Prisms: Fall 2020 | Volume 30

Prisms

Prisms

Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School 1011 Chestnut St. Alameda, CA 94501

Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School Vol. 30 2019-2020

PRISMS A L I T E R A RY & A RT S M AG A Z I N E Wo o dbl o ck P r int

L i f e At S e a Ar l o Ru ck e r ‘ 2 2

Fall 2020

V olum e 3 0

St . Jo s e p h Not re D a m e Hi g h S c h o o l 1 0 1 1 C h e s t nut St re e t A l a m e d a , C a l i f or n i a

S ta f f E d it or i n C h i e f

Wr it i n g E d it or

Me d i a E d it or

E l l i e C h a re ons up h ip h at L i s a R a m o s A l e s s a n d r a Cu e v a s

Wr it i n g St a f f Ko a C h e n K a l i l l a G a rc i a Ni c k Ho o S a r a h L i s a nt i A l e x R ay o L ay out St a f f Ariana Schoefer A m e l i e R it t e r Ma r y Hi l l e n br a n d

G r ap h i c s L au re n G r a n a d o s C ov e r A r t i s t

A l e s s a n d r a Cu e v a s

Mo d e r at or s

C o l e t t e Gu n n - G r a f f y, Wr it i n g A n d y Mc Ke e , L ay out & Me d i a

Fou n d e r

E l i z a b e t h Nor r i s

2

Prisms

Ta b l e o f Co n t e n ts p 1 L i fe at S e a , A r l o Ru c k e r p 2 P r i s m s 2 0 2 0 St a f f p 3 Ta b l e of C ont e nt s p 7 D e d i c at i on p 8 O p e n i ng Ad d re ss , E l l i e C h a re on s up h ip h at p 9 O ve r w h e l m i ng ly B lu e , L i s a R a m o s p 1 0 Aqu a Ti nt e d G l a ss e s , Vi v i a n P h a m p 1 1 R o ck , Jav i e r C ord ov a p 1 1 D y i ng Sp e c i e s , A r l o Ru c k e r p 1 2 No st a l g i a , A m a l i a Te i x e i r a p 1 4 Bi x by at Su ns e t , Ab by B oy e r p 1 5 G ol d e n Hou r , K i r a L e e p 1 6 In t h e O r ange Grove , A m e l i a Ho l l i s p 2 3 O ve rg row n , Vi v i a n P h a m p 2 4 Sp a c e y, S a r a h Wh e e l e r p 2 4 T h e Fi g ht for Fo o d Ju st i c e , Fr a n c e s c a B au l d r y, Va l e r i e K l e i n , A l e x R ay o, a n d S a br i n a St on e p 2 5 E l Ag u a d e l A rc o , Fr a n c e s c a B au l d r y Prisms

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p 2 5 A Grow i ng In du st r y , Ab by B oy e r, L a n a D a o, E l l i e C h a re ons up h ip h at , L i s a R a m o s p 2 6 I am a Tre e , E l a i n e Tr u on g p 2 8 Su m m e r Sp e nt , Ji v e ny K n i g ht p 2 9 Natu r a l B e aut y , A l e x R ay o p 3 0 In it i a l Sp ar k , E l l i e C h a re ons up h ip h at p 3 1 Pap a’s Wor kb e n ch , A nt oi n e L av oi e p 3 2 Two Wor l d s , C e c i l i a Pe re z p 3 4 But a Pre tt y L i e , E l a i n e Tr u on g p 3 5 Ta ke Me Far Aw ay , K a i a O rd i n a r i o p 3 6 Ic ar u s , A n g e l i n a C i n c o p 3 7 Forgott e n , St e v e n A nt on i o p 3 8 St ar Tr ai l s , Ab by B oy e r p 3 9 Wh e n Mag n ol i a B l o oms , A n d re w Fow l e r p 4 0 Br i s k D r u m m i ng , D m it r i G i l c h r i s t p 4 1 St r aw b e r r y Mi l k , D a n i e l l e Pe re z p 4 2 S ave t h e Ko a l a s , Ko a C h e n p 4 3 E n d ange re d , D av i s St e w a r t p 4 3 S e a l s i n L ove , Ma i a C h a re on s up h ip h at p 4 4 S ch o ol , St e v e n A nt on i o p 4 5 C on f l i c t , A m e l i a Ho l l i s 4

Prisms

p 4 6 R e d S ky , A l e s s a n d r a Cu e v a s p 4 7 O a k l an d Fox T h e at re , Jo h n ny Vu p 4 8 T h ai Vi l l age , Ma i a C h a re on s up h ip h at p 4 8 T h e Tr u e Te e n Ad d i c t i on , Wav e r l e y Ac h a c o s o, C h l o e A l l e n , Ja n i c k Mont e s i n o s a n d C l a i re No c on p 4 9 But Fi rst , C of fe e , E l l i e C h a re on s up h ip h at p 5 0 Wr it e r’s B l o ck , Ni c h o l a s Ho o p 5 1 Mut e , Ni c k D e m m l e r p 5 2 D r agon , M i c a i a h R i b ay p 5 3 Mi s m at ch e d S o ck s , Jon a h D e L e on p 5 4 Pe a c e of Mi n d , Je s s i c a A nt on i o p 5 5 B l a ck Hai r- it age , L e a n n e B e r n a l d o, Ko a C h e n , A i l a O w e ns a n d Va n e s s a P h a m p 5 5 E l Nu e vo B ai l an d o , G iu l l i a n G a l i n d o p 5 6 Te E x t r añ am o s , C e c i l i a Pe re z p 5 7 S a c r i f i c e an d S e r v itu d e , Fr a n c e s c a S a lu d p 5 8 In n o c e n c e , Jo s e p h D on ov a n p 6 0 D i spl ay Br i g ht n e ss , L i s a R a m o s p 6 1 B l a st O f f , S a r a Wh e e l e r p 6 2 My Mom’s S c u lptu re , M i a Ho l l e y p 6 3 R am i re z , C h r i s R a m i re z Prisms

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p 6 5 S e a l e d L ip s , C l au d i a A rg u e l l o p 6 6 Abu e l o , Cy nt h i a Gu z m a n p 6 7 B a l l o on , May l e e Wit t e p 6 8 Swe e t Hon e y , K a i a O rd i n a r i o p 6 9 War mt h of a Ni g ht L i g ht , L i s a R a m o s p 7 0 S l e i g ht of Han d , Ko l i a K r aj e w s k i p 7 1 S l e e py Eye , A nt oi n e L av oi e p 7 2 Unt it l e d , O l i v i a S a nt o s p 7 3 A n O d e t o C h e e z - It s ® , B e n Ne i d e r p 7 4 Wi ntu m n , A i l a O w e n s p 7 5 In d i go S ou l , Ay a k o K i e n e r p 7 5 B e h i n d C l o s e d D o ors , R a c h e l B a r t l e y, Ma r y L i s a nt i , M i k o l aj S i d z i ns k i , a n d S a r a Wh e e l e r p 7 6 Two Fa c e d , Vi v i a n P h a m p 7 7 C au g ht i n a Ti d e , Ab by B oy e r p 7 8 S ant or i n i , K a i a O rd i n a r i o p 7 9 C ont r i but ors p 8 4 C ol oph on an d Aw ard s

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Prisms

I n lov i n g m e m o ry o f M rs . K r i s t i n a Tay lo r T h a n k y ou f or e x p l or i n g t h e w or l d of s c i e n c e , b ot h i n t h e c l a s s ro om a n d out i n t h e w or l d , a n d t a k i n g u s w it h y ou a l on g t h e w ay. We w i l l a l w ay s c h e r i s h t h e l e s s on s y ou t au g ht u s , a s w e l l a s h ow y ou h av e h e lp e d u s n av i g at e t h rou g h t h e s t or m s a n d w on d e r s of l i f e . You w i l l f ore v e r l i v e on i n ou r m e m or i e s , a n d i n ou r h e a r t s , a s w e t a k e y ou r l e s s on s t o t h e n e w p l a c e s w e g o t o. We w i l l m i s s y ou .

Prisms

7

N e w Ho r i zo ns

by Li s a R am o s ‘ 2 1 Lite rar y E ditor E l li e C h are o n su p hi p h at ‘ 2 1 E ditor- in - C hi e f We s t a r t e d t h i s n e w y e a r w it h a n e w h or i z on a n d d e s t i n at i on s e t i n ou r s i g ht , a l l of u s l on g i n g t o s e e k . Ne w a n d o l d s a i l or s a l i k e h av e b o a rd e d t h e s c h o on e r, e a c h i n pre p a r at i on f or t h e h a r row i n g j ou r n e y a h e a d . T h e rop e s a re pu l l e d t i g ht t o t h e m a s t , t h e s t a r b o a rd i s s w e pt , a n d t h e s h ip i s p a c k e d w it h a l l t h e n e c e s s it i e s . T h e g a n g p l a n k i s pu l l e d b a c k a s t h e s c h o on e r pu s h e s aw ay f rom t h e h a r b or.

Wit h e a c h n e w w av e t h at t h e s h ip c ut s t h rou g h , t h e l a n d s b e h i n d it d i m i n i s h a n d t h e n e w j ou r n e y b e g i n s . A lt h ou g h t h e j ou r n e y i s l on g a n d h a r row i n g , at SJ N D, w e a re a b l e t o p e r s e v e re t h rou g h s t i c k i n g t o g e t h e r a n d c re at i n g n e w w ay s t o ov e rc om e a d v e r s it y. Ye t , a s w e a l l n av i g at e t h e u n k n ow n a n d h a rd s h ip s a rou n d u s , w e d i s c ov e r ou r s e l v e s a l on g t h e w ay.

A n d i n t h e l i g ht of n e w e v e nt s , t h e t h e m e of Ne w Hor i z on s c e r t a i n l y re s on at e s w it h i n a l l of u s at t h i s v e r y m om e nt . We a re c u r re nt l y e n du r i n g t h e g l o b a l p a n d e m i c of C OV I D - 1 9 . T h e w or l d h a s b e e n e n g u l f e d i n f e a r a n d a n x i e t y, a n d w e a l l f e e l s c a re d , t e r r i f i e d of t h e u n k n ow n f ut u re t h at m ay c om e a h e a d . Ins t e a d of s e e i n g a n d e x p l or i n g t h e Ne w Hor i z on s w e d re a m of , w e f e e l t r app e d by t h e c r a s h i n g w av e s , s u f f o c at i n g a n d pu s h i n g u s aw ay f rom t h e d i re c t c ou r s e .

Ye t , w e a l l m ay b e s t u c k p hy s i c a l l y, e n c l o s e d w it h i n f ou r w a l l s w it h out t h e f e e l of t h e n at u r a l s u n , but i s t h at a c t u a l l y s t oppi n g u s f rom n av i g at i n g a n d d i s c ov e r i n g ou r s e l v e s ?

T h e d i f f e re nt p at hs a n d w ay s ou r m i n d s c a n e x p l ore a re l i m it l e s s ; t h e d e s t i n at i ons w e c a n t r av e l t o a re e n d l e s s — a l l a s l on g a s w e c a n i m a g i n e . T h e re a re s o m a ny t h i n g s t o s t i l l b e i ns pi re d by i n s pit e of t h e s e u n k n ow n s a n d h a rd s h ip s . We m ay b e s e l f - i s o l at i n g a n d t r app e d i n ou r h om e s , but w e s t i l l c ont i nu e t o e x p l ore n e w w ay s t o c om mu n i c at e , e nt e r t a i n ou r s e l v e s . a n d m o s t i mp or t a nt l y — e x p l ore ou r i n n e r c re at i v e t a l e nt s .

8

Prisms

We a re s o prou d of t h e t a l e nt i n t h i s b o o k — t h e w r it e r s , a r t i s t s , mu s i c i a n s , p o e t s — f or m a k i n g it p a s t t h e s e h a rd s h ip s t o c re at e s u c h w on d e r f u l w or k s t o s h ow t o a l l of y ou .

Pe r h ap s t h e y, t o o, h av e d i s c ov e re d t h e m s e l v e s i n d a b b l i n g i n s om e t h i n g n e w, w h e t h e r it b e e x p l or i n g a n e w g e n re or f i n d i n g t h e c on f i d e n c e t o pu b l i s h t h e i r w or k . In t h e e n d , t h e y s h ow c a s e d w h at t h e y l e a r n e d i n h op e s t o i l lu m i n at e t h e s e d a r k c l ou d y w at e r s a h e a d .

To g e t h e r, w e’ l l c om e out of t h e e n d of t h i s a n e w. We’ l l g o out s i d e a n d l o o k f a r out i n t h e d i s t a n c e . We’ l l s e e t h e s u n r i s e ov e r t h e h or i z on , f e e l t h e bre e z e of t h e op e n w at e r, a n d t r av e l t o a br i g ht f ut u re .

D ig ital Imag e

Ov e rw h e l m i n g ly b lu e

by Li s a R am o s ‘ 2 1

Prisms

9

Te mp e ra

Aq ua T i n t e d G l as s e s Viv i an P h am ‘ 2 0 10

Prisms

S c a n t h e Q R c o d e w it h y ou r p h on e c a m e r a or a Q R app t o h e a r Jav i e r’s c omp o s it i on .

Ro c k

Jav i e r C o rd ov a ‘ 2 1 S c ratchb o ard

A Dy i n g S pe c i e s Ar l o Ru ck e r ‘ 2 2 Prisms

11

N o s ta lg i a

By Am ali a Te i x e ira ‘ 2 0 O n o c c a s i on , my m i n d w i l l s l ip aw ay It e s c ap e s t o a t i m e mu c h s i mp l e r t h a n n ow — t h o s e g o l d e n , i n f i n it e , S of t l y - p e r f e c t , l i m it e d d ay s t h at w e re n ot h i n g but rout i n e Wh e n I w a s j u s t a s m a l l p e r s on T h e s e a re t h e a n e c d ot e s of my y out h L on g , s u n - d re n c h e d d ay s on t h e b l a c kt op of t h e p l a c e w h e re I l e a r n e d t o re a d

T h e s m e l l of a i r w h e n s u m m e r i s j u s t a rou n d t h e c or n e r Similar to the fragrance O f a l l t h o s e t h i c k , c h a f i n g , h e av y, w on d e r f u l l y v i v i d b o o k s I u s e d t o re a d

T h o s e g o l d e n h ou r s of p l ay i n g t - b a l l w it h t w e l v e ot h e r b oy s at t h e p a r k T h e on l y t i m e w h e re n ot h i n g m at t e re d B ut t h e c ont a c t of b at a n d b a l l

My w i s py, k n ot t e d , c u r l y B row n h a i r t h at f e l l t o my k n e e s B e f ore my m om d i s c ov e re d s c i s s or s 12

Prisms

Tr ip s t o Av õ’s h ou s e t h at f e lt L i k e a re n d e z v ou s f rom b e dt i m e E a c h t i m e , e v e n i f it w a s j u s t For my m om t o d r i v e f or a w h i l e

S n e a k i l y mu n c h i n g on but t e r y, f l a k y, s u n - i mpr i nt e d c r a c k e r s T h at c a m e a rou n d on l y on c e a y e a r From Por t u g a l

A m on g t h e i n f i n it e nu m b e r of m om e nt s , t h e s e a re t h e f e w t h at my m i n d re p l ay s , He lp l e s s l y t r y i n g t o k e e p f rom s l ippi n g aw ay T h o s e l i m it e d d ay s t h at w e re n ot h i n g but rout i n e .

Prisms

13

Bi x by at s u ns e t

by Abi g ai l B oy e r ‘ 2 1

14

Prisms

G ol de n hou r

by Kira L e e ‘ 2 2

Wh e n t h e s u n s t a r t s t o s e t A n d t h e s k y t u r ns t o or a n g e a n d pi n k , I c a n f e e l t h e w a r mt h on my f a c e , A n d s o I f e e l b ot h l ov e d a n d s a f e .

G o l d e n h ou r My f av or it e t i m e of t h e d ay.

I l ov e t h e s k y ’s a r t a s it s l ow l y c h a n g e s : T h e pi n k t o pu r p l e a n d t h e or a n g e t o b lu e .

B ut t h e w a r mt h d i s app e a r s , And I suddenly find T h at my f a c e i s n ow s h a d e d , A n d b e h i n d t h e e a r t h , t h e s u n d rop s b e l ow.

Photo g raph

G o l d e n h ou r - my f av or it e n ow a n d f ore v e r.

Prisms

15

I n t h e o r a n g e g rov e b y Am el i a Ho l l i s ‘ 2 3

It w a s a c h i l l y O c t o b e r a f t e r n o on i n B e r l i n . D ow n C l ov e r R o a d , i n A n n i e’s Hom e f or L it t l e G i r l s , a y ou n g g i r l s at on t h e s e c on d f l o or n e a r t h e w i n d ow s i l l . Wit h h e r g o l d e n b l on d h a i r a n d c l ov e r g re e n e y e s , y ou’d w on d e r w hy s h e h a d n’t b e e n a d opt e d .

S h e s u d d e n l y f ou n d h e r w ay out of h e r t h ou g ht s w h e n s h e h e a rd a v oi c e b e h i n d h e r, “C a ro l ! ” T h e g i r l h appi l y t u r n e d t o s e e a y ou n g g i r l b e h i n d h e r.

S h e w a s C a ro l’s a g e , a b out 1 1 . S h e h a d p e a c h - c o l ore d s k i n , brow n e y e s , a n d b l a c k h a i r. As i d e f rom h e r e y e s a n d h a i r c o l or, s h e w a s t h e s pit t i n g i m a g e of C a ro l . T h e y w e re b ot h f ore i g n a n d s p o k e w it h a c c e nt s . “ He y, B e s s i e ! ” C a ro l re p l i e d . “ L e t’s g o out s i d e ,” t h e g i r l s a i d .

B e s s i e t o o k C a ro l’s h a n d a n d t h e y m a d e t h e i r w ay d ow n s t a i r s . T h e y w a l k e d p a s t t h e g r ay w a l l s a n d w a l k e d a c ro s s t h e f a d e d re d c a r p e t . T h e y w a l k e d p a s t s m a l l ro om s w it h ot h e r l it t l e g i r l s p l ay i n g w it h o l d d o l l s w e a r i n g o l d d re s s e s s i m i l a r t o t h e i r s .

T h e y d i d n’t n e e d t o a s k M i s s A n n i e f or p e r m i s s i on ; f or on e s h e w a s h a rd l y e v e r a rou n d , a n d t w o, t h e y w e re n’t g oi n g f a r.

C a ro l a n d B e s s i e l ov e d t h e or a n g e g rov e . It h a d b e e n ow n e d by t h e k i n d M i s s A n n i e b e f ore s h e d i e d . A l m o s t a l l of t h e g i r l s i n t h e h om e w ou l d g i v e a ny t h i n g f or t h e o l d M i s s A n n i e b a c k . S h e w a s a k i n d w om a n a n d l i v e d a l on g l i f e , up to 98.

T h e re w a s s om e t h i n g s p e c i a l a b out t h e or a n g e g rov e .

For y e a r s B e s s i e brou g ht C a ro l t o t h e or a n g e g rov e . C a ro l n e v e r a s k e d w hy. Wh at w a s t h e re t o a s k ? It w a s p e r f e c t . It w a s t h e i r p a r a d i s e . Wh e n t h e y w e re n’t p l ay i n g t a g , t h e y w e re d a n c i n g t o s on g s t h e y c a m e up w it h , a n d t h e t w o of t h e m w e re h appi e s t t h e re .

C a ro l a n d B e s s i e w e re i n s e p a r a b l e . B e i n g or p h a n s , t h e y w e re a l l t h e y h a d . T h e y s e e m e d t o b e f i n e w it h t h at , a n d t h e y t h ou g ht t h e y w e re g oi n g t o b e t o g e t h e r f ore v e r.

16

Prisms

T h e y r a n ov e r t o t h e g rov e a s u s u a l . T h e i ron i c a l l y app l e - g re e n l e av e s , m i x e d w it h t h e s p ot s of f a d e d or a n g e , m a d e it t h e p e r f e c t s c e n e r y. T h e y p l ay e d f or h ou r s , c h ore o g r ap h i n g d a n c e s t o t h e i r f av or it e m a d e - up s on g s , T h e h ou r s p a s s e d s e a m l e s s l y. T h e a l re a d y f a d e d - b lu e s k y t u r n e d d a r k . Me a nw h i l e , B e s s i e a n d C a ro l k e pt p l ay i n g i n t h e or a n g e g rov e . B y t h at p oi nt , t h e y h a d t i re d t h e m s e l v e s out a n d w e re n ow j u s t h a n g i n g a rou n d .

C a ro l’s s t om a c h r u m b l e d , i nt e r r upt i n g h e r d ay d re a m . S h e re a c h e d t o g e t on e of t h e or a n g e s , g r a b bi n g on e re l at i v e l y l ow t o t h e g rou n d . O ut of t h e c or n e r of h e r d ay d re a m , s h e n ot i c e d B e s s i e b e n e at h a n ot h e r t re e i n t h e d i s t a n c e . S h e m a d e h e r w ay ov e r t o h e r w h i l e h appi l y s t u f f i n g h e r f a c e w it h t h e or a n g e s h e g ot .

B e s s i e d i d n’t s e e m t o n ot i c e C a ro l . S h e s t a re d e mpt i l y i nt o t h e d i s t a n c e , s e e m i n g l y d ay d re a m i n g . S h e s e e m e d nu m b. He r e y e s app e a re d s ou l l e s s . S h e h a d a s t r a n g e f row n on h e r f a c e . S h e s e e m e d up s e t a b out s om e t h i n g .

C a ro l t app e d h e r s h ou l d e r. B e s s i e w a s c o l d . C on f u s e d , C a ro l put h e r a r m a rou n d h e r.

B e s s i e s u d d e n l y l o o k e d up a n d re a l i z e d t h at C a ro l w a s b e s i d e h e r. B e s s i e’s f row n i m m e d i at e l y c h a n g e d t o a t e n d e r s m i l e . S h e g ot up a n d t o o k C a ro l’s h a n d . C a ro l d i d n’t s ay a ny t h i n g t h ou g h s h e w a s r at h e r c on f u s e d .

Fi n a l l y, at t h e d o or s t e p, B e s s i e a s k e d , “A re y ou hu n g r y ? ” “ Ye a h ,” re p l i e d C a ro l , h appy t o h av e t h e s i l e n c e bro k e n .

“Me t o o ! ” B e s s i e g i g g l e d .

He r v oi c e w a s s e e m i n g l y f i l l e d w it h j oy. C a ro l w a s s o c on f u s e d . Wh at w a s w ron g w it h h e r e a r l i e r ?

S h e d i d n’t d w e l l on it f or t o o l on g . T h e s m e l l of f o o d f i l l e d h e r n o s t r i l s a n d u lt i m at e l y c l ou d e d h e r br a i n . B e s s i e s e e m e d h appy. S h e g l e e f u l l y at e t h e f o o d M i s s A n n i e prov i d e d , i n s h a r p c ont r a s t t o t h e ot h e r g i r l s at t h e l a rg e w o o d e n t a b l e w h e re t h e y a l w ay s at e . C a ro l w a s h appy t o s e e B e s s i e s m i l e . It w a s a g o o d s ou rc e of c om f or t w h e n s h e w a s s a d — w h i c h w a s of t e n s i n c e s h e w a s a n e g l e c t e d or p h a n .

Prisms

17

Wit h b ot h of t h e m h appy, t h e y m a d e t h e i r w ay b a c k t o t h e i r ro om . It w a s r at h e r bi g , t h ou g h m o s t of t h e s p a c e w a s t a k e n up w it h b e d s . In s a i d b e d s l ay s i x l it t l e g i r l s . Tw o b e d s s at e mpt y a c ro s s t h e ro om f rom e a c h ot h e r. A f t e r d re s s i n g i n h e r n i g ht c l ot h e s , C a ro l c l i m b e d i nt o h e r b e d . S h e s h i f t e d a rou n d t r y i n g t o m a k e h e r s e l f c om f or t a b l e .

Fi n a l l y, s h e l o o k e d up at B e s s i e . S h e w a s s it t i n g up a n d s t a r i n g at C a ro l w h i l e s m i l i n g . C a ro l s m i l e d b a c k . Ne it h e r on e of t h e m s a i d a w ord b e f ore C a ro l l ay b a c k d ow n a n d w e nt t o s l e e p. A l l t h e w h i l e B e s s i e’s s m i l e n e v e r f a d e d .

S l ow l y C a ro l w o k e up. S h e l o o k e d a rou n d t h e ro om w it h h e r d ro opy e y e s . A l l t h e ot h e r g i r l s w e re a s l e e p. S h e l o o k e d f or w a rd t o B e s s i e’s b e d . B e s s i e w a s n’t t h e re . S h e b l a n k l y s t a re d f or w a rd . S h e l o o k e d a rou n d t h e ro om a g a i n . B e s s i e w a s n’t a ny w h e re i n t h e ro om . T h ou g ht s of c on f u s i on r a c e d in her head. “ Wh e re’s B e s s i e ? ” s h e t h ou g ht .

He r l ip q u i v e re d a n d h e r e y e s g re w w i d e .

S h e l o o k e d out t h e w i n d ow. Ev e r y t h i n g w a s a d a r k g r ay i s h hu e . S h e c ont i nu e d s t a r i n g b l a n k l y out t h e w i n d ow.

S h e j u mp e d out of b e d a n d s l ow l y m a d e h e r w ay d ow n t h e s t a i r s a n d out of t h e h ou s e . S h e w a l k e d s l ow l y a n d u n s t e a d i l y a s i f s h e d i d n’t k n ow w h e re s h e w a s g oi n g . S h e s au nt e re d t i re d l y t i l l s h e m a d e it t o t h e g rov e . S h e s t a re d e mpt i l y i nt o it b e f ore s au nt e r i n g i n .

T h e app l e g re e n l e av e s w e re d a r k a n d s i c k l y. T h e or a n g e s l o o k e d brow n a n d rot t e n . T h e g rov e w a s f i l l e d w it h d e at h .

From t h e d e a d l o o k i n g t re e s t o t h e aw f u l s m e l l , t o t h e f e e l i n g s om e t h i n g n ow q u it e a l i v e w a s w at c h i n g t h e m .

C a ro l w a s n’t p ay i n g at t e nt i on t o a ny of t h at . S h e k e pt v a g u e l y s au nt e r i n g f or w a rd . He r f a c e w a s nu m b. He r e y e s w e re b l a n k w it h a h i nt of c on f u s i on .

S h e s t opp e d i n t h e m i d d l e of t h e ro a d . Ev e r y t h i n g l o o k e d t h e s a m e . T h e t re e s a l l s e e m e d b lu r r y a n d d a r k . C a ro l s t a re d at t h e d i r t , h e r e y e s w i d e a n d f i l l e d w it h t e r ror. S h e s h a k i l y h e l d h e r s e l f a n d w a s on t h e v e rg e of t e a r s w h e n s h e h e a rd it .

He r m i n d w a s f i l l e d w it h t h e h appy l it t l e s on g s h e a n d B e s s i e s a n g i n t h e g rov e e a r l i e r. S h e pi c t u re d B e s s i e’s h appy f a c e a s t h e y p l ay e d t h e re .

C a ro l s u d d e n l y k e pt w a l k i n g . Wh i l e d i s t re s s e d , s h e w a s d e t e r m i n e d t o f i n d B e s s i e , s u re t h at s h e w ou l d f i l l t h e g rov e w it h l i f e l i k e s h e a l w ay s h a d .

18

Prisms

She walked a l on g t o t h e b e at of t h e mu s i c . It w a s l ou d .

B e s s i e a n d C a ro l w e re n’t t h e q u i e t t y p e s , but t h e y c ou l d h e a r t h e i r ow n f o ot s t e p s . Ye t s t i l l , C a ro l w a s n’t b ot h e re d . T h e mu s i c m a d e h e r h appy a n d s h e w a s t o o l o s t i n h e r t h ou g ht s t o a l l ow it t o t a k e e f f e c t . “ Wh e re c ou l d s h e h av e g on e ? ” s h e t h ou g ht . “ Why w ou l d B e s s i e b e h e re ? ” “C om e t o t h i n k of it …” “ Why a m I h e re ? ” He r t h ou g ht s s o on b e c a m e j u s t a s l o s t a s s h e w a s a n d t h e mu s i c f i l l e d h e r h e a d . It n o l on g e r c a l m e d h e r, it w a s w ay t o o l ou d . S h e c ov e re d h e r e a r s , but d oi n g s o a l l ow e d t h e rot t e n s t e n c h of d e at h t o f i l l h e r n o s e . S h e t r i e d t o r u n but f a i l e d , a n d f e l l h a rd t o t h e g rou n d . Not t h at r u n n i n g w ou l d d o a ny g o o d . S h e h a d n ow h e re t o g o at t h i s p oi nt . T h e pu k i s h c o l or s of t h e g rov e a l l b l e n d e d t o g e t h e r a n d app e a re d b lu r r y. S h e c ou l d n’t e v e n t e l l w h e re s h e w a s a ny m ore , mu c h l e s s w h e re s h e w a s g oi n g . S h e s c re a m e d , v a g u e l y h opi n g s om e on e w ou l d h e lp h e r. He r t h ro at w a s c h o k e d a n d s w o l l e n . T h e c l o s e s t t h i n g t o w ord s s h e g ot out w a s a b l a c k i s h f lu i d t h at s p e w e d f rom h e r m out h . It t a s t e d l i k e rot t e n or a n g e s . T h e s a lt i n e s s of h e r t e a r s j u s t m a d e it w or s e .

D e t e r m i n e d n ot t o j oi n t h e d e at h i n t h e g rov e , s h e d r a g g e d h e r s i c k l y b o d y f or w a rd . A b l a s t of c o l d a i r br u s h e d a g a i ns t h e r b a c k , g i v i n g h e r a s h i v e r y j o lt of e n e rg y a s s h e Prisms

19

f ou g ht a g a i ns t t h e i n c re a s i n g l y l ou d mu s i c . As it g ot l ou d e r, t h e r i s i n g p a i n i n h e r e a r s g ot w or s e t i l l it f e lt l i k e t h e y w e re bu r n i n g . Ye t s t i l l , it w a s n o m at c h f or t h e u n s e e n f orc e pu s h i n g h e r f or w a rd .

S h e pu l l e d h e r s e l f up a n d k e pt d r a g g i n g h e r b o d y a l on g . S h e c ou l d h a rd l y bre at h l e t a l on e w a l k . S h e c ou l d s e e b e t t e r, t h ou g h s h e s t i l l c ou l d n’t t e l l w h e re s h e w a s , a s t h e h a r s h , i c e - l a c e d w i n d h e i g ht e n e d h e r s e ns e s .

He r v i s i on b lu r re d a s , on c e a g a i n , s h e c o l l ap s e d t o t h e e a r t h . T h e pi e rc i n g n oi s e f l o o d e d h e r e a r s a n d p o o l e d out of h e r e y e s i n t h e f or m of t e a r s . S h e h e l d h e r e a r s a s t i g ht l y a s s h e c ou l d a n d s i l e nt l y c r i e d f or B e s s i e .

T h e mu s i c s u d d e n l y s t opp e d a n d h e r e y e s s l ow l y d r i e d . Ev e r y t h i n g f e lt c o l d ; c o l d a n d d e a d . C a ro l l ow e re d h e r a r m s t o t h e g rou n d a n d s l ow l y l o o k e d up.

S h e d i d n’t s e e m t o n ot i c e t h e m ore c l e a r, d e a d t re e s w it h t h e rot t e n f r u it , or t h e f ou l s t e n c h t h at c a m e f rom t h e m a s s h e s at on h e r k n e e s a n d s t a re d at B e s s i e .

Bessie smiled her usual tender smile as she s t a re d b a c k at C a ro l , w h o w a s a b out t o c r y t e a r s of j oy. C a ro l d i d n’t b ot h e r a s k i n g w h at t h e h e c k s h e w a s d oi n g out t h e re . Nor d i d

20

Prisms

s h e a s k a b out t h e rot t i n g i n t h e f ore s t . S h e r u s h e d f or w a rd w r appi n g h e r a r m s t i g ht l y a rou n d B e s s i e .

C a ro l w a s s o h appy s h e d i d n’t s e e m t o n ot i c e h ow c o l d B e s s i e w a s . S h e d i d n’t s e e m t o m i n d h ow t i g ht l y s h e w a s s q u e e z i n g h e r e it h e r.

Su d d e n l y, a s h a r p p a i n pi e rc e d h e r s i d e . C on f u s e d , C a ro l l o o k e d up a n d f e lt h ow t i g ht l y B e s s i e w a s h o l d i n g h e r. S h e w i n c e d a s on c e a g a i n , t h e f e e l i n g of s h a r p n e e d l e s pi e rc i n g her side. “ B - B e s s i e w h at a re y - ” S h e d i d n’t f i n i s h h e r s e nt e n c e . T h e w ord s g ot l o s t i n h e r t h ro at w h e n s h e h e a rd a d e m on i c g row l c om e f rom Bessie.

C a ro l s u d d e n l y pu s h e d h e r aw ay. C a ro l’s v i s i on b e c a m e b lu r r y a g a i n a s t h e t ox i c f e e l i n g of d e at h p ou re d out of B e s s i e a n d w a s h e d ov e r h e r. C a ro l i g n ore d t h e put r i d o d or t h at c a m e f rom h e r f r i e n d t o s t a re at t h e on c e l ov i n g a n d i n n o c e nt f a c e of B e s s i e . He r p e a c h s k i n w a s n ow g re y w it h d e e p c r a c k s . He r e y e s w e re g l ow i n g or a n g e w it h b l o o d l e a k i n g f rom t h e m t h at m i x e d w it h t h e b l a c k l i q u i d p o o l i n g out of h e r m out h . He r b l a c k h a i r w a s m at t e d w it h mu d a n d d e br i s . S h e s m i l e d a w i d e g r i n s h ow i n g of f h e r l a rg e , d e m on - l i k e t e e t h .

Prisms

21

C a ro l f ro z e . S h e t o l d h e r s e l f t h at t h i s w a s a l l a b a d d re a m a n d t h at s h e w ou l d w a k e up t o t h e w on d e r f u l s ou n d of B e s s i e’s v oi c e .

B e s s i e l au g h e d p s y c h ot i c a l l y. He r v oi c e w a s a d i s t or t e d m e s s . C a ro l c ou l d n’t m ov e . Wit h b l o o d y t e a r s c om i n g d ow n h e r f a c e , S h e s t a re d w it h a h or r i f i e d f a c e a s B e s s i e c a m e c l o s e r t o h e r, w it h a t w i s t e d g r i n on h e r f a c e .

No on e h e a rd C a ro l’s s c re a m i n g t h at n i g ht . In f a c t , n o on e h e a rd f rom h e r a g a i n . No on e e v e r s aw h e r a g a i n . S h e re m a i n e d i n t h e or a n g e g rov e . Wh e n e v e r B e s s i e c a m e by w it h a n ot h e r “f r i e n d”, t h e y p a s s e d by C a ro l’s t re e — t h e t re e t h at g re w f rom h e r b o d y w h i c h B e s s i e bu r i e d a f t e r r ippi n g out h e r h e a r t . T h e or a n g e g rov e w a s B e s s i e’s s p e c i a l p l a c e . It w a s w h e re s h e f e lt m o s t a l i v e a s , a f t e r a l l , t h at’s w h e re s h e at e t h e l i f e of h e r f r i e n d s .

22

Prisms

Te mp e ra

Ov e rg row n

by Viv i an P h am ‘ 2 0

Prisms

23

S pac e y

S ara Wh e el e r ‘ 2 1

Mi x ed Medi a

T h e F i g h t fo r Fo o d Justice Fr a n c e s c a B au l d r y, Va l e r i e K l e i n , A l e x R ay o, a n d S a br i n a St on e , ‘ 2 1 S c a n t h e Q R c o d e w it h y ou r p h on e c a m e r a or a Q R app t o w at c h t h e d o c u m e nt a r y.

24

Prisms

E l Ag ua de l A rco

Fran c e s c a B au l dr y ‘ 2 1

A G row i n g I n d u s t ry E l li e C h are o n su p hi p h at , Li s a R am o s , Abby B oy e r, L an a D a o, ‘ 2 1 S c a n t h e Q R c o d e w it h y ou r p h on e c a m e r a or a Q R app t o w at c h t h e d o c u m e nt a r y.

Prisms

25

I am a Tree

By E l ain e Tr u o ng ‘ 2 2

I am a seed.

I a m s hy a n d h i d d e n .

I a m n ot y e t re a d y t o s e e t h e w or l d .

I h i d e i n t h e c om f or t of my s h e l l , A n d b l o c k out e v e r y on e a n d e v e r y t h i n g .

I a m a s ap l i n g .

S l ow l y, I s t a r t g row i n g ro ot s .

I f i n d w h e re I w a nt t o b e .

Wh e re I b e l on g .

I e x p l ore my h om e , No l on g e r a f r a i d t o d i g d e e p e r, A n d s e e w h at’s u n d e r t h e s u r f a c e .

I a m a bu n c h of br a n c h e s .

I d i s c ov e r w h o I a m .

I n o l on g e r h i d e i n a s h e l l .

I s t a n d up s t r a i g ht a n d prou d .

I ’v e g row n t a l l e r, A n d s t a r t t o s t re t c h out a n d re a c h f or t h e w or l d .

26

Prisms

I am a trunk.

I ’v e g row n s o mu c h .

I a m s t ron g .

I c a n b e a l it t l e rou g h on t h e out s i d e , B ut I a m s m o ot h a n d s of t i n s i d e .

I a m a t re e .

I k n ow w h o I a m .

I g row f r u it s p e op l e c om e t o e nj oy.

T h e y c om e b a c k .

T h e y t a k e my s e e d s a n d s pre a d t h e m f a r aw ay.

Ta k i n g p a r t s of m e .

B ut I a m s t i l l w h o l e .

Prisms

27

S u m m e r S pe n t

By Jiv e ny Kni g ht ‘ 2 0

A s u m m e r s p e nt s om e w h e re n e w.

Un f org e t t a b l e s e ns at i ons a n d m ov e m e nt s .

A n a r r ay of n e w v oi c e s .

Wit h e v e r y s p a r k l i n g m om e nt e n g r av e d i nt o my m e m or y, Wit h e v e r y ov e r w h e l m i n g t a s t e s e t t l e d ont o my t on g u e , Wit h e v e r y f ro z e n f r a m e l o c k e d ont o a n e n d l e s s s c ro l l of c apt u re d n i g ht s a n d d ay s .

A s u m m e r, s p e nt s om e w h e re n e w, b e c a m e d at e s i n my j ou r n a l , A n d s t or i e s l o c k e d t o t h e i r p a g e s .

Mor n i n g s t h at c r av e d a l on g d ay a n d a n e v e n l on g e r n i g ht .

A l on e Wit h t h e w or l d i n f ront of y ou .

28

Prisms

Photo g raph

N at u r a l B e au t y Al e x R ay o ‘ 2 1

Prisms

29

Photo g raph

I n i t i a l S pa r k Antoin e L av o i e ‘ 2 1

30

Prisms

Photo g raph

Pa pa ’ s Wo r k b e n c h Anto in e L av o i e ‘ 2 1

Prisms

31

T wo Wo r l d s

by C e c i li a Pe re z , ‘ 2 2 Tw o Wor l d s Me x i c a n - A m e r i c a n , t w o c omp l e t e l y d i f f e re nt w or l d s .

S e p a r at e d by a hy p h e n , w it h d i f f e re nt t r a d it i ons , d i f f e re nt e x p e c t at i on s , d i f f e re nt foods.

Tw o d i f f e re nt c u lt u re s .

T h e s e c u lt u re s o c c a s i on a l l y c o l l i d e w it h i n p e op l e , m i x i n g t o g e t h e r l i k e b l e n d e d p a i nt , p e op l e w h o, l i k e m e , w e re b or n h e re .

Ye t , ou r ro ot s r u n d e e p t h rou g h r i c h Me x i c a n s oi l .

Us u a l l y, w h e n t w o t h i n g s , t w o c u lt u re s c o l l i d e , y ou mu s t c h o o s e on e .

To pi c k f rom t h e v a r i ou s t r a it s t h at d e f i n e y ou , A n d s ay “t h i s i s m ore i mp or t a nt t o m e t h a n t h at .”

B ut i f y ou c h o o s e n ot t o pi c k , y ou c h o o s e t o s w it c h b a c k a n d f or t h .

Wh e n y ou a re s u r rou n d e d by Me x i c a ns , y ou s h ow of f y ou r c u lt u re , s p e a k i n g Sp a n i s h , s i n g i n g s on g s , d a n c i n g t o ou r mu s i c .

L i k e w e’re t r y i n g t o prov e ou r s e l v e s .

A n d w h e n w e’re n ot , w e t e n d t o d i a l it b a c k .

May b e s om e e v e n pre t e n d l i k e t h e y a re n’t a p a r t of t h e l ou d a n d c o l or f u l c u lt u re .

A lt h ou g h t i r i n g , t h e s w it c h i n g b e c om e s s e c on d n at u re .

S om e t h i n g d on e w it h out t h ou g ht .

A n d d on e h appi l y, b e c au s e c h o o s i n g on e i s n ot a n opt i on .

No w ay t h at y ou w ou l d w a nt t o l i m it y ou r s e l f t o t h e t h i n g s t h at d e f i n e y ou .

32

Prisms

S o w e s w it c h f rom q u i e t t o l ou d w h e n re q u i re d .

B e c au s e w e c a n’t s t a n d t h e o d d l o o k s w h e n s om e on e s e e s u s a s d i f f e re nt .

T h e a l i e n at i n g s t a re s .

St a re s o c c a s i on a l l y f o l l ow e d by h a r s h w ord s t h at c ut d e e p. ”G o b a c k t o w h e re y ou c a m e f rom ,” a p h r a s e c om m on l y ut t e re d t o p e op l e l i k e m e .

As i f I w a s n’t b or n h e re , As i f t h e s i d e of m e w h o l i v e s h e re a n d w h o h a s a l i f e h e re c a n b e e a s i l y d i s re g a rd e d .

A n d t h row n a rou n d u s e l e s s l y, l i k e g a r b a g e . “ No c on o c e n l o qu e e s s u f r i r ,” a s i f w e d on’t s t r u g g l e .

As i f t h e on l y t h i n g t h at d e f i n e s m e i s w h e re I w a s b or n .

As i f my a bi l it y t o s p e a k Sp a n i s h , my k n ow l e d g e of l y r i c s , a n d my a bi l it y t o d a n c e c a n b e e a s i l y d i s re g a rd e d .

T h row n a rou n d u s e l e s s l y, l i k e t r a s h .

T h e s e p h r a s e s g a i n p ow e r w it h re p e t it i on .

L i k e a c h a r a c t e r g a i n i n g k n ow l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e .

L i k e a s n ow b a l l ro l l i n g d ow n a s n ow y h i l l .

T h e y m a k e y ou f e e l l i k e n e it h e r s i d e w a nt s y ou , As i f y ou b e l on g t o n ow h e re ,

Ni d e a qu i n i d e a l l a , Ne it h e r f rom h e re n or t h e re .

D e s pit e a l l of t h e h a rd s h ip s t h at n ot pi c k i n g on e e nt a i l s , I d o s o h appi l y b e c au s e it i s w h o I a m .

A m i x t u re of t w o w or l d s s e p a r at e d by a hy p h e n Me x i c a n - A m e r i c a n .

Prisms

33

Bu t A P r e t t y L i e

by E l ain e Tr u o ng , ‘ 2 2

She appears to me, at the latest hour of the starr y night, A beautiful being with an angelic glow, the only one in my sight.

Carefully watching, her shining cr ystal eyes on my ever y move, Her peaceful presence only reminds me of what I had to lose.

As serene as she is, she sends me into the pit of despairThe empty, longing, yearning hole in my heart no one can repair.

Desperate, all I can do is tear through my tangled hair, As she gazes on me, once more, with her gentle, critical stare.

As I look closer into her eyes, pools of white, as bright as the summertime, Her expression is blank—traces of nothing, no thought or memories of our time.

Her aura dims, crumbling to cold hard rock—no longer a glow, but an eerie glim.

Even so, the burning flame, my passionate feelings of love for her, refuses to dim.

Releasing all my painfully reminiscent thoughts with a long defeated sigh, I wonder, her love, was it all but a pretty lie?

34

Prisms

Face p aint, Photo g raph

Ta k e M e Fa r Away Kai a O rdin ar i o, ‘ 2 2

Prisms

35

I c a ru s

by Ang elin a Cin c o, ‘ 2 2 T h e l i g ht I s aw l a s t , w a s t h e on e I a d m i re d f or m o s t of my l i f e : T h e on e t h at c r a d l e d m e a s my l i f e w a s d r a i n e d .

Pe op l e t e l l m e w h e n I d i e , t h e re w i l l b e a l i g ht t o f o l l ow.

A n d a s I l i e , d y i n g , t h e on l y l i g ht t h at I w a nt i s t h e on e l o o k i n g at m e : T h e on e on E a r t h .

Wh i l e my b o d y i s p a r t i n g , h a l f my s ou l c r av e s t h e u n k n ow n b e y on d , A u n i v e r s e I k n ow n ot h i n g a b out .

Wh i l e t h e ot h e r h a l f d e s i re s t o re m a i n put i n t h e re a l m t h at killed me, I f e e l nu m b, cold, I f e e l t h e l i g ht .

Not t h e on e w h o i s h o l d i n g my b l e e d i n g h e a d , w it h h i s a g a i ns t it , t h e on e c a l l i n g m e t o t h e n e x t w or l d .

T h e l i g ht , I f ou n d it .

I c a n f e e l my h a n d p a r t f rom h i s , w h i l e my t r u e h a n d s t i l l l i e s t h e re .

I h av e g on e To a n e w e r, b e t t e r l i g ht .

B ut n e v e r, e v e r, w i l l I f or g e t t h i s l i g ht , T h e on e I a d m i re d f or m o s t of my l i f e , T h e on e my f o o l i s h , s t upi d s e l f t o o k f or g r a nt e d .

It’s t a k e n aw ay.

My e v e r y t h i n g i s t a k e n aw ay.

Now t h e re’s n ot h i n g .

Wh at l i g ht ?

36

Prisms

Fo rg ot t e n Ste v e n Anto ni o, ‘ 2 0 D e at h i s c om i n g .

It c ou l d b e t o d ay, C ou l d b e t om or row, C ou l d b e i n t h e d i s t a nt f ut u re ?

B ut i f I g o Wi l l I l e av e b e h i n d s or row ?

Wi l l my d e s t i ny b e g on e ?

I ’ l l h av e n o p l a c e t o g o ; My f at e w i l l n e e d t o b e d e c i d e d …

Wi l l I b e re m e m b e re d ?

Wi l l my f a m i l y m ou r n m e ?

Wi l l my f r i e n d s re m e m b e r m e ?

O r w i l l my l i f e b e c om e n ot h i n g m ore but a s p e c k ?

Lost in the wind Wit h t h e c r i e s of t h e a b a n d on e d ?

O n e d ay, My b o d y w i l l rot A n d I w i l l b e c om e p a r t of t h e w or l d ,

Forgott e n .

Prisms

37

S ta r T r a i l s Abby B oy e r ‘ 2 1

Photo g raph

W h e n M ag n ol i as B lo o m

By An dre w Fow l e r ‘ 2 0

When bleak and cold persist for months, I see a glimpse of joy, Amidst the silver, winding branches, Gifts let go, unfurled, deployed.

They shower down like raindrops, And flurry in the light.

Against the austere backdrop, Praise heaven—pink and white!

38

Prisms

The dark bleeds in from night to day, The stars too sparse to see beyond.

But when magnolias bloom, The fickle thing with feathers, dances and alights, Perches in the soul and laughs with pure delight!

Like a carefree, wandering scavenger, I gather petals just blown down, Then store them in my pockets And head swiftly into town.

Sporadically, where nothing grows, I drop a piece of joy, And hope that it will lift the hearts Of every wintry soul.

And so, when petals grow in secret silence, I pick them up, disperse them, allow them to unfurl.

Go quietly, my trail behind me, But sometimes, I take a look askance; And watch as icicles melt in fright, As one attentive, wandering soul, Sees something beautiful and bright, Picks up my gift, Smiles, and walks on, Pockets filled with contraband.

Prisms

39

B r i s k D ru m m i n g D mit r i Gi l chr i st ‘ 2 0

40

Prisms

S t r aw b e r ry M i l k D ani el l e Pe re z ‘ 2 0

D ig ital Illu strati on

Prisms

41

Sav e t h e Koa l as

By Ko a C h e n ‘ 2 1

G re y c re at u re s b at h i n g i n t h e s u n , T h at b a l l of f i re i n t h e s k y, Un d e r w h i c h t h e t re e s s pre a d w i d e , T h e i r br a n c h e s l o c k e d i n c l o s e e m br a c e .

How c ou l d t h e y k n ow T h at t h e y w ou l d d i e ?

T h e t a l l , d r y g r a s s of t h e g re at O ut b a c k Su s c e pt i b l e t o hu m a n f e e t Wit h b o ot s of h i d e a n d g u n s of s t e e l C r u e l c on q u e ror of t h e n at u r a l w or l d L it up i n f l a m e f rom on e l i v e s m o k e A n d j u mp e d f rom br a n c h t o br a n c h ‘ Ti l l e v e r y t h i n g c h a r re d i nt o c o a l .

Me lt i n g i nt o pu d d l e s of g r ay, w h it e a n d b l a c k , C on s u m e d by re d .

L e t u s n ot f or g e t t h e on e s w h om w e l a c k : T h o s e w h o a re d e a d .

B e g u n by a c i g a re t t e f l a m e , or a m at c h C on s u m e d t h e d r y br u s h A n d j u s t l i k e t h at , m ore s c a r l e t d y e .

42

Prisms

E n da n g e r e d D av i s Ste w ar t ‘ 2 0

Mi x ed Medi a Photo g raph

S e a l s i n Lov e Mai a C h are o n s u phi ph at ‘ 2 0

Prisms

43

S c ho ol

By Ste v e n Anto ni o ‘ 2 0 T h e c u r v e s on my d e s k A re o c e a n w av e s B a c k a n d f or t h , s w i s h a n d s w a s h I a m s u r rou n d e d by A s e a of k n ow l e d g e L o s t i n a l a n d of p ap e r I t r y t o l e av e B ut f or e v e r y pro b l e m s o l v e d A n ot h e r d i l e m m a a r r i v e s T h e re i s n o e s c ap e Ju s t a n ot h e r pro b l e m As e v e r y p a s s i n g y e a r T h e q u e s t i ons g e t h a rd e r A n d h op e l e s s n e s s s i n k s i n B ut on e t h i n g One land S o f a r aw ay Is my g o a l One land Wh e re t h e t e r ror s of t h e e du c at or A re n o l on g e r pre s e nt Ju s t on e m ore o b s t a c l e O n e m ore w a l l Wh e n t h i s i s a l l ov e r Ne e d s t o f a l l 44

Prisms

D ig ital Illu strati on

Co n f l i c t Am eli a Ho l li s ‘ 2 3

Prisms

45

D ig ital Illu strati on

Red Sky

Al e ss an dra Cu e v a s ‘ 2 2

46

Prisms

Photo g raph

Oa k l a n d Fox T h e at r e Jo hnny Vu ‘ 2 1

Prisms

47

Photo g raph

T h a i V i l l ag e Mai a C h are o n s u phi ph at ‘ 2 0

S c a n t h e Q R c o d e w it h y ou r p h on e c a m e r a or a Q R app t o w at c h t h e d o c u m e nt a r y.

T ru e T e e n A d d i c t io n Wav e r l e y Ach a c o s o, C h l o e Al l e n , Jani ck Mo nte s in o s an d C l aire No c o n , ‘ 2 1 48

Prisms

Photo g raph

Bu t F i rs t , Co f f e e E l li e C h are o n sup hip h at ‘ 2 1

Prisms

49

W r i t e r ’ s B lo c k

By Ni ck Ho o ‘ 2 2

I s it s o s t i l l a n d f e e b l y t r y To pu l l g r a n d t h ou g ht s t o my m i n d’s e y e , Ye t my h e a d i s a v oi d , e mpt y t a n k , A n d s o, t h i s p a g e s h a l l re m a i n b l a n k .

If n ot my w it w a s s o a b s e nt , A n d n ot i m a g i n at i on s p e nt , T h i s p a g e c ou l d b l o om a n d g row a n d w i s e n — Fi l l e d w it h c re at i v e h or i z on .

I h op e s om e d ay my w ord s c a n s i n g A n d l i v e w it h i n e t e r n a l s pr i n g , B ut t i l l I c a n c omp o s e a g a i n , I q u it , a n d s h a l l l ay d ow n my p e n — B ut t h e n i nt o my m i n d t h ou g ht s e a r s , A n d v e r s e a m i d s t t h e w h it e app e a r s .

50

Prisms

Mi x ed Medi a and Te mp e ra

Mute

Ni ch o l a s D e mm l e r ‘ 2 0 Prisms

51

D r ag o n

Mi c ai ah Rib ay ‘ 2 3

C ol ored Pe nc il

52

Prisms

M i s m atc h e d So c ks

By Jo n ah D e L e o n ‘ 2 2

I a m a p a i r of m i s m at c h e d s o c k s : A c l a s h of d i f f e re nt , v i v i d c o l or s , d e s i g n s , Te x t u re s , p at t e r ns , a n d f e e l i n g s .

Tw o d i f f e re nt p e r s on a l it i e s c om i n g t o g e t h e r To c re at e a n o d d a n d u n i q u e s t y l e B ut a q u i r k y i mpre s s i on .

A s hy, s m a l l a r t i c l e of c l ot h i n g t h at a c c omp l i s h e s t h e thankless tasks.

A l w ay s c om f or t a b l e a l on e i n t h e d a r k n e s s of a s o c k d r aw e r O r s upp l y i n g s om e on e c om f or t f or w h e n e v e r t h e y n e e d it .

I m ay g i v e p e op l e s upp or t B ut my p a i n c a n a l s o a f f e c t t h e m , L i k e h ow a t h or n c a n g o b e y on d my a bu n d a nt l ay e r s A n d pi e rc e t h e m , O r w h e n my s a d n e s s a n d t h e w at e r s e e p t h rou g h A n d u ns e t t l e t h e m .

How e v e r, t h e y c l e a n m e a n d h e lp m e b e c om e b e t t e r t h a n ever S o I c a n a s s i s t t h e m a g a i n t o o.

I a m m i s m at c h e d s o c k s b e c au s e I a m l oy a l — L oy a l i n t h e w ay t h at I a l w ay s c om e b a c k , B ut w it h a d i f f e re nt at t it u d e , A d i f f e re nt s o c k .

Prisms

53

Mi x ed Medi a

Pe ac e o f M i n d Je s s i c a Anto ni o ‘ 2 1 54

Prisms

B l ac k H a i r - i tag e

L e ann e B e r n al d o, Ko a C h e n , Ai l a O w e n s an d Van e s s a P h am , ‘ 2 1 S c a n t h e Q R c o d e w it h y ou r p h on e c a m e r a or a Q R app t o w at c h t h e d o c u m e nt a r y.

E l N u e vo Ba i l a n d o Giu l li an G alin d o ‘ 2 0

Prisms

55

S c ratchb o ard

Te Extrañamos C e c i li a Pe re z ‘ 2 2

56

Prisms

Sac r i f i c e a n d S e rv i t u de

By Fran c e s c a S alu d ‘ 2 1

O h Mot h e r Te re s a , h e r e y e s s o s m a l l S aw g re at b e aut y i n t h e p o ore s t of t h e m a l l How s h e e n c ou r a g e d t h e d ou bt f u l A n d b e f r i e n d e d t h e pit i e d He r h a n d s , t h ou g h a g e d , w e re i n c re d i b l y n i f t y T h ou g h h e r h e a lt h w a s l a c k i n g S h e b e s e t h e r i nt e nt i on on t h e p o or L on e s om e a n d s or row f u l He r l ov e ov e r f l ow e d m ore a n d m ore Mot h e r Te re s a , h e r s t at u re s o f e e b l e Mov e d h e a r t s t h rou g h h e r f a it h S o s t ron g a n d a b l e Gu i d e d by t h e b e a d s He r w ord s a s s i mp l e a s w o o d He r h e a lt h w a s c omp l i c at e d Ye t h e r s p e e c h e s , e a s i l y u n d e r s t o o d Mot h e r Te re s a , h e r m i n d s o w i s e Ins pi re d m a ny t o d ay In h e lpi n g t h e m t o re a l i z e T h at it i s i mp or t a nt t o l ov e on e a n ot h e r n o m at t e r t h e i r s i z e To l ov e on e a n ot h e r Wit h out h op e f or a pr i z e

Prisms

57

Innocence

By Jo s e p h D o n ov an ‘ 2 1 S av i n g t h e on e t h i n g w e h av e w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g : In n o c e n c e We a re pr i s on e r s of ou r ow n d oi n g , Ne g l e c t i n g w h at w e d o n ot s e e , u nw i l l i n g t o l e a r n — L e a r n t o s av e t h e on e t h i n g w e h av e w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g : In n o c e n c e .

O t h e r s c ont ro l w h at w e s e e , on l i n e or of e a c h ot h e r, Won d e r i n g w h o w e t r u l y a re , p on d e r i n g i f w e s h ou l d k n ow — K n ow t o s av e t h e on e t h i n g w e h av e w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g : In n o c e n c e .

We h o l d ou r s e l v e s d ow n , t o prot e c t w h at w e h av e , S om e t h i n g s w e t h i n k a re b e t t e r k n ow i n g n ot — P rot e c t t h e on e t h i n g w e h av e w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g : In n o c e n c e .

T h e w or l d c a l l s u s t o t r y t r y t r y, a n d bu y bu y bu y, S h ow i n g u s w h at w e s h ou l d b e l i k e , but h i d i n g w h at it s e l f i s actually like— Tr y t o s av e t h e on e t h i n g w e h av e w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g : In n o c e n c e .

T h e proj e c t or, t h e d i s t or t e r, t r i e s t o g e t u s t o t h i n k w h at t h e y w a nt u s t o t h i n k , Tr y i n g t o h i d e , k n ow i n g it a l l c ou l d g o s out h — Hi d i n g t h e on e t h i n g w e h av e w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g : In n o c e n c e .

58

Prisms

T h i s n e w i m a g e , t h e s h a d ow c re at e d f rom w h at w e s e e i s n ow t h e on l y t h i n g w e s e e , Ke e pi n g u s f rom t h i n k i n g , s hut t i n g ou r s e l v e s aw ay f rom out s i d e p o s s i bi l it i e s — Ke e p t h e on e t h i n g w e h av e w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g : In n o c e n c e .

T h e t e a c h e r c a l l s u s t o u n d e r s t a n d , t o b e t t e r c ompre h e n d , Hi d i n g f rom t h e k n ow l e d g e , t r y i n g n ot t o b e re s p on s i b l e — R e s p on s i b l e f or s av i n g t h e on e t h i n g w e h av e w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g , In n o c e n c e , Wh at i n s pi re s u s t o l e a r n a n d u n d e r s t a n d , h ow e v e r, i s w h at we see, S e e i n g t h e m o on , a g a i ns t t h e d a r k s k y a m on g s t t h e s t a r s , w on d e r i n g a b out t h e t r ut h — O n l y t o b e r i d of t h e on e t h i n g w e h a d w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g : In n o c e n c e , Wh at i s re a l , t h e t r ut h b e h i n d t h e i nt e r pre t e r a n d t h e d i s t or t e r a n d t h e t e a c h e r, S e e i n g w h e re t h e l i g ht c om e s f rom , s e e i n g t h e s ou rc e of l i f e — the sun — Ju s t t r y t o l e a r n a b out t h e on e t h i n g w e h a d w it h out h av i n g a ny t h i n g , Wi s h i n g w e n e v e r h a d a f i r s t , Wi s h i n g w e h a d n e v e r h e a rd t h o s e or i g i n a l w ord s , Wi s h i n g w e h a d it b a c k , In n o c e n c e .

Prisms

59

A l l eg o ry o f t h e P ho n e ( D i s pl ay B r i g h t n e s s )

By Li s a R am o s ‘ 2 1 A l i g ht s h on e br i g ht l y a s i f c ou l d b l i n d Lu m i n ou s l i k e t h e e m b e r s of a f i re , He l d w it h i n t h e t e e n a g e r s’ h a n d s .

A p h on e s c re e n .

Wit h i n it d i s p l ay e d b lu r re d i m a g e s , D i s t or t e d , i n d e c ip h e r a b l e f i g u re s , D a n c i n g l i k e s h a d ow s .

T h e s e pr i s on e r s w e re e nt r a n c e d : Ha n d s g lu e d t o t h e re c t a n g u l a r b ox , C h a i n i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o p l ay i m a g e s f ore v e r on l o op.

Wh at h e h a d m i s t a k e n a s a b l i n d i n g , c om f or t i n g l i g ht , Wa s a l l a l on g t r appi n g h i m i n a n i s o l at e d c av e !

S o b e re d by t h e i n it i a l s h o c k , He n ot i c e d a n ot h e r g l a s s s c re e n .

It w a s s q u a re , c r y s t a l c l e a r, t r a n s p a re nt A n d pi c t u re d w it h i n w e re a c t u a l d i s t i n c t i v e i m a g e s : C l ou d s r a c i n g e a c h ot h e r i n t h e a i r, A n i m a l s c h a s i n g e a c h ot h e r i n t h e g r a s s , A n d c h i l d re n d a n c i n g a rou n d e a c h ot h e r i n l au g ht e r.

A n u n k n ow n v oi c e w h i s p e r s t o h i m , “a w i n d ow.”

S o t h i s w a s t h e out s i d e w or l d , I l lu m i n at e d by t h e aut h e nt i c b l i n d i n g l i g ht i n t h e s k y : The sun.

How c a n t h e t e e n k e e p t h i s m i r a c l e t o h i m s e l f ?

Voi c e proj e c t e d , b oi s t e rou s a n d ov e re x c it e d , He s t a r t s t o s h out a b out w h at h e h a d s e e n “ He y ! C om e He re !

60

Prisms

T h o s e i m a g e s on ou r s c re e ns A l l d i s t or t e d , b lu r re d a n d i n d e c ip h e r a b l e — T h e y ’re a c t u a l l y re a l ! ” B ut n o on e l i s t e n e d .

Not on e t u r n e d a s i n g l e h e a d a rou n d .

In t h e e n d , t h e y on l y c ont i nu e d t o i mpr i s on t h e m s e l v e s Wit h t h e f a l s e l i g ht a n d f a l s e i m a g e s , Wit h i n t h e d a r k c av e r ns of t h e i r p h on e s .

Te mp e ra

B l as t O f f S ara Wh e el e r ‘ 2 1

Prisms

61

My Mom’s Sculpture

by Mi a Ho l l e y ‘ 2 3

My m om h a s a l w ay s l ov e d a r t . S h e bu y s a n d t a l k s a b out a r t a l l of t h e t i m e . O u r h ou s e i s f u l l of d i f f e re nt p a i nt i n g s , of t e n n ot hu n g up, a n d h e r Ins t a g r a m f e e d i s f i l l e d w it h v a r i ou s f or m s of c re at i v e e x pre s s i on . Wh e n s h e w a s y ou n g e r, s h e of t e n v a c i l l at e d b e t w e e n d i f f e re nt i nt e re s t s a n d c a re e r s . S h e t r i e d t e a c h i n g a n d t y pi n g c l a s s e s but h a d b a d e x p e r i e n c e s w it h t h e m . L at e r i n c o l l e g e , s h e re a l i z e d h e r l ov e f or a r t . My m om g ot a b a c h e l or’s d e g re e i n Hi s t or y of A r t f rom t h e Un i v e r s it y of C a l i f or n i a B e r k e l e y. He r e x p e r i e n c e s w e re l i k e a s c u lpt u re . T h e y s h ap e d h e r a s a p e r s on , m o l d i n g h e r v a lu e s , p a s s i ons , a n d p e r s p e c t i v e s on c e r t a i n a s p e c t s of l i f e .

My m om w e nt t o c o l l e g e at 1 7 ½ . S h e l e f t a s m a l l h om e i n Wa l nut C re e k at t h e t op of a h i l l a n d w e nt t o U C B e r k e l e y, w h e re s h e e x p e r i e n c e d a l l d i f f e re nt k i n d s of p e op l e . L i v i n g i n Wa l nut C re e k , s h e w a s c l o s e d of f f rom d i f f e re nt i d e a s a n d l i f e s t y l e s . My m om w a s d e s p e r at e t o l e a r n a b out ot h e r p e op l e a n d t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s . My m om f ou n d t h i s n e w b e g i n n i n g i n a r t , s o s h e c h o s e Hi s t or y of A r t a s h e r d e g re e . S h e t o l d m e , “ I w a s , a n d s t i l l a m , i nt r i g u e d by a r t i s t s b e c au s e I w a nt t o l e a r n m ore a b out w h o t h e y w e re .” S h e w ou l d re m i n d m e t h at l o o k i n g at a r t i s m ore t h a n o b s e r v i n g a pi c t u re ; e a c h pi e c e h o l d s a s t or y. R e l at i n g t o t h e s t or y p or t r ay e d of t e n m a k e s h e r f e e l b e t t e r. A w h o l e s t or y i s t o l d j u s t by l o o k i n g at t h e w or k of a r t . S h e w ou l d s ay “ It’s l i k e w at c h i n g a m ov i e .”

T h rou g h c re at i v e e x pre s s i on , s h e f ou n d a n e s c ap e i n t i m e s of s t re s s . He r a r t c l a s s e s w e re h e r s a f e s p a c e w h e re s h e c ou l d s it w it h a s e ns e of p e a c e . T h e re w a s n o b o d y s ay i n g t h at a r t c ou l d on l y b e d on e on e w ay. S e l f - e x pre s s i on w a s k e y f or my m ot h e r at t h i s p oi nt i n h e r l i f e , a s s h e c ou l d v i s u a l i z e h e r i n n e r f e e l i n g s . S h e n e e d e d t o e x pre s s h e r s e l f a n d h e r e m ot i ons ont o t h e c a nv a s or i nt o h e r s c u lpt u re s . S om e t h i n g a b out b e i n g c re at i v e a l w ay s m a k e s my m om f e e l g o o d a b out h e r s e l f . A r t g i v e s h e r t h e a bi l it y t o b e h e r ow n i n s t r u m e nt a n d t o re c e i v e t h at n e e d e d p e a c e w it h i n h e r s e l f . S h e a l w ay s s ay s , “ I n e v e r c h o s e a r t , a r t c h o s e m e .”

62

Prisms

D ig ital Illu strati on

Ramirez C hr i s R amire z ‘ 2 1

Wit h t h i s a r t , s h e w a s i nt r i g u e d by t h e s ou l s a n d p e r s p e c t i v e s of d i f f e re nt i n d i v i du a l s . In c o l l e g e , my m om w a s i nt ro du c e d t o v a r i ou s i d e a s , c u lt u re s , a n d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . My m om h a d t h e opp or t u n it y t o t r av e l a bro a d , w h e re s h e w a s a b l e t o s e e a l l d i f f e re nt k i n d s of e x pre s s i on . My m om f i r s t t r av e l e d t o Pa r i s f or s c h o o l , a n d a f t e r a m ont h i n Pa r i s , s h e s t ay e d w it h h e r s e c on d c ou s i n i n E n g l a n d f or 2 m ont hs . He r e x p e r i e n c e i n Eu rop e w a s a on c e i n a l i f e t i m e e x p e r i e n c e . S h e w it n e s s e d d i f f e re nt p e op l e , a r t , a n d c u lt u re , a n d w a s a b l e t o l e a r n a b out t h e w or l d out s i d e of C a l i f or n i a . B e f ore h e r y e a r a bro a d , my m om h a d n e v e r e x p e r i e n c e d a ny t h i n g l i k e t h i s b e f ore . B e i n g i n Eu rop e , s h e w a s a b l e t o g r a s p d i f f e re nt w ay s of l e a r n i n g a n d t h i n k i n g Prisms

63

t o s upp or t h e r i n t i m e s of s t re s s . S h e w a s t au g ht t o l o o k at i s s u e s f rom a l l p e r s p e c t i v e s t o f or m h e r opi n i on . T h i s i d e a i s re f l e c t e d i nt o h e r l i f e a s a p a re nt n ow. S h e i s v e r y a c c e pt i n g of my c h oi c e s a n d p a s s i ons w h i l e k e e pi n g my b e s t i nt e re s t s i n m i n d . My m ot h e r w a s a l s o a b l e t o c omp a re l i f e i n t h e Un it e d St at e s t o h ow p e op l e l i v e i n Eu rop e . S h e t o l d m e , “ It c h a n g e d my p e r s p e c t i v e on h ow p e op l e l i v e .”

S h e s a i d i n Eu rop e , p e op l e w e re v e r y c a re f re e , v a lu i n g l i f e e x p e r i e n c e s m ore t h a n lu x u r i e s or app e a r a n c e . He r m o s t i mp or t a nt t a k e aw ay f rom Eu rop e w a s t h e f a c t t h at s h e n e v e r f e lt j u d g e d l i k e s h e d i d i n A m e r i c a . In t h e Un it e d St at e s , w e w or r y a b out lu x u r y a n d p opu l a r it y t o v a l i d at e h ow w e f e e l .

In Eu rop e p e op l e u n d e r s t a n d t h e i mp or t a n c e of pu r s u i n g t h e i r d re a m s , t r av e l i n g e x t e ns i v e l y a n d k n ow i n g m ore t h a n on e l a n g u a g e .

T h e s c u lpt u re t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s a n d re a l i z at i on s c re at e d i s b e aut i f u l , i nt e l l i g e nt , a n d op e n m i n d e d . T h e h a rd w or k i n g a n d p a s s i on at e s c u lpt u re i s n ow my m ot h e r. T h e s c u lpt u re t h at i s my m ot h e r i s on e of a k i n d , u n l i k e a ny on e e l s e , w h o d e s e r v e s t h e a b s o lut e w or l d . My s c u lpt u re i s b e i n g f or m e d a s w e s p e a k . I a m s o e x c it e d f or t h e u n i q u e pi e c e of a r t I w i l l b e c om e . T h e h appy m om e nt s a n d e v e n t h e s a d d e s t c re at e t h e s c u lpt u re s w e b e c om e . How e v e r, e v e r y d ay t h i s s c u lpt u re i s b e i n g a d d e d t o or bro k e n ap a r t . D e s pit e a l l t h i s c h a n g e w e f a c e , t h e s c u lpt u re a l w ay s h a s it s i nt e nt i on , a s e v e r y t h i n g h app e ns f or a re a s on . L i k e my m ot h e r, w e w ou l d n ot b e w h e re w e a re t o d ay w it h out t h e s e c r u c i a l e x p e r i e n c e s . Not i c e w h at t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s c a n t e a c h y ou . Va lu e t h e g o o d a n d t h e b a d m om e nt s t h at a l l ow y ou r b e aut i f u l s c u lpt u re t o b e c om e y ou !

64

Prisms

S e a l e d L i ps

By C l au di a Ar g u el l o ‘ 2 1 Hu s h n ow, d on’t y ou y e l l , I k n ow y ou’re u n d e r a s p e l l .

You w e re t au g ht f rom a d o l e s c e n c e To k e e p e v e r y t h i n g i ns i d e n o m at t e r t h e c o s t .

It d o e s n’t m at t e r i f it b oi l s w it h i n y ou r v e i n s , If t h e h ot , s c orc h i n g l av a bu r ns y ou i ns i d e out , If t h e bu r n i n g s e ns at i on s e t s a b l a z e y ou r m i n d , B u r n i n g aw ay a ny c om m on s e ns e .

It d o e s n’t m at t e r i f y ou bre a k , If y ou r m i n d i s at s t a k e , If t h e b a l l of s pi k e s i n y ou r t h ro at t e a r s t h rou g h y ou r s k i n , If t h e c l e n c h of y ou r s t om a c h m a k e s y ou s i c k w it h i n , If y ou r h a n d s it c h t o a c t up on t h e i r ow n .

It d o e s n’t m at t e r— It’s j u s t h or m on e s .

It d o e s n’t m at t e r t h at y ou r t h ro at i s s ore f rom t h e s c r at c h e s , If y ou r j aw a c h e s f rom t h e c l e n c h e s , A n d i f y ou r e y e s hu r t f rom t h e s a d n e s s .

T h i s hu s h e d l a n g u a g e t h at w e a re f orc e d t o s p e a k Is a s i l e nt k i l l e r.

A n d it s l ow l y c ons u m e s y ou , L e av i n g n ot h i n g but bu r n i n g h ot r a g e p ou r i n g out of y ou .

Prisms

65

A bu e lo

Cy nt hi a Gu z m an ‘ 2 0

Te mp e ra

66

Prisms

Ba l lo o n

By May l e e Wit te ‘ 2 2 I a m a d e f l at e d b a l l o on : St a n d i n g out f rom a l l t h e ot h e r s , E a g e r t o b e f i l l e d w it h e x p e r i e n c e s , Ta k i n g i n a l l I s e e a n d h e a r.

I g row bi g g e r w it h e v e r y w h i s p e r, From a s h r i v e l e d pi e c e of l at e x , Int o a b o l d y e l l ow b a l l o on , Fu l l of w i s d om a n d l i f e .

I a m l e t g o, f re e a s I f l o at , Up t ow a rd s t h e br i g ht , b e a m i n g s u n , Wh i c h s h i n e s t h rou g h m e , m a k i n g m e g l ow.

B ut n ow I a m e x p o s e d , L o o k i n g s t ron g l i k e a t re e , B ut e a s i l y d e f e at e d by a t w i g ,

Wh e re I w i l l l o s e it a l l — t h e m e m or i e s , A n d re t u r n t o a d e f l at e d b a l l o on Un a b l e t o b e b l ow n up a g a i n .

Prisms

67

Wa r m t h o f a N i g h t l i g h t

By Li s a R am o s ‘ 2 1

My mother kissed my forehead, Closed the door and whispered “goodnight,” But only after she turned on my favorite nightlight.

It was heart-shaped, Engulfing my bedroom walls in a rose-colored hue, Immersed in an artificial warmth that calmed and soothed.

Now, the dreams emerged and the coast was clear, As restlessness and anxiety fled in terror, All thanks to my nightlight, my one true savior.

It was in the middle of the night; I was taken away from some dream I couldn’t quite place, Feeling groggy, my mind spun in a daze.

My bleary eyes opened to find comfort in walls painted with blush, But to my horror, I was blinded instead With a blazing orange, incandescent yellow, and fiery red.

The artificial warmth now felt scorching, Feeling more real as the temperature rose higher, My entire world was ignited, falling into pieces—a fire.

A few days later, I woke up in complete darkness.

The news: my apartment was in ashes, The cause was my beloved nightlight, And the one who embodied actual warmth—she didn’t make it out alive.

I’m now a lost child, With no nightlight to guide me along the way, With no mother, lost in fumes of charcoal gray.

Someday, a new heart-shaped nightlight will appear, And she’ll watch over me within the bright, illuminating stars.

But for now, I’m left behind with the cold darkness in my heart.

68

Prisms

S w e e t Ho n e y Kai a O rdin ar i o ‘ 2 2

Te mp e ra

Prisms

69

Sleight of Hand

By Ko li a Kraj e w ski , ‘ 2 1

It’s t h e hu m a n c on d it i on .

Wh at i f T h i n g s w e re d i f f e re nt ?

Wi n d s b l ow i n g , h i g h f l y i n g B i rd s of a f e at h e r, c i rc l i n g .

B e aut i f u l l y s p a c e d out , t h e y d e s c e n d And descend And descend In a n e v e r- g r a c e f u l d a n c e As i f t h e w or l d w e re w at c h i n g .

B ut n o, it’s j u s t m e , A n d I w at c h a s t h e y or bit , D e l i g ht e d t o v i e w t h e s p e c t a c l e .

B ut t h e n I s e e t h e i r e y e s : Not a n g e l i c , but d e m on i c , A rou n d a d a r k pi l e of f u r Tr y i n g t o s t a n d up As my p e r s p e c t i v e c h a n g e s .

T h i s i s n ot a p e r f or m a n c e , T h i s i s a c e re m ony.

They close in, Tou c h t h e i r c l aw s t o t h e E a r t h , 70

Prisms

A n d b l ow out t h e c a n d l e .

T h e w or l d i s n e v e r a s it s e e m s , S o l e t u s n ot pre t e n d .

L e t u s n ot j u s t i f y ou r a c t i on s Wit h f a l s e h op e O f a c a s t l e i n t h e s k y.

L e t u s n ot b e Pa r a s it e s .

Photo g raph

S l e e py E y e Anto in e L av o i e ‘ 2 1

Prisms

71

Wate rcol or C oll ag e

Untitled O liv i a S anto s ‘ 2 3 72

Prisms

A n O de to C h e e z - I ts ®

By B e n Ne i d e r ‘ 2 2

Not rou n d l i k e t h e c u r v i n g e d g e s of R it z O r w ov e n l i k e t h e t h re a d s of a Tr i s c u it , May b e n ot a s c h e w y a s L i c or i c e B it s O r d r y a s t h e d e s e r t - l i k e B i s c u it .

Less variety than Chex Mix A n d n o r a i n b ow of c o l or l i k e S k it t l e s , It g i v e s t h e b e s t q u i c k f i x , For e v e r y ot h e r s n a c k it b e l it t l e s .

D i re c t l y a b ov e t h e g l or y of t h e Gu m my B e a r A n d j u s t b a re l y h i g h e r t h a n Fr i e s , T h e b e aut i f u l s i g ht of t h i s or a n g e s q u a re Ins t a nt l y put s h e a r t s i n my e y e s .

A l a s , h e av y i n my s t om a c h it d o e s s it

For t o d ay I h av e h a d t o o mu c h of t h e C h e e z - It .

Prisms

73

Wintumn

By Ai l a O w e n s ‘ 2 1

B e h i n d C lo s e d D o o rs

Rachel B ar tle y, Mar y Li s anti , Mikolaj Sidzinski, and S ara Wheele r, ‘2 1 S c a n t h e Q R c o d e w it h y ou r p h on e c a m e r a or a Q R app t o w at c h t h e d o c u m e nt a r y.

74

Prisms

D ig ital Illu strati on

I n d i g o Sou l Ay ak o Ki e n e r ‘ 2 1

Prisms

75

T wo Fac e d Viv i an P h am ‘ 2 0

Ac r y li c

76

Prisms

C au g h t i n a T i de

By Abby B oy e r ‘ 2 1 A s a i l b o at l o s t at s e a T h e m ap p oi nt i n g on e w ay, T h e c omp a s s a n ot h e r.

O n e w ay A n i s l a n d of f l ow e r s , B i rd s of c o l or, A n d c l ou d e d s k i e s .

T h e ot h e r w ay A l a n d of t re e s , Fe w c re at u re s , A n d s u n ny s k i e s .

R ipt i d e s P u l l i n g i n opp o s it e d i re c t i on s .

Tw o w or l d s Va s t l y d i f f e re nt Ye t c on n e c t e d B y a t u r bu l e nt o c e a n .

T h e b o at Hi g h on a w av e O n l y t o c r a s h i nt o t h e w at e r s b e l ow.

S h ip’s f l a g s s t i l l s o a r i n g i n t h e w i n d B ut w h at c o l or ?

Prisms

77

Co n t r i bu to rs Wav e r l e y Ac h a c o s o ‘ 2 1 e nj oy s l e a r n i n g a b out s c i e n c e a n d p l ay s t h e pi a n o i n h e r s p a re time.

C h l o e A l l e n ‘ 2 1 i s a n av i d re a d e r a n d l ov e s w r it i n g . S h e c re at e d a d o c u m e nt a r y f or h e r E n g l i s h c l a s s : g o c h e c k h e r out .

Je s s i c a A nt on i o ‘ 2 1 l ov e s t o c re at e a r t du r i n g h e r f re e t i m e .

St e v e n A nt on i o ‘ 2 0 w rot e t h e s e p o e m s b e c au s e h e w a s b ore d , a n d h e t h ou g ht t o h i m s e l f , “ Wh at i f y ou a c t u a l l y c re at e a v i a b l e p o e m a n d it g e t s a c c e pt e d by P r i s m s ? ” C l au d i a A r g u e l l o ‘ 2 1 h a s w r it t e n p o e t r y s i n c e a y ou n g a g e t o e x pre s s h e r e m ot i ons a n d s t r u g g l e s . S h e w a nt s t o of f e r p e op l e a s y lu m w it h i n h e r w ord s f or t h o s e w h o re l at e .

R a c h e l B a r t l e y ‘ 2 1 h a s c re at e d m a ny d i f f e re nt f i l m s i n h e r c l a s s e s ov e r t h e y e a r s ; s h e e s p e c i a l l y e nj oy e d t h e opp or t u n it y t o c re at e a d o c u m e nt a r y.

Fr a n c e s c a “C h e k a” B au l d r y ‘ 2 1 i s s om e on e w h o h a s a l w ay s e nj oy e d E n g l i s h , a n d s h e h a d s u c h a g re at t i m e c re at i n g h e r ow n d o c u m e nt a r y.

L e a n n e B e r n a l d o ‘ 2 1 e nj oy s s c h o o l a n d s p e n d i n g t i m e w it h h e r f r i e n d s .

Ab by B oy e r ‘ 2 1 h a s e nj oy e d p h ot o g r ap hy s i n c e s h e c ou l d h o l d a c a m e r a . For h e r, c re at i n g i s s i mp l y a t o o l of e x pre s s i on .

78

Prisms

Sa n to r i n i Kai a O rdin ar i o, ‘ 2 2

Prisms

79

E l l i e C h a re ons up h ip h at ‘ 2 1 h a s a l w ay s h a d a l ov e f or a r t , a n d p h ot o g r ap hy. S h e a l s o e nj oy s p a i nt i n g a n d re a d i n g .

Ma i a C h a re ons up h ip h at ‘ 2 0 h a s b e e n t a k i n g p h ot o s e v e r s i n c e s h e re c e i v e d h e r f i r s t c a m e r a i n 7 t h g r a d e . S h e h a s a l w ay s e nj oy e d c apt u r i n g p h ot o s of n at u re .

Ko a C h e n ‘ 2 1 h a s a l w ay s l ov e d b o o k s , p o e t r y, a n d a r t . He s e e s t h e m a s s h a rd s of a s t a i n e d - g l a s s w i n d ow t h at pi e c e by pi e c e a s s e m b l e i nt o a b e aut i f u l m a s t e r pi e c e .

A n g e l i n a C i n c o ‘ 2 2 h a s b e e n w r it i n g p o e t r y a n d s on g s s i n c e 2 n d g r a d e . He r p o e m “ Ic a r u s” i s a n e n c ap s u l at i on of h e r f av or it e G re e k my t h .

A l e s s a n d r a Cu e v a s ‘ 2 2 h a s b e e n d r aw i n g d i g it a l l y s i n c e s h e w a s 9 y e a r s o l d . S h e h a s b e e n d r aw i n g e v e r s i n c e , i mprov i n g her skill.

L a n a D a o ‘ 2 1 h a s b e e n c re at i n g a r t s i n c e f re s h m a n y e a r.

He r t r a d it i on a l a r t pi e c e s p or t r ay h e r v a lu e of d e t a i l a n d p at i e n c e .

Jon a h D e L e on ‘ 2 2 h a s a l w ay s b e e n f on d of d r aw i n g .

How e v e r w h i l e w r it i n g “M i s m at c h e d S o c k s ,” it re m i n d e d h i m of t h e f e e l i n g h e g e t s w h e n h e d r aw s .

Ni c k D e m m l e r ‘ 2 1 l ov e s p l ay i n g s o c c e r a n d e nj oy s s p e n d i n g h i s t i m e c re at i n g a r t .

Jo s e p h D on ov a n ‘ 2 1 l ov e s t o p l ay g o l f , but w h e n h e h a s f re e t i m e h e w r it e s .

K a i a Ev e O rd i n a r i o ‘ 2 2 i s a n av i d a r t i s t . G o f o l l ow h e r a r t p a g e @ lu c i d . e v e A n d re w Fow l e r ‘ 2 0 , t h e 2 0 2 0 Po e t L au re at e of SJ N D, i s a l i n g u i s t at h e a r t . A n d re w e nj oy s re a d i n g a n d l e a r n i n g Ma n d a r i n i n h i s f re e t i m e .

G iu l l i a n G a l i n d o ‘ 2 0 e nj oy s p l ay i n g i ns t r u m e nt s t o re l i e v e s t re s s a n d h av e f u n .

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Prisms

D m it r i G i l c h r i s t ‘ 2 0 h a s l ov e d mu s i c s i n c e h e w a s v e r y y ou n g a n d h a s d e v ot e d h i s l i f e t o it . He e nj oy s p l ay i n g mu s i c whenever he can.

Cy nt h i a Gu z m a n ‘ 2 0 t o o k a r t a l l f ou r y e a r s at SJ N D c u l m i n at i n g i n Hon or s A r t : S e n i or Por t f o l i o.

M i a Ho l l e y ‘ 2 3 a l w ay s w r it e s w it h a n op e n m i n d a n d h e a r t .

M i a h op e s t o c h a n g e t h e w or l d t h rou g h t h e p ow e r of w ord s .

A m e l i a Ho l l i s ‘ 2 3 h a s b e e n w r it i n g a n d d r aw i n g s i n c e s h e w a s 1 0 . S h e h app e ns t o l ov e d r aw i n g , p a i nt i n g , w r it i n g p o e t r y a n d s t or i e s .

Ni c k Ho o ‘ 2 2 h a s a l w ay s l ov e d e x pre s s i n g h i s t h ou g ht s t h rou g h w r it i n g . As h e g row s a n d m at u re s , h e p l a n s f or h i s c o l l e c t i on of p o e m s t o d o t h e s a m e .

Ay a k o K i e n e r ‘ 2 1 i s a n a r t i s t w h o ow ns h e r ow n bu s i n e s s !

G o c h e c k h e r out at a l o h a a r t a n d app a re l . c om Va l e r i e K l e i n ‘ 2 1 l ov e s t o p l ay t h e g u it a r du r i n g h e r f re e time.

Ji v e ny K n i g ht ‘ 2 0 l ov e s p l ay i n g s o c c e r a n d i n h e r f re e t i m e l ov e s t o w r it e .

Ko l i a K r aj e w s k i ‘ 2 1 h a s f ou n d a r t i n w ord s a n d mu s i c f or h i s w h o l e l i f e . He re c o g n i z e s t h e i n f i n it e s t or y t e l l i n g p o s s i bi l it i e s i n a r t .

A nt oi n e L av oi e ‘ 2 1 h a s a l w ay s e nj oy e d p h ot o g r ap hy a n d w a nt e d t o s h ow of f h i s p h ot o g r ap hy s k i l l s i n P r i s m s !

K i r a L e e ‘ 2 2 l ov e s w r it i n g i n h e r E n g l i s h c l a s s a n d e nj oy s c re at i v e w r it i n g .

Ma r y L i s a nt i ‘ 2 1 h a s l ov e d w r it i n g s i n c e s h e w a s l it t l e .

Ja n i c k Mont e s i n o s ‘ 2 1 e nj oy s l e a r n i n g i n h e r A P L a n g u a g e c l a s s a n d re a d i n g .

B e n Ne i d e r ‘ 2 2 e nj oy s u s i n g c om e d y t o c omp l e t e t r i c k y E n g l i s h a s s i g n m e nt s . He a l s o l i k e s C h e e z It s ® a n d s o l v i n g t h e Ne w Yor k Ti m e s C ro s s w ord e v e r y d ay.

Prisms

81

C l a i re No c on ‘ 2 1 e nj oy s c re at i n g d o c u m e nt a r i e s w it h h e r c l a s s m at e s w h e n s h e i s n’t bu s y w it h s c h o o l or r u n n i n g c ro s s c ou nt r y.

A i l a O w e ns ‘ 2 1 e nj oy s re s e a rc h i n g a n d r h e t or i c a l l y a n a l y z i n g i n h e r E n g l i s h c l a s s e s . S h e r u n s c ro s s c ou nt r y a n d t r a c k a n d h a s b e e n p l ay i n g v i o l i n f or 1 2 y e a r s .

C e c i l i a “C e c i” Pe re z ‘ 2 2 h a s b e e n d r aw i n g e v e r s i n c e s h e w a s l it t l e . S h e s t a r t e d w r it i n g p o e m s i n m i d d l e s c h o o l a n d b e l i e v e s t h at t h e b e s t p o e m s p a i nt pi c t u re s .

D a n i e l l e Pe re z ‘ 2 0 e nj oy s c re at i n g a r t i n h e r d i g it a l i l lu s t r at i on c l a s s w h e n n ot p l ay i n g s o c c e r.

Va n e s s a P h a m ‘ 2 1 c ont r i but e d t o t h e d o c u m e nt a r y B l a c k Hai r- it a ge .

Vi v i a n P h a m ‘ 2 0 l ov e s p a i nt i n g a n d m a k i n g a r t . S h e t o o k a r t c l a s s e s a l l f ou r y e a r s at SJ N D c u l m i n at i n g i n A P St u d i o A r t .

L i s a R a m o s ‘ 2 1 h a s l ov e d re a d i n g e v e r s i n c e s h e w a s a k i d , but s h e w a nt e d t o b e t h e aut h or t h i s t i m e a rou n d a n d re l ay h e r ow n t h ou g ht f u l i d e a s .

A l e x R ay o ‘ 2 1 h a s l ov e d re a d i n g s t or i e s s i n c e h e w a s l it t l e .

He re c e nt l y f ou n d e nj oy m e nt i n p h ot o g r ap hy a s a w ay t o c apt u re t h e w or l d a rou n d h i m .

M i c a i a h R i b ay ‘ 2 3 h a s n e v e r re a l l y l e t g o of h e r c re at i v e m i n d s e t f rom f i f t h g r a d e . S h e h a s b e e n d o o d l i n g , d r aw i n g , and sketching ever since.

A m e l i e R it t e r ‘ 2 1 h a s l ov e d c re at i n g a r t a n d w r it i n g s i n c e f re s h m a n y e a r. S h e t h i n k s t h at t h e b e s t w ay t o c om mu n i c at e i d e a s a n d e m ot i ons i s t h rou g h a r t a n d v i s u a l re pre s e nt at i on .

A r l o Ru c k e r ‘ 2 2 h a s b e e n d r aw i n g f or a s l on g a s h e c a n re m e m b e r. He s t a r t e d t a k i n g p h ot o g r ap hs i n h i s s op h om ore y e a r of h i g h s c h o o l .

82

Prisms

Fr a n c e s c a S a lu d ‘ 2 1 or i g i n a l l y w rot e t h e p o e m f or e x t r a c re d it , but h a s c om e t o re a l i z e h e r j oy f or w r it i n g a n d h op e s t o w r it e m ore i n t h e n e a r f ut u re .

A r i a n a S c h o e f e r ‘ 2 3 l i k e s s h r i n k i n g o bj e c t s i nt o h a n d c r a f t e d m i n i at u re c re at i ons . S h e l ov e s c r a f t i n g , f i l m i n g v i d e o s , ro c k mu s i c , v i d e o g a m e s , a n d Ha l l ow e e n .

M i k o l aj S i d z i ns k i ‘ 2 1 e nj oy s s k i i n g a n d p l ay i n g t e n n i s . He a l s o e nj oy s l e a r n i n g c h e m i s t r y.

D av i s St e w a r t ‘ 2 0 l e a r n e d t h rou g h h i s s u s t a i n e d i nv e s t i g at i on on a n i m a l a r t t h at h e e nj oy s c re at i n g i n h i s f re e t i m e .

S a br i n a St on e ‘ 2 1 h a s a l w ay s l ov e d E n g l i s h c l a s s a n d e nj oy s s p e n d i n g t i m e w it h f r i e n d s .

A m a l i a Te i x e i r a ‘ 2 0 h a s u s e d w r it t e n w or k s a s h e r c om f or t a n d p e a c e s i n c e s h e w a s l it t l e . It h a s b e c om e i mp or t a nt t o e x pre s s h e r s e l f t h rou g h t h e m .

E l a i n e Tr u on g ‘ 2 2 s t a r t e d e x p l or i n g p o e t r y h e r f re s h m a n y e a r. S h e e nj oy s w r it i n g it s i n c e it a l l ow s h e r t o e x pre s s d i f f e re nt i d e a s t h rou g h i m a g e r y.

Jo h n ny Vu ‘ 2 1 h a s a l w ay s e nj oy e d p h ot o g r ap hy. He i s a l s o a p a r t of y e a r b o o k a n d t a k e s p h ot o s t o c re at e a r t a n d t o re c ord e v e nt s .

S a r a Wh e e l e r ‘ 2 1 g ot i nt o a r t b e c au s e of a C r a - Z - A r t s upp l y s e t s h e g ot f or C h r i s t m a s on e y e a r, a n d h e r l ov e f or it h a s on l y g row n s i n c e t h e n .

May l e e Wit t e ‘ 2 2 i s a n av i d w r it e r a n d B a l l o on i s h e r f i r s t e nt r y i n P r i s m s .

Prisms

83

Awa r d s

Nat i on a l C ou n c i l of Te a c h e r s of E n g l i s h R E A L M R e c o g n i z i n g E x c e l l e n c e i n A r t a n d L it e r a r y Ma g a z i n e s P ro g r a m Sup e r i or Aw a rd 2 0 1 9 , 2 0 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 , 2 0 1 3 , 2 0 0 9 E x c e l l e n c e Aw a rd 2 0 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 B e s t Hi g h S c h o o l L it e r a r y - A r t Ma g a z i n e 2 0 1 7 R e c om m e n d e d f or Hi g h e s t Aw a rd 2 0 1 7 A m e r i c a n S c h o l a s t i c P re s s As s o c i at i on Mo s t O ut s t a n d i n g P r i v at e S c h o o l L it e r a r y - A r t Ma g a z i n e of t h e Ye a r 2 0 1 3 , 2 0 0 5 , 2 0 0 3 O ut s t a n d i n g T h e m e : B e s t B i l i n g u a l S e l e c t i on s 2 0 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 Fi r s t P l a c e w it h Sp e c i a l Me r it 2 0 1 9 , 2 0 0 2 - 2 0 1 4 Fi r s t P l a c e Aw a rd 1 9 9 8 - 2 0 0 0 , 1 9 9 6 B e s t P h ot o g r ap h e r Aw a rd Ju l i a n D e Gu z m a n 2 0 1 5 , S op h i a S e i w a l d 2 0 1 9 A r t i s t s E m b a s s y Int e r n at i on a l G o l d e n S e a l B o o k Aw a rd 2 0 1 3 Me r l y n’s Pe n : T h e Nat i on a l Ma g a z i n e of St u d e nt Wr it i n g B ron z e Aw a rd f or O ut s t a n d i n g Ac h i e v e m e nt 1 9 9 7

Colo p ho n

O u r b o o k w a s pr i nt e d by Ur b a n A r t L it h o g r ap hy, 2 3 3 1 C St re e t S a c r a m e nt o, C A 9 5 8 1 6 on 1 0 0 # B l a z e r D i g it a l S i l k C ov e r, a n d 1 0 0 # B l a z e r D i g it a l S i l k Te x t u s i n g a C a n on Im a g e pre s s 7 0 0 0 - 4 c o l or h i g h s p e e d pro du c t i on l a s e r pr i nt e r. O u r t it l e f ont i s O l d Har b ou r by D i m it r i A n a ( l i c e n s e d by Font Spr i n g . c om ) , ou r B o d y f ont i s Ad o b e D e v an a g ar , ou r by l i n e s a re i n Ad o b e He bre w a n d ou r f o l i o f ont i s Z apf i n o . We pr i nt a n e d it i on of 4 7 5 c opi e s . E a c h c ont r i but or re c e i v e s a b o o k , a n d e a c h s c h o o l f a m i l y, f a c u lt y a n d s t a f f re c e i v e on e , f re e of c h a rg e . B o o k s a re a l s o s h a re d w it h a lu m n i , d on or s a n d t h e g re at e r c om mu n it y.

O u r g r ap h i c s a re or i g i n a l or c opy r i g ht f re e f or u n at t r i but e d re m i x .

O n p a g e s 9 a n d 4 0 w e u s e “ R e d w a x s e a l w it h t h e a r m s of a bi s h op” by P rov e n a n c e O n l i n e P roj e c t w h i c h i s l i c e n s e d u n d e r C C B Y 2 . 0 .

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Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School 1011 Chestnut St. Alameda, CA 94501

Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School Vol. 30 2019-2020