Growing up surrounded by women of color, I always felt isolated by the fact that my body was different from those of the beautiful women around me. This poem was my moment of solidarity; my body is no one’s but my own and I don’t need anyone else’s approval.
Class of 2017
She’s a 7.8
They were silent. I felt strong.
By Grace, through love
You are the outer Grace; I am the inner.
When Life Gives You Half a Lemon
It’s gotta be that a little bit of my actions and a little bit of fate’s help just worked in my favor. And that’s what terrifies me.
Angry
You label me angry because of my nappy hair and oppressed because I choose to cover it…
Day One
Katerina was alone, but it hadn’t always been like this.
Cliche Teen Crisis
Excuse me?” She looks up from her phone, a deer in headlights. “I think you dropped this…”
Better
You deserve so much better than your fears.
Girls
My mother is soft like dandelions and freshly washed sheets.
En Su Espejo
Adulthood begins when you are able to look beyond the person you see in the mirror.
Abandoned by Faith
As I began to mature in my teenage years, my faith wavered.
Why Obsessions Matter
I chose to write about how my obsession with comics books, which seemed the opposite of my personality, has allowed me to grow into who I am, both as a writer and as a person.
Warm Milk
I knew that it wasn’t a good reality. I knew it the first time it happened, and the second time, and the third time.
Hey, It’s Me
This piece was inspired by my desire to be upfront about who I am as a person, and grow from the experiences that shaped me.
Chink in the Armor
my father always asks me: who are you?