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Vol. III | Issue No. 1

February 2024

WARRIOR VOICES

02 Mission Statement 04 Essay 07 Poems 24 Haiku 26 Sonnets

TABLE OF CONTENTS 30 Art 43 Photos 47 Businesses at WSST 51 The Team 52 Thank you

Mission Statement “There are many talented writers an artists here in our very own school. It’s time for our scholars work to be seen! Warrior Voices is Western’s first literary magazine, and it is focused on getting student work recognized. Our literary magazine leadership team will work diligently to publish student work including but not limited to short stories, essays, poems, jokes, comics, and art. It is our top priority to ensure that student creative expression are represented adequately and given a place to be celebrated by our community for generations to come.” 02

E S S A Y

Reflections on This Year's Hispanic Heritage Month Valeria Ortiz On October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month officially came to a close, and with this, we cannot fail to acknowledge the considerable impact that speaking Spanish, and being Hispanic, has on our community. Western has a Hispanic-dominant student body, and over 30 Hispanic educators. In Western’s community of Maryvale, Hispanic influence is so tightly packed into our way of life that there is seemingly no in-between; the lines are blurred into an astonishing mix of pride for one’s country and background. Hispanic Heritage Month for Maryvale is a beacon of inclusivity; it allows people outside of the community to experience what makes us such a unique and strong people. Spanish for me, and plenty of my peers, has always been one of the rare sources of togetherness we find solace in throughout each week together. Although in class we speak English, there has always been room to slide in a brief giggle or a joke in a language that at times just feels like our own. Spanish digs deeper into who we are more than any other language. Some English words and phrases don’t have the correct depth and connotation for the great expanse of human emotions; Spanish fulfills this need for expression in a clear-cut, sultry manner that varies from accent to accent.

Reflections on This Year's Hispanic Heritage Month Valeria Ortiz As Hispanic and bilingual students, we live life not half and half but as a fusion of our specific culture. This in itself can be reflected in our layers, the content of our character–respect and hospitality– creativity, and unity. These are all common values in our culturally rich community. And this past month, 21 countries celebrated their vast understandings of food, art, values, etc. in ways that vary from city to city. Young and old, naive or wise, Hispanic culture warms at a level where it shines through us, and in every Hispanic person there is a different addition that builds up this heritage that we carry so unconsciously. In Maryvale, and here at Western, we continue to carry a larger-than-life legacy throughout our whole lives, not just this month.

P O E M S

Would a moth and butterfly go well together? Gino Godoy I was taken by the purity of her spirit like how light attracts a moth My spirit was full of pride & fear that I couldn’t comprehend such a spirit As if the dirt from my sinful nature would be washed away with her Our time wasn’t forever but it was often & when I returned to my nature my only company was my spirit Pride told me I had no business with it & was better than it Fear told me to not be open because my insecurities would lose my pride But once our time came again I was so covered that when I was washed dirt landed into my eyes I didn’t feel any negative emotion with her It was the opposite in fact But I was so envious The wrath of my words broke her & it returned to me in multiple forms I was at rock bottom and left to question Why would she wash me? -I stayed down until I found the sun & realized 08

Would a moth and butterfly go well together? Gino Godoy -She looked past my dirty wings & saw color She didn’t see a moth She saw a butterfly she could live with I saw a relationship that was temporary My sinful nature made me lose sight of myself & what I should follow “the plan was to stick my toe in… check the temperature a little bit… next thing I know… I’m drowning” I found the true form of light & it reflected off her wings Now I drown in a regret & a pool of water she washed me with I was pimped by my sinful nature to make me believe I was a moth I was left with my thoughts to realize & value her purity So when I returned with visible colors on my wings & countless apologetic words She forgave me & even with this new change I still didn’t understand why But I could never use the same words with her again but with this new change of mine

Beige Ashley Guzman

Surrounded by the walls No color and no life Yet I find myself staring at them nonetheless Instead of putting effort to this endeavor This so called work this so called life This so called effort to be recognized The effort I put in will never be seen My life is as beige as the wall Concave in nothingness Wanting to break free So I grab a paint brush and fill it with color My life is as colorful as a Leonid Afremov painting

My Fallen Angel

Ashley Guzman A fallen angel in their eyes Like heaven itself was there The help they seek, the comfort they want When you appear it feels that everything is fine At least for them You used to be mine You said it all the time Never thought that you would be The fallen angel in my life Betrayal, hatred, you were as sharp as any knife You made me trust again You made me love again Just to make me lose hope again Despite all you did The glimmer in my eyes Shows that I want you Despite me telling myself Hate, hate, hate It's impossible I will always love you And I know you know I see it in your smile, in your glare That you love me too, so why did you?

Layla Adrian Duran Nothing really matters Everything happens to just disappear When our lips meet The universe stops To listen to your words Your voice is soothing Mindlessly sitting in the room Exhausted from the days gone by Thinking everything will be gone soon Starring outside to the night sky Not knowing what to do Not knowing what to say Hoping she can forever just stay The image of everything the worlds brings All I can see is you smiling Everything you know will be erased Life moving in an unsettled pace Falling into a empty part of space The tone of your voice, the words you have said Continue to play inside of my head

My Girl Adrian Duran Imagining the day that you leave Is the worst of them all But that's not what I like to believe Watching the leaves as they fall Your eyes shine bright like the moon Loving you, is healing me Your voice is my most favorite tune You remind me of the deep blue sea I see myself with you forever ¨I love you so much¨, I said to her -Adrian Duran

Flower Rebeca Garza

He wipes my tears away Making me smile anyday He is like a flower, everyone loves them If you try to hate them They just bloom day and day again He is the greatest friend of all His love is like an infinite road It is never ending and eternal

anonymous Thoughts come and go like waves Dear, Indigo

But it's a playful tickle and a soft lullaby And its company is warm In my hollowed bones and my lost eyes

Though your heart may ache and you're wide awake Water rises and flows on your chest and your toes

So listen to me now, Your tears only last so long And those fears will soon be gone

Feelings may come and go Like seasons Dear, Indigo When Spring exhausts me in its wake and I'm restless in Summer for its sake I still live to ponder and I still sleep to dream Like Autumn nights are never what they seem When The Moon hears my lone cry I’m allured by its glow and I begin to sing like Winter comes to steal the Sun And cold air blows so needles prickle my skin

So as long as you hate So as long as you love So as long as you stay to grow My Dear, Indigo

A Rose anonymous

One beautiful Rose Withered and weeping Despite your thorns and your shriveled petals I saw you, in a ray of glowing orange Through the closed window, soft and precious Why do you pretend your life was wasted, warped, and wicked Awake now, Sunk and paralyzed Whispering words, Wishful and reminiscent Yes, You Beautiful Words One beautiful Rose

Placebo Sarahi Murga

Where my vision is clear And dreams feel real It’s like I see you But you aren’t near I wanted you to stay

But you took your leave He took your heart while I Stayed and played make believe A placebo will keep my sanity To you our relation was just apathy I can’t stop taking it It’s hard to resist Placebo effect will take me back To when we first kissed I’m all alone stuck in my head Please take me back to the night We met.

Unknown anonymous

Eye to Eye My heart explodes like a bunch of fireworks. The attention brings me light, Though for you it’s just a sight. Always feeling red and hot, With butterflies in my stomach. You bring the joy to my soul, At night I think of you. Even if you don’t know me that’s fine, Because I know you.

Fall Leafs anonymous

Golden leafs fall happiness for all in the air you can't compare For holiday season is here, many may cheer hooray! For Christmas is near.

An Identity Of Its Own anonymous Bland and neutral is a subtle echo in time It isn't beautiful but it has character only simply existing to please its creator happens to be a charm to its surroundings while others may go unnoticed, you make a beautiful scenery to uplift the uglification of our world

Rain Of Memories anonymous

As a unifying force between earth and heaven, Could I, who will never fuse into a single entity, Ever grasp and hold onto someone's heart for all eternity?

Sense Of Beauty anonymous Our judgment is built upon human feelings Attempting to remove what we consider emotion Leaves insignificance to what we call ‘living’ But realizing we are gifts formed from what was once nothing is the most precious thing a man can come to learn Not only are we a complex formation of intricacies But we are eternal beings who were created on earth with purpose. Following the pathway of genuine beauty and sophistication will set a gentle touch in life’s delicate dance against constant storms

anonymous My stomach. My arms. My heart. Hollowed like woodhacked off Heed my helpless calls! Unbearable, utter, uncomfort Umbrage to my cries! Gasping, gushing out Grasp the glistening gold! My mind’s meek moldSmother me Make it melted and messy! Entering an escape, Engulfed in an elixir, Embraced, evermore

HAIKU

Fresh dew on the grass The sun shines bright just for them They thank the sun,play -Ashley Guzman

English so complex The write word must be in place Though they sound the same -Ashley Guzman

Hope is given, Dream Dare to rise through oppression Show them you too can -Ashley Guzman

SONNETS

Jesus Loves You -Rebeca Garza

Like a rose in a field Blooming in the sun The love you show makes me feel like im walking on air Leaves the 99 To search for me Blessing after blessing Overwhelming love comes my way Through pain he brings comfort Making my faith grow deeper He is my happy place His love is pure Like something so innocent He is the light in the darkness, Guiding my everyday path

It’s Our Trope -Ashley Guzman I remember the day I saw, you I remember that I thought of you as winter, killer of life Said that I hate you. I hate you? I remember thinking how can someone be as foolish as him? At everything you say I fight an eye roll, say your opinions are flawed At every giggle you give I fight a curse, say your voice is flawed Tell you how much I loathe to see you, point out every flaw How I hate every single bit of you: say you are full of flaws All your flaws make your beauty, making my heart light on fire How can I possibly not love you; from the second we bickered From the way your eyes have fire to the way you laugh I want you by my side for the rest of my life This is our trope enemies to lovers, so say you're mine, say you hate me too.

The Sun and Moon Melani Alvarez Gamez I find myself wondering if the sun feels alone sometimes rooted in deep isolation and constantly on that pedestal it may have the clouds as its companion, but isn’t tired giving away all its dimes? even surrounded by others would it still feel like its loneliness is credible? A radiant light constantly giving how much longer until its burnt out? what a beautiful star bringing new beginnings maybe now it will survive its drought? What a seasonal change seems like winter turned into summer all thanks to the light that guided the sun for the moon helped bring in color and a new start for the sun has begun May love give us all stability and may love give us all tranquility

ART

Esmeralda Garcia

Araceli Gomez

Guadalupe Pacheco

PHOTOS

Matthew Chavez

Dayanna Martinez

BUSINESSES AT WSST

EL GORDO Y EL FLACO DETAILING

JVB ONLINE

LAV CROCHET BY MEL

THE TEAM Club Moderator Mr. James Brenner

Editor-in-Chief Rebeca Garza Design Director Melani Alvarez Gamez Marketing Director Dayanna Martinez Events Director Fernanda Gonzalez Submissions Directors Isabella Duran Ashley Clark 51

THANK YOU! Thank you to those who submitted to Warrior Voices. Your work is greatly valued and we couldn’t have this magazine without all of your amazing work. We hope to see more students branch out and explore your creativity. Your vulnerability and hard work is truly appreciated. Sincerely,

WARRIOR VOICES TEAM 52