Speechless in the RGV, Issue #1

In the Rio Grande Valley 2011-2012 Semester I Issue 1

Cover Art by Nora Martinez

This issue is a reflection of what our students from the Rio Grande Valley

Speechless in the Rio Grande Valley INTRODUCTION

Speechless is the Rio Grande Valley’s creative writing & art magazine. This is an opportunity for the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas to showcase its young artists. Art is subjective and means something different to every person. It is in a constant state of change, so you can never really pin down what it is other than thought provoking.

Bullying: Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.

Speechless The Bullying Issue Issue # 1

The research and quotes in this issue were taken directly from LJISD Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, OBPP.

Spring 2011 Speechless members at large:

“Thank you RGV for providing us with the knowledge to prepare and defend ourselves.”

Garcia, Jaime, Art Director Leon, Luis, Art Editor Noyola, Esmeralda, Chief Editor Tapuro, Marco, Art Editor

Speechless would like to thank Mr. Jaime Garcia for letting his students express themselves through this magazine, along with the entire San Benito Art Department, La Joya ISD, and STC for continuing to introduce the Rio Grande Valley artists to our community.

Speechless NOTE:

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Speechless will be coming out every semester. No work or any part of this issue may be reproduced (quoted, copied, photographed, videotaped, or broadcasted) without the written consent of the artist or writer.

All letters to the editor are welcomed; however, please limit the length of each letter to one double-spaced page of which some may be published in our next issue with your consent. Include your name and e-mail address.

We are always looking for submissions. Please e-mail art, photography, and writing along with your contact information. For more information on Speechless contact E. Noyola, by e-mail. SpeechlessMagazine@live.com

The views reflected within this issue do not represent the views of Speechless in the Rio Grande Valley; in fact, the views expressed by any speaker or character in any statement, poem, drawing, photo, painting, or short story do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone.

This is an artistic and abstract expression of the artists and writers.

It’s difficult to believe how incredibly difficult it has been to put out this issue. The concept of Speechless has been around for three years, but has grown from a high school publication to something that can no longer be contained. This semester it has branched out. Contributing students from La Joya ISD, McAllen ISD, Mercedes ISD, and San Benito ISD, have made this magazine what it is today. If it wasn’t for the students and dedicated teachers of the Rio Grande Valley this magazine would not be possible.

Speechless got it’s first start in Mercedes High School in Mercedes, Texas in 2008-2009 thanks to Mr. De Anda and Ms. Gutierrez both supporting an outrageous idea and the student body for being so enthusiastic.

This new edition of Speechless Rio Grande Valley will feature art work and writing from students, artist, and writers from all over the Rio Grande Valley in the online magazine format.

Speechless in the Rio Grande Valley would like to thank you for helping us spread the word that there is talent in the RGV. Thank you, Esmeralda Noyola, Chief Editor Speechless in the RGV

This is art.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Art by Nora Martinez ~~~~~~~~~~~ Cover Artwork by Marco Cortez ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 2 No Fear by Gustavo Martinez ~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 2 Passive by Marco Tapuro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 3 Space by Marco Tapuro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 3 Artwork by Elva Treviño ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 3 Artwork by Marco Tapuro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 4 Drawing by Humberto Gonzalez ~~~~~~~~~ Page 5 Bullied by Gustavo Martinez ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 5 STOP! by Julie Scoggins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 5 Bully Demo by JL ACE ELA Students ~~~~~ Page 5 Bully Buss by Luis Leon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 6 I’m a Punk by JL ACE student ~~~~~~~~~~ Page 6 Quote by Albert Hernandez, Luis Leon, & anonymous ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 6 Why? By Aaron Cantu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 6 Brother by Javier Garza ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 7 Art by Adan Garza ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 7 Monochromatic Blue

by Humberto Gonzalez ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 7 Art by Liliana Martinez ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 7 Talk At Her by Gabby Zumaya ~~~~~~~~~~ Page 7 Support by Robert Armendariz ~~~~~~~~~~ Page 8 Family by JL ACE student ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 8 Down by Fernando Ramirez III ~~~~~~~~~~ Page 8 A Good Look by Aaron Cantu ~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 8 So Funny by Aaron Cantu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 9 Bouquet by Dalia Davila ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 9 You’re Dumb by Luis Leon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 9 El Pato by Monica Rodriguez ~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 9 Take Just One Step by Eduardo Velazquez Page 10 What? By Juan Herrera ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 10 Just Deserts by Osvaldo Davila ~~~~~~~~~~ Page 10 Artwork by Liliana Martinez ~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 10 Hope By Luis Jesus Rodriguez ~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 11

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Contempt by Marco Tapuro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 11 Ran Over by Juan Mora ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 11 Not Worth the Pay Back

by Marco Guajardo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 11 New Playmate by Fernando Ramirez III ~~~~~ Page 12 DEPS by Aaron Cantu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 12 Puppy Love by Dalia Davila ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 12 Snapped by Juan Herrera ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 12 Quote by Hector Gutierrez ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 12 Pencil by Eduardo Ortega ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 13 Mexico by Marco Guajardo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 13 “M” by Eduardo Velazquez ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 13 I Have Arrived by Marco Tapuro ~~~~~~~~~ Page 13 Artwork by Juan Herrera ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 13 Freshman by Javier Garza ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ Page 14 Mine by Juan Herrera ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 14 Bullying by Teresa Rosalez ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 14 Flash By Alexis Ramos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 14 World Domination By Comps ~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 15 In My Head by Marco Tapuro ~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 15 Whispers by Ruby Red ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 15 Alone by Alexis Ramos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 15 Artwork by Elizelda Reyes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 16 Wacky by Alexis Ramos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 16 Chango By Julian Cisneros ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 16 Green Monster by Yesenia Aldana-Cruz ~~~~ Page 16 Monsters by Luis Leon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 16 Annoying by Elizelda Reyes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 17 Writing on Walls by Ruby Red ~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 17 Artwork by Joe Miranda ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 17 Fab by Azaret Saenz ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 17 Artwork by Dalia Davila ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 18 I'm Gonna Be Me by Ruby Red ~~~~~~~~~~ Page 18 Johnny by Aron David Garza ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 19 Panda by Dalia Davila ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 19 Joy by Alexandra Y. Hernandez ~~~~~~~~~~ Page 20 Burnt by Joshua Mena ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Page 20 Juan Salinas former graduate and cover artist ~ Page 19 Page 2

Artwork by Marco Cortez

No Fear Future is the new opportunity, every minute, every second Gotta keep checking which track I'm heading in Headin’ with Power and strength there’s no limit I will take I’m strong I'm young I’m the one who time chases Low-on the chase I feel the masses of weight that this life gives, but I ain’t afraid I sit back and enjoy my steak Love to my family and friends Trust nobody check the clock Boi cuz time stops for nobody Behave, lay back, and enjoy life, buddy.

By Gustavo Martinez

Passive by Marco Tapuro

Artwork by Elva Treviño

Space by Marco Tapuro SPEECHLESS

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“The greatest glory consists not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.” ~Vincent Van Gogh Major components of bullying: (What are the parts of bullying?)

1st, it is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions.

2nd, bullying typically involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time.

3rd, it involves an imbalance of power or strength.

Artwork by Marco Taputo

School Rules About Bullying    

We will not bully others.

We will try to help students who are bullied.

We will try to include students who are left out.

If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and at home. © The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2010 SPEECHLESS

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Bullied When I started middle school, I began to get weird compliments.

“That’s an awesome shirt.” “Hey where do you shop?” “What’s up with all of the black?” “Are you like Emo?” These types of judgments I took as a whatever thing. I never cared what people said about me.

Why would I? I am a free spirit.

People, mostly guys, would pick on me in sixth and seventh grade. I would feel like crap. When I got to eighth grade and high school I turned into the bomb. I’m me. I’m happy and I never wanna be someone else. My life is full of fun.

Even as I get older I have some dreams I need to fulfill, like own my own nightclub, learn,

professionalize in Disc Jocking (DJ), and compose music. My life consists of music, so much of it. I even keep my life as a song. Just wait and see. One day my dreams will all come true and all my problems will be gone. This is my world. Cook it how you like it and all those haters will be swept up in smoke.

By Gustavo Martinez

Artwork by Julie Scoggins

Cyber bulling is when someone is bothering you online.

This can be through e-mail, facebook, myspace, blogs, or any postings online. If you wouldn’t say it in person don’t say it online. Remember that anyone can see what you put online. Even when you delete it, someone has seen it. Be careful what you say online. Hurtful words can escalate to deadly consequences.

Let’s stop cyber bullying altogether.

Art by Juan Tapuro

Juan Caudillo and Jose Luis Escamilla bully the JL ACE Twinkies, Janelh and Giovanna Solis.

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Artwork by Humberto Gonzalez

Bully Bus My friend, Leo, was looking out the bus window and was pushed around.

All he was doing was looking out the window at nothing in particular and someone thought he was looking at them. The guy called Leo out. Leo started running his mouth from the safety of the bus. They argued for a bit.

When Leo got off the bus they guy followed him off. POW! The guy sucker punches Leo in the face! He started punching him repeatedly. I just watched. The guy’s my age, 16, but Leo is 18. Leo was throwing punches yelling at me.

“Yels, throw me corners.”

I feel terrible. I froze. I froze and my friend got his butt kicked. KICKED! For a good 15 seconds it was punch after punch. My friend...Leo, was bleeding on the floor with some jerk pounding on him. All because he was staring out the window and didn’t want to look like a chump? So, he stood up for himself.

He stood up and I backed down.

By Luis Leon, YELS

I’m a Punk I have to think about me.

“Come on get in the car. We’re gonna catch them slipping and get them on the rebound.”

What’s it called when someone who’s jumped grabs his buddies and goes to find the people who messed him up?

“Nah, I think I’m gonna book it to my house.”

He’s bigger than me. They’re all bigger than me.

I don’t want to be a punk,

“I’d say it’s called revenge.” ~ Albert Hernandez

but I don’t want to end up junk

“Man, u tnk dr mkin fun of me? U tnk we squashed da beef? Or is he gonna sucker punch me?” ~ Leo

thrown on the ER curb

“Hey you, go hit’um up if your down.” ~ YELS

“Home boy ain’t even here today, ay. He was too scared he’d get some just for being a friend of Leo’s” ~ JL ACE Student

From a moving low-rider.

By JL ACE student

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WHY?! By Arron Cantu

Brother The most influential role model in my life would be my big brother, Eddie. The reason he is such a huge influence on me is because he has had the roughest life and still he manages to be the most positive and happiest person I know.

Throughout our childhood we lived a pretty normal life until one night on July 12 of 2008 my brother was in a horrible fire and burned 60% of his body. That was the day everything changed for us. We stayed at the regional Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota for four months. My brother was so happy, throughout his time in the hospital. He was glad that God let him keep his life and continue to live in this wonderful earth, but that was not the last tragedy that would happen to him. We later found out that the doctors had injured his throat and he had to get a tube in his throat called a “trachea.” But, still that would not be the end.

He then went for surgery two years later to get the pipe removed, and one of the doctors made a mistake on his dosage of anesthesia and one of his nerves burst from too much pressure. To this day he remains paralyzed from his chest down but a happier and more outgoing person there is none.

Eddie still has high hopes for the future. He has hopes of walking, running, and living life again as he once did. This is why my brother is the person I admire the most.

By Javier Garza

Art by Adan Garza

Talk At Her Last week, I had an experience with bullying. I a guy pushed a girl into a wall. I went to the restroom when they were talking just outside it.

They seemed to be simply talking, but instantly he pushed her hard and the girl fell down.

I thought they

were playing

around, so I giggled a little uncomfortably. But the guy was serious.

He was talking at her

while she was on the floor.

“What did you do?”

Monochromatic Blue by Humberto Gonzalez

I left to class.

By Gabby Zumaya

Artwork by Liliana Martinez SPEECHLESS

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Family There will always be haters.

There will always be someone that intentionally goes out of their way to make your life difficult.

“No me agas la vida de cuadritos.”

They’ll make your life a chess board and leave you the pawn looking for a night to save your life.

“I have my prince charming, I have my family, I have my friends.”

They can try to take your dignity, but just leave theirs instead.

Support by Robert Armendariz

JL ACE student

“The only thing constant in life is change.” ~ François de la Rochefoucauld Dare to make a positive change.

Down How was she supposed to know?

He kept it on the down low.

The way he felt, She just couldn’t tell.

“Tell her how you feel.”

His heart was always sincere.

He was filled with fear.

What would she say?

By Fernando Ramirez II A Good Look by Aaron Cantu SPEECHLESS

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By Alexandra Hernandez Questions

So Funny An experience I had with bullying was when this kid, Vlad, was getting hit with paper by another guy in math class.

It was so funny. Everybody in the class was laughing, but I felt sorry for him. He could’t defend himself.

The other kid was hitting him with wads of paper. Hitting him and hitting him. I laughed and I laughed.

Often times we see someone being pushed around or messed with and we just sit back and join in a quick laugh at a tortured kid’s expense.

Am I a bully if I laugh at someone being picked on?

Yes. Am I a bully if I am entertained by this?

Yes. Is there really anything I can do about it?

Yes. What if I become the target?

When you stand up together you’ll be safe.

By Aaron Cantu

By JL ACE students El Pato I saw El Pato bully Erick. El Pato was jealous that Erick talked to other girls. So, El Pato started bullying Erick. “Go with those girls.”

“No, baby, it’s not true.”

El Pato kissed Erick right in front of all the school. She took his cheeks in her hands and he took her face in his.

This random girl came up to Erick.

“Why are you with her?”

El Pato responded.

“I love him he’s mine.”

Question: Was El Pato bullying Erick?

Answer: No.

You’re Dumb by Luis Leon, YELS SPEECHLESS

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By Monica Rodriguez and inspired by Patsy Rodriguez

Take Just One Step

My 5th Grade Just Deserts

An experience I have had with bullying was when I saw two boys that were stomping my friends little brother’s backpack on his way home from school. That day Juan’s little brother was going home from school. He always passes by my house every day after getting off the bus.

I didn’t go to school that day because I felt sick.

I felt sick looking at this kid just stand there while they kicked his bag around.

I stepped up.

They stepped down.

Sometimes that’s all it takes.

By Eduardo Velazquez

What? By Juan Herrera Re-imagined from Peyo’s The Smurfs

An experience I have had with bullying was when I was little, around 10-years-old. I was in fifth grade and I liked to bully a lot this chubby guy that sat right next to me. I used to throw gum at him. I would hit him a lot and make him cry. I could still remember when we were doing a project he was almost finished and I ripped it all up just for fun. So, I could bully him anyway I wanted to, until one day in P.E. class, I threw a rock at his eye and he started crying and then he yelled at me, “I’m going to kick your butt if you don’t stop bothering me!” Later that same day, I had found a frog and I took it to the reading class where I bullied the chubby dude. Class started and I threw the frog at him and I expected him to yell or cry, but he didn’t. He got really angry. I will never forget those moments of danger. He got the frog, killed it with his pencil, then he stood up, and picked up his desk and threw it at me. He almost knocked me down. It didn’t stop there. He came running toward me and started stabbing me in the face with the pencil he had killed the frog with. He was all crazy because when the pencil broke he carried the teacher’s desk and threw it at me when I was on the floor. Then, he gave me a few kicks and finally some teachers stopped him from killing me. After the three days of suspension passed, early in the morning, I saw the chubby guy and I got close to him to tell him I was not going to bother him any more, but when he turned around he got a knife out and pocked me in the neck and started running.

Then, all I remember is being at the hospital. I learned a lot from that experience. I will never bully anyone anymore.

By Osvaldo Davila

By Liliana Martinez SPEECHLESS

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Hope By Luis Jesus Rodriguez

Contempt By Marco Tapuro

Ran Over An experience I’ve had with bullying was when we would get out of school we had a friend we always bullied. We could tell that he would get embarrassed because of the face he would make, red and pouty. When he would just stay quiet we would tell him that we were just messing around with him.

One day we were standing around in my neighborhood and we pushed him into an oncoming car that was passing by. He started crying. He thought he was going to get run over. Then, he left home. But, he is still our friend even if we did bully him around. He knows. He knows.

Not Worth the Pay Back by Marco Guajardo Many children and teens stay in “friendships” in which they are subjected to continuous teasing and humiliation because they think that this behavior is alright as long as they are part of the group. This behavior is not ok. It’s difficult to walk away from a friendship and risk being ostracized from a group, but spare yourself the humiliation and surround yourself with people that respect you. Stand up for yourself. Seek help, before you get pushed into oncoming traffic.

By Juan Mora SPEECHLESS

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New Playmate You’re not the first And surely not the last To play me like a game It’s a shame I didn’t see it coming I was blind From all that lying It was kinda nice The game we played You should have stayed Instead you left Don’t worry I have a new playmate DEPS by Aaron Cantu

By Fernando Ramirez III

Snapped When I was in elementary school in Mexico I experienced bullying for the first time. My country is very different.

No one helped me there if someone was bothering me. Every day, some guy picked on me for my lunch. He was bigger than me and the biggest in the sixth grade. Then, one day that he was going for my lunch, I snapped. I don’t know what happened. I started kicking him.

Puppy Love by Dalia Davila

All types of kicks. After that, he never touched me again. I don’t know what “My friends are bullies. What am I gonna do? They are my friends. That guy is just some guy.” ~ Hector Gutierrez

ended up happening to that guy.

By Juan Herrera

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Pencil Hey, Miss, may I borrow a pencil?

“Sure.”

Thank you.

20 min later. Knock Knock.

Miss, may I borrow a pencil?

“Another one?”

El Pato took mine.

“And you let her?”

What can I do? She’s a girl.

By Eduardo Ortega.

Mexico by Marco Guajardo

“M’ An experience I have had with bullying is with my friends during lunch. Every time that they see a guy that shall remain nameless, but starts with an m, they start to bully him.

When these guys look at him they start laughing and say bad things to him. Just because he’s from another country and doesn't understand English he is made fun of.

Honestly, I laugh also, not because it’s funny but they look funny doing it.

By Eduardo Velazquez

by Juan Herrera, Smurf

I have Arrived by Marco Tapuro SPEECHLESS

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Freshman I think we’ve all experienced bullying.

When I was a freshman in high school I was bullied.

I was bullied as a freshman because I was very small and skinny. What no one knew about me was that I had been training in MMA since I was nineyears-old I got into a lot of fights that year. Usually bigger people tend to want to fight someone smaller than they are to make themselves feel better.

In my case they felt worse.

They were in for a big surprise.

When I would actually fight my bullies they were stunned. I had trained for so long to compete in fighting. I know that those people will now think twice before picking on someone just because of their size.

Mine by Juan Herrera, Smurf

By Javier Garza

Flash The things you did to me in the past It came to me in a flash' and I felt like if I got shot in the …

But now the game’s turned Look who’s tortured now.

By Alexis Ramos Stop Bullying by Teresa Rosalez SPEECHLESS

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World Domination By Comps

By Marco Tapuro

Gossip by Ruby Red, JL ACE

All Alone I used to love you, but now I don’t.

And here I sit all alone.

At least it’s better than having a low life gurl.

By Alexis Ramos

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Chango Everyday, my friends bully someone during school.

Everyday, everyday my friends see

this guy and they say negative things to him.

During lunch, my friends say all these negative things to this defenseless kid.

“Changoleon.

Hey, monkey.

Homeless,

hygiene deficient monkey man.”

I tell them to stop, and if they don’t feel bad

By Elizelda Reyes

they just tell me to mind my own business.

Wacky

The experience I had with bullying this kid Patsy, El Pato, sometimes you’re plain wacky

is confusing, but I still tell them to stop.

But at least you’re happy I know sometimes I get you mad

By Julian Cisneros

But at least you turn out to be glad.

By Alexis Ramos

Green Monster On a Friday afternoon I saw someone get bullied. I was playing ball with my sister-in-law.

Everything was going right, but then a guy named Raul was walking by and he started to bully us. He started to tell us things. “Why are you girls playing here? This is my place .

“Who cares what he said?” We said to ourselves. We started to play again, then he started to throw rocks.

It was a bad day for us because Raul is a bad guy to us and to the people in my neighborhood. That’s why I said Raul is a bully. I’m never going to forget that day because it was so bad and ugly.

Yesenia Aldana-Cruz

Monsters by Luis Leon, Yels SPEECHLESS

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Annoying I remember that I had an experience with a bully in elementary. This guy in my class was fat and so annoying. He would always tell me that I was ugly, and he would tell everyone not to by my friend. He used to live close to my house. He got on my nerves that day and I started crying. Then, I came home crying and no one was there but my brother. I told my brother what had happened and he went and

Writing on the Walls by Ruby Red,

kicked his butt. After that, he would not even look at me anymore.

By Elizelda Reyes While this type of behavior is not condoned, it does happen. Bullying is not allowed. If we prevent bullying and stop it when we see it, we can prevent the situations from escalating. Violence begets violence. Find help from the appropriate authorities.

Pay back is never an option.

Artwork by Joe Miranda Fab by Azeret Saenz

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I’m Gonna Be Me Regardless if you’re always looking at me, Judging my clothes, Making fun of my hair, I'm gonna be me.

I like me this way.

I’m unique.

That may be weird, But that’s me.

I hear you whisper.

You can close the door, But your bitter voice is carried through the cracks.

You have something to say to me?

Say what you will, I’m gonna be me.

Spread the rumors and the lies, Like you butter your toast.

I’m not worried that you talk about me.

I’ll worry when you stop.

I know I’m noteworthy, And I’m still gonna be me.

Ruby Red

Artwork by Dalia Davila

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Johnny With fire and ability, Johnny only grew smarter Having aspirations of graduating from Harvard At night hearing gunshots, killings over material objects Johnny was above it, though living in the projects His father was in jail and his mother was a fiend But despite all his hardships this young man still had dreams 11 years old living almost on his own the ghetto and he, gangs is what he called home his glasses broken daily, his homework torn to shreds He came home crying every night; his tears had drowned his bed He was alone in this world, support had felt so distant He was confused as to why he was bullied just for being different His soul was a wall that was slowly being broken He was spit on, beat up, his money had been stolen Years came and went, his will was growing shorter His mother had overdosed and died, this boy had reached his border Harvard acceptance could not even mend his spirit There could be no more bad news; his heart just could not hear it A month from graduation, Johnny felt the end near Hard work paying off from a path he did not veer Walking home from school, Johnny opened up his door His cap and gown was stolen, his belongings on the floor Johnny had just snapped, suicidal thoughts grew bigger He found his fathers gun, put his finger on the trigger Evil overcame him, ice through his big black veins Placed the gun to his temple……CLICK-CLACK-BANG! Throughout all the projects, the gunshot made a boom They ran into his home, Johnny’s blood had soaked the room Weeks from graduation, Johnny committed suicide He was tired of disappointment, tired of the lies A young man with infinite potential, killed from his negative residence

Laying 6 feet under could have been the future president I tell this story truthfully, so Johnny can be heard You don’t need a gun to kill, just actions and words -Aron David Garza Artwork by Dalia Davila

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Burnt by Joshua Mena

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Juan Salinas was competing this April 9, 2011 in the Graffiti Wars in McAllen. Juan is from La Joya and is currently attending STC in McAllen, TX and majoring in Drafting in pursuit of a carrier in Architecture.

Through his passion of urban art he inspires young artists of the Rio Grande Valley like Luis Leon and Marco Tapuro, not only to pursue their love of art, but to acquire freedom and strength through education & culture.

The Rio Grande Valley students are hopeful for their future.

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