The Odyssey Project r2025
HEROES
Alejandra Q. • Yefry A. • Brian A. • Rebeca Chavez • Jose F. • Fernanda Flores •
Jorge G. • Angel H. • Laila Hassan • Gohan Huynh • Nico Li • Vika Oleynik • Eamon Powell • Armando R. • Devanshi Tomar • William Zhang
Yefry A.
Life
Life is a stream
I’ve been a satellite to the universe
Orbiting the world with a purpose but yet no destination
Negligence and selfishness
Crys and sorrows
I ask myself everyday what will I be tomorrow
Mistakes and imperfections
Are a guide to the puzzle I’m building
Lost in a world made of atoms
My feet will bleed
My bones will break
But I will not lose to a stratum
Yefry A.
I stand with love, happiness, and honesty. I would want our planet and every community to have a connection and sense of joy towards humans. We all could be great together, united.
Ally’s Speech
I really don’t know what this class is about but I’m here and I’m continuing it for the fact that there really isn’t anything I could do. I want to draw and see where this goes.
Writing, writing whether with prompts or not I feel like I express myself more than I could in person
I think what was a bit thoughtful event was the allies letter about myself just because I view myself totally different than anyone else
The way to build my artistic skills mainly writing and also communications & public speaking
My day started by waking up in bed, feeling somewhat good but empty at the same time, something between physically and emotionally drained but I woke up and I couldn’t be any more grateful for it.
My day began like a vase of roses all dried up. In between the feeling of lost & found like a unknown sweatshirt in the corner.
I am the moon and writing this on behalf a wonderful human being who is determined, ambitious, and resilient towards any challenge that may come his way. He might be lost as of right now but he is finding his way through it and I shine the light upon him to guide him. He is destined for greatness, he will not fail to try new things and ever fail to stop trying.
Yefry A.
This person taught me ways that I’d never encounter with anyone. Thank you mother for always staying by my ide even through all the things I’ve put our family through. Your love is my biggest fear, not of engaging into it but losing it from you. As a kid I was grown to see the perspective of a woman rather than following steps of the dad we never had, this taught me ways, visions, and experiences from a woman that often men don’t see or are blind to the fact. No matter what I did you loved me, no matter my future or past you support me, and I wouldn’t ask for anything more. Thank you for being you and not letting anything change you, I may be under these circumstances but you believe in all areas of me that I yet don’t.
You give me motivation and ambition to keep going.
You bring me light and I’ll bring the light to you soon.
To our family, I love you all.
The Monster’s Eye ALEJANDRA Q.
ALEJANDRA Q.
Siren, Ally’s Speech & Scylla
My siren says it would be easier for me to act with my emotions and lose everything I worked hard for.
Allies’ speech: Fallen angle
Here I stand on behalf of Alejandra, she’s a warming and heavenly person that has not only grown in ways that she doesn’t see but also gone through things that she should’ve never experienced in her life but that’s what makes her the person she is now. She engages in work that drives her mind to curiosity and is driven towards her work and goals in her life. I here have not only stood by her and gone through these tribulations with her but one thing that I will always acknowledge about her is that she will never give up even when her mind tells her too. I know this might be something she may not believe due to her difficulty believing thing without action behind it but If I were able to talk to her in-depth of her whole life, I would fully express the way that I should have. Thunderstorms rumble, the sun rises, the rain cries, the world goes on in complete circles, out of the 8 billion people in this world you stand out like a fully blossomed rose in a world full of sorrow.
BRIAN A.
Self-Portrait
REBECCA CHAVEZ
Self-Portrait
Work stresses me out. I get a lot of anxiety when I go to work and when I am at work. I wish I could quit but simply cannot afford to.
I woke up this morning feeling incredibly tired, and hungry. I brushed my teeth and got ready.
My name is Rebeca Chavez, and I am 25 years old.
I myself am a sensitive person. I feel a lot, and I like to think that I get it from my mother. I believe it is such a heroic quality that is powerful. Many people in my culture unfortunately shame others for showing their true emotions. The problem is toxic masculinities amongst families.
REBECCA CHAVEZ
The Monster’s Eye
What makes you so cruel? To think of me as so little and even, unimportant. I am much more than what you think of me. I am a human being.
I have feelings, a heart, a mind, a soul. What gives you the right to talk to me in that manner? Is it because you think you’re better than me?
I am filled with many questions that will most likely remain unanswered.
I want to know what made you feel this way. I just wish I could help you.
There’s no reason to act this way towards others, because I know how you feel. I know the weight that you carry comes with sadness, anger, betrayal, and guilt.
I am entirely aware because I was once this person too.
I have felt these exact emotions in my life,and even ended up like the monster that you are. But, with time, I realized that those emotions don’t go away.
I realized I didn’t want to be that person.
I realized that I didn’t want to be the monster that you are.
REBECCA CHAVEZ
I release my anger and guilt towards my father. When I was younger, I would hold a grudge towards him for not being emotionally present in my life.
Now that I am 25 years old, I completely feel some aspects as to why he is the way that he is. All of the struggles & hurt that he has been through, to the point where I not only see him as a father, but as a raw, human being.
The fallen warrior in my life would have to be my recently passed uncle who lost his life this year in March. If my uncle were to have advice for me, it would be to be unapologetically me at all times. My uncle was a brave person, who struggled with alcoholism abd schizophrenia. He never wanted to tell anyone his struggles, so he forced himself to battle them alone.
REBECCA CHAVEZ
Charybdis
I grew up in a small city near Los Angeles, CA called La Puente, California. I’ve lived there since I was born, and it was quite the memory. My family lived in poverty growing up, so we’d rent an old backyard house with two small rooms and one kitchen. I sadly had to share a room with my older brother, and my parents. Though the house was always practically falling apart, we lived a happy life there. I then graduated high school from the same city, and decided I wanted to major in Animal Science. This did not feel right to me for years, but my parents insisted on me pursuing this degree as they mentioned financial stability is important, and they did not want me to be in the same boat that they were in growing up. It hurt hearing them say that, but there was a truth to it that I didn’t want to accept. I did a year of Drama in high school, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I convinced myself that this career was way too difficult to pursue, so I slowly forced myself to forget about it and pursued Animal Science. When studying in community college, I wasn’t happy with myself. I struggled with making friends, wasn’t happy in the career I was pursuing, and grew a tough relationship with my parents. I also did not have financial stability, to the point where I unfortunately lost my car from missed payments. Life was rough, and I knew I did not want to live this way.
REBECCA CHAVEZ
I decided to take on therapy, and find what my true purpose in life was. One thing that my therapist encouraged me to do, was to change my major. She convinced me to pursue my true calling, and to let go of my current career choice if it wasn’t making me happy. I auditioned for the Spring play at my community college in 2022, and since then I changed my major to Theater. My parents didn’t approve at first, but with time they grew support and trust into my choice, and since then my life turned around. I fell into a community of immense joy and love that I truly felt at home. I spent five years of my life wondering what I was doing wrong when in reality, this is where I truly wanted to be. I transferred to UCSB to pursue my career in Theater, and I hope to really make a name for myself one way or another. One important thing my parents taught me was to always keep fighting, no matter how beaten and bruises you are in life, you keep finding something worth fighting for.
A cause that I would fight for is to stop animal cruelty. It is something that I’ve always been passionate about and I believe there are different ways to test products other than animal testing.
I’ve survived grief, or still curving, but learning and living with it as I go.
Dear mom, I’d just like to say, thank you. Due to all your sacrifices and strength in life, I am able to be the woman that I am today. I love you, and love passing on your life stories to others. I hope life is treating you the way you wanted it to.
JOSE F.
Self-Portrait
Fallen soldier
Not any person can be in my shoes. My life was to provide and give back to the ones I love, and I’ll lay down my life so that they can live theirs, no matter what. The people I do it for are my youngsters, my family, and people that help me be the person I am, so that I can create a path for all my people that were stuck in the hood and in poverty, just trying to become wealthy and to take care of our own. But no matter what, “Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. It simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.” Long live Tone.
The advice he gave me was: Stay 10 toes down and don’t ever fold.
JOSE F.
Life Map, The Monster’s Eye & Scylla
FERNANDA FLORES
Naming
the Heroine:
I see my efforts as brave Superhero name: Fernanda the Echoheart
How are you a hero or heroine?
I’ve pushed through things most people never see. I show up even when it is hard. That makes me feel like a quiet kind of hero.
How do you see your efforts as brave?
Even when I feel weak or overwhelmed, I keep going. That takes real courage I think. What gives you personal power?
My strength comes from staying connected to things/people who are important to me such as my roots, my community, and the bigger purpose behind what I do. What creative act would reinforce your power?
Writing. It helps me process, reflect, and feel heard. What is your talent or special gift?
I’m good at understanding people and putting emotions into words that make others feel seen. Do you have a sense of a calling?
Yes. I feel like I’m here to help others feel understood—and to use my voice to create change.
I stand for: I fight for every immigrant who migrated to this country in search for a better life. I fight for their right to due process, BASIC human rights, and being able to easily apply for asylum/ citizenship within this country. I fight for them as a first generation latina, born and raised from immigrant parents. I fight for the children separated from their parents in search of a better life. I fight for immigrants rights.
FERNANDA FLORES
Life’s Story:
The older I get the less I remember the good times I had as a kid. Not necessarily because of anything traumatic that impacted me then, but because of how fast I had to grow up in high school. What began as a fun adventure filled with Friday Night Lights, pool parties, and friend get-togethers, quickly turned into late night shifts, picking up extra bills for my parents, and staying up late to finish overdue homework assignments. Addiction has been a really big part of my life since I can remember. My parents always heavily emphasized how quickly your life can change and that one mistake can impact your life in a split second. It was two days after my birthday when my cousin was arrested. He had become very close with my family over the past couple of years. He was born in Mexico but was raised most of his life in the US. He was not as fortunate as most and did not have a good relationship with his parents. When my parents had taken him in he flourished for the first couple of years. I remember the first time he came home severely intoxicated. He smelled of alcohol but I knew it was more than that. He made no sense, and was stumbling around, struggling to find his balance. I helped him to the room where he proceeded to projectile vomit into the trash can, practically filling up the bin. That night was just the beginning. I became worried but didn’t know what to do. I was 16 at the time and my siblings, cousin, and I had a pact to never “snitch” on each other. I know now that I was only enabling this behavior, but at the time I felt I was protecting him by not speaking up. By the time I should have said something he was being
FERNANDA FLORES
Life’s Story (cont.):
escorted out by the Police into a cop car. Addiction severely impacted my family. During that time, my parents were fighting almost every day, my sister was having a hard time at college, and I ended up taking on most of the responsibilities at home, including covering any bills my parents couldn’t manage that month. With them working six days a week and barely getting any rest, I felt incredibly lonely, like I had no outlet or support. Looking back now, I realize that this period taught me what it truly means to be alone, and that being alone isn’t always a bad thing. I discovered so much about myself. I realized how capable I am, supporting both myself and my family, even saving enough to pay for my first year of college. I learned that there’s real strength in becoming independent, and that no matter how hard things get, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
What is Scylla? “Mood Mosaic” – Self-Doubt
What I need to stay on course from Scylla is to believe in myself. I believe it is easy for me to overthink my capabilities, especially when I start to self-doubt. I need to continuously remind myself that I am worthy of everything I have accomplished and I deserve the spot I worked so hard for. I am a survivor of being carrying everyone I love’s emotional burdens
FERNANDA FLORES
Calypso, The Ally Writes & Ithaca:
Calypso Tribute:
Dear Sister, I wanted to thank you for being the most supportive person in my life even when I deserved it least. You have taught me to try to understand everyone’s perspective and to show them grace even when I really did not want to. You have been there for me at my lowest, constantly reminding me about how awesome I am and that my feelings are valid and they matter. You have shown me that being imperfect is okay, that trying to become someone you’re not will
My Ally is my older sister Barbara. She is my biggest supporter and the person who has had the greatest impact on my life.
I am Barbara, Fer’s older sister and biggest ally, and I am here to represent Fernanda who is smart, ambitious, and kind. Fernanda has been struggling to understand herself and who she wants to/ has become. The court suggests that she liberates herself from these worries about what other people think of her. The court would like it if she also went about life and lived it to its fullest. She is smart and knows what she wants. Once she lets go and gets her sparkle back she will be unstoppable in anything she approaches.
My Ithaca is to have a masters degree within the next 3 years and advancing my career in HR. I hope to have jobs lined up and to be happy in what I will be doing for the entirety of my career. I hope to have a supportive partner and I hope to be able to support my parents financially.
JORGE G.
The Ally & The Hero:
The Ally Writes
I am writing on the behalf of this resilient young man who has overcome many obstacles to be in the position he is in today. He has pushed himself to accomplish what to him might have felt impossible. Yet never settling for less and always more. Deep inside he is charismatic, Determined, and accountable. But do not take his kindness for weakness. The problem we want to address is the physical barriers that limit him to reach his potential while confined. We ask the court to allow this young man to expand and grow beyond these walls to become someone only he can become……..
Hero Name
Destined
Because no matter what he knows that they are destined for greatness.
JORGE G.
Life Story:
My life story started in East Palo Alto, CA a city where violence and negativity were the norm. A place full of potential, yet only few could see the light. Growing up in that environment meant learning to stay alert, to survive, and to find strength even when the world around me felt like it was built to break people down. In a city shadowed by crime and struggle, I learned early on that pain was part of the atmosphere — but so was resilience. I saw what happens when people are written off by society. I also saw what happens when people refuse to be bigger than who society said they are. I am one of those people. I can argue that I have made one of the worst mistakes a human can possibly make. A decision that didn’t just hurt me but also hurt people I care about, and people I’ll never be able to apologize to enough. It was a moment that changed everything. A moment that could have defined me in the worst way. But I refused to let my worst mistake be the end of my story. Instead I let it be the beginning of a new one.
That mistake woke up something in me. It made me look at myself — not with shame, but with accountability. I stopped running from my past and started facing it. That’s when my life truly started to shift. I chose growth. I chose ownership. I chose to build something better from the broken pieces. Today I can proudly say that throughout all obstacles and challenges life threw at me it has made me a greater person.
JORGE G.
The Monster’s Eye, Ancestor, Siren & Ithaca:
The monster within me
I believe that the monster within me is my past. In the eyes of society, the life I’m living is not normal. Yet you take a walk around my neighborhood, and you see everything that’s not normal become normalized. So who can I blame? I know I’m not what society says I am, I’m better. I have accomplished the impossible during one of the hardest moments of my life. But my past will forever outshine my greatness because everyone who judges only sees the bad in people not the good.
I’m letting go of my past.
Ancestor Spirit
My ancestor’s spirit would be my uncle, my moms brother. If he was writing me a letter I would ask him to give me advice on how to become a better individual and leader. Personally, I’m unsure what he would say to me or what advice he would give me. But knowing him as my uncle and having deep conversations with him before he passed I know that he would only lead me in the right direction to become better.
My siren is temptations. I let bad hobbies get the best of me and knock me off my grind.
My other siren is to eat.
Thank you letter:
To my better half,
Thank you for always being here for me, supporting me through everything, showing unconditional love towards me, but best of all thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. You taught me how to love myself and others. You showed me how life is much better when you work towards accomplishing goals. You demonstrated what a woman is and should be. Allowed me to express myself and be vulnerable, when nobody else did. You never failed to put a smile on my face and turn any day into a perfect day. You have played the biggest role in helping me become the man I am today! You never left my side no matter how big of a mistake I made, and for that I am forever blessed and grateful. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us, but I know it’s going to be something beautiful. Thank you for all that you do!
Ithaca: Greatness
ANGEL H.
The Monster’s Eye
This monster is huge and strong although he is not seen often he is there, he is always there. Most of his time he is an observer, fighting not to come out. In the past his nature and impulsivity got him in trouble. Sometimes no matter how much he wants to scream and yell, he sits in silence, contemplating the moment, knowing that it has mostly never been good when he came out.
Something I want to let go of from the past is blame.I tend to be really hard on myself and notice I become my worst critic. I also have a bad habit of wanting to hold on to somethigns from my past
A fallen warrior
A fallen warrior in my life is my past character, I would say my inner child. As a kid I was so carefree and energetic. I never fixated on judgements by anyone much less my own. I was very outgoing and fearless, I would approach anyone with no hesitation. My heart was full and my mind was clear. As time went by I constantly had to adjust to much harder circumstances and as a result I started guarding myself by placing a shield around my heart and walls around my thoughts.
ANGEL H.
Self-Portrait
His name is Angel Hernandez. He is 20 years old, he has been incarcerated for over 4 years now and has made significant growth throughout his time. He has been through a lot and instead of becoming a victim to his past has used it as a learning experience.
Tenacious the dying breed
I stand for family and all the people that I love, as well as for the people that have previously been in my shoes and that have had similar life experiences as mel
Something that gets in the way of my goals is overthinking or sometimes procrastinating
LAILA HASSAN
Life’s Story
It started before I was born. My parents knew their marriage wasn’t going to work by the time my mom was pregnant. This caused me to live with my mom full time and visit my dad twice a year who lived across the country. As a kid I loved it. Two different worlds, two different families, and a guaranteed vacation out of California every summer and winter. The downside was I was surrounded by arguments and conflict at a very young age whenever my parents did interact with each other when exchanging me off. Starting at 4 years old, I was the middle man between my divorced parents, I heard both stories that seemed true. The truth is both were false in some way because their memory was so bad that they both mixed up what really happened. The upside to this was I learned to handle tense situations where arguments occur. I also learned to be a very calm and compassionate person. The last thing I want in my life is more drama and stress. I learned to forgive and still love the people that unknowingly caused me an excessive amount of childhood stress, because in the end they are also human and trying their best in life. As I grew older being raised by a single mom, I learned to adapt to being more mature and responsible. I not only had my own responsibilities, but I had the responsibilities of my siblings to take care of them whenever my mom needed me to. Instead of calling my sisters “my sisters” I called them “the kids”. And I never realized I did that until someone pointed it out. Although it was tough stepping up to be the “other parent” I learned a lot about selflessness and caring out of the sake of love.
LAILA HASSAN
Life’s Story (cont.)
I know I’m all set and prepared for what it would be like to raise my own kids in the future which is something a lot of people my age don’t get to experience, and I view that as a positive. I’m proud of myself for also always sticking to my talent and love for singing. I am a very creative person and I never let go of my passion for it. Despite my hardships I let singing be my escape. No matter what happened I also could come back to it. It would always be there. The cool thing about it is that it’s not a physical thing I need to carry like a basketball. It’s within me and my vocal chords are part of my body. It’s always with me at any time whenever I want to sing a song and I think that’s really cool.
The Ally writes: Laila is a kind hearted person. She has always been kind to others. She took care of herself and her siblings at such a young age. She always puts their needs before her own. The only thing she truly dreams of is becoming a famous singer. She is a mix of a procrastinator and a perfectionist, so she does not post as many singing videos as she would like. She gets compliments, yet criticizes the way she sings and looks. This problem is holding her back from getting the chance to be discovered. What can she do to fix this? She can focus on building her confidence and realizing the true talent she genuinely has. Forgetting about the flaws is essential because she will never be perfect. Nobody will ever be perfect. Name: Laila the rock - I fight for the homeless.
LAILA HASSAN
Scylla, Charybdis, The Siren & Ithaca
Laila has been wounded by being treated unfairly countless times by not only peers but her family outside her home. She was treated as a peasant in a world full of people with fake crowns. She had everything they did, but there was something they didn’t like about her. Maybe her hair, the way she talks, the way she carries herself. She never could figure out what it takes to be as high as the faux royalty criticizing her. Although, they were treated fairly among each other. Maybe it was jealousy, maybe they craved to escape the entrapment of being in a cage of society’s standards. Maybe they envied the way she was able to carry herself while also saying true to herself. They have no idea the amount of pain she had to endure and they don’t care. The pain is what makes her strong. She is who she is because she accomplished something many could not. But with her mindset, they probably could. They just don’t realize it.
My siren says chill one day your dreams will knock on your door.
Ithaca: Hope
LAILA HASSAN
The Ancestor
The underworld first writing prompt: ancestor Laila, I’ve seen everything that happened and I know how you are feeling. You are so so smart and so strong and kind. You took care of me before I died while you were just 14. Please don’t stress about this world your in. It’s so short and not worth you wasting it. Be happy and one day we will see each other in heaven. In the meantime I want you to stop being so hard on yourself and start singing again. I loved hearing you sing and I know so many others do too. If that’s your dream, go achieve it. Don’t let random haters or people hold you back and stop you. Listen to the people that already support you. I love you so much, make sure you pray and get closer to God.
GOHAN HUYNH
Life’s Story
The journey of the hero was one that was unwritten. No stars to guide the way in the dark night sky. The firstborn in a land that doesn’t see him, to a mother whose tongue does not match the echoes of the surrounding sea. The hero has withstood many trials and tribulations, where he himself has had to withstand on his own. In doing so, he has become his own light; his own guide. A kindness he has never shown to himself. He helps those who need his help, giving his heart to those who come across him. However, there comes a time where the hero is unable to see his own way forward, turned back to care for others and not seeing the danger– the pain–that comes for him. He is blinded to himself and his needs. The need to help others covers his vision, even towards the future.
I Stand For
It’s easy to fall into the rhythm of house music. Steady beats fill the air as the people sway side to side. Music festivals attract those who want to get away from the drawls of life. With getting away from life, comes the use of lotus flowers festival goers. And while I may partake in the occasional petal, my fight– my dance– for this community is to keep those that want to eat a lotus flower safe. I participate in harm reduction with organizations and make sure people are educated and equipped to help in case a bit of the lotus goes wrong.
GOHAN HUYNH
Scylla & Calypso’s Tribute
The Scylla of Internalized Hatred I need to love myself.
I have survived abuse from my father, religious trauma, and restrictions from my mother to be a person I was not.
Calypso Tribute
To my dearest godmother. You are my mother’s best friend, but are different from her in so many ways. Growing up you have always been there for her, and in my darkest times, been there for me as well. My mother, being the traditional person that she is, never understood the concept of sexuality, of mental health or therapy, or that a child needs the freedom to be able to make their own decisions… never really understood me. But you have been able to talk to her about how I have felt growing up, and even have been able to share her perspective with me that I was unable to see. The days in which I could not get out of bed for weeks at a time, you were there to help me and take me out while my mother had work. As I get older, and I begin to see everyone less and less, I still want to thank you for the kindness you have shown me.
The Monster Writes
A coagulation of colors strikes fear in the hearts of those who do not believe that colors should exist on the skin or within the soul.I am the manifestation of those fears, marks of smooth browns, tans, and yellows on the outside and stripes of blues, purples, and pinks line the inside. There are those who are scared of those who can love. Those who strive for a bland world lacking color. Color blind to the beauty that fills our world with life. I fight for those who cannot, whose existence may feel as a curse to themselves given by the people who built the world against them. I protect them from this curse and show them that it is not an evil to love, but an evil to spew hate.
GOHAN HUYNH
The Ally Writes
I am Christopher DeSurra, chair of the communications and part of the elder gays.
Ally for Gohan.
Gohan is a creature of ambition and drive. He will always look to stars, strive, then thrive. He loves passionately and cares very much about those he comes across. He brings heart and light wherever he goes, but there are those who do not see that within him. He helps others even if others cannot identify it.
There are many barriers to Gohan’s Ithica, one of professionalism, his career, and one of love and support within the community in which his identity lies. He struggles to find his place within the circles he aims to be a part of.
I wish to ease his troubles by helping him in any way I can on both fronts, whether it is through letters of recommendation or guidance.
Naming the Hero Gohan, the unseen light
My Siren Says
My Siren Says to spend more money on music festivals and ignore my studies.
Money is temporary, memories are forever.
GOHAN HUYNH
Aeolus and Forgiveness
I release my guilt of never contacting my father’s side of my family again. The Underworld’s Fallen Warrior
You’re just as old as I was when I passed. I remember the emotions you felt when it happened. How you believed in the cruelty of life. I miss the days in which I shouted your name across the room.
You weren’t old enough to have experienced life in the same way that I had at that point, but you were old enough to know that life can be so unfair. You remember me as a fiery spirit, one who fought for what I believed in and what I wanted to do. One who knew what she wanted and how to get it.
I’ve watched you throughout the years, seen the struggles that you have gone through as you balance the burdens of life with the burdens of self. And although life has treated you poorly, I have seen you always get back up. You have begun to love life, even in all of its brutality.
My advice for you: keep living life to its fullest. I know that it may get crazy, and how you relied on me to help show you the fun side of life, but you have now figured it out for itself and found your own path. Keep growing in the ways I no longer can.
NICO LI
She Who Rose from Silence into Light.
It all started when my mother fell into silence. A few days after the world locked down due to coronavirus, so did hers—her voice stolen by a stroke just as I entered the quiet storm of the quarantine.
That was the first crack. The first unraveling of a world I thought I understood.
I didn’t know it then, but I was standing at the edge of a great sea, barefoot and unarmed, watching the waves of grief gather far beyond the horizon.
Home stopped being shelter. It became a storm.
Each day felt like a silent negotiation with fate—would today be worse than yesterday? Would she remember my name?
Would I ever feel safe again?
While others counted boredom in quarantine, I counted losses I couldn’t speak of. I became quiet.
I became a doll forgotten in the attic.
Time passed, but the chill didn’t lift. Even when the snow melted, the frost in my chest remained.
I grew older, but not lighter.
Then came the second wave: The cancer returned.
She began to disappear again, not suddenly this time, but in slow motion. And I—her daughter, her shadow—couldn’t look.
NICO LI
She didn’t look like her anymore.
And I didn’t know how to love a fading shape that still carried her name.
So I didn’t go.
I didn’t say goodbye.
And people called it distance. But I know now: it was fear wearing the mask of love.
I wandered the island of guilt for a long time. I built a house out of memory and regret. But even frozen hearts hear the call of the sun eventually. I began to thaw.
Not quickly. Not loudly. But enough to feel warmth again. I started to write. To speak. To say “this hurt” without apology. And though I still carry grief like a shadow stitched to my heel, I walk anyway.
Each day, I rise—awkwardly, bravely—knowing that I come from snow, but I walk in sunlight now. This is my story. Not of perfection. But of becoming.
NICO LI
Calypso’s Tribute
Dear Aunt Juan,
You are the lantern I found in a house of shadows. When the storm came from the mouths of our fathers—thunderous and proud—you held up light instead of thunder. You listened when others silenced. You gave when others withheld. We are daughters born under the same sky of rules, raised in the walls built by their hands. But you… you found the cracks in the walls and planted wildflowers. You showed me that even in a garden of thorns, gentleness can still bloom. When the world in which I lived required obedience, you gave me the possibility of choosing. You saw all of me at the time when my parents could not see me clearlyand said yes. You stretched your hands not as an obligation, but as the love.You gave without fee. You gave me what I could never demand, you gave me not only with money, but with kindness, time, with belief. You helped me feel that I was worth it. And the teachings of forgiveness were not sermons on your part, but where you were present. You understood what it felt like to live with resentment and you did not want to reproduce the same. And in a home that smacked of our heritage, you became my resistance covered in comfort. Now, they cannot control us anymore. Now, we are free. Thank you for loving me like your own. For being a refuge. For being my compass. With all the strength you gave me, I walk forward. With love always, P.S. (Xuening) is my Chinese name.
NICO LI
Ally Speech
1. Identify Yourself
I’m the memory that follows her—I’m her younger self, the quiet one at the dinner table who held in too much and blamed herself for things she didn’t cause. I’m the version of her that bent over backwards just to feel loved, until I forgot how to stand on my own.
2. Identify Your Human’s Heroic Qualities
But look at her now. She hasn’t gone cold—she still chooses love, even when it hurts. She holds so much doubt inside but keeps going anyway. She’s figured out how to care deeply without losing herself. That’s her strength: loving others without disappearing in the process.
3. State the Nature of the Problem
But she’s stuck. The people she loves the most don’t really get who she’s become. They question her choices, and mistake her quiet for distance. The place that should feel like home feels like a place she has to shrink in. She wants to be seen, but instead she feels invisible—even around the people who raised her.
4. Ask the Court for the Solution
So I’m asking you—please help her let go of the pain without letting go of the love. Help her stop giving up parts of herself just to keep the peace. Let her forgive, not to say it was okay, but to feel free. Let her see that she can still love them and also walk away from the patterns that hurt her.
NICO LI
Ithaca:
The Goal of Xinyang
To become whole without disappearing.
To choose herself—fully, gently, unapologetically—without abandoning the love she still holds.
My Chinese name is Xuening meaning the solidification of snow. For me my name holds stillness, reflection, and deep inner composure. Xinyang represents warmth, rebirth, vitality, and hopeful motion—the rising light after a long night. The change from Xuening to Xinyang is like the sun that rose from frozen silence. My power is born from reflection and memory. I’ve looked at the hardest parts of myself and chosen not to turn away. I know how to sit with pain, to listen to it, and to grow from it. My love—for others and for myself—gives me strength, even when it’s complicated.
Writing is my light. It lets me shape the things I carry into words, into images, into something beautiful and real. When I write, I feel clear. I feel heard. It’s how I process the fog and let something gentle rise from it—like sunlight breaking through a cold morning.
I have the gift of quiet empathy. I understand what people don’t say. I can see the small shifts, feel the unspoken things. It’s a soft kind of knowing, and it helps me connect.
My mission is to live freely and truthfully, to build a life where I don’t have to choose between love and selfhood. I want to help others feel seen in their softest, most unsure moments. I’m not here to repeat old stories—I’m here to write a new one. I am Xinyang, and I rise.
VIKA OLEYNIK
My self-portrait would show a girl with too many bags in her arms — work, guilt, school, family expectations — and she’s dropping pieces of herself along the way, unnoticed. But in her other hand, she’s holding a mirror, finally seeing herself clearly.
The lesson? My worth doesn’t increase with sacrifice. The more I abandoned myself, the more I lost. But the moment I reclaimed my time, voice, and peace — I began to heal. I’m still her. But now, I put down the bags that aren’t mine.
Naming the Heroine: I name myself Woman. Because I’ve been through windstorms, heartbreaks, and burnout — and I’ve never let the flame go out.
What makes me a heroine is that I keep trying even when no one’s watching. I keep showing up — for work, for school, for people — even when I’m barely holding myself together. I don’t wear armor, but I carry grace like a weapon. I don’t scream for attention, but I lead by example.
My personal power comes from knowing who I am and knowing I never want to become someone who gives up on love — even when life gives me a hundred reasons to.
Entrance to Adventure: The moment I thought I had ruined everything was when I ignored my intuition — and kept trying to prove my worth to someone who didn’t deserve it. I knew something was off. I felt it. But I stayed. I bent, shrank, waited, and gave. And then I broke.
That was my Ismaros — the “mistake” that wasn’t a mistake at all. It was a loud lesson. It forced me to confront every people-pleasing instinct I had. It woke me up. It was the entrance to a long road — therapy, boundaries, late-night journaling, forgiveness (mostly of myself), and rediscovery. That storm became my starting line.
VIKA OLEYNIK
Entrance to Adventure: The moment I thought I had ruined everything was when I ignored my intuition — and kept trying to prove my worth to someone who didn’t deserve it. I knew something was off. I felt it. But I stayed. I bent, shrank, waited, and gave. And then I broke. That was my Ismaros — the “mistake” that wasn’t a mistake at all. It was a loud lesson. It forced me to confront every people-pleasing instinct I had. It woke me up. It was the entrance to a long road — therapy, boundaries, late-night journaling, forgiveness (mostly of myself), and rediscovery. That storm became my starting line.
What is Your Ithaca?
My Ithaca is stability.
It’s the version of my life where I’m not in survival mode all the time. It’s a home that’s mine — not just where I sleep, but where I exhale. It’s mornings that don’t start with rushing and nights that don’t end in exhaustion. It’s being surrounded by people who don’t take more than they give.
My Ithaca is also self-worth that isn’t tied to productivity. It’s a version of me who is rested, respected, and free to choose joy without guilt. I’m not there yet, but I can feel it calling — like a place I once knew but haven’t reached. That’s what keeps me going.
She’s already proven herself — through pain, pressure, and persistence. Give her back her mornings. Give her space to feel whole. Let her return to Ithaca. Her love is fierce, her fight is real. Let that be enough.
Naming the Ally / A Friend at Court: Name of Ally: Solace.
From the perspective of Solace, making a plea to the court of gods: I am Solace, the stillness she rarely lets herself feel.
I stand before the court to speak for my human — not in shame, but in reverence. She is fire. She is force. But she has spent so long carrying everyone else’s weight that she’s forgotten she was meant to fly, not crawl. She needs rest. A safe place to land. She needs release from the loop of overachievement and overgiving. She doesn’t need more tests. She needs time, support, and softness.
EAMON POWELL
Self Portrait & Life’s Story
It all started when I stopped surfing because I was afraid of stingrays. This was bad for multiple reasons. It taught me that it was okay to quit. It taught me that I can just accept my fears and just try not to face them. It took away something that gave me joy and physical exercise. Because of all of these things, I lost confidence, started acting more lazy, and just went to the same couple places I always went, never expanding my horizons. There came a point when I fell and cut my head open at work which started a chain of events that led me to start a wonderful friendship with another coworker who got me back into surfing. Then I remembered why I did it. It was that much needed break from regular life. It is serene. It humbles me and reminds me what is important. I started feeling better physically, mentally, and emotionally. I started to be more open to going out and trying new things. I developed a bit of a motto, if you will. That is “meet cool people, try new things.” This is a motto I have tried my best to follow since I got to UCSB. That has led me to where I am today, surrounded by people I truly care about and can see having around for the rest of my life. However, my impulsivity has got the better of me on several occasions. One was a risky snowboard jump which got me a broken leg. Others are just decisions I made that I wish I hadn’t, without getting too specific. However, my impulsivity also has helped me. I impulsively went on a backpacking trip that changed my life. I impulsively decided to go to ucsb when I got the chance. I impulsively started a job my friend recommended to me and that has given me so many new connections, friends, and memories. My time in college is coming to an end, and I may not be where I am today if these events did not happen.
EAMON POWELL
The Ally
I am the spirit of optimism. I am here to represent my human, Eamon Powell. He has so many extraordinary qualities, some of which are a pure heart, natural talent at most things, the ability to pick things up quickly, and the capacity to love deeply. The problem is that he is easily swayed into doing things he doesn’t want to do or knows he will regret. He fell into a rut some years ago and has been stuck there since. Because of distractions and his tendency to give in to pressure, he is unhappy. He lost energy to go out and do activities, and when he is out he is in his own head, he feels like he’s acting as a human instead of just living. He is lonely, losing confidence, and losing hope for the future. He needs something ahead of him to keep moving toward. Something that excited him. I need you to give him a reason to keep going. Give him something that will restore his energy levels to where they used to be. Let him keep the wisdom of a man while still living with the spirit of a boy. Whether it be a dream, a person, or something so far-fetched he could never attain it, give him the energy and hope to try. He is in that hole, I am just asking you to give him a ladder.
Hero
Eamon the caring
My siren says relax.
EAMON POWELL
The Monster Writes
I am Insecurity. I have put weights on Eamon’s shoulders at times, and it was meant to hurt him. I wanted him to feel like he was always okay but never good enough. Never the shortest in the room but never the tallest. Never the funniest, but not boring. Never the most athletic, but athletic enough. Just middle of the pack. I wanted to make him feel like a car with a messed up interior; it works but is not exactly what you want. I may have hurt him intentionally but it was with good intentions, I just wanted him to improve himself.
Aeolus and Forgiveness
I’m letting go of my regret of cutting a loved one out of my life.
The Underworld (Fallen Warrior)
Eamon, it’s Jake. I know it’s been a while since we’ve spoken. Since the last time I saw you, I died, went to the underworld, and have learned a few things. One is that life is precious. Treat it as such. I treated it like a toy and the toy ended up breaking. I need to tell you our last conversation didn’t mean anything, I know you were mad and I forgive you for what you said to me. Love is the most important thing in the world, never let that light in your eyes burn out. I never did but I wish I had seen things a bit more clearly. Do everything in your life for your loved ones and hold onto them. I miss you and I want you to know we are still brothers and I love you. Protect yourself and those who you keep close to your heart. From, Jake.
ARMANDO R.
Life’s Story
My life story came from a place in San Mateo surrounded by poverty. In a place where it was hard to have a childhood and lack of resources was the downfall of my education. But I learned to be resilient.
I have been wounded by hate and people not being loyal. I been wounded by society thinking I was a menace to society and could never be rehabilitated. The monster done horrible things but now is trying to change for the better for his’’monster family’’ But they treat him as he is the same monster that he was once.
Im letting go of my self doubts. I am also letting go of my poor mistakes, and moving and learning from them.
My fallen warrior who is alive is my mom because she is a single parent who raised 4 kids and gave me advice to stay in school and to never let anyone discourage me to accomplish my dreams. No matter how out of reach they seemed.
My siren says you can do it tomorrow..
ARMANDO R.
The Monster
My ithaca is coming home with a purpose and making my dreams come to reality.
The ally:
Identify yourself.
Identify your human’s heroic qualities State the nature of the problem State or ask the court for the solution
He is a young man with goals and dreams with the fear of not coming to home with a purpose and succeeding. A very young, humble and resilient young man who is always wanting to grow and is very accountable for his mistakes and is always using failure as a time to reflect and use it as a learning opportunity.
DEVANSHI TOMAR
Life’s Story
It all started when my parents, my brother, and I emigrated from India to Northern California. I had just turned 1 and my brother had just turned 2. For the first year, the four of us slept on an unzipped sleeping bag spread out on the floor of our apartment. Because our status in the US was so unstable, we would not buy furniture for another year. My parents walked everywhere, and although they would take me and my brother everywhere in the stroller, I still wanted to walk with them. One time, I asked my mom if she wanted to sit in the stroller and I could push her. My dad was the only earner in our family, and wherever his job was, we went. We moved from Northern California to the East Coast to Southern California to Northern California and then back to Southern California. I became a nomad. I learned how to make a home out of uncertainty, how to find stability in the people I loved and how to adapt (quickly and quietly) to whatever life demanded of us next. Each move meant a new school, new faces, new systems to decode. I learned to pack up a life quickly, to read a room even quicker, to carry the weight of instability like it was second nature. I remember the feeling of starting over again and again. I learned how to watch closely, listen carefully and speak in ways that made people feel at ease. As I got older, the instability also came from expectations, silence, identity.
DEVANSHI TOMAR
Life’s Story (cont.)
At home, I kept to myself what I felt. I knew what my parents had sacrificed for me and my brother and I was raised in a culture that revered achievement and obedience. I learned to hide my fears with language, to argue my way out of shame, to read my parents’ moods like that day’s weather pattern. When I got to college, it all started to unravel. The stability and routine that I had built that was tethered to my family was gone. I couldn’t keep up the performance anymore because no one was with me. I stopped talking to my parents. I got into a relationship with someone who wasn’t good for me. I neglected my friendships. I left school. I told myself I was starting over and breaking out of what it was that they expected of me, but what it really felt like was disintegration and atrophy. Then my mom got sick, and I came home. I slowly am returning to pieces I had abandoned and have tried to be more honest with myself and my family. I re-enrolled in classes to finish my degree. I became more involved in my community.
DEVANSHI TOMAR
I am choosing to write the “other” as people experiencing homelessness, people who have been othered by design and exiled to the edge of empathy and our society.
I’ve worked with the ones you don’t see until they’re in your way. Pushing carts lined with bungee cords and broken things that still matter. They are people who got pushed, then punished for falling.
I have seen kindness in fingers cracked from the cold. I have seen brilliance in men they call broken.
I have helped a woman clean her tile bench with care before the city woke up.
DEVANSHI TOMAR
I have watched a man use his last few dollars to buy dog food for the only friend he has left.
I’ve sat with people who carry grief the way others carry briefcases always at their side, never put down. We walk past them like shadows we didn’t cast.
I’ve filled out forms that ask for addresses from people who sleep on concrete.
I’ve heard city officials say “we don’t want to encourage them.” Encourage what?
Survival? Visibility? Existence?
My prayer is that we build cities where no one has to prove they deserve to be warm. That we choose systems that serve people, not sort them.
They are not your warning signs. They are not your lesson.
I don’t speak for them. But I have stood beside them.
DEVANSHI TOMAR
I’m letting go of my self-sabotage.
Fallen warrior prompt: Devanshi, I did not leave well. I did not explain. I cut it off, suddenly, and I know that hurt you.
You were one of the closest people in my life. We shared everything with each other. But I reached a point where being your friend became painful for me. I wanted something more, and when I realized I wasn’t going to have that, I didn’t know how to stay. I confused disappointment with disrespect and instead of having a hard conversation, I blamed you. The truth is, I didn’t feel seen the way I wanted to be. I felt I gave a lot and when the feelings weren’t returned the way I hoped I let it turn into resentment. I didn’t know how to deal. If I could give you advice, it would be this: Be clear with people about where you stand. Don’t wait too long to say things that matter. Not everyone will stick around while you figure it out. You have a strong voice. Use it to say no when you need to. Use it to tell people what they mean to you while you still can. Don’t hold back out of fear of being misunderstood. It’s better to be honest than silent. Find people who understand you and who don’t make you feel like you need to change or shrink to keep the peace. You are some-
one I survived carrying the burdens of others while holding myself together through it all to the best of my ability.
Mom,
There is a quiet strength in you that has shaped the contours of my life. I have come to understand love as more than grandiose declarations but rather a steady unwavering presence that you have maintained in moments that felt otherwise broken. You, who has seen me through heartbreak, failure, stress, have always offered support that was unconditional and resolute.
Your fierce defense of me to anyone who questions me is a testament to a love that is protective and insists on dignity. I see how you have carried your burdens and mine as well, even when i was too lost or proud to ask for help.
From our earliest days of uncertainty, I have carried a restlessness in me that could have undone me. But you were the locus of safety and constancy that was there even when I was silent, or trying to argue my way out of shame. You did not just wait for me to find my way. You met me there.
Coming back home was returning to pieces of myself I had set aside and forgot. Your steadfastness has guided me toward honesty with you and myself.
I am who I am because of you.
WILLIAM ZHANG
Life’s Story
The Ally Writes – On Behalf of William and Zoey
To those who watch, to those who question, and to those who hold power—I speak for William and Zoey, two individuals who acted with courage and compassion when others chose silence. They were asked by an older woman in Las Vegas to take in her cats—nineteen in total. She told them the animals were healthy. She said they just needed temporary care. But she lied. When William and Zoey brought the cats home, they found many of them sick, neglected, and in serious need of medical attention. Some could barely breathe. Others were malnourished and suffering.
When offered help, the woman refused to take them to the vet, saying it was too expensive. But it became clear her real concern wasn’t their well-being—it was profit. She wanted to continue using the cats for breeding and sale, even as they suffered.
So William and Zoey did what any decent human being would do. They stepped up. They contacted Las Vegas Animal Control, who agreed the situation was serious and offered to take the cats in for treatment and shelter.
William and Zoey drove four hours back to Las Vegas to surrender the cats to the Animal Foundation. They ensured every one of those nineteen cats was given a chance to survive—and then they drove four hours home, knowing they had done the right thing.
WILLIAM ZHANG
Life’s Story (cont.)
Afterward, the woman began threatening them. She accused them of stealing her animals. She claimed they had killed them. She tried to paint herself as the victim. But the truth is simple: she neglected those animals. She refused care. And then she lied. We are asking for more than recognition. We are asking for justice. William and Zoey did not commit a crime—they prevented one. The real wrong was committed by the woman who let those cats suffer while chasing money. It is time for the law to hold people like her accountable. No one should be allowed to harm animals and hide behind lies. Let the law speak. Let the truth stand. Let justice be with those who protect life—not those who exploit it.
— Their Ally
Heroic name:
William, Shield of the Forgotten Fur
What I stand for:
I stand for the voiceless—for those who cannot speak up for themselves. I fight for the animals left behind, neglected, or used for profit. I stand against cruelty disguised as care, and lies that put lives at risk.
Heroic Story:
I crossed an ocean not for glory, but for growth—leaving behind everything familiar to chase knowledge and a future I believed in. Alone in a new land, I learned quickly how to stand on my own feet, how to carry my own weight, and how to stay steady when the ground kept shifting. Then came a moment I didn’t expect. Nineteen lives were placed in my hands—small, fragile, and voiceless. I was told they were healthy, that all I had to do was care for them. But lies often wear soft faces. The truth showed itself in sick eyes, weak bodies, and quiet suffering. These cats were not okay—they needed help, not promises. When the one who gave them up refused to get them medical care, I couldn’t just watch. I became their shield. I called for help. And when Las Vegas Animal Control offered a way out, I drove eight hours to deliver them into safety, and then eight more to return. No sleep, no applause—just a sense that I had done what was right. And still, I was threatened. Accused. Treated as if I were the villain for saving lives. But I know who I am. I stand for those who cannot speak. I protect the forgotten. And even when the truth is questioned, I carry it with me like armor.
This is not just a story about cats. It’s about choosing action over silence. It’s about becoming someone who runs toward the cry—not away from it. And I will continue to do so, wherever the road takes me next.
WILLIAM ZHANG
I survived the emotional stress of doing the right thing and being blamed for it—rescuing nineteen sick cats, only to be threatened and accused by the person who caused their suffering. I survived the anger, the fear, and the feeling that no one believed me.
Dear Mom,
Thank you for always being there for me, even when I’m far from home. You’ve never stopped believing in me—not when I struggled with school, not when I felt lost being in a new country, and not even when I doubted myself. Your support is constant, even from thousands of miles away. You taught me how to be strong and calm in hard situations. You taught me to think things through and stand by my values, even when it’s uncomfortable. When I was overwhelmed and felt like giving up, just hearing your voice reminded me who I am and why I started this journey in the first place. Even though we’ve been apart, your love has never felt distant. Because of you, I feel grounded. I keep going not just for myself, but to make you proud. Thank you for always being my shelter, my guide, and my reminder that I’m never alone.
With love,
William
I’m letting go of the anger I’ve held toward those who twist the truth and call kindness a crime.
I’m releasing the part of me that still wonders if I should’ve stayed silent.
The Monster Writes
They see her as a harmless old woman. But monsters don’t always growl—sometimes they smile and hand you suffering wrapped in lies.
She gave me nineteen lives—sick, struggling, silent.
Told me it was nothing, that they were fine, just needed food, just needed love. But their bones told the truth. Their eyes, their coughing, their fear—it all screamed louder than she ever admitted
And when I acted—when I did what she refused to do, when I called for help, drove miles to save them, risked accusations and exhaustion to do the right thing She turned on me.
She wounded me with lies.
She tried to turn truth into betrayal.
But I won’t sit in silence and let her shape the ending. I stood up for lives that couldn’t speak. I carried their weight and gave them a chance. I refuse to be cast as the monster for doing what she was too heartless to do. Let the truth be louder than her story. Let the rescued lives speak for me.
WILLIAM ZHANG
Scylla & Charybdis
WILLIAM ZHANG
WILLIAM ZHANG
Letter from the Fallen Warrior
To the one still standing, I see what you’re carrying now, the same weight I once held. The cries of the forgotten, the injustice hidden behind a soft smile and false kindness. I tried, too. I gathered what I could, I spoke the truth, I knocked on the doors of those who promised justice, but I did not have enough to break through. I was silenced, not by fear, but by a lack of proof. And still, I know what I saw. I know what she did. And now you carry the fight I could not finish. You must know: you are not alone. Even when it feels like the world has turned its back, even when the system fails to see what you see, truth still matters. Every step you take toward protecting those cats, toward telling the real story, builds the path I couldn’t finish.
I want you to remember this: you are not her enemy because you hate her, you are her enemy because you refused to let suffering continue. That is what makes you dangerous to her. That is what makes you powerful.
My Siren says “Let someone else deal with it. You’ve done enough.”
INSTRUCTORS
PROF. MICHAEL MORGAN, PROF. ENRICA LOVAGLIO & PIETER DERKSEN (Graduate Researcher)