending Winter, that is what it is Cold, blunt and honest

Nature By: Grace Weeks (Haiku) The birds chirp and shout Life flows through the forest trees So quiet and calm

A Tree Antonella Hardison (Shape Poem) A tree With leaves Blowing in the wind Long vines intertwined Fruitful apples ready to be picked As the roots gripped to the ground Everlasting Dancing

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The Meadow

By Riley Leblanc (Poetry) In grass, the girl pranced Through the fields of wildflowers She looked back and then danced Her mother called, “Come back” But she only glanced Because she was more free than wind The mom beckoned, yet she advanced Until the sun set, there were only a few hours Too late, she was already entranced

Narwhals

By Alex Shade (Review) The Narwhals, a song written by Jonti Picking also known as Weebl. The song covers a group of cold water marine mammals called Narwhals going about their day. The song immediately opens very loudly saying the song's title twice, catching the listeners attention, along with an amazingly fast pace to keep the listener on his or her toes.

The song continues with it’s loud volume and fast pacing by adding to the story of the song through the lines “Swimming through the ocean, Causing a commotion, Coz they are so awesome,” This makes the characters seem semi-relatable to certain audiences such as unruly children.

The song then follows with the line, “Narwhals Narwhals, swimming in the ocean”, to make sure that no one forgot who the song talks about. The song then further develops the characters by showing their strength and size with, “Pretty big and pretty white, They beat a polar bear in fight” The song then shows the majesty of the characters with, “Like an underwater unicorn”.

The next set of amazing lyrics describe the characters in an amazing way with, “They’ve got a kick-### facial horn.” The song then once again shows the power of the character

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comparing them to Jedi from Star Wars, and saying they contain the power to stop The god Cthulhu.

The song ends keeping its pace through the entire song giving an amazing thrilling experience with a bit of a rave style ending with flashing lights repeating “Narwhals, They are Narwhals.” In short Narwhals, a song that stuns people to this day despite being 11 years old with its stunning pace, lyrics, and relatable story and characters.

Ode to Peanut Butter Jelly Time By: Marli Hynes (Ode) This song, So beautiful and elegant.

Named after the wondrous and classical sandwich Great to get any crowd going Without this song, Happiness and joy, Would cease to exist Without this song No dancing would commence So thank you peanut butter and jelly time For bringing light to this cold, dark world

It’s PBJ Time

By Lindsey Kester (Review) “It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!!” Peanut Butter Jelly Time, written in 2004 should go down in history books as one of the best pieces of literary music a person will ever listen to. The song, written by The Buckwheat Boyz, has created many other literary masterpieces including ice cream and cake and peanut butter and jelly.

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Written in Miami, the song inspired millions to take part in singing and dancing of the banana.

The literary masterpiece of “It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!!”, not only shows true brilliance but hidden meanings as well. First, the song starts with complete and utter darkness. The type of silence when an individual feels so alone that it feels numb inside.

Then, the song strikes with the first lyrics, “It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time.” Just this lyric alone should win a Grammy. The impact any individual would feel after listening to the first lyric can only describe itself in one word, breathtaking.

It is greater than the lyrics though, peanut butter and jelly represent more than any person would see. The Peanut Butter represents all the hatred of the world, including war, violence, inequalities, hunger, etc. Jelly represents the beauty of the world, including peace, harmony, equality, togetherness, etc. Sadly, the song shows the two apart.

The lyrics mention Peanut Butter first, this is because violence and war have a greater impact on the world. It mentions Jelly second because peace and beauty come out in small glimpses and rarities across the globe. When the lyrics change to “Peanut Butter Jelly with a Baseball Bat'', or “Peanut Butter Jelly with a Football Cap'', it shows progress.

These lyrics show the listeners a truly amazing sense of peace, because of the fact that a baseball bat can beat the two together, and a football cap can keep them together.

The song continues to transfer to the lyrics of “Tic-Tac-Toe.” These lyrics carry a deep message that can express many emotions. The lyrics represent the game of war, and how society as a whole thinks of their next move to win instead of their next move to make peace.

Buckwheat Boyz, true literary masters, and many would argue that the music they make would give Shakespeare a run for his money.

The final lyrics of the song free us, “You Freestyle.” Those lyrics sum up the whole song perfectly. It shows the maturity of the Buckwheat Boyz.

The lyrics represent the freedom that the world would feel if we let go of, tic-tac-toe, and peanut butter jelly.

In the end though, the lyrics do confirm that the universe needs peanut butter jelly to survive, but jelly peanut butter confirms what the universe strives to achieve.

Needless to say, the Buckwheat Boyz not only challenges but outshines Shakespeare.

Sadly, no new music can grace the world with the presence of it. In 2011 the co-founder of the Buckwheat Boyz, Jerimaine Fuller, died from a 11 hour police standoff. Jermaine will forever remain in the hearts of thousands as not only a person who brought joy, but a person who inspired and strived for peace.

“It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!!”, the astronomically amazing tune will figuratively and literally remain in the hearts and minds of millions forever, always playing on repeat when any person needs it most.

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All American Review

By Mary Dacuba (Review) All American first aired on October 10, 2018. Their show contains two hectic and emotional seasons. The series is based on a true story, which helped add a heartwarming touch to the viewers watching. In addition, the show had gotten placed number one on the “Top 10 in the U.S. Today” section on Netflix. Not only did the show provide entertainment, but conveyed messages of problems occuring in the world. An African American kid had the opportunity to play at a higher ranked school. He took the offer and with this decision came many obstacles. Some situations that were addressed are classism, racism, and bullying. As the show continues, it brings you along his journey. Spencer James, the main character, did not address these situations alone, but also with his friends that he made throughout the show. This show exhibited compassion for their community, teamwork, and the value of friends and family. Individuals like Brian Lowry, believe the production of the how had a great balance.

He commented, “All American, a soap opera that weaves issues of race and class into its central plot about a high-school football star.” It helped show a point of view that not many notice in our world. The show contains various surprises and plot twists. This makes the show unpredictable and would help draw viewers to continue watching. Individuals searching for a show that possess emotional and unexpected scenes, should watch this TV series.

The Barbie Diaries is the Worst Movie Ever Hate Review By: Birdie Abina (Review) In 2009, a movie called “The Barbie Diaries” got released, and it truly became the worst movie ever made. This absolute trainwreck of a movie begins with Barbie, the main character, and her two friends, Tia and Courtney, playing music for their band in front of a dreamy white and pink background. However, Barbie’s mouth does not even sync up with

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the lyrics to the song, and anyone could obviously blame that on animation errors from 2009, but the opening sequence ends with the three of them jumping into the air and freezing, a very basic and cliche directing choice.

Then, once the opening scene ends, the three girls end up sitting in their garage blasting the song Barbie so poorly lip-synced to five minutes ago out of a speaker. Kevin, who looks like a rip-off animated Gabe Duncan walks into their garage and shuts off the speaker, making a classic joke about how the girls all get lazy and do not work hard, and they all laugh with their terrible sense of humor! After another annoying cliche scene where all the characters have a heartfelt talk at sunset about their goals for the year, it finally becomes the first day of school, and it only goes downhill from there.

Barbie, Tia, and Courtney then drive through the parking lot of the school to find a parking space, but instead get met with Raquelle, the mean girl antagonist, and her two friends, Regen and Dawn. Raquelle quickly pulls into the parking spot Tia had her eye on, and makes some snide remark about how had they driven faster, they could have gotten the spot. But the worst part about this does not end up as the horrible dialogue, but the fact that the directors of the movie made Raquelle blonde, when she never has before.

The movie then cuts to another overly long unneeded scene that it has way too many of throughout the movie, where the characters talk about meaningless objectives that have no relevance to the actual plot, and have no purpose for becoming included in the movie. All of a sudden, Todd, Barbie’s main love interest throughout this movie and captain of the football team, walks by. In a classic 2000’s movie style, he gets a slow motion walking scene where Barbie watches him like a complete creep and her friends talk about all the features that make him attractive, despite him having the same exact face as every other character in the movie. Barbie proceeds to have embarrassing daydream sequences

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throughout the movie with Todd, including one where he asks her out at her locker, despite the fact he dated Raquelle during this time, but in reality she just stares at him for an extended period of time and drops a book on his face.

After all the embarrassment Barbie goes through, and the second-hand embarrassment from whoever watches the movie feel, she then announces out of nowhere, not even mentioned during either of the two heartfelt scenes in which the characters describe their plans for the year, that she wants to become head news anchor for the school, and goes to talk to the teacher about it. Upon entering the newsroom, she sees Raquelle giving a practice news broadcast, but all the points she makes do not qualify as actual news, it all just ends up as gossip and drama from around the school, and then the teacher claps for her and says she did amazing? And instead of also asking for a shot at becoming news anchor as well, Barbie just sulks and agrees to become Raquelle’s assistant.

A big and common issue in the movie that happens a lot, becomes Barbie will not stand up for herself and fight for what she wants, and then whine and victimize herself when she does that. It turns her into a very unlikeable character very early on.

News then gets out that Raquelle and Todd broke up because he had not paid any attention to her, and Barbie decides to just hop right in and date Todd despite the fact he definitely uses her as a rebound and he has a lot of toxic masculinity leading him to becoming pretty rude to Barbie often. Eventually he asks Barbie to the school dance coming up, and then who could have guessed, there ends up with a mall scene where Barbie, Tia, and Courtney have the cut sequence where they just try on clothes for five minutes.

Then, even after that entire clothing sequence, Barbie still chooses an absolutely horrible looking dress! Now, of course Raquelle and her friends have to also show up

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shopping there, otherwise it does not become a classic 2000’s style movie. Raquelle calls Todd and begs him to take her back, and he does. He dumps Barbie over the phone and Raquelle gets so rude and condescending to Barbie and her friends while they check out.

As soon as Raquelle leaves out of earshot, the cashier gags and gives Barbie and her friends a nice speech about overcoming the obstacle of Raquelle and offers to put the dress on hold for Barbie. While that can become very nice for them to hear, she then says a very weird and uncomfortable line at the end of her speech, “To me that makes us sisters.”

Where does that even come from?

She then gives Barbie and her friends a bracelet for free from the store as good luck, but Barbie’s comes with a diary, but the movie makes her bracelet and diary magic for no reason. It plays no part in the plot, it comes up like once after that when she loses the bracelet, and then when she goes back to the store she discovers that the cashier supposedly never existed. The cashier then never gets brought up again after that, and the movie really just added this random magic mystery that did not affect the plot and never got solved?

Barbie then decides that she will get revenge on Raquelle on all the popular kids for becoming mean and fake individuals towards her, by writing and recording a news story about them all to steal Raquelle’s job as a news anchor, while simultaneously becoming mean and fake to her actual friends, to the popular girls who thought she actually became their friend, and to everyone else. She also signs her friends and herself up for a contest to have the ability to play as a band at the school dance, without asking them.

Throughout the movie many unneeded sequences of just Barbie writing in her diary, betraying her friends, and using the popular girls for her story after she befriends them through manipulating them happen. So not only does Barbie start to ditch her friend’s band

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practice all the time when she signed them up in the first place without asking, gets them in trouble and makes them work lunch cleaning duty with her, she also makes an entire news story about Regen and Dawn, exposing their secrets and issues.

When Barbie then goes and shows the teacher in charge of the news, he for some reason loves this story about invading other students’ privacy and tells her to air this on the actual news network of their town. Of course when Regen and Dawn find this out, they blow up at her for becoming a horrible person to them, all while Barbie’s actual friends yell at her for ditching them all the time and say they do not want to play at the dance with her anymore, so they will play without her.

Naturally, Barbie has a long ten minute sequence where she sulks about how bad her life became right now and that she just feels so alone, completely victimizing herself even though every single bad event happened because of her own fault. Then, when it becomes time to air her story, she makes a big speech about becoming a good friend and an even better person and does not show the story, but rather animations made by the lovely rip-off Gabe Duncan. Her friends then magically forgive her and invite her to come perform with them at the school dance again, despite the fact they have not practiced together in two weeks.

Soon after comes the jaw dropping slow motion scene where Barbie walks out in her ugly dress and her hair in a middle ponytail, and all her friends proceed to get into a limo, not for prom, but for a fall school dance. The absolute amazing scene that comes next ends up as “Opening Scene Part 2: The Worst.” where Barbie, Tia, and Courtney perform live at their school dance with an even worse song than before, and somehow Barbie manages to lip-sync even more awful than she has all the other times. Todd dumps Raquelle on sight and tries to get with Barbie because she became more popular now that all of her friends

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forgave her, but Barbie tells him no..because she fell in love with rip-off Gabe Duncan. And then the movie zooms out and ends, like every other teenage movie from that time.

This movie brought so much shame to every other amazing and wonderful Barbie movie out there, not only because of the horrible animation and scripting, but mainly because of how the movie portrays Barbie. Barbie quickly becomes the worst character in the movie, becoming a horrible friend and person, victimizing herself, wearing her shoes on the bed, and barely apologizing for her actions in her apology to all the individuals she hurt.

Barbie did not portray the role model she supposedly should for the young girls watching the movie, she did not have the qualities of a good influence like she does in every other Barbie movie, story, toy, etc. Barbie herself becomes the reason that The Barbie Diaries always has and always will remain the absolute worst Barbie movie ever.

Why Megamind Is A Cinematic Masterpiece By: Madelyne (Duh) O’Neal (Review) Virginia Woolf, an important and innovative writer in the eyes of many, once said, “A masterpiece is something said once and for all, stated, finished, so that it's there completely in the mind, if only at the back.” According to her interpretation, a masterpiece depicts a work that impacts an audience in that it stays for long in the individual’s mind after its initial introduction. With this in mind, ​Megamind,​ an American superhero comedy released in 2010, embodies a cinematic masterpiece because of the casting and character choice, character development, and the unique plot and script.

Finding the right actor for a certain position remains imperative in order to create chemistry between other characters and adequately capture the empathy and attention of the audience. ​Megamind ​exhibits this well especially in the casting of Will Ferrel as the main

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character, Megamind. Will Ferrel portrays a generally unsuccessful villainous mastermind after the loss of his counterpart, Metro Man, and possesses the ability to successfully portray a comedic villainous character, such as in ​Zoolander​ ​(2001) o ​ r ​Austin Powers (1997).​ Brad Pitt as Metro Man represented another strong casting choice for ​Megamind.​ In this movie, Metro Man’s supermanesque heroism and perfection remains short-lived after his “death”. Most castings depend primarily on the reputation of the actor, as shown in the casting of Brad Pitt, whose deep, husky voice and apparent success make him an excellent choice for the Superman parody. He establishes a handsome, charismatic, though not always heroic, persona in his movies, such as in ​Inglorious Bastards (2009) ​and ​Fight Club (1999).

To end, David Cross as Minion still remains a curious and comedic choice for both casting and character design. Minion’s character exhibits traits of a typical villainous second in command and the childlike innocence proves essential to understanding the character.

Generally speaking, his presence in other animated movies directed towards children, like Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) ​and ​Kung Fu Panda (2008)​, helps establish a reliable and familiar side character. Additionally, the fact that David Cross’s character possesses the body of a fish makes the situation more childlike and playful.

Megamind ​works well in the aspect that it’s voice actors possess an established and recognizable career and specialize in the characters they were chosen to portray. Because of these brilliant castings of Will Ferrel as Megamind, Brad Pitt as Metro Man, and David Cross as Minion this movie retains the ability to leave an imprint on the audience’s mind.

Actor choice can only go so far in building an impactful character, because similar to characters in storybooks, people change depending on experiences and other outside

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events. An important concept in any work of literature remains character development, because without this key component, the plot becomes more predictable and the story line becomes stagnant.

Megamind​ works exceptionally hard to establish character development, especially in the main character, Megamind. Megamind’s character represents the stereotypical villain in most hero stories that the hero easily defeats in every scenario, however in this movie, he successfully defeated the hero. But, Megamind finds himself empty and no longer particularly villainous, so he creates a “perfect hero” in an attempt to regain his evil nature.

This backfires, however, and Megamind’s greatest character development occurs when he realizes he must become the hero of this story and defeat the threat and save his love interest. The development helps add to the plot and engages the audience, because just like in real life, individuals change like seasons.

Another interesting character development may exist in Hal Steward (portrayed by Jonah Hill), or “Tighten”, the antagonist’s character. He starts as a pathetic reporter side-kick, or the typical Jimmy Olsen character in the Superman story, and falls victim to Megamind’s boredom. Because of Megamind’s forced ambitions, he snaps and ultimately becomes evil. This development helps outline the importance of freedom at an early age and the effects of high expectations and forcing an individual to do what they don’t want to, which may give the parental audience some food for thought regarding those subjects.

Lastly, the character development, or rather regression, of Metro Man from the Superman character with an abundance of all to a lazy hermit who refuses to help despite having the power reflects that some individuals the media crowns as “perfect civilians” may not exist as a particularly good force. This brings awareness at an early age and exposes

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the audience to injustice, while also adding to the desperation of the main protagonist when he realizes his endeavor will remain a solo mission.

All characters in this movie possess their own degree of development and each adds in their own way to the overall plot and works to create impressionable and memorable characters.

Finally, the story would not continue without a plot or any type of movement, but a predictable storyline can contribute to a story’s inability to grab the audience’s attention or leave much of an impact on their lives. ​Megamind​ does a good job of formulating a unique story line for the reason that it takes place from the villain’s perspective. Even though the villain does eventually turn to the good side, he starts as an evil character who goes out of his way to attempt to kill Metro Man and kidnap Roxanne Ritchi, the Lois Lane type love interest of Metro Man. The villain point of view establishes an angsty mood that outlines the flaws of individuals and creates more sympathy for the character and the discrimination he faces for his appearance and personality.

Secondly, the apparent parody of the Superman trope works well in this case because it differentiates from the original story by depicting the villain’s point of view, mentioned before, and it follows a storyline that differentiated from the original story in that the new “Superman” character turns evil and the old one remains unwilling to save the day.

This adds to the audience engagement because it represents a familiar story but keeps it interesting by straying from the original well-known plot.

For the last point, the script retains a comedic air throughout the entirety despite the tragedy in the “death” of Metro Man, the heartbreak between Megamind and Roxanne Ritchi, and even the fight between Megamind and Tighten at the climax of the movie. The comedy utilized helps broaden the age of the audience and keeps all ages immersed. One

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of the major aspects of the impactfulness of the movie remains the lightheartedness of the humor despite the angsty tone of the movie and the unexpectedness of it all.

To summarize, the plot and intellectual script writing heavily impacted how the movie could leave an impression on an audience and prove its status as a masterpiece.

Megamind​ remains a masterpiece in its own right because of the creative choice in voice actor and character construction, development of said characters, and the plot and comedic script. ​Megamind​ even scored a score of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes, “the world’s recommendation resources for quality entertainment” according to the Rotten Tomatoes website, and a 72% audience score, thus rating it “fresh” and not “rotten”. This shows how this movie impacts the audience and stays in their hearts or the back of their minds, just like Virginia Woolf mentioned in her powerful quote.

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Thanks to the Contributing Authors as well as our guests.

“Sharefest” was held on Friday, June 5, 2020 as a GoogleMeet ( ​https://meet.google.com/qxh-wyup-zgv​) and a recording can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TsA9erMKROFy3zsGp-cjuvpeE2PkjSna/view This document is at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W35lP5EAEsJ20a0UZaizG-rMM3lzKNX uA8LOHt_MDMw/edit# A number of students were in attendance as well as special guests Rachel Crist Lizan, LMC and Kathleen Jorge, a THS alum and Virginia Tech Creative Writing student.

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Appendix “Goodbye Speech� EDM to the Class of 2024 Every year I give a goodbye speech to my class. Here's this year's short speech.

If I were giving you my goodbye speech in the classroom today, I would say simply: stand up for what is right. Do not let dis-tractors fog over the simplicity of that message.

Do not let speech givers and opinion writers turn your head away from the actual story, the actual message you are supposed to get from it.

Listen with the intent to listen, not with the intent to speak; speak with the intent to convey a message, not to fall into the trap of attacking a person instead of the message.

Read completely; write completely; speak completely.

Be careful of reading the headlines only; be conscious of what is not reported as much as what is reported; do not dismiss a source simply because it comes from a viewpoint other than your own; do not accept a source simply because it comes from a viewpoint that is your own.

Be aware of the logical fallacies that run rampant in the world, but do not grow so cynical that you believe everything is a logical fallacy; understand that there are manipulators in the world, but know that there is a world of people with good intent.

When emotions run high, ask why; when there is a cold calculated logical argument laid out, ask what effects this has on an individual person, a group of people. We are complex creatures; we can neither survive on emotional reactions alone, nor statistical explanations.

Sometimes standing up means lying down with your hands behind your back in protest to make transparent to the world what is being done to our brothers and our sisters.

Do not believe the Us and Them Fallacy that divides, nor ignore the differences that exist in order to comfortably say "we are all the same". If that were true, there'd be no variations.

Recognize injustice as such. Recognize that people live within systems, and that systems can create justice or injustice. Call for change in systems so that there can be change in people.

But above all else, let love, actual love, guide you to notice those around you, embrace what is good around you without ignoring the bad, and strive to be the agent of change for that which needs changing.

Earl C. De Mott, Educator, June 4, 2020

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