18 minute read

Inspire Staff 2022-2023

- Editor-in-ChiefMs. Katherine Braun

- Editorial Committee -

*Dani E - 8th grade

*Molly M - 8th grade

*Theo P - 7th grade

Riley C - 8th grade

Violet B - 7th grade

Jennifer D - 7th grade

Grace H - 7th grade

Calla H - 7th grade

Kaiden J - 7th grade

Summer K - 7th grade

Zachary S - 7th grade

Henry S - 7th grade

- Inspire Workshop Committee -

*Angie E - 8th grade

*Zohaib K - 8th grade

Eva C - 8th grade

Lucas C - 8th grade

Rose H - 7th grade

Liam M - 6th grade

- Technology & Entrepreneurship Committee -

*Nisa G - 8th grade

Lizanette B - 8th grade

Grace C - 8th grade

Saori Q - 8th grade

Andres T - 8th grade

Zak H - 7th grade bit.ly/inspireljhs

*Starred names denote current leaders in each committee.

Thank you to the Lisle Education Foundation for sponsoring Inspire. Without your support, many creative voices would go unheard.

Our mission is to inspire young adults to feel confident as they branch out their work and explore new styles of literature and art.

Goodbye Mom

Goodbye Mom

By: Wilson Wunder

By: Wilson Wunder

Dear Mom,

Goodbye Mom - Wilson W

Dear Mom,

For a while I thought you were fine

For a while I thought you were fine

But I knew you were on medication to help yourself

But I knew you were on medication to help yourself

But I knew that your health wasn’t the greatest

But I knew that your health wasn’t the greatest

I wish I could have seen you before I left

I wish I could have seen you before I left

I wish that I could have talked to you again before you passed on

I wish that I could have talked to you again before you passed on Reliving all of your joy through photos and activities we've Been through

Reliving all of your joy through photos and activities we've Been through

But I know you’d want me to move on and continue with my life

But I know you’d want me to move on and continue with my life

But when I saw you in that coffin it felt like my heart skipped a beat

But when I saw you in that coffin it felt like my heart skipped a beat And I felt like my life and time just stopped right there

And I felt like my life and time just stopped right there

But I just wish I could hug you one more time

But I just wish I could hug you one more time

But now I know that it’s time to accept your death

But now I know that it’s time to accept your death

And let you move onto the afterlife

And let you move onto the afterlife

And let you flyintheairlikeadove

And let you flyintheairlikeadove

And be withGodandyourpassedlovedones

And be withGodandyourpassedlovedones

Welcoming you to heaven

Welcoming you to heaven

But I just wish that God

But I just wish that God

Didn’t have to take you away from me and my siblings so early

Didn’t have to take you away from me and my siblings so early

And I just wish that you were still alive

And I just wish that you were still alive

And I just wish there was something

And I just wish there was something

To bring you back to me

To bring you back to me

And let you live out the rest of your days

And let you live out the rest of your days

And let you see your friends one more time

And let you see your friends one more time

I love you, Mom

I love you, Mom

And our whole family loves you

And our whole family loves you

Even the family on Dad’s side

Even the family on Dad’s side

And I know you love us too

And I know you love us too

You can probably see Uncle up there

You can probably see Uncle up there

Watching down on us

Watching down on us

Watching us go on with our lives

Watching us go on with our lives

From Kuya Wilson

From Kuya Wilson

In loving memory of Joycelin & Michael Paul

In loving memory of Joycelin & Michael Paul

Beloved parents of Wilson and Jackson

Beloved parents of Wilson and Jackson

May you both “flyintheairlikeadove…withyourpassedlovedones”

May you both “flyintheairlikeadove…withyourpassedlovedones”

Waves - Riley C

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OfCagesandKeys - Ms. Katherine Braun ......................................................................................................... Page 20

TheImportantThings - Sophie C

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Dream - Simon K ........................................................................................................................................................ Page 21

ContemporaryPerturbation - Theo P Page 21

Thalassa - Anonymous Page 22

The Water Boiler - Theo P ....................................................................................................................................... Page 22

The Burden - Henry S

Wishes - Bernardette W

Artwork

Page 22

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InspireSpace - Anonymous Page 19

Restorative - Mrs. Monica Blatchley

Kiara - Grace M. C ......................................................................................................................................................

InfiniteInspiration - Jennifer D

Sunrise Yak - Mrs. Monica Blatchley

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Sunsets #1 - Molly M ................................................................................................................................................. Page 21

Sunsets #2 - Molly M

Winter - Violet B .........................................................................................................................................................

Sarah Cameron from Outer Banks - Grace M. C

InnerSpace - Connor R

Performance

Page 21

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Maher’s Clockwork - Simon K and Ibrahim S .................................................................................................. Page 23

- Ms. Katherine Braun

A drop of rain slowly traveled down the window. All the raindrops raced as if the world was ending. The car engine started, I buckled myself up, and we drove off. The quiet choppy radio went on and off. I looked off into the dark, foggy, gray distance and noticed we were slowly approaching the Humane Society. Once we came to a stop I jumped out of the car. Drops of rain fell quickly from the sky. Cold shivers ran down my arms.

I skipped inside and waited for the rest of my family. I was drenched in cold rain water, but I didn’t mind at all. I still had a huge smile planted on my face. My heart beat pounded faster as I quickly walked to the room dedicated to cats, I opened the door and walked to the kittens. Gentle weak meows coming from all over the room. You could smell the scents of chicken broth and catnip throughout the room. I peeked in the room and glanced at two black and white kittens huddled up in a tight cage. I started to look around, and realized there were some papers connected to the cage by a thin thread. I flipped through the pages and the first page said in bold, “Up For Adoption.” Then the rest of the papers had their information. I ran to my sister in joy. Once I told her about the kittens we ran back. I pointed to them.

“Look!” I said in a shocked voice. By the look of excitement on her face, I knew she wanted them, too.

We both quickly sprinted to the front desk where my mom was with a staff member. They were in the middle of a conversation so I sat on the bench in front of the front desk, while I stared out of the window into the foggy gray sky.

After about two minutes that felt more like a hundred years, the staff member led my family to a small, enclosed room. Before closing the door she said, “I’ll be right back.”

As the door slid across the marble tile, a chilly gust of breeze traveled across the room and gave me shivers. Eliana and I should have told mom about the kitten we wanted. I said in my head. About another 2 minutes passed and the staff member was back but this time I noticed the silhouette of two tiny dark figures in her arms. As she gently placed the creatures on the floor, I recognized the kittens. And then I suddenly remembered.

My mom approached the kittens and softly picked one of them up. She gently stroked the kitten’s neck, and the cat started to purr. My mom delicately passed her to me. The petite feline meowed shyly a couple times while I cradled her in my arms.

I asked my younger sister, “Want to play with her?”

My sister nodded and so I set the kitten down. The kitten waddled straight to my sister and hid behind her leg. Peeking out, the tiny cat looked into Eliana’s eyes and let out a soft, weak meow. After a few minutes we had decided.

“We’ll adopt her!” said my mom.

I was shocked! As I looked over at my sister, our eyes met and she squealed and jumped in joy. “But just one? We can’t separate them!” The words I said could barely express the rush of emotions I felt. It was like I was happy and disappointed at the same time.

“You’re right...I don’t want to separate them. I want them to be happy but do you promise to take care of both of them together?” I nodded without even thinking. All I knew was that I needed them.

Thank You, - Grace H

for always being right by my side. When my days are at their worst, when you are there they get better. Even on days that I am carrying the world on my shoulders, weighing me down. Down. Down. Down.

I know to keep going because you will always be there to support me. I don’t know what I would do without you.

Like that one time, when rivers were pouring out of my eyes. As I flopped onto my bed, knowing the world was over. Until I heard that gentle tap at my door, the world lit up again. Thank you.

And like that other time, when I tripped and fell down. I thought that I couldn’t get back up. But you were there to help me get back on my feet again. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for always being right by my side.

Hablando un Nuevo Lenguaje

Cuando estaba en México yo ...no savia

Como Hablar

Ingles

Cuando me moví a América

Yo conoci a mi verdadera mama Conocí a mi hermano Y mi hermana

Nuestros primeros abrazos fueron emocional Yo vi a mi mamá llorando de felicidad

Yo me desvele con mi nueva

Familia y ala mañana siguiente yo me levante

En la mesa y luego me tio vino con mi primo Y luego jugamos con él por veinte minutos

Aunque no savia como hablar ingles

Mi familia no le importo yo estaba feliz

Que luego de mucho tiempo yo estaba feliz

De finalmente

Ver A

Mi MAMA

Y yo sabía que iba a estar bien

Speaking a New Language

When I was in Mexico I didn’t know How To Speak English. When I moved to America I met my actual MOM I met my brother and sister.

Our first hugs were emotional I saw my mom crying of happiness stayed up all night with my new family then fell asleep on the table.

Snore

Then my Uncle came and I met my cousin Then we played with him for like 20 minutes.

Even though I didn’t know how to speak English... My family didn’t mind I was happy to finally Meet My MOM and I knew I will be okay

A Winter Wonderland - Angel W

The car was humming, the streets were asleep, and I could barely hear a sound. It was as quiet as a house on Christmas Eve night. My family and I were getting closer to our new house in Lisle. Suddenly little white balls came down from the sky, and it looked like some giant was letting its dandruff rain down. My mom pulled over the car, got out, and opened my brothers’ and my door.

When we stepped outside the car, it was so cold it was like I was in Antarctica. “Wow, this is really cold.” I said as my teeth were chattering. Next, we started picking up the white, cold, and wet snow and started inspecting it with our hands. Because they were so cold, our hands were shaking like old people. After that, we got back in the car and it was perfect timing because a snowstorm almost swallowed us whole.

It felt like hours before the storm passed and we could continue on the road again. Sadly by then, the car was an ice cube. My dog Kesha had thrown up earlier and that started stinking up the car.

We didn’t have anything to communicate with our Dad. Luckily I spotted a U-Haul with my Dad in it driving to my new house. So my brothers rolled down the car window and started shouting at the truck. It had suddenly pulled to a stop, and once more we were reunited. My Dad got someone to help us bring the car to our house and we FINALLY made it.

I was shocked by the size of the house, my eyes widening and a smile growing on my face. It was like I was in a candy store or I got a really cool video game, but when we got in it became so hot I was sweating. Finally, we were all relaxed setting up stuff and unpacking our furniture. I went upstairs to look out the window and realized snowlookssomuchbetterwhenyou’renottrappedinit.It’slikeawinterwonderland fromuphere.

My Brothers came upstairs too. “Wow, our room looks so huge!” Gabriel said with excitement. “So where should this go?” Roman said, carrying a mini tv. I said, “Hmm, over there seems nice” pointing at the left wall of the room. So we agreed that my idea sucked and we placed it on our dresser. We plugged it in and we had Mom set up Christmas music.

It was amazing being with the whole family and setting up stuff while listening to the sounds of the music and the snow breezing. From then on we had amazing times in that house and some bad times like when I broke my ankle jumping off the bed onto a pile of pillows and blankets. Other than those times everything is awesome and I am still happy with where I live.

Inspire - Ms. Katherine Braun

When the words from my pencil flow–no matter how slow–and create an image that stirs the soul–

When the strokes from my brush paint a picture that penetrates the defenses of a dormant emotion that needs to wake–

When a quote from a book incites an intriguing insight that prompts the mind to perceive life in a different light–

When a flower from a bud blooms after everyone assumed it’s too late in the season; the bud’s certainly doomed–

When the words from your mouth spark a flame in my heart that brightens the spaces I never knew were so dark–

For me, that’s what ignites, inspires, delights; that’s what frees me, what lets me take flight.

Poems - Henry S

This is a poem about a poem. And that poem is about a poem

And even that poem is about a poem. Wow, that’s a lot of poems!

I dislike poems. Too much analysis.

That’s why this poem

Has absolutely no meaning whatsoever. Definitely. No meaning to see here.

I hope so, at least. Yet somehow, an English teacher Could probably Turn this into a poem

About Shakespeare. I hate Shakespeare. He sucks. Why couldn’t he just talk normally?

I don’t think anyone actually likes Shakespeare. Or poems. Or analyzing poems. Except for English teachers, of course. But I’m getting off-topic. After all, this poem is about poems. Not Shakespeare. But anyways, See ya later, alligator. Refrigerator.

Bad Poetry - Anonymous

I open the door

I see the meat of a boar

Which I really adore

The food looks yummy

In my tummy!

The meat is just sitting there

Then I see a pear

Is that a piece of hair?

I go to get silverware

The fork pricks me on the finger

Wait, is that the root of some ginger?

I start to drink a bottle of vinegar. My throat starts to close up.

I spit it into a cup.

I start to taste colors

Is that my mother?

UntitledHailey S

Or shall that be my brother?

I close the refrigerator

And that, kids, is the story of the liberator.

Dig-In - Violet A. K

While Isy is at Softball, I long for a school activity, Days, and days, and a few weeks. Then, the morning announcements say, Dig-InClubwillmeetthisWednesday, Immediately, I am filled with joy, Wednesday comes and I am super excited. But wait!

What if I do not know anybody?

What if everyone is mean to me?

Then my friend Corn tells me that she is going! Happy, we walk to the FACS room, Corn and I sit next to our classmate Alex.

The teachers who run the club come to introduce themselves, It is my literature and language arts teacher, the amazing Ms. Nelson, And the FACS teacher, Ms. Bryne. We start to garden, and I weed a lot!

I take home my choice of harvest and am profoundly happy! Next week, the day before my birthday, Is the next session of Dig-In Club.

My friends Mai and Ava are coming along, Isy’s softball practice is canceled, so she joins us. Today, we harvest the same crops and many more, I pick out a gorgeous orange flower. Then next meeting I cannot make it to, I have basketball tryouts, I make the basketball team!

Wait, now I cannot go to Dig-In, I love basketball, but I miss Dig-In. I miss another session of Dig-In because of a basketball game. The next day is the Halloween Dance, And Ms. Nelson in language arts lets me, Choose a succulent plant and an owl pot to paint. I choose a purple-ish plant, And a huge owl to paint. Ms. Nelson gives me, A paint set and brush.

And now there is a gorgeous succulent at home. Thank You, Ms. Nelson.

I Am Me - Anonymous

I am as bright as a sunflower. I am as blue as the sky.

I am as strong as a rock.

I am as bold as a rainbow. I am as quiet as a mouse. I am as sweet as sugar.

I am anything I wanna be.

I am as perfect as I make myself. I am unique.

I am my own person.

I am me

Work Hard - Payton L

Often you don’t just get what you want; you have to work for it. I learned this lesson the hard way on a dreary day in December when I thought everything was going to be cupcakes and rainbows. That was the day I got the bad news...

It all started when I was sitting in the front seat of my mom’s warm car watching the bright red light and snowflakes dropping down from the sky. I was heading down the road to taekwondo.

My mom told me, “If you don’t get your journals done in time then you will not be getting your deputy belt.” When I heard this news I got shivers down my back because I didn’t know if I could finish them in time; if not then I was going to have to wait another 6 months to test for my black belt.

I told my mom, “I am going to get all of them done when I get home.” I didn’t think she knew that I was lying to her. I knew that I couldn’t get them done in time. I had to think of an idea quickly. I had to watch a video on how to type quickly because I didn’t want to not get them done in time.

After mom and I pulled into the place I got out. While waiting in line I thought of an idea. I’mgoingto stayuppastmybedtimeanddoallmyjournals, I thought.

That night I worked hard to finish all my journals and because of this, I was sure I was going to get my deputy belt the next day. So when I arrived the next day I was so happy to get there, but when they called my name to come out to the mat my heart dropped to the bottom of my spine. After a little while, all the taekwondo students grouped up and started to practice so we wouldn’t forget anything.

About thirty minutes went by and the test was about to start. I was having a lot of fun but at the same time scared. WhatifIdon’tgetmybelt?ThenI´llhavetowaitanother6monthsand ... All my thoughts were coming at me.

I ran into the bathroom acting like I have to go but really I have to take a mental break. I took a deep breath and told myself that I could do it and I could calm down. Three hours later I came walking out as I was so proud of myself.

My mom said, “You did it, Payton! You did it!” After the celebration, we got ice cream and it tasted so good. I knew it was worth it.

King’s Gambit - Mati I

Pawn. Every little obstacle that you come across becomes a BIG problem for you.

Knight.

You get overwhelmed very easily when there is a ton of work, and you always try to multitask but fail.

Bishop. Whenever there is a BIG problem you try to avoid it, and run away ` but you can never forget about it, and it... scares you.

Rooke. You are a strong person and you always like to do stuff with a friend. but whenever your “friend” isn’t there, you are frightened like a little kid on halloween.

FwitterDiego G

Queen.

You are the strongest and most scary person. When you say something, everybody listens to you. But you always like to work because it gives you a perk. But you only like to work alone.

You love to win, and because of this, it is hurting you.

King.

There are not many of you, and everything is handed out to you on a silver platter. You always need help from everybody, And you can not do anything yourself other than run away from your problems. You love to win, and when you lose you throw a fit like a baby. Then blame everybody else.

People like you are what is hurting everyone else.

Celestrix - Lincoln C, Jimmy M, and Graham P

Steve,

Insect

Creepy, black

Sneaking, crawling, spinning

Hunting like a cat

Spider

The wind is crisp, you hear a wisp. You don't think much of the fright, so you continue your night. You found a house, it is red, it is dead. You decide to walk up to the house with your feathered blouse. You see a figure, it's black, it is still. Before you know it, you are lying down on a hill. You wake up to find it was all a dream, then you went on with your Halloween.

Animal

Scary, soft

Meowing, purring, scratching

Dark as a tunnel

Black Cat

Haunted House - Anonymous

There was a tacit understanding that It was not to be messed with No one had to say it

Because everyone knew that Something was off with that house

Many people ventured Looking for answers

None lived to tell the tale

The locals called the house, Deimos After the God of Terror

When people got close to Deimos

They always felt like someone was watching their every move

It sent shivers down every spine

A timid boy named Orion

Went to school one day

And the name-calling started

Just like every day

They dared Orion to put a sign on Deimos

That read

“Come and get me Deimos, I am not scared of you”

This was not true

Orion was very scared of Deimos

But they thought that Orion was too timid to do so anyways

Orion was sick of their constant teasing

But there was no point in telling the teacher

He knew that there was only one way to stop it

He would have to do the dare

That night, at dusk, Orion came up to Deimos

He had never seen the eerie building

But only heard of it in the stories

Now he realized how ominous it really was

Cobwebs adorned almost every surface

The paint was chipped

It was a light sort of black that looked like it used to be a velvet black

Most of the windows were broken

And there were pinkish curtains that all looked sun bleached

There were holes in the roof and Small statues of knights that looked like they would come alive that any moment

Rotting wood framed some windows and the door

Orion froze

He was tempted to turn and run

It was not worth it

Orion wanted to run like the wind

Something held him in place

He walked slowly to the front door with the sign in hand

Itisjustahouse

Itisjustahouse

Itisjustahouse

Itisjustahouse

The second the sign touch the door

Orion was trapped

He could not move

It felt as if it had grabbed him

And were choking him

The next morning

They went to the front of Deimos

And saw the sign

Still taped to the front door

But they saw Orion Dead

They looked up and saw a ghost

White and pale

Laughing

They squinted thinking they had seen it wrong

But then it was gone

Untitled - Alessandra P

Pumpkins

Orange, spooky

Scooping, carving, lighting

Lite up like a lamp

Jack -o-Lanterns

Untitled -

Sorceress

Magic, unkind

Brewing, Cackling, Spelling

Warty like a toad Witches

I Am Frankenstein - Jorge C

I am Frankenstein

Creeping, moaning, arms out, slow It’s coming alive!

Untitled - Mia D

Is

The night sky, a dreadful black; Soon bats will rise up; The dead will come to life; The sun is no longer seen. Kids collect their candy, while parents chase after them; Parties are only getting started, Now this is Halloween.

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