This piece was selected as an Honorable Mention in the First Chapters Contest, hosted in partnership with Penguin Random House and Electric Lit
Story
Sierra J. Williams
(she/her) Mentee
Sierra J. Williams is a 12th grade student in Staten Island. She developed an interest in poetry and writing from a young age as an extension of her curiosity and artistic expression. Raised in a multicultural environment, she developed an empathetic, open-minded, and globally conscious lens on life. This contributed to her poetic perspective, which values the beauty in everything and everyone. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, she spends her time studying anything that intrigues her, dabbling in the arts, poetry, philosophy, and many languages. She hopes to attend a great college, and study the humanities, anthropology, and linguistics.
Favorite Authors & Artists
Virginia Woolf, Frieda Kahlo, Toni Morrison, S.E. Hinton
Artist‘s Statement
I learned from creating this collection that poems don’t have to be lengthy and verbose to leave their mark; they can be concise and short while still leaving the reader with something to remember, concepts to ponder, and things to feel. I had so much fun and truly learned to edit, self-reflect, and write with intent with the creation of this collection. I hope to continue learning how to blend photography and poetry.
Story
The Poems of Sierra J. Williams
With the help of my mentor, Caitlin Chase, I was able to create a website using Cargo.com that would be both a portfolio of my favorite self-written poems and an outlet for creative expression.