Image Explosion Nostalgia

nostalgia

nostalgia

i m age ex pl osi on 20 25

i m age ex pl osi on 20 25

vol um e x x x vi i

vol um e x x x vi i 1

n ost al gi a

n ost al gi a i m age ex pl osi on 20 25 vol um e x x x vi i

Nost algia is a t erm t hat refers t o t he w ishful and sent im ent al yearning for t he past ; it is a t erm synonym ous w it h t he w ord rem iniscence. Nost algia is a pow erful t ool t hat invokes st rong em ot ions from t he re-caller, and it is oft en used by people as inspirat ion in w rit ing or art . Whet her it is t he nost algia of t heir ow n past or relat ing t o t he nost algia of anot her person, every person is influenced by charact erist ics of t heir past .

Nost algia can provide an escape from one's current circum st ances, allow ing t he person t o feel t he em ot ions t hey yearn from t heir past . They rem inisce about t he feelings t hey ex perienced during t hat specific m om ent in t im e w here t hey felt happiness, cont ent m ent , or joy. By finding t he posit ive feelings associat ed w it h t heir past , nost algia act ivat es areas of t he brain t hat t riggers a sense of self and connect ion. These connect ions allow s people t o relat e t o each ot her t hrough t he shared ex periences t hey've encount ered in t heir past , highlight ing t he pow er of nost algia t o allow st rangers t o resonat e w it h ot her.

This m agazine is com posed of creat ive individuals w ho have ex perienced t he pow er of nost algia and t ransform ed t hose feelings int o t heir w orks. Nost algia is part of t he driving force and inspirat ion t hat has shaped t heir craft int o t he beaut iful w ords, shapes, and lines in t his m agazine. We hope t hat you w ill be able t o resonat e w it h each art ist 's w ork and ex perience feelings of nost algia and connect ion t hrough each page.

M er i on M er cy Academ y 511 M on t gom er y Aven ue M er i on St at i on , PA 19 0 6 6 Num ber : ( 6 10 ) 6 6 4 - 6 6 55

-- Grace, Just ine, Nat alia

Fax :( 6 10 ) 6 4 4 - 6 322 w w w .m er i on - m er cy.com

3

t h an k s Special Thanks t o: M rs. M aria Boyd and M rs. Josephine DiGiam bat t ist a for fost ering t he t alent s of our art ist s;

m i ssi on The developm ent of Image Explosion begins as subm issions are collect ed from any and all m em bers of t he st udent body from Sept em ber t hrough February. The st aff seeks t o elicit a w ide variet y of t alent and t o represent all grade levels w it hin t he m agazine, including younger st udent s and t hose not pursuing an advanced curriculum .

aw ar ds

col oph on

Pen n syl van i a Sch ool Pr ess Associ at i on ( PSPA) All St at e Aw ard: 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 Gold M edalist Rat ing: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Col um bi a Sch ol ast i c Pr ess Associ at i on The English Depart m ent : M s. Pat ricia Sack, M rs. Jessica Shields, M rs. Carol Rest ifo, M s. Hayley Kazlauskas, M s. Cait lin M at t era, and M rs. Kat ie Cho for inspiring t heir st udent s; All t he w rit ers and art ist s w ho subm it t ed t heir w ork t o t his year's m agazine, for put t ing t heir m inds and heart s int o t he w ork t hat m akes t his edit ion of Image Explosion.

To achieve t hese goals, st aff m em bers read each subm ission individually w it hout know ing t he w rit er?s ident it y. A collaborat ive discussion t hen det erm ines w hich pieces w ill be included in t he current edit ion. Ult im at ely, t he st aff values and seeks t o reflect creat ivit y and diversit y of t hought w it hin t he m agazine. The spreads are collaborat ed on by m em bers of t he edit ing st aff.

Gold M edalist Rat ing: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017

The view s and opinions ex pressed in Image Explosion are t hose of t he aut hors and art ist s.

All-Colum bian Honors for Design and Essent ials: 2014

Every year since 1996, each Image Explosion st aff has w orked t o produce approx im at ely 627 copies of M erion M ercy Academ y?s lit erary m agazine. The m agazine is com piled ent irely during in-school and aft er-school sessions. This edit ion w as designed using M arq soft w are. All t ex t originat ed in Google Docs. All cont ent , t it les, and headings w it hin t he m agazine are in M erriw eat her.

All-Colum bian Honors for Design: 2009, 2010 All-Colum bian Honors for Design, Organizat ion, and Cont ent : 2011, 2012 All-Colum bian Honors for Organizat ion and Cont ent : 2013

cover A QUI ET NI GH T DOWNT OWN

By Hannah Turek '26

Nat i on al Coun ci l of T each er s of En gl i sh ( NT CE)

Phot ography

Realm Cont est - Superior Rat ing

5

--------- t abl e of con t en t s --------CH I CAGO SKYDECK by Em ily Beggs '26............... 22

--- ar t --A QUI ET NI GH T DOWNT OWN

T H E LI T T LE T H I NGS by Hannah Turek '26.......... 22 PERI WI NKLE by Alex Segret i '25........................ 23 JOY OF M USI C by Gia Leuzzi '27......................... 23

by H an n ah Tur ek ' 26 ............................... i (cover ) GAM EDAY H AI R by Claire Casey '27................... 24 M ADE OF WORDS by Em m a Ant hony '28............. 7 FUNNY OLD DOG by Sophia Leuzzi '27................ 26 REM AI NI NG I N T H E DARK

M EM ORY PORT RAI T by M olly But ler '28............. 27

by Kait lin M cCullagh '27............................. 8 M AC & CH EESE by M olly But ler '28..................... 28

PET ALS AM ONG ST ARS by Vera Chen '28......... 40

LI FE I N T H E CI T Y by Em ily Beggs '26.................. 45

VACAT I ON NI GH T S by Grace Killeen '28............ 41 T H E USE OF A SH OE by Libby Shea '26................. 45 PI I I I I I NK by Hayden M uehl '26........................ 42 FOLLOW T H E LEADER by Hannah Turek '26......... 45 NAPPI NG I N T H E SUN by Caroline Perlick '27..... 42 ST EPPI NG I NT O AUT UM N by Hannah Turek '26... 46 RED SUNSET by Sophia Leuzzi '27.................... 43 T WI NKLI NG LI GH T S by Claire Casey '27............. 48 SUM M ER SUNSET by Alex andra Rat ner '27........ 44 T H E ST ACKS by Julia Villarreal '25........................49 OCEAN CI T Y M ORNI NGS by Em ily Beggs '26...... 44 M OT H ER AND CH I LD by Kinsley Jackson '26.........49

--- w r i t i n g --WH EN I LOOK AT M Y I D by Em m a Ant hony '28............................................................................... 7

REST I NG PLACE by Julia Gargione '26................. 11 SUPERSI ZED GRI DDED DRAWI NG

A BLACK GI RL AT T ENDI NG A PRODAM I NAT LY WH I T E SCH OOL by Sahana Regist re '27....................... 9

VI BRANT SUNSET by Elisabet h Bailey '26............ 12

by Jillian Longo '27.................................... 28

LOVE T H E BLACK GI RLS AROUND YOU by Sahana Regist re '27.......................................................... 10

LAT E NI GH T DRI VI NG by Hannah Turek '26........ 12 FOREST T RAI L by Julia Gargione '26................... 33

BRAI NST ORM by Em m a Ant hony '28.............................................................................................11

SANDY SUNSET SH ORES

T WI N FLAM E by Azul Cornejo '26................................................................................................. 13

CLI FFS OF M OH ER by Em ily Beggs '26................ 33

by M adeleine Hilfert y '27............................ 13 BEAUT I FUL T H ORNS

WH EN RAI N FELL ON LOVE by Azul Cornejo '26............................................................................. 14

by Em ily Charles Cole '27............................ 34

SPI RI T OF ARES by Elisabet h Bailey '26..........................................................................................15

COT T ON CANDY SUNSET by Sophia Leuzzi '27..... 15 M APLE T REES by Julia Villarreal '25..................... 34

CAN I T OUCH YOUR H AI R? by Am ira Wardlaw '26........................................................................... 17

UNT I T LED by Julia Villarreal '25......................... 16 SPOT LI GH T by Kait lin M cCullagh '27................... 35

FORM S OF LI FE by Just ine Weng '25............................................................................................. 24

I NT O T H E AM PH I BI AN EYE

SUNDAY AFT ERNOON by Ceci Corr '26................ 36

M Y NAM E I S NOT AVA by Eva How ard '28..................................................................................... 25

by Kait lin M cCullagh '27............................ 16 CONT ROL by Violet t e Frat rick '25........................ 36

CI RCA 20 0 7- 20 25 by Christ ina Flanagan '26.................................................................................. 27

FALL M ORNI NGS by Grace Killeen '28................. 14

I NK SNEK by Elisabet h Bailey '26...................... 16

A ST UDY I N PERSPECT I VE

AS USUAL by M aren M uller '25..................................................................................................... 29

OH T O CH OOSE by Nat alia Asset t o '25................ 19

by Nat alia Asset t o '25.................................. 37

FLOWER SH OP by Erin Rebbechi '28............................................................................................. 38

LI GH T H OUSE M EM ORY by Hayden M uehl '26.... 19

M OVEM ENT by Elisabet h Bailey '26..................... 37

WAT ER I N T H E ST EM by Erin Rebbechi '28................................................................................... 39

COLONNADE by Elisabet h Bailey '26.................. 20 DUALI T Y by Elisabet h Bailey '26.......................... 38

WRI T E YOU A POEM by Erin Rebbechi '28..................................................................................... 41

BI RT H DAY GI RL by Daisy Pint o '27................... 20 COT T AGE by Nat alia Asset t o '25.......................... 39

SOLACE I N YOUR GAZE by Azul Cornejo '26................................................................................... 43

UP LAPORT E by Daisy Pint o '27........................ 21 T H E DOG DAYS OF WI NT ER

ECH OS OF APAT H Y by Azul Cornejo '26........................................................................................ 46

ESPRESSO M ACH I NE by Sophia Leuzzi '27......... 21

EVERYT H I NG T AST ES BET T ER I N DECEM BER by Erin Rebbechi '28................................................. 47

by Grace Killeen '28.................................... 39

7

WH EN I LOOK AT M Y I D

The board is filled w it h opt ions

By Em m a Ant hony '28

REM AI NI NG I N T H E DARK

for girls and for boys

By Kait lin M McCullagh cCullagh ?27 '27

m y gender t hen When I look at m y ID

Graphit e

only know n by God.

m y nam e looks back basic

I m ust have ex cit ed t hem boring

because t hey w ait ed for m y arrival barren.

as a child w ait s for Christ m as each nam e a w ishlist

But I like m y nam e.

of at t ribut es t hey hope I acquire.

I like t he w ay it sounds in ot hers? voices

M y nam e m ight seem

w hen t hey say a quick hello

basic

or w hen t hey playfully scold m e

boring

for saying som et hing dum b.

barren but it is a display of m y parent s? love

Som ew here in m y parent s' s closet closet and care and ex cit em ent .

hidden by shirt s and pant s and shelves and shelves of Jawas

M ADE OF WORDS

By Julia Klein ?27 '27 Pen

t here is a w hit eboard w it h ideas for m y nam e perfect ly preserved even t hough

So I love m y nam e.

If I w asn?t Emma I don?t know w ho I?d be.

t hey w ere w rit t en in ex po m arker.

I w onder how m y parent s did it w hen m y ow n belongings are w orn and broken and faded even t hough t hey are half t he w hit eboard?s age.

9

Th i s m i n dset h as bl ed i n t o m y soph om or e year , especi al l y r i gh t

Th i s m i n dset h as bl ed i n t o m y soph om or e year , especi al l y r i gh t

An ow BLACK . As you GI RL can ATsee, T ENDI I amNG w ear A PREDOM i n g m y nIat NANT ur al h LY ai WH r i n IaTnEorI NST m al Iaf T UT r o I ON

n ow . As you can see, I am w ear i n g m y n at ur al h ai r i n a n or m al af r o

By Sah st r een ' 27 an d t oan beat Regi r an spar t , I don ' t l ove m y h ai r an d I det est t h e w ay i t

an d t o be t r an spar en t , I don ' t l ove m y h ai r an d I det est t h e w ay i t

l ook s. I despi se t h e m ai n t en an ce of i t , i t s t ext ur e, i t s l en gt h , h ow i t

l ooks. I despi se t h e m ai n t en an ce of i t , i t s t ext ur e, i t s l en gt h , h ow i t

I am ack gi r l t hbiatgger at t en dsdahPWI i nean t l y Wh i t e ger I n st i t ut i on ). I n t oday' s soci et y, bei n g m ak es m yaf bl ace appear , an ow i t(Pr m edom akes m seem youn

m akes m y f ace appear bi gger , an d h ow i t m akes m e seem youn ger

aan Bldack r l wpt h .? o at t en ds a PWI can i n f l i ct ser i ous h ar m t o on e' s sel f - con f i den ce; t h i s w as som et h i n g ?ungi k em

an d ?un k em pt .?

I w as n ot pr epar ed f or . I k n ew t h at I w as w or t h peopl e?s r espect an d m y ow n sel f - l ove but , t o w h at Non et h el ess, I am st i l l on m y jour n ey of sel f - w or t h an d ext en t ? sel f - di scover y. I t i s n ot easy an d i t i s f ar f r om com pl et e. So, t h e

Non et h el ess, I am st i l l on m y jour n ey of sel f - w or t h an d sel f - di scover y. I t i s n ot easy an d i t i s f ar f r om com pl et e. So, t h e

Dur i neg fm f i ack r st - gi year Msi ermi on , I siwtasn f ocused on l esson h er orybl r l s iat na i l ar uat i?tont oo : Don ' t ch an gemwyhloooks m ai n l y because I w as m or e so

l esson h er e f or bl ack gi r l s i n a si m i l ar si t uat i on : Don ' t ch an ge w h o

iyou n dular ged adjust ti n o er t hs. e Be h i gh ool ar at e, m osph erfe. t er t h e f i r st sem est er , I h ad becom e e t oi nappeal o gott h w hsch o you to the ul But l est,. af Love

you ar e t o appeal t o ot h er s. Be w h o you ar e, t o t h e f ul l est . Love

adjust edf ,an your sel aldw becam ays. e m or e sel f - con sci ous about m y appear an ce. I w as al w ays jeal ous of h ow t h e gi r l s

your sel f , al w ays.

i n m y gr ade h ad t h e ul t r a- f i n e jew el r y, t h e sm oot h an d si l ky h ai r , t h e n eat sh oes. Th ey em br aced t h e per son I w an t ed t o be, so I st ar t ed t o m ol d m ysel f i n t o t h at per son . I st ar t ed t o coer ce m y m ot h er t o LOVE T H E BLACK GI RLS AROUND YOU l et m e i n dul ge i n st r ai gh t en i n g m y h ai r t o r esem bl e t h e sm oot h an d si l ky h ai r t h at I adm i r ed so

By Sah an a Regi st r e ' 27 m uch ; st yl i n g m y h ai r i n br ai ds w h en I coul dn ' t st r ai gh t en i t , h opi n g t h at t h e l en gt h an d an d f eel i n g of t h e sm al l pl ai t s w oul d f i l l t h e voi d of m y h ai r n ot bei n g st r ai gh t ; t h e jew el r y, t h e w ay t h e gol d l ove t h e bl ack gi r l s ar oun d you: jew el r y com pl i m en t ed m y car am el sk i n an d, i n m y h ead, m ade m e f eel m or e accept ed.

LOVE T H E BLACK GI RLS AROUND YOU

By Sah an a Regi st r e ' 27

l ove t h e bl ack gi r l s ar oun d you:

l ove tBy h etbl ack l s ar n ever h et sacr ife i ces t hact ey'er vei st mi cade t om som t ot h en , I gi dirdn ' t oun n ot idceyou t h atf or I wyou as st r i ppikn n gow awtay h e on ch ar t h at adeew mheatdiffifteri nen your cr uel st an dar ds. f r om t h e r est , m y bl ack n ess. I di dn ' t appr eci at e t h e gi f t of bei n g Bl ack. M y h ai r , i t s n at ur al cur l l ove t h e bl ack gi r l s ar oun d you f or t h ey al r eady f eel t h e t en si on or as i f t h ey?r e on t h i n i ce w i t h i n pat t er n an d di st i n ct t ext ur e; t h e w ay t h at I t al k, m y sl i gh t accen t ; t h e w ay t h at I pr esen t m ysel f , as a t h i s com m un i t y. st r on g an d con f i den t Bl ack w om an w h o kn ow s h er w or t h ; an d ul t i m at el y, t h e w ay t h at I l ook at l ove t h e bl ack gi r l s ar oun d you because t h ey h ave t o w or k 20 t i m es h ar der f or t h i n gs you ar e m ysel youn g wby omsoci an ,etl ovi n at ur fal?l yagr an t ed y. n g h er gi f t an d usi n g i t t o sh i n e br i gh t . I w as em bar r assed t o be w h o I

l ove t h e bl ack gi r l s ar oun d you f or you n ever k n ow t h e sacr i f i ces t h ey' ve m ade t o som ew h at f i t i n t o your cr uel st an dar ds.

wl ove as i nt hfeear of wgihrat h eoun ot hderyou gi rbecause l s i n m y tsch oul dl iassum e about shf faped ysel i n te.o t h i s bl ack l s tar h eyool ar ewjust ke you? just w m i t he.aI di er en tmski n ft on appr eciwatheot di h em w h?l o esst h eyi nart el e?l ingen ot ft or h opecun you assum t o tbe. per son dn ' ft or l ook or wi m i ous,? e ant h d em essen i al l y, l ess l i k e t h e st er eot ypi cal

l ove t h e bl ack gi r l s ar oun d you because t h ey ar e just l i ke you? just w i t h a di f f er en t sk i n t on e. appr eci at e t h em f or w h o t h ey ar e? n ot f or w h o you assum e t h em t o be.

l ove t h e bl ack gi r l s ar oun d you f or t h ey al r eady f eel t h e t en si on or as i f t h ey?r e on t h i n i ce w i t h i n t h i s com m un i t y. l ove t h e bl ack gi r l s ar oun d you because t h ey h ave t o w or k 20 t i m es h ar der f or t h i n gs you ar e n at ur al l y gr an t ed by soci et y.

?Bl ack per son .?

11

VI BRANT SUNSET

VI BRANT SUNSET

By Elisabet h Bailey '26 Phot ography

By Elisabet h Bailey '26 Phot ography

BRAI NST ORM

By Em m a Ant hony '28

M y brain is a st orm Where t hought s ripple m y m ind Like a breeze on a pond Where frogs jum p over binds.

REST I NG PLACE And m y dream s are like frogs Only t he frogs do not fall?

Do not fade. Do not die?

By Julia Gargione '26 Graphit e LATE NIGHT DRIVING

By Hannah Turek '26 Phot ograph

LATE NIGHT DRIVING

By Hannah Turek '26 Phot ograph

Only leap. Never baw l.

For t heir breeze is m ore calm Than t he t hought s and t he pain?

M ore sw eet and m ore gent le Than m y t ired, st orm y brain.

13

T WI N FLAM E

WH EN RAI N FELL ON LOVE

By Azul Cornejo '26

By Azul Cornejo '26 Rain poured dow n as our love m et it s end,

In a crow ded room , I t urn t o m y t w in flam e,

M y broken heart your love couldn?t t ruly m end,

The one t hat t ook aw ay all t he pain.

But know w it hin m e, you?ll alw ays have a friend,

Through sham e and blam e, she st ayed,

Even if our st ory couldn?t quit e t ranscend.

I hope t his bond of fam iliarit y doesn?t fade.

We t ried again, hoping old cracks w ould seal,

Where you see st art s, I see t he night ,

FALL M ORNI NGS When I see darkness, you show m e t he light .

Phot ography In a blink of an eye, you capt ured m y heart ?s core Prom ise m e w e?ll never fall apart , now and foreverm ore.

But som e w ounds of t he past , t im e could sim ply not heal.

By Grace Killeen '28 SANDY SUNSET SH ORES

What felt like a fairyt ale proved t o be surreal,

By M adeleine Hilfert y '27 A dream I chased t hat t urned int o an ordeal.

Phot ography

Tw o heart s caught chasing a fading illusion,

Your secret s I?ll guard t ill m y grave,

Believing w e could last w as pure delusion.

Your heart is ever so kind and brave.

M orning and night , I sat in confusion,

Unt il m y last breat h m y love w ill rem ain,

Wondering if I should drift int o seclusion.

For you, I w ould get on any t rain and any plane.

Fly across t he w orld just t o soot he your pain.

On a w ishing st ar, I m ade a vow I could never hold, Whit e lies and false hopes m ade t his love t urn cold, Yet your fault s are secret s t hat by m e w ill ever be t old.

15

Our t ale close t o m y heart I?ll hold as if it w ere gold.

SPI RI T OF ARES

By Elisabet h Bailey '26

Fickle, strong soldier The blood spilt upon my spear Spirit of Battle

I NT O T H E AM PH I BI AN EYE

By Kait lin M cCullagh '27 Chalk Past els UNT I T LED

By Julia Villarreal '25 Phot ography

I NK SNEK

By Elisabet h Bailey '26 Ink Print

COT T ON CANDY SUNSET

By Sophia Leuzzi '27 Phot ography

17

CAN I T OUCH YOUR H AI R?

By Am ira Wardlaw '26

" Can I t ouch your hair?" Absolut ely... not . You m ay not t ouch m y hair or any ot her part of m e

Why is t his even a quest ion? If I w as t o ask her if I could t ouch her hair, I can't even im agine

sim ply because your curiosit y has clouded your judgm ent . You m ay not t ouch m y hair because

t he ex pression of surprise t hat 'd t ake over. If only she could see t hat w hat she's asking isn't

" it looks so cool" or m aybe because no one ever t old you t hat it 's cruel t o ask such a quest ion. A

som et hing t hat you just ask. It 's a quest ion t hat causes Black girls and w om en t o m ask a

quest ion t hat can be cat egorized as a m icroaggression, but t o m e t he feelings t hat st em from

m ult it ude of em ot ions. Em ot ions t hat t hey have every right t o feel, em ot ions t hat have com e

t hat quest ion couldn't be fart her from " m icro" . I look at her and I kindly say " no" , because how

t o fruit ion because som et im es it seem s t hat w e m ay never heal. I replied t his t im e, not so

should I be labeled if I choose t o t hrow how I feel at t hat m om ent back at a seem ingly clueless

kindly, " I'd appreciat e it if you st opped bot hering m e." To t hose on t he out side looking in, it

girl? How is she supposed t o know t hat m y hair is an ex t ension of m yself and not just a book

m ay seem t hat m y skin is w ay t oo t hin. That t here's no reason t o respond like t hat t o a girl

on a shelf t hat she can pick up and ex am ine any t im e| she w ishes t o learn m ore? How is she

w hose only m ist ake w as asking a quest ion. The reason for m y anger is bigger t han you and

supposed t o know t hat t he quest ion she just asked m e is anot her part of m y ex perience t hat I

m e, it 's som et hing t hat I can't put int o w ords no m at t er how m uch it m eans t o m e. When you

w ish w ould go? To a place far far aw ay, a place w here I could live t hrough m y days w it hout

ask t o t ouch m y hair, it seem s t o m e t hat you feel no need t o care. To care not just about

hearing t hat phrase? One t hat m y m om and her m om and her m om 's m om just can't seem t o

respect ing m e, but t o care t o learn about m y hist ory. Whet her it 's t he braids in m y hair, or t he

shake? She looks back int o m y direct ion and asks t hat sam e quest ion... t his t im e w it h a please.

curls of m y afro, m y hair is a part of m e. A part of m e t hat does not just represent m e as a

One t hat I can only assum e is supposed t o put m e at ease. This t im e I don't even look in her

person, but a part of m e t hat m y ancest ors shared as w ell. When you ask t o t ouch m y hair for

direct ion, I ask m yself " how has she not m ade t he connect ion?" This aggression is one t hat

your ow n selfish reasons, you ask t o feel t he w ind w hen you do not yet know t he season. Just

st em s from m y people's oppression. It m ay not seem like a big deal t o you, but t o m e it 's like

know t hat t he nex t t im e you ask t o t ouch m y hair, t he only answ er you w ill receive is m y look

I'm a pat ient w it h an incurable diagnosis of t he flu.

of despair.

19

COLONNADE

By Elisabet h Bailey '26 Wat ercolor

OH T O CH OOSE

By Nat alia Asset t o '25 Em broidery

BI RT H DAY GI RL

By Daisy Pint o '27 Graphit e

LI GH T H OUSE M EM ORY

By Hayden M uehl '26 Chalk Past els 21

CH I CAGO SKYDECK

By Em ily Beggs '26 Phot ography

UP LAPORT E

By Daisy Pint o '27 Graphit e T H E LI T T LE T H I NGS

By Hannah Turek '26 Phot ography

ESPRESSO M ACH I NE

By Sophia Leuzzi '27 Graphit e 23

GAM EDAY H AI R PERI WI NKLES

By Alex Segret i '25

By Claire Casey '27 Ink

Wat ercolor

" f or m s of l i f e"

By Just ine Weng '25

anim als t old m essages t o fam ily spi r i t s becom e friends JOY OF M USI C

By Gia Leuzzi '27 Graphit e

w at er at e fire m oon k n ew som et hing she knew w ind blew , st ars cat ch st ories of hum ans people w ere h appy i n t h e w or l d

25

M Y NAM E I S NOT AVA

By Eva How ard '28

FUNNY OLD DOG

By Sophia Leuzzi '27 Graphit e

M y grandm a said it at t he baby show er But m y m om w ant ed t o pronounce it t he spanish w ay She liked how it sounded Because of her decision M y nam e is alm ost alw ays pronounced w rong Spelled Eva but pronounced ?Ava? Is st range in t his count ry If I?m honest M ost of t he t im e I don?t even correct people I?m t oo scared t o t ell t hem t hat t hey said it w rong I?m a spineless cat Now adays I can even respond w hen t hey pronounce it w rong M y friends alw ays look at m e Their eyes boring int o m e scream ing correct t hem , correct t hem But I don?t In t he church Eva is t he lat in count erpart of Eve I looked it up I finally underst and w hy in It aly t hey say m y nam e inst ead of Eve It feels funny When I looked up m y nam e Google said it m eant life or living one I get w hy it ?s in t he bible In t he hebrew bible I can see w hy t hey chose t he nam e of life For Eve and m e t oo

27

M AC & CH EESE

By M olly But ler '28 Acrylic

CI RCA 20 0 7- 20 25

By Christ ina Flanagan '26 Em pt y yet so full of life So changed yet ex ceedingly perm anent The halls of m y childhood The room s I once knew The people w ho now inhabit t hem All unrecognizable And now t hey?ve rebuilt M EM ORY PORT RAI T

By M olly But ler '28

Transform ed from t he bot t om up M ade for t he new generat ion

SUPERSI ZED GRI DDED DRAWI NG

By Jillian Longo '27

Colored Pencil

The deat h of m y adolescence

Graphit e

Circa 2007-2025 M y childhood officially ended Died w it h t he changing seasons

29

AS USUAL

By M ar en M ul l er ' 25

?Al l y!?, h er m ot h er yel l ed agai n . ?Com i n g!? sh e r epl i ed, as usual .

Sh e gi n ger l y pi ck ed t h r ough t h e h aph azar d m ess of ear r i n gs, br acel et s, an d r i n gs bef or e f i n di n g t h e on es sh e w an t ed. Sh e pi ck ed t w o ban gl e br acel et s f or each w r i st an d a pai r of

?I di d n ot h i n g! I ?m i n n ocen t !?

w i t ch ?s h at s f or ear r i n gs. Sh e di dn ?t k n ow w h y sh e pi ck ed t h em un t i l a f l ash of si l ver caugh t

Th e w or ds cam e out of h er m out h , but sh e coul dn ?t speak , as usual . Gi an t h an ds vi ci ousl y

h er eye i n si de h er jew el r y box. I t w as t h e r i n g sh e f oun d w h en sh e f i r st m oved h er e.

t h r ew h er i n t o t h e cen t er of t h e t ow n squar e, w h er e a w ooden pol e an d a bur n i n g t or ch

To Sal em , M assach uset t s.

pat i en t l y aw ai t ed h er ar r i val . I t w as l i k e goi n g t h r ough t h e m ot i on s of a per f ect l y ch or eogr aph ed dan ce. Sh e w oul d k i ck an d scr eam an d cr y but n o on e w oul d h el p h er . Next , sh e w oul d br eak aw ay f r om t h e h an ds an d r un i n t o st r on g ar m s t h at w oul d h ol d h er f or a br i ef m om en t , w i t h em pt y gr een eyes bor i n g i n t o h er t ear f ul br ow n on es. Sh e w oul d r em em ber t h ese eyes h ad a n am e, but n ot t h e n am e. Th en sh e w oul d say,

Sh e r em em ber ed t h e day sh e f oun d t h e r i n g, i t w as h er 13t h bi r t h day. H er par en t s h ad m ade t h e day ext r a speci al si n ce t h ey k n ew t h ei r daugh t er w as upset about t h e m ove. Th ey t ook h er t o t h e l ocal t ow n , w h i ch t h e gover n or h ad deci ded t o k eep as ?h i st or i cal ? as possi bl e. Al l y r em em ber s t h i n k i n g h ow dum b t h e i dea w as. Sh e k n ew about t h e w i t ch t r i al s, w h y w oul d an yon e w an t t o cel ebr at e bur n i n g i n n ocen t w om en ? Sh e al so r em em ber ed m ovi n g t ow ar ds t h e

?Pl ease t el l t h em ! Tel l t h em I ?m n ot a w i t ch !?

f oun t ai n i n t h e m i ddl e of t h e t ow n squar e, w h er e a ch i p i n t h e m ar bl e of t h e f oun t ai n h ad

But , as usual , t h e eyes an d t h e ar m s del i ver ed h er t o t h e w ooden pol e an d t h e t or ch an d t i ed h er

caugh t h er eye. I t w as a si m pl e r i n g, just a si l ver ban d. Th e sam e on e seven t een - year - ol d Al l y

t h er e. Th ey t h en w oul d pi ck up t h e t or ch an d h esi t at e. Th ey w oul d l ook aw ay f r om h er t ow ar ds

n ow h el d i n h er pal m . Sh e st ar ed at t h e r i n g an d t h e w or l d di sappear ed. Sh e h ear d di st an t

som eon e, n ot i n h er vi si on , an d t h e gi r l pr epar ed h er sel f f or w h at sh e k n ew w oul d com e n ext .

scr eam s an d t h e r i n g seem ed t o bur n h er f i n ger s.

H e w oul d t ur n h i s n ow col d gr een eyes back t o h er an d h ol d out t h e t or ch , w h i ch h e w oul d h ol d

As usual .

w i t h h i s l ef t h an d. Th e h an d w i t h a r i n g on i t . Th e r i n g sh e put t h er e. Th e r i n g t h at m at ch ed h er s. Sh e w oul d car ef ul l y sl i p h er ow n r i n g of f h er f i n ger an d t oss i t t o t h e si de, w h er e t h e

Sh e sl i pped t h e si l ver ban d on t o h er l ef t h an d an d sm i l ed t o h er sel f . I t f i t s al m ost t oo per f ect l y on h er r i n g f i n ger .

t ow n speopl e w oul d n ever f i n d i t . But som eon e w oul d, sh e k n ew i t i n h er soul . Sh e w oul d t h en f ace t h e accusi n g gr een eyes of h er bel oved f i an ce an d w at ch t h e f l am es gr ow cl oser . ?Al l y??

?Today?s the day?, sh e t h ough t t o h er sel f .

Sh e descen ded t h e st ai r s t ow ar ds t h e k i t ch en . Sh e w en t t o gr ab t h e cer eal box f r om t h e coun t er , but w as st opped by h er m ot h er ?s ?m om gl ar e?.

Al l y Cr ow aw ok e f r om h er dr eam t o h er m ot h er ?s voi ce cal l i n g f r om dow n st ai r s. Sh e pr opped h er sel f up i n h er bed an d n ot i ced sh e w as sw eat i n g i n h er i cebox of a r oom , as usual . Sh e

?Tom m y?s goi n g t o be h er e an y m i n ut e, h on ey.?, sh e sai d gen t l y.

ch eck ed t h e t i m e an d r eal i zed sh e w as l at e. Sh e jum ped out of bed an d qui ck l y put on an out f i t ,

Tom m y Cut h ber t , t h e st er eot ypi cal jock i n an y h i gh sch ool m ovi e ever . Ri ch , cock y, br i gh t

f i xed h er h ai r , br ush ed h er t eet h , an d paused, gl an ci n g at h er jew el r y box on h er van i t y. Sh e

gr een eyes, an d t h e quar t er back of t h e f oot bal l t eam . H e al so h appen ed t o be Al l y?s devot ed

w as n ow ver y l at e, but sh e coul dn ?t l eave w i t h out h er jew el r y.

boyf r i en d, m uch t o ever y f em al e st uden t at t en di n g Cobey H i gh ?s di sm ay.

31

Al l y exh al ed, r el uct an t l y put t i n g t h e box back an d gr abbi n g a ban an a, m ak i n g h er w ay over t o h er f at h er si t t i n g at t h e k i t ch en t abl e.

?H ey babe.? Tom m y?s l ef t h an d h el d t h e st eer i n g w h eel an d h i s r i gh t h el d h i s ph on e. H e di dn ?t bot h er t o l ook at h i s gi r l f r i en d. Al l y di scr eet l y r ol l ed h er eyes. Sh e h at ed t h e w or d ?babe? an d

?You don ?t n eed a r i de h om e r i gh t ??, h e ask s w i t h out l ook i n g up f r om h i s cr ossw or d. Al l y an d

sh e h at ed bei n g cal l ed i t even m or e.

Tom m y w er e vol un t eer i n g at Cobey El em en t ar y t h at af t er n oon si n ce t h ey w er e h avi n g t h ei r an n ual H al l ow een par t y f or t h e k i ds. Tom m y w as goi n g t o dr i ve t h em t h er e, t h en dr i ve Al l y h om e.

Al l y r ai ses an eyebr ow at h er f at h er . ?No. Not t h at you w oul d?ve gi ven m e on e an yw ay. I k n ow w h at day i t i s.? ?Yeah you do,? h er f at h er gr i n s an d gl an ces at h er m ot h er . ?You t w o ar e un bel i evabl e. We coul d gi ve you a r i de i f you n eed on e. We?r e just or der i n g

?Good m or n i n g Tom m y.? Al l y k n ew sh e soun ded an n oyed, but sh e di dn ?t car e. Th at got h i s at t en t i on .

Tom m y l ook ed up, a f r ow n on h i s h an dsom e f eat ur es. ?Wh at , ar e you m ad at m e or som et h i n g??

Al l y si gh ed an d t ur n ed t ow ar ds t h e w i n dow . ?No, I ?m sor r y. I ?m just t i r ed,? sh e l i ed.

Sh e f el t h i s eyes on h er . ?Sam e dr eam agai n ??

t ak eout an d w at ch i n g a m ovi e,? h er m ot h er says, r ol l i n g h er eyes an d w al k i n g over w i t h ext r a

Al l y n odded. Tom m y w as t h e on l y on e w h o k n ew about h er r ecur r i n g dr eam .

n apk i n s f or t h e t abl e.

Tom m y put h i s ph on e i n Al l y?s l ap an d t ook h ol d of h er ch i n , t ur n i n g h er f ace back t o h i s.

?Yup. Tot al l y. Th at ?s all w e?r e doi n g. Not h i n g el se.?, h er f at h er , ever t h e f l i r t , r espon ds. Al l y?s

?I t ?s just a dr eam , babe.? Tom m y gr i n n ed as h e l et go of h er ch i n t o put h i s h an d on h er t h i gh .

m ot h er w h ack s h i m w i t h t h e n apk i n s bef or e set t i n g t h em on t h e t abl e.

?Now ch eer up. I n eed m y DJ.?

A h on k soun ds f r om out si de.

Al l y scr ol l ed t h r ough t h e quest i on abl e son gs on h i s ph on e t o f i n d on e sh e l i k ed bef or e gi vi n g

Al l y gi ves h er par en t s a qui ck k i ss on t h e ch eek bef or e gr abbi n g h er bags an d h eadi n g t ow ar ds

up an d pi ck i n g som et h i n g r an dom . Sh e pi ck ed t h e r i gh t on e because Tom m y w h ooped an d

t h e door .

st ar t ed obn oxi ousl y n oddi n g t o t h e beat . Al l y l augh ed an d sh ook h er h ead. I t w as m om en t s l i k e

?Do you n eed t h at on e, Al l y? I t l ook s h eavy.? Al on g w i t h h er sch ool bag, Al l y w as br i n gi n g a

t h ese w h er e sh e f el t a t w i n ge of doubt i n h er st om ach .

r ed t ot e bag t h at l ook ed l i k e i t w ei gh ed a t on . Th e h on k soun ded agai n , t h i s t i m e l ast i n g f or a

But sh e n ever l et t h e f eel i n g st ay. H e deser ved w h at w as com i n g t o h i m .

f ew ext r a secon ds.

*****

?Yes M om , i t ?s f or l at er . Love you!? Al l y boun ded out t h e door t ow ar ds t h e r ed Por sch e par k ed

AS USUAL

out si de h er h ouse. Sh e open ed t h e door , t h r ew h er bags i n t h e back , an d jum ped i n t o t h e f r on t

By M aren M uller '25

seat . As usual .

33

FOREST T RAI L

By Julia Gargione '26 Graphit e

BEAUT I FUL T H ORNS

By Em ily Charles Cole '27 Acrylic, Colored Pencil

M APLE T REE

By Julia Villarreal '25 Phot ography

CLI FFS OF M OH ER

By Em ily Beggs '26 Phot ography

35

SPOT LI GH T

SUNDAY AFT ERNOON

By Kait lin M cCullagh '27

Ceci Corr '26

Graphit e

Phot ography

CONT ROL Violet t e Frat rick '25 Acrylic 37

DUALI T Y

By Elisabet h Bailey '26 Wat ercolor A ST UDY I N PERSPECT I VE

By Nat alia Asset t o '25 Graphit e

Is t his t he flow er shop?

I w as just looking t o buy som e roses I can see, t here are beaut iful flow ers everyw here But w here t he roses should be, t here are only a few red pet als t hat m ust have fallen off M OVEM ENT

By Elisabet h Bailey '26 Sculpt ure

I guess everybody w ant ed t he roses And t here are so m any ot her flow ers t o choose from Orchids, t ulips, lilies? and t he sw eet -sm elling lavender But I don?t w ant t hem I w ant ed t he roses Well, m aybe m y luck w ill change nex t Spring

FLOWER SH OP

By Erin Rebbechi '28 39

M essing w it h each ot her, all in good hum or

COT T AGE

The w ay t hey saw each ot her in t heir fut ures

By Nat alia Asset t o '25

Joking around t oget her w it h all t heir friends

Graphit e

They have each ot her, t hey just don?t know it yet And I?ve seen t he w ay she looks int o his eyes Like t aking in t he w orld before her dem ise I?ve seen her sm ile sparkle w it h inner joy

T H E DOG DAYS OF WI NT ER

By Grace Killeen '28

That she knew she belonged t o t hat lover boy

Phot ography

Because, he t hought about her in t he m orning Her gest ures he w as const ant ly adoring WAT ER I N T H E ST EM

By Erin Rebbechi '28

Her brunet t e hair, t hat flow ed along like w at er The clouded, cryst al clear m em ories w it h her

She w as a young girl, t alent ed by design

And if only he knew t he t hought s in her head

She w ould look int o fashion in her spare t im e

When she lied t o herself, t hey?re no m ore t han friends

St aring at t he ceiling w hen her light s w ere dim

But at t he end of t hey day, everyone knew

And every night , she w as dream ing about him

How t hey saw each ot her, and realized w hat ?s t rue

He?d w alk by t he shore, t aking in t he cool breeze

When t he sky is dark, she w ishes on a st ar

He?d alw ays find her reflect ion in t he seas

As t he light s w ent out , and t he w orld w ould go dark

He t hought of her as he looked out his w indow

Im agining his int angible presence

And saw a soft blue sky, cast w it h a rainbow

His soul unt w ined, in it ?s finest quint essence

How he w ould t hink of her w at er-colored heart

Som eday, som eday, he knew t hat he w ould t ell her

PET ALS AM OUNG ST ARS

And how t hey st art ed a fire w it h one spark

Longer t hey t alked, t he harder his soul w ould burn

By Vera Chen '28

Because bot h of t hem had felt it , all along

He pict ured her nam e in t he const ellat ions

Hearing each ot her?s nam es in t he dove?s birdsongs

Lat er, in t heir bloodline for generat ions

And you should see t he w ay t hat t hey int eract

But , com ing upon t hem like t he sun at daw n,

How t hey?d forget all t he bad t im es t hat had passed

Was t he realizat ion t o w hom t hey w ere draw n

But som ehow , t hey?re bot h t oo afraid t o confess

Soon, t hey w ould realize t here?s no one else for t hem

Even if t hey know t hey fit each ot her best

Because t o see t he rose, you have t o w at er t he st em

Acrylic

41

Do you rem em ber w hen w e w ere younger?

WRI T E YOU A POEM

By Erin Rebbechi '28

How w e used t o joke around w it h all your friends?

Do you t hink of m e ever, I w onder, and do you look at m e from a different lens?

PI I I I I I NK Well, som et im es I see your m om on t he new s And I t hink about everyt hing w e once w ere

By Hayden M uehl '26 Acrylic

Every t im e I see her, I t hink of you I can?t help but t hink how m uch you look like her Event ually, spring w ould t urn int o fall And everyt hing t hen is so different t o now It ?s been years, but t here?s so m uch I recall And as you grew , your hair changed from blond t o brow n I st ill rem em ber your voice t o t his day And I st ill rem em ber t hat look in your eye, w hen you?d ask if I could com e out t o play When you?d ask m e t hat , how could I deny?

Why does nost algia feel so st range, but good?

I w ish you w ere here w it h m e at t his m om ent I recall at t his very spot , you st ood

NAPPI NG I N T H E SUN

But for now , I t hink I?ll w rit e you a poem

By Caroline Perlick '27 Graphit e

VACAT I ON NI GH T S

By Grace Killeen '28 Phot ography 43

SOLACE IN YOUR GAZE

By Azul Cornejo '26 Your dazzling green eyes are m y guiding light .

For now t his dalliance is ours t o cherish alone.

A pat h t o a place w here clouds no longer fight .

Whispers surround but w e?ve built our ow n t hrone.

The crisp, cold air set t les like an icy sheet , The w orld m ay not see all t he quiet joy w e?ve know n, But w hen your arm s w rap around m ine, t he chill t urns t o heat .

But in your arm s, I?ve found m y forever hom e.

The t ouch of your hand m akes m y w orries slip aw ay,

OCEAN CI T Y M ORNI NGS

Like m elt ing ice on a sunlit day.

By Em ily Beggs '26 When life becom es a burden, I look int o your gaze, And find solace in t he beaut y of your t ender w ays.

Phot ography RED SUNSET

By Sophia Leuzzi '27 Acrylic

In your eyes, a life unfolds, a life w here I feel free.

A life of com fort and happiness for you and for m e.

A SUM M ER SUNSET

By Alex andra Rat ner '26

I don?t know w here t his love w ill t ake us, but I know ,

Phot ography

That t oget her w e?ll rise w herever w e go.

Our love w e w on?t keep a secret , but it ?s ours t o keep, A secret shared only in m om ent s deep.

It is t rue t hat I love you m ore t han w ords could show , And it is m y w ish t hat you, by m y side, w on?t ever feel low .

45

ECH OES OF AEI PAT H Y

By Azul Cornejo '26

Our love vanished as she left m e w eeping, Alone in m y bleak room , I w as left grieving.

She abandoned our aeipat hy t o em brace anot her?s affect ion, Our once int ert w ined heart s now an illicit connect ion.

LI FE I N T H E CI T Y

By Em ily Beggs '26 Phot ography

FOLLOW T H E LEADER

By Hannah Turek '26 Phot ography

Our love w as condit ional, fraught w it h doubt , I w as a dream er t hinking it precious t hroughout .

But soon enough, I found m yself in bit t er reverie,

T H E USE OF A SH OE

By Libby Shea '27 Sculpt ure

Her once-charm ing disposit ion, now just a m em ory.

Our m em ories, bit t ersw eet , M ist akes m ade, lessons learned, our end is com plet e.

In t he past t hey belong, yet t hey haunt m e st ill, They echo all night long unt il t he m orning?s chill.

ST EPPI NG I NT O AUT UM N

By Hannah Turek '26 Phot ography

The end has arrived, The m elodies of our old love, now deprived.

Our t ale rem ains unt old, But t o you, I st ill ahold, m y heart st ill bold.

47

EVERYT H I NG T AST E BET T ER I N DECEM BER

By Er i n Rebbech i ' 28 We drink hot cider w e brew ed t oget her We m ake your m ot her?s cookies w it h our friends Everyt hing t ast es bet t er in Decem ber Wit h you, t he w int er never ends We w alk out side, in a cryst al w onderland Glow ing lit t le snow flakes reflect in your eyes We st ep ont o t he ice, skat ing hand in hand Rem em ber t hese as t he good t im es We play holiday songs in our living room We st art a fire, gazing far beyond Right t hen, t hat ?s w here anot her chapt er bloom ed I now see our heart s correspond I st ill have t hat bear you once knit t ed for m e The Christ m as ex change, I?ll never forget This m agic w it h you, I could not foresee But it is one I?ll never regret

T WI NKLY LI GH T S

By Claire Casey '27 M et allic Gel Pens

49

Image Explosion Edi t or - i n - Ch i ef : Gr ace Lour i e ' 25 M OT H ER AND CH I LD

By Kinsley Jackson '26 Phot ography

Assi st an t Edi t or - i n - Ch i ef : Just i n e Wen g ' 25 Ar t Edi t or : Nat al i a Asset t o ' 25

St af f :

Rebecca An gel a Rom ussi ' 25 Ch r i st i n a Fl an agan ' 26 Ar i Rabady ' 26 Payt on Con n el l y ' 27 Jul i a Kl ei n ' 27 Wi l l ow M at t h ew s ' 28

T H E ST ACKS

By Julia Villarreal '25 Phot ography

Advi sor s:

M s. Cai t l i n M at t er a M r s. M ar i an n e Rul e M r s. Kat i e Ch o

51