When you put others before yourself, your oxygen masks will be lost. You cannot feign your own happiness, therefore you need to learn how to love yourself.
Class of 2021
I am from change
The idea to write ”I am from change” appeared in one of the first Girls Write Now workshops I participated in. I wrote a few lines then and decided with my mentor to continue to work on it.
The Bus Stop
Two girls sit at a bus stop, each wondering if the other feels the same way she does. Wondering if she could be brave enough to find out.
Between the World and Me’ & James Baldwin
This piece was inspired by one of my favorite books, Between the World and Me. Everyone should read this book and these writers.
Tar
A poem on the often cruel and uncaring nature of the passage of time during the pandemic.
Pozole
A heartwarming moment between a mother and daughter. Cooking pozole, a Mexican meal, and learning about their roots.
What I Wish You Knew
In this personal essay, I reveal the difficulty I undergo when opening up to someone but also emphasize the hopeful outlook I have in my journey of growth.
To the Grave
People tell me I can’t bring my objects to the grave with me. I wanted to play around with this idea of permanence in my piece. This flash fiction explores what happens when we can.
molasses to drown in
This is an excerpt from a novel I’ve been working on called To The Grave. It follows Isolde, a woman haunted by the ghost of the boy she killed, and Helena, the silent observer.
Translating
I have experienced translation as a fundamental phenomenon in my communication. I feel colonization living in my words.
The March of Yellow Butterflies
Two women talk as the world comes to an end.
Haiku Series for Erik and Lloyd Ocean
This piece is inspired by Erik Simpanen and Lloyd Mullings, both of whom I read about in The New York Times. They were married in September 2020 and changed their last names to Ocean.
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Anna experienced a total eclipse of the heart. She had fallen for Joshua and almost lost herself in the process. This new obsession led her to compare herself to other girls on social media.
Bruised Pork
Emilee finally returns home to Chinatown after a long semester, welcomed by her family members who have been preparing for their restaurant’s opening. But before she even sets foot in their door, an unexpected trip happens.
Field of Memories
This poem captures the essence of childhood nostalgia, contrasted with older adolescence. It is a realization that our innocence has turned into something darker.