MYV is a platform for students to say what they want to say about topics they care about. We are inspired by the quote, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter" In a year where our lives have been turned upside down, we couldn't think of a more appropriate time to hand our students the mic!
STUDENT WORKS
Trey Cox
I chose to design a poster centered around the George W. Bush presidency and the foreign affairs of the middle east from 2000 to 2008. My main focus was on the order from Bush to infiltrate Iraq and capture Saddam Hussain, ultimately leading to his death. After 9/11, America was up in arms trying to get back at Osama Bin Laden. This period in America created a mass stigma across the country against the entire Middle East. The Bush administration fueled this fire by directing his attention towards Iraq as our next target. My main message is that although Sadam Hussain was an awful person, murdering him only caused more destruction than Bush claimed Iraq was doing and sent their country into spiraling disarray leading to the creation and flourishing of radical terrorist groups like Isis. I chose this message because a lot of the country doesn’t realize where this war on terror got out of hand. Some people still think George Bush was a good president when he was one of the worst. This matters because it is our country that is paying the price for his misinformation and leadership. The audience is more for adults because people my age are too young to remember this, so a lot of them fail to understand. I feel that if Al Gore won in the year 2000 election as he should have, not only America but the world would be a completely different place. Who knows if 9/11 would have ever happened; who knows if we would be in what has now become the longest war America has ever seen. I started designing my poster by thinking of everything that might relate to the topic and come up with a story of images. I just kept adding things and coming up with ideas as I went along. The big face is a morphed image of George Bush looking crazy and old. The tombstones are supposed to represent the national cemetery explaining the thousands of deaths not only of Iraqis but of thousands of American soldiers due to the war that has been raging since Hussain’s death. The Isis flag is on the top right corner in contrast with the American flag on the left. There is a US cargo truck giving away guns, money, and bombs to middle east regimes, fueling the already growing turf war between the different radical groups. There is an image of Iraq getting blown up due to American forces killing civilians along with soldiers. I put text at the bottom with the words “Mass Destruction” in quotes, making fun of when George Bush said that Hussein was creating weapons of mass destruction. Everything in the image is supposed to represent the true Mass Destruction being created by America and not Iraq. I faded Bush’s face in the background making it look like he was the hidden mastermind behind the whole operation.
Jemma Hayes
All alone Traumatized What lay in front of my eyes
Brynn van Essendelft
We are all strong. America and the entire world included has gone through hell and back for almost the entirety if 2020. Through an uncontrolled global pandemic, a presidential election, wildfires, racial injustice, and missed opportunities we are all still Americans. It is evident that there is a separation in our country. We have not united as one anymore. There are too many splits and fights especially around our current political climate. The truth is, we have gone through the tragedy that is COVID-19. We have lost hundreds of thousands of brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. We all deserve a pat on the back and some extra time to just slow down and appreciate the trauma we have experienced. Usually, after a trauma, we unite as a nation. Just as on 9/11 we put politics, and beliefs aside and mended our wounds together. We need to do the same right now with this pandemic. Realize that your neighbor is not the enemy. We need to restore the peace in our nation with the simple act of having each other’s backs. Turn to your neighbor and ask them if they are alright today. Not just “how’s your day going?” really ask them if they are alright. We need to treat one another with kindness and respect no matter their race, religion, sexuality, or identity. The truth is America has not been great. There is no way to “Keep America Great” unless we change. Start with an act of kindness with no motive but to make another person’s day easier. This is how we as Americans achieve peace and civil harmony.
Molly Lavin
The main message of this poster is that people should not be scared or intimidated by the label “feminist.” Only 61% of Americans see themselves as a feminist, and I feel that everyone should support feminism. The feminism movement is commonly associated with being anti-men, and I want people to understand that this is an absolutely false stigma. Feminism is the belief that men and women should have social, economic, and political equality. My intended audience is specifically those that don’t consider themselves a feminist. I chose this message because I believe very strongly in feminism, and I wanted to make people ask themselves why they don’t call themselves a feminist. I want to make people see past the word’s negative connotation and understand the true meaning. The first step to creating this poster was deciding my topic of feminism, then brainstorming many different phrases and imagery associated with it. Next, I made about 10 mini thumbnails of possible poster designs. I narrowed it down to a couple of different designs to enlarge, then finally chose the design that my final poster is based off of. I then created the final poster on photoshop. The large symbol in my poster is used as a symbol of the female gender, and it is also often used to represent feminism. I researched colors commonly used in feminist imagery, and I noticed that pinks and navy blues were a recurring theme. I chose a very bold font for the navy blue text in the forefront; I wanted the dark color to contrast the pinks in the rest of the poster. I decided on a fun, less intense font for the text in the background to break up the intensity of the other text as well as the large symbol.
Devinne Wilson
What is a country that isn’t together? A divided nation that isn't a country. It’s just a lot of people living together trying not to kill each other. We need to do better, we can never get anything done because of our differences, but the funny part about it is that we all preach that all men are equal in this world. Is that true? We need to become united, so we can have peace in the country the same way we want world peace. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr “And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning: My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, From every mountainside, let freedom ring! And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true”. 2020 has been the year that this nation has truly shown the world and each other that we want change. If we all come together and continue to show support to each other we will be able to accomplish or gain more support. Eventually, our nation will become better and stronger because we are united as one. That will be the America all race and gender will be proud to be a part of. Starting with one person asking for change can cause a revolution that could change the world for the better. We should remember that it takes one person to change the world.
Who am I? I guess I have heard that my whole life I’m just a black girl growing up in a country run by white Lacking understanding why hatred is so powerful The fear of never being equal Equality...All I see is something I have to fight ten times harder for The younger I was the less I understood The older I get the more I lose faith When will it end? Or will it ever? Everyone says they want change But that’s only when they're around us It’s the two faced people I’ll never understand honesty goes a long way All I got to say is stay true You’ll never see me standing for something I don’t believe in Is it worth it ? That’s the only way I think change will come I guess Michael Jackson was right when he said “They don’t really care about us” The creation of laws should help but all I see is the struggle it creates All we need is one person to change One day at a time One man can change the world!! Faith I’ll never have I gotta take what I want from this world Beat me, Hate me, but you’ll never break me.
Brynn Dobbs
Martin Luther King once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” The year 2020 has really tested these compelling words as we have been a part of a country that has experienced a number of injustices in just one year. We have stood back and watched while a black man’s life was deliberately taken at the hands of cops, the ones who are supposed to protect all citizens. We have seen continuing discrimination that not only occurs among racial groups but also to people with disabilities because we underestimate their abilities. We stand back and listen to microaggressions that have more power and do more harm than we realize. We do not educate ourselves and others enough on current topics but also past history so that we may better understand what is going on in the world. Being educated is important to understanding why so many people fight for what they do and have such strong passions toward political topics. We do not listen to one another to learn the source of our disagreements but rather cut one another down for having a differing opinion. In order to know the definition of civil harmony, we must first know what it means to be civil. To be civil means to be courteous and polite and harmony means to be in agreement or concord. Therefore, civil harmony means to be respectful and be in concord with one another. This does not mean that you have to agree with the other person’s opinions or beliefs but you must respect them as well as the fact that they have a different stance than you. Civil harmony could be the resolution to much of this unrest that occurs in our country as a result of unrelenting hate towards a group of people. It could also help people to understand each other better, “We must learn to live together as brothers or we will perish together as fools.”- MLK.
Rees Hart
2020 truly has been a test for our world. I find us feeling far apart. Our country of brotherhood and community support has faded. We are unable to express our love and emotion as easily. The pandemic has made us isolated. The connections that we rely on are seen less and less. Throughout the years, including 2020, we have seen many lives lost unjustly. Breonna Taylor George Floyd Eric Garner Tamir Rice And thousands of others are victims of police brutality and racism. The beautiful souls ignited a fire in the country. The black lives matter movement grew. Despite the stay at home orders, people peacefully took to the streets to stand up for these lost lives. I am hopeful that we will continue to fight and stand up for each other. Especially moving into this new presidential term. Especially because we need to. Especially because we must.
2020 was the year for pain, 2020 was the year for tensions in law enforcement 2020 was the year for chaos in the streets 2020 was the year for sadness 2020 was the year for discomfort But maybe... 2020 was the year for learning. 2020 was the year for new perspectives 2020 was the year for a blessing in disguise 2020 was the year for an awakening from ignorance And so... 2021 will be the year to reach out 2021 will be the year for hope 2021 will be the year for GROWTH
Alexis Culver
The poster is communicating how terrible animal cruelty is; the main message is that aniaml cruelty needs to come to an end because it is a truly awful thing. I choose this message because it means a lot to me because I love all animals. This matters because animals should not be treated this way; there is no reason an animal should be beat or starved or used for animal testing. I believe this topic is in a lot of people's minds and I think this appeals to all ages. This topic makes me feel sick to my stomach to think about because the animals get starved and left outside with nothing. I believe that we need to find a way to try and make leaving animals with nothing harder. People need to be able to drop the dogs off if they really believe they cannot take care of them but they need to feel safe to do so. Maybe some people are embarrassed that they let it get as bad as it did but that is still no excuse for the treatment these animals receive. I have never personally experienced what the animal looks like in front of you but I have seen tv shows that are dedicated to saving dogs and it is crazy how drastic the change is. I mean on average there are 6,000 cases of animal abuse cases that get documented every year. I came up with the design by looking at all different types of posters and I eventually decided on a dog as the animal on the poster because it is a very known and well liked animal. I created a web of ideas that I could base my design off of, then I started drawing mockups of it to see how different things would look. Finally, I took it to Photoshop where I added the animal, the text and the colors. This inspiration came from a lot of different posters that I looked at and I wanted to try and add some of my own ideas and be creative with it. I chose to put a paw print in the word top on my poster because I felt that it meant more than just having the words their. I chose the color pink as the background because it is a very uplifting color and yes this is a serious message but I did not want it to be too heavy. I chose to make the dog black because I was trying to make it look like a black lab which is a very friendly dog and labs are loved by most. The font I chose stood out to me as a font that would get the point across as it's not too funky where people would get distracted by the font.
Justin Sneed
It feels as time passes us by we only fall further As a species we evolve and progress As a union we divide and detach The human drive to a larger existence minimizes our very own Why live here and now when you can be elsewhere, in the future? The pursuit of material hollows its followers And in an age so brazen, youthful, and vast It’s easy to feel small under the tall trees But it’s harder to forget the value of our life, in such a unique world To have faith in your mind that elevates and inspires you An unflinching determination to lead one's life and path without regrets I find it constructive to rest and drift off Fulfill my perspective void of mortal worries And remember the thing that keeps me moving This is my only shot
Jasmine Silva
Determined, motivated, and disciplined are all things I am These help me reach my goals, or study for the next exam I am honest, caring, and a problem solver I’ll do whatever I have to do to be a great scholar Thank you America for giving me these chances To live in a society where anyone can make advances But why is there lying, scams, and faking It seems like our federal government might need some saving Put the American people first and always tell the truth Don’t unnecessarily kill people or terrorize the country’s youth Floyd was a criminal and a deplorable person But kneeling on his neck just made the situation worsen Breonna’s killing was simply in self defense But more than one or two shots was shooting with intent So thank you America for all you do for us But there are still issues and things to be discussed
Emily Fratus
Who am I really? (a poem based on dissociation)
The art kid, the smart one, the class clown Wherever you go they will always have a label for you They say “don't let others tell you who you are” Yet they put you in circles and groups from day one
Follow your dreams, but not the ones you actually want Hang out with friends, but not the people you like Get a hobby, but that one won't get you anywhere in life
Am I really me Or just a product of what they want of me Do I make my own decisions Or is it all based on their opinions
I don't wanna get older But I don't want to be controlled I want to be myself And someone I can trust
Cause right now I'm just a brain Living in a body That I don't recognize in the mirror
Kate Gabri
Outside in the Community It's the year 2020 And there is a lot of hate Outside in the community There is a big debate About all the things that have happened About the things we can’t take back Outside in the community The people are split half and half
Guns are blaring Buildings are burning Innocent people are dying And cities are in chaos I hate to see it happening It truly breaks my heart The horrible things happening Are tearing us all apart I wish things were different We have to change our ways Unless we want our community To live in hate and rage
Michelle Generazzo
Peace is more More than tolerance More than acceptance Liberty and justice for all Yet my brothers and sisters crawl This system is deemed perfect But watch how it falls How did society change all of a sudden? Seems to me it was just a push of a button The amount of violence is absurd All we want is our voices heard Imagine watching your child get beat Head pressed on concrete Dragged by their feet Screaming in defeat Breonna Taylor was sleeping in the comfort of her home I didn't know sleeping was a crime on its own I can't breathe These words are still in my head He’s innocent but dead No fault, no crime He's dead because he had a darker color skin than mine
Lexi Hyora
I want a world where my kids can see snow fall Mother Earth is dying and we are not doing enough to help her Greed weighs too heavily on her shoulders The atmosphere is clouded with hatred--she says “I can’t breathe” She is depending on us, and we crush her with careless ignorance We back into crumbling dark corners and the light slips through the cracks I am grateful for our given lives, but future generations deserve better Everyday has a new beginning but change is still not present What will it take for the world to realize one day you could wake up and the beauty is all gone? The stars will not shine, oceans will not gleam, And there will be no snow on Christmas morning.
Jaylen Johnson
The boy once thought that the world was a safe place That's why he would always have a smile on his face. He thought this place was a happy little town Until his world came crashing down. The reality is that we live in a cruel world Even worse than dropping your ice cream swirl. They say “All men were created equal”, But how come I don’t see it for other people. Is peace possible, who knows Let’s just see how the world goes. What is right from wrong, Could the answer be in the form of a song? Why do we kill each other as a favor, Guess it’s because of human nature.
Cara Jolibois
Things were simpler in the morning. When the sun was low and the day was young, The weight of the world was light, As if Spring had sprung.
Ah - to be in the early morning again, When there were no worries of thunder And we could enjoy the fleeting moments. There was nothing to distract us From the wilderness around us.
By now we’re nearing nighttime, And the clouds are casting over. But nighttime always fades to day, At least that’s what I hear them say.
I often wonder how we’ll cope, When the clock strikes midnight, And our time runs out, And the sun sets.
Olivia Appleton
Exposed “You look Native American.” I watch my mom from the kitchen table Making her homemade curry, The sweet scent warming me
“Your skin color is beautiful.” I read another name on the list, A list too long as protests arise Another life is lost because of the police.
“Can you say the n-word?” I watch and keep quiet While the ninety-five pound white boys Scream it like a battle cry
“You would have been a slave back then.” I walk with pride, holding my sign over my head As hundreds walk with me No justice, no peace
Anonymous
They call me Michelle Flow so hard cause I rhyme so well And I dance like a pro they should give me a nobel I got high expectations but who am I to tell I'm a real good person, people tell me I’m swell I’m a real good student but I can't really spell
It’s Michelle, you know me I got big drip eyebrows always on fleek I work really hard I be stacking the green But I got strong opinions on the world around me So if you’re ready lets get into it 1-2-3
Swear if I could change the world, I’d only need 30 days Kids are crying, people dying, everyone is in vain Make me president lets see if I could erase the world's pain No one else wants to fix it so who’s really to blame?
Charlotte Blute
The birds’ songs are getting quieter And the fishes' dances are getting slower The polar bear’s eyes are icier now than his home And the monarch butterflies are lost flying all alone
But what can I do?
I look at the stars shining in the sky And the sun through the clouds, trying to pry The wind still feels cool at the back of my neck But the tides are now off- oh what a wreck!
I cry to the sea, Oh what can I do!
I pick up my reusable bottle and trash on the beach And think to myself- oh there’s so much to teach! I flick off the lights and put away my leftovers, And walk over to water my little plant growers
I’m too small to help, What can I do?
I throw back all the creatures left up by the tide, And research about how to help- planetwide I take out my recycled bottles, and paper, and glass And walk outside to organically feed the grass
I look to the moon and cry, Please, what can I do! But this time the moon looks back and says, The Earth is lucky to have people like you!
Peace Within
Through the mind we all share a common harmony that is peace.
The peace we want to see In the world In our cities In our communities In our families All start within us.
For within, our souls don’t Discriminate Hate Belittle Judge No. Our souls are made for loving.
And once we realize we are all little people- full of love, Our world will know peace.
Jonah Tambolleo
My Poster is meant to depict how Healthcare in the U.S is far too expensive for everyday people and can cause immense financial trouble to anyone unfortunate enough to be subject to large medical bills. It is an important topic and many people in our country suffer from extreme debt due to medical bills. This piece is directed to anyone who believes that the prices of healtchare are much too high for the ordinary people in the country who desperately need it and those who have experience or are currently experiencing the problem of massive medical debt. Personally my family has experienced what it is like to have an immense amount of medical debt due to problems when I was very young. Due to something that nobody could control my parents were forced to pay a very high amount of money that took almost 17 years to pay off. I think that the healthcare system is too expensive and that too many people are hurt by the debt that comes out of it to keep it going at this price range. I did not take any inspiration from anything; this exact image is the first thing that popped into my head when I heard of the project. It was honestly more difficult to try and think of other rough drafts for my topic because I wanted to use this first one. I did’nt really even lay out any steps to the final poster I just knew exactly what I wanted to portray and used that. I used a very basic color scheme and used symbols like the red cross to symbolize healthcare in my poster because I felt like that would have more of a pop on the otherwise bland color palette. I also thought that having the cross almost act as a vacuum for the money flying out of the pockets of the injured people on the poster would be a good way of depicting how helpless the people feel when paying up the money for something they had no control over and for things that might not have even been their own fault.
Anonymous
I am a white girl. I am heterosexual. I know I have it better than others. I have friends of different races, sexualities, and religions. I see no difference between us. They are my friends, Personalities all different, But all human beings. I don’t see why people are still racist and homophobic. Why can’t we all live in peace? No judgement, Kindness for all, Freedom and justice for all. I walk down a street with my friend, And she wears a gay flag on her shirt, And rainbow socks. She is expressing herself and her sexuality. Someone gives us the stink eye. Another yells homophobic slurs out his window. Nothing is said to me. Why are we different? Two teenage girls, Having a fun day together. My blood is boiling. All I can do is flip him off. Why can’t everyone just be accepted, Be appreciated, Be kind and just. Why is the world such a harmful place?
Injustice
The year 2020, Had been a historical one. A year of loss and disease, Of destruction and chaos, Triumph and revolution. Black Lives Matter movement, Started after too many black lives were lost. Say their names. George Floyd, Brienna Taylor, and more. George Floyd was killed by a knee on his neck, For allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Brienna Taylor was killed in her sleep. Never forget these lives, Lost for no cause or purpose. People are fighting for their rights, That shouldn’t even have to be fought for. Religions, races, and sexualities, Are still in danger. Discrimination of words and violence, Are something these groups live with every day. Inequality is such an issue, That some people feel they have to hide their true selves, To feel ok in this world. Everyone should be able to be themselves without being afraid. Everyone is equal, Treat everyone as equals. We are all human.
Eve Abboud
Static Walls
It is bleak, bleeding walls surrounding us It is sad, sullen flowers sprouting Below, above, behind you spiraling Below, above, behind you shouting
It is bleary-eyed, uniformed mannequins That control our supposed autonomy It is orange-faced, rambling baby-faced hands That decide words to represent you and me
What is ethical? What is right? Where do I put myself during these fights? Is another civil war in the making? Is it normal to lay awake at night?
It’s so loud, but the giants still stomp Dreary and raging and yelling It should be quiet, but they don’t stop Cunning and sneaky, anger never quelling
And we are just so very, very tiny Among the giants who are so very tall But we will continue to throw our soup cans At the static walls
the dream “I have a dream” a simple four words said by Martin Luther King and as we climb through loopholes scattered and steep we seem to be getting closer to his very dream “real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time” said by the legendary RBG so after battling for so long the goals are within reach
countless lives were lost countless lives were changed missing a mother or a father and a virus is to blame but there is more hope now more widespread protection save a life at the cost of your repression yet it is not pointless because so many are gone if you were in someone else’s shoes you might feel so very wronged
our brothers and sisters fought fought for their rights for their right to go shopping safely at night without the burden without the fear that someone meant to protect you wouldn’t listen to your tears
everyone wants to be on the right side of history do you want to be in textbooks? that your grandchildren will cast a look they will see you as a beacon of hope from above or they will see you as a heathen an obstacle to change
but we are not done yet no, not even close so keep those chins up keep the cloth over your nose don’t sit it out so will you change with time or just stay afloat?
Brianna Spence
Being black out here, damn it ain’t easy Y’all white folks look and be like aye breezy Walking around without thoughts in the sky Never knowing where we finna die It’s like losing a pin or thumbtack They’ve lost us and they can’t have us back It’s like our lives have no meaning No one ever cares or thinks what we’re feeling We’ve learned to adapt But the past months have been nothing but attacks Many innocent ones we’ve lost and will never get back I swear it’s time for us to react I don’t know if I’m gonna live to see a change But so it was in the beginning and so it is in the end.
Max Whelan
Sometimes I think it's important to tune out
In a time where everyone is paranoid In a time where the news never stops
Sometimes I think you need to unplug and breathe
Because one person can only handle so much Because you can't wear yourself out on a possibility Because sometimes all you can do is prepare
Sometimes it's okay to plug in your ears and forget all about it
Everyone needs to find their balance Everyone needs space to breathe in this day and age
So tune out, don't be afraid to enjoy yourself during a pandemic
Brienna Notaro Numbness Series, AP Art & Design
Nathan Whitfield
The world around us is a crazy place With issues approaching left and right Unfortunately with them surrounding race It is an everlasting painful fight
Protests appear in the hope of change Many leaders urging us to vote Our feelings are something we must exchange It is time to listen, it is time to take note
Reason with each other, eliminate the tension Voice your opinion, do not be scared Equality amongst us is something to mention Peace and harmony will be declared
Be optimistic for the future These sad times won’t last Take this as a mood booster Live in the now, leave the past
Duncan Ramler
My poster is communicating there is a serious problem with our political system and it is hurting our country. The main message is that the two final candidates for the presidential election are both purely unfit to be president of the United States and I fear for the future of America. I chose this message because I was shocked to see the amount of misinformation during this election year and that people actually believed it. It matters because the president of the United States is pretty much the most powerful person in the world and we cannot afford to have bad people running the Office of the President of the United States. The audience is all Americans but specifically America's youth because many of us are greatly influenced by the media and their deception. I feel very strongly about this subject because I myself am pretty good at telling what is fake news and what is real news and unfortunately many people are not so good at it. Both of these men, Joe Biden and Donald Trump have sexual assault allegations which is just disgusting. The media likes to call Donald Trump corrupt but the only real claim they even have is that he is sneaky with his taxes, and they do not even have proof of this. While the media Praises Joe Biden for being a straight shooter and an honest politician he is in fact one of the most corrupt politicians in US history. He and his family have taken home millions of dollars in corrupt businesses in China. And unlike the claims against Donald Trump, there is evidence to support this claim. While both of these men are not very good it is clear which of them is eviler. I came up with the design because I wanted to put both men on the screen and portray them as goofy. I drew my inspiration from many political commercials. I made the men look not formal and spacey to communicate that they are not good politicians.
Emily Celia
I formed from the cracks of childhood. My personality swifted and shaped, itself from my creativity. My mind becomes abstract, downloading contents of ideas. Sometimes it may overflow. I paint my decisions with careful, strokes of comprehension. I make sure to check details, to find what my path is in the world. I make way for change. Itś neither good nor bad. I just hope for a world, splashed in peace. I want to defuse wars and violence. Every generation depends, On the next future. I want to be one of those people to make it better.
Ciara Farris
You do not know me yet. But I know you. I know that your world feels on fire, Burning to the ground, a west coast flame.
I know your mind is clouded And your feet are tired, Your shoulders ache, Weighed down by all the things you cannot seem to escape. You look around, at yourself, at your friends And you wonder how you all got so jaded. Each one of you so alone, Despite the struggles you share.
I know it looks a mess. People shouting in the streets with voices raw, Pleading for just a bit of empathy, A glimmer of compassion.
Your face is masked, yet it is plain for all to see, Right past your eyes, a fog has settled. It fogs your vision, Concealing all that once felt bright.
The drum beats on, the future bearing down. One that used to feel so far away, is now so near. And you wonder Who will I become? Who have I been this whole time?
What am I looking for, Waiting for, Living for?
I know it all seems grey some days. The stars have dimmed, Our own sun so distant, Beyond the limits of the sky.
But there is meaning there somewhere. Look carefully, my dear, it is there. Let go for a while, For you cannot fix it all.
Let go, and let yourself see, The sunlight on the wall, Peach and tangerine Melting into early evening.
Live not for perfection, But for the cool breeze that welcomes autumn, Sweeps away the heavy summer air, And brings the year to a liberating close.
For the full-belly laughter of friendship, And for the healing rain as it washes away, All of the soot, If only for this one moment.
Fear not the approaching dark, Nor her unknown bounds. She does not bring monsters, only the pale moonlight, And the hope of better days to come.
Ana Aquino Nunez
Love We are all the same; the race or the color doesn’t matter. We’re created of love. Our hearts should be full of love. If there is a lot of love in our hearts, Why can’t we spread that love to the people around us? We’re all brothers and sisters. Our color can’t make us apart.
We’re all created with love, so why must there be a difference AND cruelty in the world? We all came to this life with a purpose, to enjoy ourselves, to be loved, and to love. There should not be hate in our hearts. We all have red blood in our veins and our hearts. Why don’t we nicely use THAT heart? Love, be kind, and more RESPECTFUL.
Wouldn’t it be nice to live inside a world that isn’t black and white? A place where there are just people loving people, think about that. I wonder when the color will not be significant for the people, but we can stop that. We can put a stop to all the hate that exists. We can create a better world, can’t we?
The only thing that we have to do is love more, spread love and respect to the people around us. Is it difficult to see everyone as equal and as a valued person like you? We are all valued, loved, and appreciated. WE ARE ALL HUMANS.
We need to help our brothers and sisters that are in danger just for their color. They’re incredible, and they want to show that to the world. So let’s create peace. Then, let’s live in peace, and the world will be prettier. Let’s look at each other in the eyes, side by side, hand in hand, and end this racism.
Emersin Adamsons
Francesca the doll woke up one morning and decided to run away. She was tired of her human playing with her. My hair has taken enough abuse for a lifetime, she thought. So she got up out of her little plastic bed and got dressed, putting on a poofy red choker, a purple dress, and taking her purse just in case. She ran out of her dollhouse, paying no mind to the little girl who screamed at her sentience. She jumped out of the window, barely feeling when her arm bent at an unnatural angle. She was used to it, as her human did it to her all the time. She popped it back into place and began on her way when a bird scooped her up and began to bring her somewhere. She screamed with her little plastic lungs and punched with her little plastic fists, causing the bird to drop her. She fell many feet in the air, landing hard on a branch. By the time she figured out how to get down, it was nighttime and she decided to go to sleep. She would do it tomorrow. She woke up the next morning, tethered to a tree, the laughing of a little girl disappearing into the dim morning light. She starved to death there on the branch. Not from a lack of food, dolls don’t need food, but the lack of attention one experiences when tied to a tree.
Leyla Holmes
Angelina Ballerina was taking a walk in the forest when she saw a jacked-off-brand “Barbie” doll hanging on a branch.
And this thing was UGLY ugky. If she was walking in a park and passed by this thing, she would’ve 1v1 it and had a 100% win rate. This thing was so ugly that all of those yo mama jokes would’ve been absolute garbage next to it simply because it would’ve been impossible to describe such an ugly, offensive, probably-cancelable-on-twitter object.
The more she looked at it, the more she wanted to either kick it or say offensive stuff online about it. That thing was crawling into the deepest parts of her mind and making them ugly, too. Her ears started going colorblind and she felt like a snail. A sexy snail.
Suddenly, she realized she was no longer in the same place she stood just a moment before, and when she looked up, she saw herself.
She was the barbie.
Anonymous
Beauty Killed the Beast
She knew she should have worn pants but her legs were her best feature! Her legs got her a promotion. Her legs attracted her Forbes 500 husband. Her legs were an Internet meme. But now, she was running from ransom hunters. She was running from a car jacking. She was running from too much success. And now, her looks and lips and legs didn’t matter. Those things couldn’t help her anymore. Those things stopped her running. Those things killed her.
Ashley Smith A Fear of Plastic How did this Barbie get here? What is the story? Well, nobody seems to know these days. This mystery remains unsolved. One day she appeared on a branch deep in the woods. A man was walking his dog, when it started barking at a branch on the ground. The man was too far away to see the mysterious toy, so he kept on walking down the trail. Later that night, when he was getting ready for bed, he went into his kitchen to make a cup of tea. When he went to reach for the kettle, he saw a tiny plastic hand sticking out of the pot. The man froze in fear. What was hiding in his tea pot? Slowly, he uncovered the pot only to find the barbie his dog spotted on the walk. He screamed and ran, for his biggest fear was plastic dolls. The man and his dog were never heard from again…
Olivia Appleton
A Girl's World The wind runs its fingers Through my tangled rats nest Jostling the branch which I’m tied to A squirrel prances under my feet Looking for the nut It buried earlier I want to prance I want to move, I want to dance Just like that squirrel But I can't For I am still tied To this lone tree branch
Anonymous
Possibilities
Growing up, I would have never imagined A woman in the office Moreso a woman of color As the new vice-president of the United States
I always thought That my possibilities were limited Because of my gender, color of my skin, and sexual orientation
As the daughter of immigrants, South Asian, and a strong young woman, I am proud of the representation in office I didn’t think this day would ever come
When I watch Kamala Harris walk onstage Confident and proud I start to believe that this is possible The American people voted for this
The American people voted for a new beginning Finally, there is a light at the end of this darkness As these depressing four years Come to a halt
Finally, I feel safe With the leadership And future Of this country as a person of color As a woman of color
Sandscript
WHAT DOES SANDSCRIPT LIKE ABOUT MONOMOY?
THE PEOPLE! Mr. Bowman’s cheery disposition and his daily ties!! Cliff and Ed! Mrs. Barnes’ breakfast on MCAS morning! Ms. Oliver! Dr. Otto’s ceiling stars! Miss Police! Miss Schuermann’s spirit and her spirit weeks; she’s fintastic! Mr. Oldach! Ms. Ferro’s patience dealing with my mom’s emails! Miss Piccarello! Miss Goyette for being new, fresh, and awesome! Mr. Brown! Mr. Walsh and his bright green pants! Ms. Hall! Mr. Burns and his ATP cash money….and Drake the snake! John and Eric! Mr. Stratil’s cheesy memes! Mr. Gill! Ms. Creedon’s smile that never leaves her face! Ms. Waystack! Mr. Cass when he takes part in the announcements! Ms. Barr! Ms. Harrington for always being kind and sweet and caring! Mr. H-T! Mr. Smeltzer’s humorous way of teaching something so lacking in humor! Mr. Nystrom! Ms. Hofmann and her tolerance for our foolishness! Mr. Sealy! Mrs. Martin and her spunky short person attitude! Ms. Coyner! Mr. Herring and his helpful patience and kindness. Ms. Ginnetty! Ms. Casey and her warm smile! Mr. Bates! Mr. Houston’s historical treasures! Ms. Richard! YES, THE PEOPLE! THEY CREATE OUR SECOND HOME!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, COLLEAGUES! THE KIDS MISS BEING WITH YOU! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED SANDSCRIPT’S GIFT TO YOU! STAY SAFE AND STAY WELL!
Britanya Bucknor
Two Americas?
We fight for our lives we get tear-gassed and murdered But they fight for a “stolen” election they get free pass and disorder.
We see jail cells and angels in our heads.
They see first-class tickets to Capitol desks and kick their feet up in comfort.
We fight for equality They fight with toxicology. Prepared to fight us back Unprepared to fight them back. The leader ready to shoot us The leader ready for them to keep fighting.
What if we were the ones storming that gracious building? Would we have been greeted with the same grace and plea to go home? No, I think not because that’s the world we live in. A place twirled with two different meanings.
Two Americas? Yes. America and Amerikkka.
Anonymous
What Am I Thankful For? 2020 Edition
First and foremost I am always thankful for my loving family They support, educate, and motivate me Together as we battle through these difficult times
My friends who have been here Every step of the way Are a huge part of my life I am always thankful for their love
I’m thankful for the months on end Of avoiding people because of Covid Because one, I want to stay safe And two, I’m not a huge people person
Next, I’m very thankful for Tik Tok As it brings up my serotonin Scrolling through my for you page Every single day in quarantine
I made Kraft mac and cheese a lot this year Satisfying my cravings with every bite So thank you, Kraft For making heaven in a box
A big thank you for Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, For offering your binge-worthy music and shows As I stayed inside for months on end
I could not live without my phone For always being by my side So I stay connected to the world In such isolating times
As 2020 brought social unrest I am tremendously grateful For the BLM movement And the people who believe in racial equality around the country
To all the educators and workers A huge thank you for your service Through a terrifying moment in history They worked tirelessly to support us
I’m thankful for the people who voted Who did not take that opportunity for granted As every vote was counted Which resulted in our new presidency
Finally, I’m thankful for 2020 As much of a pain as you were You’ve brought so much change to America As we continue to 2021.
Ashley Smith
A New Day
The world we once had, Untouched by humans And so pristine with beauty, now falls apart in front of our very own eyes. We burn oil, and create fire, we cut down, and rebuild. All as the air around us thins, and the ice melts. Soon we will have nothing, nothing to give our children, nothing to pass onto future generations. But we can start now, learn from our mistakes, build upon our destruction. Pave the road on which many will follow one day.
Anonymous
My initial topic for my sustained investigation was oppressed people through history.
For this piece I began by brainstorming and researching some of the biggest issues slaves faced in the past. One of the struggles that stuck with me was the lack of communication slaves had with their own friends and families. I knew I wanted to incorporate a braided handle for this piece to represent the columbian slaves who would braid their hair to relay escape messages. First, I began by creating the actual mug piece. I love to make functional pieces so I wanted to include a certain functionality in this work. By throwing on my wheel I created a thin-walled mug of my liking. Next, I braided a three strand braid using coils of clay. This took multiple tries before I got the hang of it. I attached it to my mug to create a handle. I think the focal point of this piece is the sculptural mouth on the outer wall of the mug. I sculpted this with my hands and used a needle tool to create holes for wires to go. I think this element gave my piece a more graphic and dark representation. I wanted to wire the mouth shut to again, show a lack of communication as well as show an abusive struggle slaves faced from their oppressor. I chose this theme because I wanted to recognize the struggle and loss that slaves endured in history. My focus is oppression and I feel that one of the first thoughts that comes to my head when I think of this is slavery. I feel that In our school curriculum, we aren't taught enough of the gore that actually happened when slavery was at its peak. I want to express this through my work to tell my audience that this was the reality for some.