This is a vignette-style epistolary piece that relies on several different narratives to reflect on what it means to be a poet.
Informative
Not Up 2 Code (We’re Baaaack!)
“Not Up 2 Code” is a podcast about the struggle of public school students, created by students. Most of the podcasts that are similar to this one are from the perspective of teachers, but I’ve realized that they exclude student voices. I wanted to start the podcast after I was outed at school. It was violent and unwanted, and to make matters worse, the person who orchestrated the event never faced repercussions The podcast is run by two women of color, both part of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s meant to expose the disparity in New York City’s education system.
Running Different
Caster Semenya is a South African runner who has been banned by the IAAF from competing with women because she was found to be hyperandrogenic, meaning she has a higher level of testosterone. This whole investigation was based on the opinion of fellow athletes that she looks like a man. As a result, she must either take testosterone decreasing drugs to compete with women or run with men. As of now, Semenya is still fighting the case, not just for herself but for the human rights of all women.
Making our Mark
My piece is on women and the word “history,” so I decided to put those words together. The idea that inspired both my poster and the short story is really the idea of woman power. The story isn’t about a woman herself being powerful, but more about women being able to write a story because women today are still discriminated against across industries, whether we recognize it or not. The poster symbolizes sisterhood, women from different backgrounds coming together, and the idea that we are all stronger together.
Everything You Need to Know About Sheyla
My multimedia piece is a slideshow on Canva called “Everything You Need to Know About Sheyla.” This was my first time working on a digital piece. I wanted the Girls Write Now community to have a guide of everything they need to know about what makes me who I am.
Picture Perfect: Influencers
Likes, followers, ratios, filters. On “Picture Perfect,” we take a look at different #contentculture topics to explore how social media affects adolescents’ self-esteem and self-worth and talk about what we all can do to be perfectly imperfect because no one is flawless.
Not So Fast, Fashion
Fast fashion has become a staple of the fashion industry, but at a closer glance, the eye-catching, low costs seem to bear a greater price.
Scars
Acne is not permanent; it will go away eventually. But there are also scars that can’t go away—they stay with you forever. In my piece, I decided to elaborate on this concept by explaining that not all scars can disappear, but we have the opportunity to embrace them, love ourselves for who we are as human beings, and not let society dictate our beauty.
Prison Through the Eyes of a Former Inmate
A look at the U.S. prison system through the eyes of someone who has lived through it.
COVID Rewind: Thoughts & Reflections
A look into 2020 through the diverse eyes of interviewees from New York City. These interviewees describe their thoughts and experiences living through the pandemic.
Back From Aruba
“Back From Aruba” is about how I began to encounter parts of being a teenager on this trip I took with my nephews Andrew and Jack.
‘ALL LIVES MATTER’
“All Lives Matter” is a collaborative protest poem that takes both formal poetic writing techniques and a sample of an informative article to express the detriment of using the phrase, “all lives matter.”
What Does it Mean that TikTok Users Are Getting Their News From the Platform?
Social media is revolutionizing the way we receive information, from beauty hacks to geopolitical conflict. Why misinformation can spread this way—and how to minimize consuming it in your own reading.
The Dream Industry
On Dream Jobs, we finally got the chance to interview a few employees from The Dream Industry and the owner of the company himself! They had no idea this was part of a larger series!
5 Ways to Celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year From Home
With the impact of COVID-19, events have continued to move from large, in-person celebrations to virtual gatherings, including the 16-day Lunar New Year.