SCS Voices Magazine Vol 2

VOL. 2 | 2019-2021

VOICES

THE ARTISTS AND AUTHORS OF SANTIAGO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

ARTWORK BY DANIELLA ALMONTE- 11TH GRADE

CONTENTS PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION

PAGE 2 EDITORS' NOTE

PAGE 3 ROMANTICISM

PAGE 11 LITERARY PERSEPCTIVES ON QUARATINE

PAGE 15 SPANISH WORKS

PAGE 18 PANTOUMS

PAGE 23 LITERARY COMPETITION

PAGE 29 MUSIC

Artwork by: Marie Chantal Maruschke- 10th grade

Voices |x

INTRODUCTION 2019 - 2021 has been a couple of years that we will not forget. We spent time at school with friends and time at home working from our computers. Even through all of this, the Fine Arts community has continued to thrive! The authors and artists in this edition of Voices have continued to create masterpieces in both literature and art. A special thank you to everyone who contributed and the English, Spanish, and Fine Arts teachers who helped! Enjoy!

Aldo Espino and Meridith Hartsfield Fine Arts Prefects

Artwork by Kayla Johnson - SCS Class of 2020

Voices | 1

Editor's Note

Romans 12:6 "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them"

There has never been a point in time in

This literary magazine serves just that

the history of our school with as much

purpose, to showcase the artists and

change and as many challenges as the past

authors of Santiago Christian School.

two years. While being stuck at home and

Making this magazine has only shown us the

taking classes online was very hard for a lot

ability and talent that this school has. We

of us, the fine arts lived on despite all of

are proud to be able to help grow and

this. We still managed to amass dozens of

flourish the fine arts program. Each of the

pieces of writing and artwork that

pieces has a bit of the author in them and

demonstrated great creativity and free

portrays who they are or their emotions.

expression. The new situations this period

This year started off with many

has brought have led our students to create

suspicions about how the fine arts program

some of the most creative pieces of writing

would work, but this magazine proves to

and art this school has ever seen, and we

show that nothing can stop people from

are very proud of all our students have

showing their immense talent. In any case,

accomplished under these new

we are proud to present Voices: The Artists

circumstances. At school or at home, the

and Authors of SCS.

great writing at SCS always stayed alive, and the amount our students have worked deserves to be celebrated.

Voices | 2

Romanticism INTRO FROM MRS. DAVIS Students were asked to imitate Romantic elements in the poems they wrote.

Romanticism was a movement prominent in the 1800s which valued independence, the self, emotion, nature, expression, freedom, the supernatural, and rebellion.

Many of these elements remain as characteristics of modern culture and have strongly influenced modern arts, politics, and culture.

The student poems below reflect students' attempt to incorporate some of these elements creatively in an original poem. As they (and we, the readers) recognize the influence of the movement, they (and we!) are more equipped to evaluate the values and beliefs expressed in Romanticism and hold them to a biblical standard of truth and goodness.

Artwork: Top - Sinyoung Park - 11th grade Bottom - Anabel Gonzalez- 12th grade Voices | 3

HAVE YOU HEARD THE SONG ON THE WALLS? “I heard there was a special place Where men could go and emancipate The brutality and the tyranny of their rulers.”

Have you heard the song?

There was a special place where men could go, But it’s not there anymore.

The place, offspring of my blood, sweat, and tears, was a new world for peace and refuge.

But I lost it, it was snatched away from my embrace.

Oh, the beautiful dream; My unfinished symphony was never meant to be.

Words built this place

MIND IN OBLIVION A face in the mirror, I have never seen her before, But she seems sad.

and I believed the same words could unite, But I learned that in this world, The only universal language is violence, And so I will speak that language.

Beady eyes and a blank stare Repetitive motions she performs,

If I can’t have it

Clearly an attempt to escape this

then no one,

forest.

No one

Her children are unable to

can have it.

withstand Such an image of decay.

They cannot, however, ignore Her helpless descent.

My unfinished symphony, forever unfinished.

A very depressing image in the mirror.

It was simply

I feel sorry for her,

never meant to be.

I could never fall into such a state.

Isabella Tropiano- 11th Grade

Yumin Han - 11th Grade Artwork by Daniel Santana - 12th grade Voices | 4

Art work by Miguel A. Blasco 12th grade (bottom) and Sophia Rogers 10th grade (top)

Bring Them Back Oh Mountain O mountains of my misfortune, of my pain and my eternal mourning O mountains, bring them to me again, bring those who overflow my cup of joy I need them like you need water to live, I need them to heal, to feel O raise them up to those who died in terrible disgrace From my curse, bring them back to me, give them back Or I will lift lands and seas, and winds and storms May your branches and your noble pastures strike And there will be no more life between your valleys Nor water between your paths If you don't bring those who encourage and lift my being As the dawn brings light and life to earth Bring them back, O mount, and you will live forever!

Sofia Gandara - 11th Grade Voices | 5

Windy nights, staring down the wooden path I see a light , not bright but warm. Is it here for me? Is it here to take me?

The light is warm but I run, run away.

Why am I running?

It's a comforting warmth, feels cozy, like a mother’s hug, it felt pleasant, the kind of satisfaction that no other source of energy has given me before.

I want to run, I need to run I stop. it's here to take me home, I let it.

Nothing in this humane world has ever made me feel so explosive, feelings I didn't know were buried inside of me were coming out.

I close my eyes.

A spaceship, I was in a spaceship This feeling of home, deep inside of me had never left.

I just knew it in my heart, this is where i belong But where do I belong?

Here? What is here?

What is this place? how can a place so uncommon and never before seen by my eyes and mind be so... ...comforting. I don’t get it.

JAVIER A. GUZMAN - 10TH GRADE

It gets dark and dark… and darker And then… a light again, the light The same warmth that i felt before, except, now I feel complete It's a world, A whole different universe.

I had been living in the wrong planet my whole life This was home.

Fernanda Diaz - 11th Grade

HAROLD PORTILLA - 12TH GRADE

Voices | 6

A ghost lost in the body of a girl.

Why should there be chaos?

Breaking her apart.

When someone above is protecting us

Tearing her into pieces.

He is always watching

As she slowly lost herself.

Why did you rebel, Lucifer?

Maybe you needed more power

She was in the middle of nowhere.

You think you are better than your creator

Trying to find herself.

Guess not, He banned you from the highest

The loneliness comes from inside.

place

As it broke her down.

You were looking for change You got it in the end

But It was too late.

For good or worse

She was lost in the evil.

You got what you deserve

He owned heart and her mind.

Maybe he is letting chaos happen

She was no longer herself.

Because He knows the future

It was too late.

John Chang - 11th Grade

She became what he wanted her to be.

She became his possession.

It was too late.

Camila Cabrera - 11th Grade Artwork by: Left: Anabel Gonzalez - 12th grade Voices | 7

Right: Yumin Han - 11th grade

Fly Little Bird Think with the heart The mind will be your betrayer Lost, running away, you will find what you are looking for Freedom of the chains holding you down Let out the scream of the beast roaring inside you Run, wild and free, Never looking back Frightened by the sad truth of the world Trust yourself, for society is deceiving Be the main character of your story Break the chains of repetition in people Create a new future of freedom Think with the heart, follow your dreams And you will be set free, little bird Fly, for the world is waiting for you Grismely Cruz - 11th Grade

Artwork by Charbel Wadih 12th grade (top left) , Carla Lucia Alvarez 10th grade (top right), and Gavi Bautista Voices | 8 11th grade (bottom)

The weather was harsh and cold I did not know where to go My feet were at their pain peak I could bare it no more When I was about to give up In the distance I saw a light It flickered in the night For I know my eyes are right I got up with all my strength I had almost none left Little hope I had left in my soul When I decided to risk it all

As the sun sets in the west And the wind blows in the east A young girl rides on her horse to the north Away from her home in the south Clip-clop, clip-clop The sky imitates a fire And the grass has turned to emeralds A most perfect scene For the most perfect escape Clip-clop, clip-clop

I was on the verge of collapsing When a hand I felt on my back It was a warm and mighty hand But no one was behind me It was helping me and guiding me Almost as if it told me not to give up I welcomed it and kept going And the light seemed closer now The light grew bigger and brighter I could almost touch it and taste it now I felt the hand leave my back as if saying “you made it.”

I reached out to the light, thus where my story ended.

The trees guide her As the birds sing her a sweet song To make her own home And start a new life Tweet tweet, tweet tweet Her heart beats faster As the thought of the future And of her endless possibilities Overwhelms her mind Ba bump, ba bump

Melanie Pena - 11th Grade Kamila Madera - 11th Grade

Voices | 9

STANDING ALONE I saw him fly away from me, His wings were beautiful as he went away from me, Leaving me behind with all this sadness, Leaving me behind on the ground.

Carlos Espinal - 11th Grade

Artwork: Sophia Rogers- 10th Grade

REISE | PAGE 4

I asked myself why leave me, Did I do wrong that he wanted to go away from me, This beautiful creature just looked so precious, But he was just going away from me.

The creature embraced everybody else except me, As I stand alone in this darkness, The only light that I could see was going away from me, Until I couldn’t see it no more, Here I am standing alone.

Voices | 10

LITERARY PERSPECTIVES ON QUARANTINE Holding Out For A Summer He sat there near the window. The soft, cool breeze of a spring afternoon rubbed gently against the side of his face. It was colder than usual; his hands could feel it.

The faint sunlight did not provide enough warmth. He listened as the notifications on his laptop kept ringing, one after the other.

With every sound, his heart sank deeper into his chest. With every sound, another homework added to the list. With a clouded mind, he grabbed the window ledge and shouted, “I’M GOING INSANE!” Juan Daniel Checo - 12th Grade

Artwork by Caterina Torres - 10th grade Voices | 11

LOST ON THE VERGE OF BEING

WISHING FOR THINGS OUT OF OUR

FOUND

REACH

Everything was the same, Violet thought. Nothing has changed. Nothing will change. It was the peace

Is it that serious, Marie thought, completing her

that was driving her crazy. The quiet. It didn’t let her

assignment on Google Classroom. Her fingers

concentrate. Her siblings didn’t want to talk to her.

continuously touch the keyboard as she thinks about

Somehow, they had better things to do. It had been

the pandemic. Her mind wanders into a wasteland

days since she had spoken to someone properly. And

as she is tired of the assignment. She wanders into

she missed it.

this sunny, breezy place where she hears the waves

Violet had spent her days watching old TV shows that

and smells the salty air. That’s where I should be, she

used to make her laugh. She wasn’t laughing now. In

thought.

fact, she couldn’t help but think about the uselessness of it all. What was the point? The point of life, the point

The ding on her computer breaks her from the

of living? Violet had never been a skeptic or a cynic, but

trance as she comes back to reality. The white screen

as she watched the twirling colors of nothingness in

with letters is making her feel nauseous and

her screen, she suddenly couldn’t help but notice it was

claustrophobic. I just need to go outside, Marie

all for nothing. There was no point. She couldn’t go outside. She couldn’t see her friends. She was stuck in a place, surrounded by people who didn’t want to be with her. Violet could find no comfort as she watched her parents speak quietly. All she could think about was all she was losing. All the good moments she was

thought, I have to breathe the fresh air. Marie reaches the front door as the sun gets warmer. She sees her mother sitting on the chair. She won’t notice, Marie thought. As she leaves the house, everything looks beautiful and perfect. This is where I should be: outside. Then she sees people walking around wearing masks and holding a large container of hand

supposed to be living. All gone. But then Violet saw her

sanitizer. I wish this pandemic would end, Marie

father cry. She had never seen him cry. Emotion came

thinks, I want my normal life back.

crawling back into her heart, reminding her of all the good in the world. In her family. Reminding her to keep

Stephany Kim - 12th Grade

fighting, if only for the sake of her family. Violet stood and went to comfort her father.

Artwork: Yumin Han 11th grade (left) and Daniela

Andrea Batlle - 12th Grade

Almonte 11th grade (right)

Voices | 12

WE WERE ONCE HAPPY The normal streets that used to be filled with cars and the sounds of honking horns were no longer there.

The bare streets eerily quiet. The people no longer walk down the sidewalks talking loudly to their friends. The colmados don’t blast their music anymore. It’s a ghost town. The stores are becoming bare but the hospitals are filling up. But we can dream of so many things. In our dreams no one is sick, there are still parties every weekend. We are hanging out with our friends, we are at the beach drinking smoothies and watching the waves. We are happy and living our lives to the fullest. Our families are eagerly awaiting our arrivals during spring break, but only in our dreams. As always we are pulled from our dreams too early and forced to face the reality. The reality that nothing is happening.

The world has stopped turning.

Meridith Hartsfield - 12th grade

Voices | 13

REISE | PAGE 4

Artwork: Top - Noa Linan- 10th grade Bottom - Gavi Bautista- 11th grade

Poem Translation Quiéreme entera de Dulce María Loynaz Si me quieres, quiéreme entera, no por zonas de luz o sombra…

Si me quieres, quiéreme negra y blanca, Y gris, verde, y rubia, y morena…

Quiéreme día, quiéreme noche… ¡Y madrugada en la ventana abierta!…

Si me quieres, no me recortes: ¡Quiéreme toda… O no me quieras Love me whole By: Dulce María Loynaz (original translation) If you are to love me, love me as a whole Not for shaded or lightened quirks…

If you love me, desire me black And white, and grey, green and blonde and brown…

Love me as day, Love me as night…

And in the midst of the morning breeze!

If you want me, don’t diminish me: Love me as I am… Or don’t love me at all!

Anabel Gonzalez - 12th grade Art by Rocio Abreu- 10th grade

Voices | 14

SPANISH WORKS Amor eterno En una tierra muy lejana, había una niña que se llamaba Hailey.

Su vida era muy dura. Vivía en el campo y sus padres peleaban mucho.

Hailey quería salir y nunca volver. Hailey era muy amable, le gustaba ayudar a otros. Pero recientemente no podía hacer nada. Se cansó mucho.

Estaba tan agotada de que sus padres pelearan, pero no podía hacer nada. Así que decidió huir, hacerlo tan lejos que no sabía si algún día volvería. Corrió hacia el bosque. Cuando llegó a una parte en donde se podía esconder, se tomó un descanso. Se quedó en el bosque por mucho tiempo, hasta que se cansó.

Se cansó tanto, que huyó hacia el mar.

Entró al agua y cinco minutos más tarde, llegó un tiburón toro.

Ya estaba a punto de atacar.

Hailey intentó nadar fuera del alcance del tiburón. No lo logró.

A su vez, un chico rubio que estaba sorfeando la agarró por el brazo y la subió a la tabla.

Hailey miró a los ojos del niño y se encontró perdidamente enamorada, estaba pensando en cómo durante el pasado siempre quiso a un chico rubio. Mientras el niño la ayudaba a levantarse, le preguntó: “Estás bien?”, a lo que ella le respondió que sí...

-Cómo te llamas?

-Mi nombre es Bryce, ¿quién eres tú?

-Hailey Bryce pensó para sí mismo: “Wow, ella es como la puesta del sol en la horizonte”, por lo que Bryce no pudo contenerse y la besó.

Diez años más tarde, Bryce y Hailey seguían casados hasta el día de hoy. Ella todavía recuerda su primer beso con Bryce.

Deborah Cohen, Salma Hage, Julianny Martinez y Hannah Phares 8th grade

Artwork by Yumin Han - 11th grade Voices | 15

La navidad

Las vacaciones

Yo no quiero estar estresado Yo no quiero estar tan cansado Quiero dormir sin nada en mi mente Quiero vacaciones solamente.

Noches cortas Días largos Noches largas Días cortos

En las vacaciones puedo hacer mucho...

Dormir sin ninguna alarma despertadora Jugar con mi hermana y hermano Hablar con mis vecinos a toda hora.

Las disfrutas Las añoras Se acaban Y regresan

Estoy muy muy muy muy estresado Tantas tareas, no puedo descansar Ahora yo estoy aburrido sin parar Ahora hay muchísimo cansancio.

No puedo aunque haya cuatro días más Ya sueño con mis vacaciones Ya estoy imaginando la Navidad Yo quiero tanto el “Break of Christmas”

Diversión Y calor Y regalos Y emoción Días quietos Y acción Este asueto Inició Alejandro Plaza - former SCS student

Caleb Davidson - former SCS student

Voices | 16

¡ORGULLOSO DE SER DOMINICANO! LA PATRIA QUE MÁS ME GUSTA, ES EN LA CUAL NACÍ, EN ELLA TENGO MI GENTE, Y ALEGRÍA DE VIVIR. LA BANDERA MÁS HERMOSA, ES LA DE MI AMADO PAÍS, EL ROJO, AZUL Y BLANCO, ME HACEN SER MUY FELIZ. ME SIENTO MUY ORGULLOSO, DE MI NACIONALIDAD, PORQUE SOY DOMINICANO, MI PAÍS VOY A CUIDAR. VIVA LA PATRIA DE DUARTE, SÁNCHEZ, MELLA Y LUPERÓN, QUE TAMBIÉN SIEMPRE SERÁ, ¡LA PATRIA DE VÍCTOR POU! V I C T OR P O U - 8 T H G R A D E DIGITAL ART BY VALERIA GENAO 10TH GRADE

Voices | 17

I watched the men leave one by one all in the same outfit The women came to church with red eyes and I had to be strong because mother couldn’t “The suffering had been stronger than all other teachings” The women came to church with red eyes I couldn’t understand what happened to father “The suffering had been stronger than all other teachings” I watched with tears as other little girls’ fathers came back As a child I lived through the war I couldn’t understand what happened to father I watched with tears as other little girls’ fathers came back My father left but he never came back -Meridith Hartsfield - 12th Grade

PANTOUMS I LIVED THROUGH THE WAR

Artwork by Sinyoung Park 11th grade

As a child I lived through the war I watched the men leave one by one all in the same outfit My father left but he never came back and I had to be strong because mother couldn’t

Voices | 18

How old I am getting My body starts to hurt I can’t do what I want

It is miserable thing to be ashamed by home I don’t even know what home is But it be like that sometimes

People have to help

Don’t know where I’m from

My body starts to hurt

I don’t know what home is

I need to rest more than others

Can’t name a place where I’m from

People have to help My old age stops me

Don’t know where I’m from Where do I belong

I need to rest more than others I can’t work anymore

Can’t name a place where I’m comfortable

My old age stops me

Never feel in the right place

I should retire and go home I can’t work anymore

Where do I belong Can’t put the place on the map

I need other people I should retire and go home

It’s a miserable thing to be ashamed by home

But I don’t want to

Never feel in the right place

I need other people How old I am getting But I don’t want to I can’t do what I want

Can’t put the place on the map But it be like that sometimes Harold Portilla - 12th Grade

Rodolfo Pantaleon - 9th Grade

Artwork by Patricia Cabral 10th grade (left) and Voices | 19

Caterina Torres 10th grade (right)

There is a lot that goes into who one is And I think very much about who I am Being proud of myself And the fact that I am different And I think very much about who I am Thinking about the secrets I have, and how I act And the fact that I am different I wonder if I am a decent person Thinking about the secrets I have, and how I act I am disgusted with my calling and my life I wonder if I am a decent person I am not There is a lot that goes into who one is I am disgusted with my calling and my life I am not Being proud of myself Aldo Espino - 12th Grade ArtworkPatricia Cabral- 10th grade Voices | 20

I was weak and feeble My dreams were concealed from the world Now the reality was in my hold My conscience told me to take a leap of faith Forfeit would’ve been an option Though I saw hope in myself.

The journey was tough, dragging myself out of the mud I have fought against all doubters

My dreams were concealed from the world Forfeit would’ve been an option.

My conscious told me to take a leap of faith The journey was tough, dragging myself out of the mud.

I was weak and feeble Though I saw hope in myself.

I have fought against all doubters.

Now the reality was in my hold.

Artwork by Harold Portilla - 12th grade

Young Sung Lee - 12th Grade Voices | 21

AFTER ALL After all that I’ve lived Life has taught me to enjoy its little things To feel the breeze tangling within my curls And to be amused by the feeling when it touches my finger tips.

This life has taught me to fall in love with the eyes Because they are the only things that never lie, To fall in love with actions Because it is easy to dictate without interactions.

I have lived Because of this I have learned to appreciate every call And care for them all.

These white shadows in my head reflect all the memories in my brains That are silver to the eye but golden to my loves.

After all I’ve lived I seek for every sunset as an opportunity to try again, Refusing excuses from those ignorant souls.

After all I’ve lived I have learned to forgive and love And share my thoughts to those who would like to grow.

Dominique Jiménez - 12th grade

Artwork: Top: Valeria Grullon - 10th grade Middle: Yumin Han - 11th grade Bottom: Valeria Genao - 10th grade

Voices | 22

L I T E R A R Y C O M P E T I T I O N :

T H E F O L L O P I E C E S W E A L L E N T E R T H E A C S I I N T E R N A T I W R I T I N G C O M P E T I T I

W I N G R E E D I N O N A L O N

PATRICIA CABRAL - 10TH GRADE

T H E BE A S T WH O H A R N E S S E D T H E WI N D

Up in the highest, most majestic mountain I opened my eyes It was the land of perfect light, warm and bright But my soul told me otherwise I refused light, I desired dark; I did not need warm, I yearned for ice The only way down paradise was the rebellious, gold-stroken wind Who knew every corner of the land, even the darkest, most dreadful places

KAMILA MADERA - 11TH GRADE

In my soul I was certain: an intrepid jump from the crystal clear cliff Would be a cry for help to the wind As I fell, I felt my heart pump, for the first time being alive And there, in that split of a second, I saw her Instantly grasping her with my mighty claws I pulled the wind down the mountain into the deepest, darkest cave She fought vigorously, great blows shook my body Up in my neck, she did not let me breathe But even the faintest glimpse of that place spoke to me, reminded me of my purpose At last I tore her off, and understood her mischief Her wondrous, gorgeous trail led right to the cave, obscure blows scattered throughout the place How could it be that the wind lived in this misery?

If only she knew, It was heaven for me Liana Maria Portela Belliard - 11th grade

Voices | 23

VALERIA GRULLON - 10TH GRADE

The Poem of Me Words Books Stories I make these things define me I twist them like a maple branch and bend them to my will I nourish them, coaxing blossoms from the wood Water from the rocks The scent of pages is my choice perfume Written words, my power I like the feeling of this power.

And when inspiration hits me Like a wave on the sand You can find me in my cave Though I’m a million miles away I am the words They spring from my fingertips I am the books They influence me every day, angel and demon I am the story I live a thousand lives But in the end, my name is just a word.

Am I my name?

Rebekah Preus - 9th Grade Top art- Camila Cabrera-12th grade Bottom art- Isabella Cruz11th grade

Voices | 24

POSTMODERN PAINTING. Stella alternately paints in oil and watercolor

THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW I recall a day not too long ago A girl, standing in the window.

The sun hit her bright blue eyes They looked like the bright blue ocean.

Then, the bright blue ocean was gone.

Nothing was in the window not the girl, not her eyes.

It was as if she had been swept away by a storm.

Nothing was left of her beauty.

I walked passed the house each day.

I never did see the girl in the window.

I would remember her as a beautiful painting.

Her eyes as the ocean and hair as the swift winds.

I never knew what it was that is I saw I was eager to find the girl.

Never again did I see her beauty.

She was perfection, until she wasn’t.

Molly Hartsfield - 9th Grade Art by Anabel Gonzalez- 12th grade

Voices | 25

The Abyss

Is it chilly out there or is it just me My mind goes blank and I know what you see I'm alright, I’m okay And I know that you're afraid This happens all the time I’ll be okay You don’t have to stay around and wait I know you wanna help me with this But I know how to deal with the abyss Been sitting here behind closed doors Haven’t seen my friends in eight months or so I’m alright, I’m just fine And I know that you're afraid This happens all the time I’ll be okay You don’t have to stay around and wait I know you wanna help me with this But I know how to deal with the abyss I’m used to this I’ll be just fine I know how to glue the pieces inside I know that this is all new to you But I know how to deal with the abyss When you asked if something’s up When you asked if I’m okay When you asked if something’s on my mind I lied and said that I am fine This happens all the time I’ll be okay You don’t have to stay around and wait I know you wanna help me with this But I know how to deal with the abyss I’m used to this I’ll be just fine I know how to glue the pieces inside I know that this is all new to you But I know how to deal with the abyss SOPHIA ROGERS - 10TH GRADE

Camila Pena - 9th Grade Voices | 26

"THE HAITIAN MASK" We wear the mask of compliance A constant struggle for life Yet our countries are supposed to be in alliance The sun scorches our skin Yet we represent no defiance

We wear the mask of acceptance They let us work, but not eat at their table It is a constant plight of internal repentance We are forced to wear the mask Or else we sign our death sentence.

We wear the mask of relief We were already fugitives Immigrants from a “country of thieves” Every day is a blessing, yet life is painful Their children are well-fed, while ours tumble like leaves

Saul Diplan - 11th grade

Voices | 27

Artwork- Javier Guzman- 10th grade

ROCIO ABREU- 10TH GRADE

MY NEW WAYS, MY NEW SELF

My own new ways are better

On my own path of life

I focus on my heart, and forget about the

The angels that guide my heart will lead

mind

my journey

I don’t care about the rules, nor what

Setting me apart from the demons in my

other say

head that surround me

I follow my heart to do what is right

No one nor nothing will bring me down

My ways are always best

I shall be gone far into the world of my dreams

By leaving the cruel world of my past behind I will escape on my terms to find myself I will be able to be free, to be myself No limits, nor boundaries will stop me I know what’s best for me, only I do

Where I shall freely be my own star So no one come in my way, get your own way My new ways, my new self is best

Emely Nuñez - 11th grade Voices | 28

M U S I C

"Fire in You" Verse 1

She always had an ideal life, continuous laughter Straight A’s, outgoing and confident Oh, the light of her presence, all her friends loved her Yet somewhere along the lines I saw her smile fade away like the sunlight She kept telling me she was fine But oh, I knew better than to believe her Pre-chorus Can’t you see you’re only hurting yourself Trying to fit in at an imperfect world Maybe you didn’t mean it

Verse 2 Oh, I can see that she’s falling apart But people are always going to talk, tear her down Drives them crazy to see her flourish So don’t hide yourself Because no one is coming to save you It’s just you against yourself So be your own superhero Pre-chorus Can’t you see you’re only hurting yourself Trying to fit in at an imperfect world Maybe you didn’t mean it Maybe it just felt like your only choice But you danced on the moon Now you’re crying in your bedroom

Maybe it just felt like your only choice But you danced on the moon Now you’re crying in your bedroom Chorus I hear you but you’re not speaking You’re screaming; get me out of here I say stand up, prove em wrong Don’t look at tomorrow cause you got today Girl you got that fire in you Yeah, you got that fire in you You don’t need to change It’s time to show them what you’re made of Yeah, show them what you’re made of

Chorus I hear you but you’re not speaking You’re screaming; get me out of here I say stand up, prove em wrong Don’t look at tomorrow cause you got today Girl you got that fire in you Yeah, you got that fire in you You don’t need to change It’s time to show them what you’re made of Yeah, show them what you’re made of

Outro To that girl once in me, I tell you I have to let you go I am myself and that is enough Girl I got that fire in me Grismely Cruz - 11th grade

Artwork by Vera Lucia Pappatera - 11th grade Voices | 29

UNDERNEATH MY ICEBERG

Verse 1: Fear’s in me; Fear of failure Nobody knows what’s underneath my iceberg They see what’s on my face but can’t see my heart and will I try not to hide it, but they still don’t know Chorus: But He knows; before I even know that fear is in me He sees my heart underneath the iceberg Healer of heart,cures me with his hand Comforter of mind,takes my fears away (away) Verse 2: I feel alone; trapped in my own fears Surrounded by the ones who can’t see the inside of me My heart cries out for help but they can’t hear me.

I wish someone would look into my heart Bridge: He knows me; Better than I know Him He sees my will, mind, heart; He is Lord He is our Lord Joy Jung - 7th grade "

Voices | 30

VOICES

The artists and authors of Santiago Christian School Volume 2

Romans 12:6 "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them" Artwork by Vera Lucia - 11th grade