What was the worst year of your life? The right answer is 13. Here’s why.
13 Ways of Looking at 13
Memoir & Personal Essay
Protesting For Change
How have protests and movements evolved and stayed the same over decades? We discuss our experiences at a women’s march and climate strike and how generations are connected in fighting for social justice.
The Power that Lies in Femininity
What does it take to be a girl? What does it mean to be unequivocally feminine?
passed down
Sammi and I both lost our fathers at a young age and writing this poem together has been a way for us to both process our losses and better understand ourselves.
In the Morning
I start with the littlest things. The ones that take no effort. The ones that remind me that I am capable of doing the others.
Not So Sweet 16
Our birthdays are one day apart. Last year, we celebrated by seeing a movie together—right before COVID-19 hit. Our 16th years were shaped by two events that changed the world, and our lives, forever.
America and Its Glory
This piece is about America and how it’s affected my family and others. It may come off strong, but don’t panic, it’s just my thoughts. Thank you.
The Monsters in Our Midst
Since 2020, Asian Americans have faced two, intertwining monsters: the COVID-19 pandemic and racism.
Your(s), friend
In this fictionalized letter to a lost friend, the author reflects on what happened to one middle school friendship. By exploring her memories, she realizes that not all relationships are forever.
Floating
Floating is a piece about how my perceptions of strength changed throughout my life, and how I’ve found my own strength through “floating.”
Sonder
(noun) the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own
Stolen to be Given
Stolen to be Given is a piece connecting my name and religion. Two things that were chosen for me and their role in shaping my identity.
On Poetry
This is a vignette-style epistolary piece that relies on several different narratives to reflect on what it means to be a poet.
The Places I Call Home
I put together this collection of photos as a tribute to the places that are part of my life and feel like home. For me, home is both places and emotions. That is why I included photos of the physical places and descriptions of my memories there. Since moving from Peru to the US two years ago, I’ve been reflecting on my sense of identity and what home means to me. I know that many people who immigrate feel this way. This piece sends the message that it’s okay if you feel like you come from more than one place or have more than one home.
interludes
This piece is inspired by my love for dance and my team. It is a reflection on the moments from dance I find myself thinking about and the reasons for my passion for it.