The Arts Around Us:
Story,Poem,Portrait
This project deals with themes of connection, communication, and understanding artistic decision making in the artistic process. As part of creating a learning and creative community students shared moments with each other that were important in their lives. These stories were transcribed by peers and then students worked in pairs or small groups to create poetry and a visual image that represented themselves and their story. In doing this work we made many creative decisions about our affective intent and made deeper connections with the people around us and how their own artistic expression could serve to help us better understand and communicate our shared humanity through artistic expression of individual experience. We invite you to read these poems and stories and think about the vast array of human experience that surrounds us and what it means to be privileged to share in that experience through community and artistic expression.
This project was completed as part of MUS210 at Arizona State University this webpage acts as a digital component to an exhibition of this same work that can be found on the third floor of the Music Building on ASU’s Tempe Campus
Irina Andriananjason
From Lost to Found
I started dancing when I was four I fell in love with ballet
I had to stop when I got older
I was devastated
September 12th, 2022
There were too many changes in my life I felt like I had no purpose
But I found my love again
It made me feel hopeful yet conflicted
It was a rollercoaster
December 3rd, 2022
A mix of jazz, ballet, and hip-hop I had not danced in 7 years
We were outdoors in a tent, Almost caught on fire
Held up by tape,
The one day that it started raining It made everyone stressed
we had to rearrange the line up
The show was ahead of schedule
ran through the parking lot
it was raining hard
backstage was wet and slippery
they announced that we were going to start We started dancing
I had an adrenaline rush
Fourteen minutes felt like a second
It got really loud
on the stage,
the lights were so bright,
I couldn't see anything
I could only hear the crowd roar I was back in my element performing on stage
Irina’s Story
I danced in Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding with a group of people from dance1. It was a mix of jazz, ballet, and hip-hop on December 3rd, 2022. I had not danced in 7 years. When I first started dancing, I was four. I fell in love with it right away, specifically ballet. I started taking music lessons and my teacher got into ASU too so we both stopped dancing. I was really sad. Fast forward, I started dancing again in September. This was memorable because I haven't gotten to dance in a long time. I didn't have any art things/ music to do so this was my one way to actually do something again. I almost did not perform. It was a rollercoaster. We were outdoors in a tent, almost caught on fire, held up by tape. The one day that it started raining it made everyone stressed. We had to rearrange the line up. The show was ahead of schedule. We had to run through the parking lot as it was raining to get backstage. They announced that we were gonna start performing. We started dancing and it got really loud cause everyone was cheering. So on the stage, I couldn't really see anything because the lights were so bright, I could only hear how loud it was.
Gia Angelo
Untitled (I Broke My Wrist)
I broke my wrist
I am not invincible
I clutched my wrist
And looked at my coach
I had to go to the ER
Recovery was okay
I had to wait for it to heal
They gave me a sprain
I stopped playing volleyball
And haven’t played it since
Mohamad Bagaish
Untitled (I Got Accepted)
I got accepted to Arizona State University.
” I felt I could not complete it,
but I kept fighting that feeling.”
I have always dreamed of it. “
The feeling is indescribable.”
“reach my dream.”
“reach my dream.”
“reach my dream.”
Quintin Ballweber
Mountain Bike Crash
Quintin’s Story
This story takes place in June 2020. I was mountain biking by my house at Duthie Hill MTB Park. I was going off a Jump that I had never hit before. It was a bigger 15 ft gap jump. My friend told me to slow down before this jump. It was a gap jump so I kept all of my speed that I possibly could. I went off the jump and landed flat on my head. I couldn’t breathe because the wind got knocked out of me. As I stood up I couldn’t move my arm because my collarbone hurt so bad. I was 16 years old when this happened. As I was walking back to the car with my brother I still couldn’t breathe and I was struggling for air. There was a sharp pain in my chest as well. I went to the hospital and found out I had a collapsed lung. I still mountain bike but now I am scared of jumps because of the crash. It took my lung a while to heal. I had to have an MRI for my injury while at the hospital. The collar bone took about two months to mostly heal. After the crash I didn’t go biking that often and I went easy. This was the first bone I broke and it made me realize that you can hurt yourself super easily. I have never done that jump again. In the air I realized that I would not land well. I made sure to wear a full face helmet thankfully. I was introduced to mountain biking by my friends in Seattle. I was in the hospital overnight. I was also very uncomfortable in the hospital. I didn’t end up having surgery because my lung and collarbone healed by themselves. My parents were very worried. My mom told me to be careful before going. My dad came and picked me up because my little brother couldn’t drive. This conveys the idea that a valuable lesson was learned through breaking my first bone. This accident taught me that I am breakable. There is always a risk for a reward factor.
There is always a risk for a reward factor.
I learned from a 15ft jump.
Crash.
Couldn’t breathe, couldn’t breathe.
Broken Bone.
Mom told me to be careful.
A lesson learned,
I am breakable.
Lauren Burch
Blue Skies
Lauren’s Story
This is my story of when I went skydiving with my cousin. So, it was June of 2021, and my cousin Kenzie is a little older than me, but she and I have always been super close. We love going to concerts together and going on little road trips and stuff so she was like “we should go skydiving” and I was like “ok down.” I had always wanted to do that, like it had always been on my bucket list. And I was like sure yeah, let’s go, but I didn't know any details about it. So, she started looking at places and stuff and we found that you can go skydiving over the Grand Canyon, so we were looking into that. It's not like in the Grand Canyon but you can see it in the plane and when you jump out. And we were like “if we’re going to go skydiving then we need to go big, we can't just go in Phoenix or something.”
We chose a weekend in the summer and drove to Flagstaff. We went thrift shopping and got some food. It was super fun! And then we met up with one of her old friends from high school or something and we were going to sleep at her apartment because her roommates were out of town. So we hung out and talked and then went to bed and then the next morning woke up super early and drove to the Grand Canyon.
We got to the skydiving place, and we were stoked out of our minds. We were so scared but so excited. We walked inside and checked in and stuff and they gave us these cute outfits we wear. We put these big coats on and pants over our leggings, so we had the full fit. We watched these short videos about what to expect basically and what to do. We had to sign this waiver saying “we won't sue you if we die” haha. Which was kinda like this weird moment for me because it was like that moment where I was like “you could die from this… but it’s not going to happen to me, right?” But oh my gosh, what if we die? I told people before we went that I would be ok dying because it would be kinda cool, but also terrifying. We met our jumper partners that we would be tied to essentially for the whole jump and they were super cool and super nice. One of them was this older guy who had done a ridiculous amount of solo skydiving adventure things.
So we went outside and it’s just the 4 of us (me, Kenzie, and our 2 jumper guys) we had to walk down a ways to our little plane and the plane was TINY it was so small, I think it fit 6 people.
So we get into this little plane and we are crammed in there with this pilot and we take off. We’re looking out the window like “oh my gosh, this is so sick, like it’s so pretty!” We said to these jumper guys and the pilot like “oh my gosh we’re so high up in the air!” And they looked at us like, “um we’re going higher” and we were like “OH!” and at that moment I started becoming more nervous. Looking out the window I thought we were already super high and to hear him say “oh no, we’re going higher” I was like “we’re going higher???! And we’re jumping out of this plane?!” And then we get around the height to jump and they were like “which one of you is going first?” and Kenzie was like, “if I go after you, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it.” So her and her jumper guy got all situated and connected their things together with no room in our tiny plane and got secured. Then they opened the door and all this air was coming in and we’re all yelling at each other.
They told Kenzie to sit on the edge of the door, the edge of the plane, and I was like “I have to do that?” and then they told her to just roll out of the plane. It was complete chaos. It was super loud, and my heart was beating super fast. I’m screaming to Kenzie “I LOVE YOU, YOU CAN DO THIS” and then she just rolled forward and was gone. I was kind of in shock and I didn't quite understand I would be going immediately after. So I get all set up with my partner, the old guy, and I go sit on the edge of the plane. It was the craziest feeling ever, because my feet were dangling out and then he just helped me roll out.
I remember screaming so loud, but it was so weird because I couldn't hear anything. The wind was so loud in my ears, and I remember thinking, “am I making any noise?” I was using the energy to scream, but I couldn't hear anything. It was a huge rush of adrenaline.
After I was done screaming, I looked around and it was really pretty. I could see part of the Grand Canyon on one side, and it was beautiful. I wasn't scared anymore, either. I did the jumping out of the plane part, so now it just felt really cool.
He pulled the parachute, and he let me steer with these string things. I didn't know what I was doing, but it felt like I was contributing. I don't remember the landing specifically because it wasn’t a big moment for me. I remember just hitting the ground and it was like the most fulfilling feeling. I saw Kenzie and we were like “we just jumped out of a plane, like it’s barely noon! What do we do the rest of the day?” I was shaking at the end but it was so cool, super fun. And then we got on the bus that takes you back to the building where you started and we were talking nonstop about our little venture. Then we drove to the actual part of the Grand Canyon, and we walked around, and the whole time we were like “we are so cool because we just did that this morning, don’t talk to me - you didn’t go skydiving.”
“If we’re going to go
we need to go big”
Drove to the Grand Canyon
what if we die?
Stoked out of our minds
So scared, so excited
Signed a waiver that said
we won't sue you if we die
Oh my gosh
what if we die?
Jumping partners
I’m in good hands
Plane was tiny
It was so small
We’re going higher
Started becoming nervous
Look out the window
see the Grand Canyon
Oh my gosh
what if we die?
She said “if I go after you,
I don't think I’ll be able to do it”
Complete chaos
She rolled forward and was gone
Super loud
heart’s beating fast
Edge of the plane
craziest feeling ever
Feet are dangling
Rolled out
In the air
screaming so loud
Weird I couldn't hear anything
Wind in my ears
Huge rush of adrenaline
Slow motion
Grand Canyon on one side
I wasn't scared anymore
Parachute whips up
Hit the ground
Fulfilling moment
so cool, super fun
We didn’t die
“Can we do it again?”
Jackie Maciel Chavez
Untitled ( Paco and Georgie)
I have two cats
Paco and Georgie
I had never had cats before
This past Christmas
Their first Christmas
Put our Christmas tree up
Cats were playing
With the ornaments
Ornaments had bells
Cats started to whack them off
I heard the ornaments dropping
From my room one night
Heard the tree rustling
It was the cats.
Got out of bed to check it out
Where was Georgie?
The tree still rustling
I look up
Georgie is in the tree
He climbed and laid on a branch of the tree.
So unbothered
The lights were warm
Though Gergie was tangled in some lights
Needed to get him out
Once he was out
The tree did not fall
Parents were asleep
2 A.M.
Ornaments fell everywhere
Let him roam free once again
Where was Paco?
Jackie’s Story
I have two cats whose names are Paco and Gorgie, who I recently got in April 2022. I had never had cats before and my aunt’s cat recently had a litter and was just giving out kittens. The litter had a total of 5 cats and we ended up getting 2 kittens which are brothers. They both are gray and one has green and the other yellow eyes. This past Christmas was their first Christmas with us and they are both a year old. We put up our Christmas tree and noticed that they were playing with the ornaments and they started to fall off. Some of the ornaments had bells on them making noise that we knew attracted our cats making them want to play with them. We didn’t know that they would behave like this around a Christmas tree. This would soon become a regular habit for them. After the first or second week of having our tree, I heard the ornaments dropping from my room one night, then heard the tree rustling so I just assumed it was the cats. I got out of bed to go check it out. I called my 2 sisters to get them to go look with me. We then saw Paco was under the tree but my sister and I couldn’t seem to figure out where Gorgie was. This happened at around 2am so we wanted to just see what was going on. We keep hearing the tree rustling and then we finally see Gorgie in the tree. He had managed to just climb and lay on one of the branches on the tree. He was so unbothered and simply just enjoyed being in the tree. I think he was enjoying the tree more than his cat tree. He was getting a new and exciting experience by being in the tree. He probably also liked laying in the tree because the lights were warm. We were definitely concerned because Gorgie was tangled in some lights and we needed to get him out so he would not get hurt. We also had to be quiet about it because my parents were asleep and we did not want to cause too much noise. Getting Gorgie out of the tree was kind of a struggle but luckily the tree did not end up falling and we had to redo the tree in the morning because the ornaments fell everywhere and we had to rewrap the lights. After we successfully got him out we let him roam once again hoping he wouldn’t climb back into the tree again.
Ashley Dean
April Fools
Ashley’s Story
It was April 1st, which is ironic because April 1st is supposed to be like “prank day”. But this was covid time so no one could leave the house. My mom and I went on a walk around the neighborhood and, for context, my family had been talking about moving for a while. However I just thought it would be after I graduated high school and I was a sophomore at the time. So I’m on this walk and I’m about to take a turn on the street that leads to my house. And my mom decides to tell me that we’re moving to Arizona in June. So I had to finish the rest of my school year online without seeing any of my friends and then move on the last day of school. Now I did not want to move. I was about to be a junior, cheer captain, I had a boyfriend of like 4 years, and I had to leave all of that behind so I hated my fam for it.
“Where did you move from?” Washington
“Were you born in washington?” Yes, I had lived there for 16 years
So I got to Arizona and I thought my world was falling apart. I was stuck in the house all summer until I finally decided to get a job to get away from my family.
“Where did you start working?” Kohls and it was awful by the way.
But I met a lot of really cool people that I happened to also start school with in August. Starting school also let me meet a lot of the friends I have now and I realized I was actually a lot happier at this new school than I was at my school back home. And then I joined yearbook class at school and I really found “my people”. I graduated and I never thought I would be sad to graduate, but I was. And I no longer hated my family :) Plus I got to see my parents happier than ever in a new place!
“Why did you move?” I moved because my parents had grown up in Washington so they had been there for 40+ years and it was getting expensive to live there. Oh and it rains a lot and they hate the rain.
“What was your first impression of Arizona?” I thought it was beautiful but really hot. The summer we moved was the hottest summer in Arizona on record so that was a little bit of a shock.
“Now that you've been here for a while, would you ever consider going back to Washington?” Yes but, there's a big but, what I miss from Washington is the people (like my friends) and they are all in school now so going back wouldn't be the same, and then starting school here myself I feel like I found myself and my home.
“What was your reaction and how did you feel when your mom told you you were moving?” I was extremely sad. I burst into tears right away and I actually ran home the rest of the walk and locked myself in my bedroom. I even negotiated saying that I would stop cheering or help pay for things all because the reason we were moving was because it was so expensive.
“Even though it was April 1, you didn’t think she was joking?” No, unfortunately.
I remember the day I drove away and my two best friends were standing in my driveway as I drove off.
“You drove by yourself?!” Yes, I drove by myself with a cat in the front seat.
It was April 1st,
Ironic
My mom and I went on a walk
Talking about moving for a while
We’re moving to Arizona in June
Did not want to move
Extremely sad
Burst into tears
Ran home
Locked myself in my bedroom
Hated my family for it
Washington
Had lived there for 16 years
Left all of that behind
Thought my world was falling apart
Ironic
The day I drove away
A couple hotel stops
Beautiful but really hot
Starting school
Let me meet a lot of friends
Actually a lot happier
Ironic
Found “my people”
No longer hated my family
Found myself
Can't believe
It was April 1st
Emma Fontenos
Untitled (When I See Sydney)
When I see Sydney
I don't see her bracelets
Given to her by children
On the Nile river
When I see Sydney
I don't see her clothes
Made from llama wool
From peru
When I see Sydney
I don't see her scars
From teething baby tigers
From tanzania
I see her deep care
Ability to inspire change
The lives of countless people
To know Sydney is to know
Her spirit of true adventure
She will teach you how
Emma’s Story
Sydney is my best friend and she inspires me to be a better person every day. And while this isn’t really a story, I would never turn down an opportunity to brag about her and how I see her. I have been through too much with her to dumb our relationship down to just one moment. When I see Sydney, I don't see not her bracelets given to her by children on the Nile river or her clothes made from llama wool from Peru or even the scars on her hands that she claims came from teething baby cheetahs in Tanzania, a story I will absolutely never believe. I see her deep care for other people through her years of service work abroad and her innate ability to inspire change with the world around her and inside the lives of countless people. I’ve learned to ignore her soot stained boots and her earrings made from random rocks but instead see her spirit of true adventure. The same spirit that has led us on beach cave hikes, dance parties in the pitch black dark of the redwoods, and late champagne nights with talyn in the orchard after weddings that didn't go miserably wrong somehow. To know Sydney is to know adventure, but to have friendship with her is to know and accept the adventure of ups and downs that is being a human person in the world. To deeply understand the inevitable road bumps that may come your way, but also understand the courage it takes to get through them, believe when I say that she will teach you how. We have known each other for years upon years upon years and just the thought of what she has been through and how much she has seen through in my life changes my attitude daily. I love her, she loves you, and in turn I love myself.
Daniella Lugo
The Beat was Off
Daniella’s Story
My little brother had open heart surgery. It was a scary and emotional time in my life, but looking back, I am able to feel a sense of pride for my brother and what he went through. When my brother was five years old, he was diagnosed with a heart murmur. This essentially meant his heart beat was off. To this news, the doctor said that, as he grows up, they would need to monitor his heart beat and he might need to have surgery in the future if the murmur did not go away naturally. The years went by and when my brother was eight years old, the doctor said he needed to have surgery because the murmur had not gone away. I was twelve at the time and I did not really know what this would all entail. I feared that my brother might pass away from the surgery. But I knew I had to be strong for not only my brother but my parents. I knew that my parents had plenty to worry about, I did not want to add to the preexisting stress in their lives. The waiting period was a difficult time. We were just waiting on this impending deadline. It was a matter of counting down the days and everyone becoming more and more stressed. The surgery day eventually came, and everything went smoothly, to our relief. The whole experience brought my family and I together and taught us the importance of sticking by one another during stressful times. The first time seeing him after surgery was a very emotional thing for everyone. Seeing his scar for the first time was definitely a moment that would forever stick with all of us. My brother was hooked up to many IVs and different cords and this would be a sight that would forever be engraved in my brain. But despite how seemingly frightening it all was, we were all relieved to see my brother and that everything would be alright. He got released from the ICU almost right away because of how well he was already recovering. However, about 10 days go by since he was released from the hospital, and my family and I noticed a severe decline in my brother. His appearance had drastically changed and he was much more pale and there was no color to his lips. He appeared very sick. It just so happened to be the day he was scheduled for an appointment with his cardiologist, and my parents were thinking of canceling the appointment so my brother could rest. However, I started telling them that I thought we should go to the appointment to see if there was anything wrong with him. The main concern was that he had lost all of his coloring in his face. After some debating and going back and forth, we decided to go to the appointment together and thankfully we did. The doctor said he was going into congestive heart failure. My brother was immediately rushed to the hospital for an emergency surgery. My family and I started to panic on the car ride over but we had no time to stress because we had to be strong for my brother. They needed to go into surgery right away and we did not even have the time to give a proper send off. The sack around my brother's heart was filling up with blood and his heart was being weighed down to the point that if we had waited any longer, my brother would have passed away. As he was in surgery, my family and I were more tense than we ever have been before and things were more stressful than the first time around. Once again, however, my brother had a successful surgery. From there, he could finally start his healing process. Over the years he has continued to improve and his heart condition is luckily no longer an issue.
When my brother was five years old,
He was diagnosed with a heart murmur,
The beat was off
The years went by,
The murmur had not gone away,
The doctor said he needed to have surgery
I was 12 at the time,
I knew I had to be strong,
Not just for my brother
But for my parents
It was a matter of counting down the days,
Everyone becoming more and more tense,
Waiting on this impending deadline
Then the surgery day finally came,
Everything went smoothly,
We were relieved
Seeing his scar for the first time,
A moment that would forever stick with us all,
A sight that would forever be engraved in my brain
10 days go by,
His appearance had drastically changed,
He was pale,
No color to his lips
After some debating,
We decided to go to the doctor,
Thankfully we did
He was going into congestive heart failure,
He was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery,
We had no time to stress,
We had to be strong for my brother
More tense than ever before
But my brother’s surgery was successful,
He could finally start his healing process
Julian Marquez
Cold Hands
I was about 8 years old.
Took a trip to flagstaff,
we're all playing with the snow.
Had trouble gathering ice,
decided to take off my gloves,
to try to gather the snow easier,
I was 8 years old.
Continued to play in the snow,
started to lose feeling in both of my hands.
It became very painful.
went to my parents to tell them,
most likely had frostbite on both of my hands,
possibility of amputation.
Went to the car to turn up the heat.
Tried to warm my hands up.
Had never felt more scared in my life,
mere minutes feeling like an eternity.
Began gaining feeling in my hands,
feeling more relieved than I have ever felt.
Julian’s Story
When I was about 8 years old, my family and I took a trip to Flagstaff, and it's always snowing there all the time. So, we all went there and we're all playing with the snow. I had trouble gathering ice for snowballs. Because I was 8 years old and didn't know any better, I decided to take off my gloves that I was wearing to try to gather the snow easier, and we continued to play in the snow. I started to lose feeling in both of my hands. I tried to keep playing aside from that. Eventually, it became very painful. I went to my parents to tell them. They began to tell me that I most likely have Frost bite on both of my hands. They were very upset at the possibility that I'd have my hands amputated. My family members were scared and worried. We immediately went to the car to turn up the heat to the highest level. Tried to warm my hands up to see if they would heal a bit. While I was sitting there, I was thinking of everything they said. I have never felt more scared in my life up until that point, thinking about the possibility of my hands getting amputated and what my life would be like if that happened. After feeling that way for about 10 minutes, miraculously, I began gaining feeling in my hands. I then went feeling more relieved than I have ever felt in my life.happened. After feeling that way for about 10 minutes, miraculously, I began gaining feeling in my hands. I then went feeling more relieved than I have ever felt in my life.
Kai Noa May
I Never Went Back
At the beach
a day a little bit bigger.
We went in
staring at the rocks.
On the body board that would almost killed me the size started to pick up.
I wanted to go to shore but couldn’t.
I was stuck
I paddled
In hopes to get around.
Worst case
pushed towards the rocks.
Board lost, quickly found by my head. Couldn’t see.
If I didn’t get out then I never would. Stumbling up the water's edge.
I never went back
gave up something I love
I had a concussion.
Kai Noa’s Story
I’ll tell you a story about the closest I’ve ever been to drowning. I was at a beach that we would normally always body surf at. We went out on a day that was a little bit bigger because of a storm. It was breaking really far out to the left, which happened to be in front of a ton of rocks, but we still went out. I took a body board but that’s what caused me to almost drown. It started to pick up and get bigger than I was comfortable with. There was one set in particular where the waves were just back to back. I got fully uncomfortable, so I decided I wanted to go in but I wasn’t able to just let it push me in as we were in front of sharp lava rocks. I paddled all the way to the right as I could in hopes that I could just let the waves push me in in the worst case. While I was getting pushed in, I had to bail my board on one wave so that it didn’t slam me. But my board shot through the back of the wave and right back into me and hit me directly in the temple. I couldn’t see straight and I knew that if I didn’t get out then I never would. I stumbled up the beach and found it easier to cover one eye and it let me see better, and I managed to make it to our pile of clothes with our phones and everything and I called my mom who left work and drove down. My buddies saw me going up to the edge, so they all came in because they were concerned. Ever since then, I never went back to that beach to bodyboard. I only went with my friends when we were just hanging out. It scared me enough to give up something that I love. My mom drove me to the hospital and we went to the emergency room because I had a concussion.
Tristan Monday
New/Old Home
Finally coming home
Leaving the icy planes of Wisconsin
Feels weird to say goodbye
Only being able to reach old friends by phone
Going to ASU was the right decision
Landing and taking a heavy sigh
At home feeling in the zone
New team but same game I would be playin
Being happier, healthier, and feeling like I could fly
Tristan’s Story
It was the last day before I came home. I made the decision to leave the University of Wisconsin. A while ago. It felt weird saying goodbye to the people I spent so much time with. But I knew at the end of the day that it was the best decision. When I got on the plane I got one last look at the beautiful city of Madison Wisconsin. That some good things come to an end. When I landed I was greeted by the loving arms of my parents and some of my friends. if felt weird to know that I would be home for the rest of my time in college, before college I had no idea what I would be doing. I got about a week off before I had to return to playing football. But when I came back, it was like coming into a whole new environment even though I grew up here my whole life. With that said it was pretty easy to fit in and to make new friends in this new/old place. And then it was 2 weeks away from spring ball. (Why did you choose to go to school in wisconsin?) I wanted to be away from home and experience colder weather. (why did you chose to leave wisconsin) I wasn't happy up there, it was freezing cold, i didn't have any people who were close to me, if i came back it was a way to settle back in.
Leah Murreita
My Life, A Flower
I see a carved path
what I want my life to be
Always finding adventure at the end of the day.
Growth in myself,
Manifesting my deepest desires.
living fearlessly,
In case I am not here tomorrow.
Everything takes time,
Dedication
Receiving good wishes and blessings.
This chapter of my life
defined by love.
Self love ,
Friendship love,
Romantic love
Everything takes time,
Dedication,
Patience,
Feeling valued and cared for
Makes my life sweeter
I appreciate the relationships surrounding me
I take care of them
Grow with them,
Like a flower.
Everything takes time,
Dedication,
Patience,
And some watering.
Grace Puggie
Home is not My House
It felt like I had nothing.
a roof over my head
could barely afford it
It was under my name and
my name alone
Felt like a burden
Boxes have settled
Walls are plain
It wasn’t home at all
I wasn’t happy there
There is a place called home
It is him
The foundation is strong
It feels safe and warm
But I couldn’t stay there
Grace’s Story
It felt like I had nothing. No material objects, no money, and no ambition. At least I had a roof over my head, even though I could barely afford it. I had an empty apartment with less than a handful of loose boxes. The apartment was under my name and my name alone. This is what I wanted, to have a space that I can call my own. It felt like a burden more than anything, it was empty after all. I couldn’t make it on my own if I didn’t have any stuff too. I didn’t want to bring people inside, it was always a mess. Months after I moved in, the packing boxes have settled with dust acting as a dining room table. The walls are plain and it just feels like a place I pay rent at. It wasn’t home at all. I had to work myself to the home to keep my shelter, despite hating it. I wasn’t happy there.
I did have a home but I couldn’t live there. We were only a couple months into the relationship but I knew from the start that it was strong. He was home though. It’s where I felt safe and warm but I couldn’t stay there, not yet. I am bound by a lease. I wish I could just drop all obligations and be a stay at home wife already. That is not what I want either, I want to be able to make both of us proud, doing something I enjoy while he prospers in his career. To see someone so passionate makes me want to work harder. It makes me want to work harder for him. Despite that being a “childish” notion since both of us are still just kids in love. That’s where we prosper, in our love. Despite all the odds of coming together, we defied them. We found passion, happiness, and warmth.
I don’t live with you. Not yet at least. In the place where I found myself so unhappy, I found the greatest treasure of all time. I am no longer alone. I have something to strive and hope for other than me.
Not yet
I am bound by a lease
Both of us
Still just kids in love
That’s where we prosper
We defied them
And found passion,
Happiness,
And warmth
a great treasure
To no longer be alone
To strive and hope for
I don’t live with you ,
Not yet at least
Egla Rios
Untitled (Experience Living Alone)
Experience living alone
Packing my stuff
Back on the weekends
Technically my new home
30 minutes from Glendale
Waved bye to my parents
Closed the door.
And then it was just silent..
Being away from home
Distracting myself with music
So it wouldn’t get so quiet.
Eerie
Lonely and different
Different isn't always bad
It's to grow my independence.
I have to live
Own up to whatever I do
Being away from familiarity
It’s a whole new world
I don’t regret it all
I don't mind being alone anymore.
Egla’s Story
I’m going to talk about my experience living alone. Packing my stuff from my house was my first struggle because it was finding out what I wanted to take to the dorms because my parents wanted me back on the weekends. This was technically going to be my new home.We had to pack everything into the car and drive 30 minutes to the dorms cause I live in Glendale. The way I dealt with being away from home and my big family was distracting myself with videos and music to have noise so it wouldn’t get so quiet.My mom and dad helped me unpack everything and they said their goodbyes to me. I think the biggest moment was when i waved bye to my parents and closed the door. And then it was just silent.. It was so eerie being so quiet. It just felt lonely and different. Different isn't always bad if it's new. I'm so used to fighting and messing around with my siblings, making fun of them, bothering them. Living in a dorm helped grow my independence. Eventually I got really close to my roommates and we hung out around the vista del sol area or we would go to the dining hall. Eventually it became less of a sense of being lonely and more that I have to live and survive. Its a little dramatic, but it's how it felt. I also had to learn how to order my own food and just own up to whatever you are doing outside because I have 5 other siblings and they would always do these things for me while I was younger. I guess being away from your family feels like a whole new world. I regret doing it because it cost so much but I also don’t regret it because of the experience. I don't mind being alone anymore.
Mila Rivera
A Small Tragedy
I cut my hand with a knife.
really scared
bleeding for 30 minutes.
I was trying to put the knife in the knife holder
then it just cut into my hand.
I was putting the blade cover on
joking around about cutting my finger off
Then, I cut my hand.
I doused it with hydrogen peroxide,
I thought I was going to have to get stitches.
I called my mom
She said it should be fine.
Blood doesn't really annoy me
but the sound,
of the blade cutting into my skin.
It sounded like a really bad paper cut
after that experience
I'm scared to use a big knife
It was a 12-inch knife
Brand new so it was really sharp
it was a clean cut
My body just started healing it up
right when i put pressure on it
Right away.
MIla’s Story
The other day I cut my hand with a knife. I was really scared because the cut kept bleeding for like 30 minutes, but then it stopped. I was trying to put the knife in the knife holder and there was a slit in the knife holder and I was grabbing the knife holder and then it just cut into my hand. I was joking around about cutting my finger off and then I cut my hand. I was cooking breakfast burritos before this happened. Immediately, I doused the cut with hydrogen peroxide and I thought I was going to have to get stitches. But then, I called my mom and she said it should be fine. Blood doesn't really annoy me, but the sound of the blade cutting into my skin really got me good. It sounded like a really bad paper cut and it felt like a really bad paper cut. I really like cooking, but after that experience, I'm a bit scared to use a big knife. It was like a 12-inch knife and it was brand new so it was really sharp, but that helped the healing process. It is actually healing up pretty nicely since the blade was really sharp. It was a clean cut and my body just started healing it up right away when I put pressure on it.
Giselle Marquez Sandoval
Marlon was born
A bundle of joy,
My little gerber baby.
My child, who isn’t my child.
Lot of rolls, a big smile, Cheerful
Even though he's months old Scandalous and full of life.
Light brown hair and
Cute little feet.
A bundle of joy,
My little gerber baby.
My child, who isn’t my child.
Sense of love and joy
It's an unexplainable feeling Rush of excitement
Que barbaro,
Que hermoso ese niño.
A bundle of joy,
My little gerber baby.
My child, who isn’t my child.
Kids are always a blessing
Never experienced it till him
He brings us, all of us, together
Helps me to be grateful for the people that I have close.
Colin Thompson
Untitled (I lost the spelling bee)
I lost the spelling bee
I lost to someone I didn’t like I had failed
This never happens
My parents didn’t come
I was not embarrassed
I was frustrated
I considered revenge
This is not like me
I have to contain this rage
So I did not choose violence
In the end, I chose peace
Bach Tran
Untitled (Seven Years Old)
“seven years old,
dog named Bo
hang out with the dog
running around
stepped on the tail.
bit on my calf
burst into tears
took me to the hospital.
stopped the bleeding
rabies shots
infection vaccines.
terrified of aggressive dogs
growing up
dealing with my problem
fear started to fade away.”
Bach’s Story
When I was seven years old, we had a dog named Bo. We got it from one of our friends that really close to us. They gave the dog to us as a gift, i was really excited and spent a lot of time hang out with the dog but one day when my parents were off for works so my grandparents were taking care of me for a day, i was running around play with the dog, then I stepped on the dog’s tail. And as a defense mechanism, the dog bit on my calf, and it was bleeding a lot, I burst into tears and screamed and I was running around and yelling at my parents to come to help me. They cleaned, picked me up and picked me to the bathroom, started cleaning and washing the wound with water to prevent it getting infections. They put some bandages on it just to stop it from bleeding then took me to the hospital. When I came to the hospital, they stopped the bleeding and gave me some rabies shots or some vaccine shots and infection vaccines. I was terrified of aggressive dogs since that days, but as I was growing up I start to understanding more about how to dealing with the problem and the fear started to fade away.
Brandon Tubman
Untitled(Was in an Orchestra)
Was in an orchestra
They had a solo available
Had to audition for it
It was between me and the concertmaster
Was the section leader for the second violins
Me and the concertmaster played one after another
The same solo in front of the whole orchestra
Then we had to step out to let them deliberate on the matter I
felt very nervous and stressed
I felt a lot of tension in my body
I had won
Tend to be critical about myself
Never done anything like this before
When it came time to play, I sort of blanked out
Felt happy that I finished what I needed to do