Introducing.... Our Finished Anthology!

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Introduction

Not everyone shares the same beliefs; this is what makes each of our lives different. Beliefs are all around us and we should not hide them. If we feel strongly about them, share them, because a small voice can make a big difference. As a class, we've had experiences that shape our beliefs. As a class, we have grown together and learned so much from each other. The goal for these essays was to find something we believe strongly and share an experience that shaped that belief.These are our beliefs. Not necessarily as a class, but as individuals. For us it was a chance to relive old memories. We want our readers to know that these are stories of how we feel and what we believe in. We are sharing some of our personal stories, so please respect them.

Kieshia Hall

Straightedge - By Tim Paciotti

Tim Paciotti is a 19-year-old kid that likes to enjoy life, and stay true to his beliefs.

Straightedge

What does the term “straight edge” mean to the society today? Straight edge is a belief amongst the people not to drink, do drugs, or have promiscuous sex. It is a belief to those who rebel against our own kind to show we aren’t the same. So why does the rest of the community show hatred to us, and consider us a nuisance? To me, through everything the people have shown towards us, “straight edge” gives me a sense of personality, a second family, and something to look forward to in my life.

To many different cultures of the world, they see us, the “straight edge teens,” as the people who are missing out on a good life. However, I believe “straight edge” gives me a personality. For example, at a party I was offered some alcohol, and I refused and said I was “edge”. The man who offered me the drink made a comment of me not living my life and not having a good time. I didn’t need a beer to have a good time, nor did I need one to live my life to the fullest extent. I don’t need something that will harm my body to get a good “buzz”; my personality shows that. In addition, people assume us as a whole. Of course, we do have the same beliefs, but we some of us react differently. I don’t show anger on other just because they do what they do. This shows that my personality may not like those certain things for me, but don’t judge the people who do, do it; it’s their decision. Not only does “straight edge” give me a personality to look to, but also a second family to look forward to as well.

Too many of us, “straight edge” is more than just a word, or a saying, it’s a bond between many of us; that bond between us is like having a second family to look for in need of anything. For example, when many of us find another person that is “straight edge” it’s an automatic connection that we have with them; as well as someone first claiming “edge.” It shows us as well as them that they aren’t alone. Furthermore, if in need for anything, we can not only come to our real family, but our “straight edge” family. Yes, given the fact it may be weird, but since we’re all “edge,” there is a sense of trust, like we are with our immediate family. Our real family likewise with our “straight edge” family, we can come to them at anytime for anything and still feel whole as a family. As families grow in the future, “straight edge” gives me something to look forward to in the future.

Thinking about the future to some is a scary thing, but to me there is a light that still shines through it all. “Straight edge” isn’t just a commitment; it is a life, and one worth living for. For example, I was asked by a teacher in high school, “What do you see yourself doing in the future?” I replied, “Continuing my life style, working, and exposing to everyone what “straight edge” is, and does for you.” It gives me something to look forward to, since I fully believe in this. It’s something I still want to see when I’m eighty, and have grandkids. This is no joke, but something real and reachable. Never taking a sip of alcohol, smoking a single cigarette, or having promiscuous sex has shown me a better life, and a better future. In addition, a friend asked me, “If you did do drugs, what do you think you would be doing now?” I said to him, “I would probably not have a job, house to live in, friends, and probably any teeth.” Being “edge” fills me with joy knowing I don’t do anything harmful to myself; I have a better chance to actually see the future. And being able to see myself in the future makes me a happy kid.

Now that you know how a “straight edge teen” feels, does hatred still grow upon you? Even though being “straight edge” gives me a second family, future to look forward to, and a personality, it does a lot more for everyone. Sooner or later people will realize what we believe in, and know its better for everyone. So how do you feel about the term “straight edge” now?

Say what you say - By Alejandro Gonzalez

True art is not a crime, and its not a waste of time, to me this is worth every dime. You will try to understand, but you will end up in a big cirlce of quick sand.

Say What You Say..

I believe that people judge too rapidly depending on what people wear. Around the world people have different ways to express themselves throughout their style of clothes they wear. Some of those people that you may perceive to be gangsters, hippies, atheist, or skaters because of their style of clothing. Then people start to judge and make assumptions before they get to know you. Many people in the world classify these people because of their clothing and I think that it’s wrong.

I was one of many people that they judged because of my attire. I was a young boy at the age of 12. I didn’t have and idea of what I wanted to be in the world. I had my own style of dressing. My parents didn’t have much to give me in respect of new clothes every week. I would go to school with my old shoes all torn up and my shirts that were too small because I was going to my growing stage and all my clothes was getting to small for me.

When I used to go to the store with my family I used to separate from my family and make the store more like an adventure. When I gazed aisle to aisle looking at food or toys I would always notice that people well dress would reach to their purse and hug it as if they thought that I would steel it or at least tried to. I always felt anger and confused because I would say to my self why they grab their purses. Why couldn’t I be treated equally?

As time went by I would ask my mom many questions. One of those questions was why people look at our clothes instead of our personality. My mother always told me “always be your self never try to be some one you can’t be no matter what”. This phrase made me realize that clothes don’t matter because as I got older I was an intelligent student but still dresses as I did when I was small. People still judged me the same but what they didn’t realize was that I was a smart kid. But inside I was smart and most of all proud of whom I was not what I was wearing.

Now as I walk down those wondrous aisles and I look at kids that dress different from me. I ask my self what great person he is going to be when he grows up. People around the world dress differently, that doesn’t mean that their bad influence in society because they don’t dress like you. Their style of clothing signifies their unique personality that no one can take away but in the end inside they are like you and me.

My Life as a Bird - By Alejandro Gonzalez

My Life As a Bird..

As soon as I was born,
I lived a life style that was all torn,
I lived thinking of two things,
When I was going to get fed and when I was going to play in the rings,
I never noticed that I was in a cage
I tried to get out once then twice but in the end I got enraged
I thought that I would never get out
What was I thinking about!
I noticed that the only thing to the cage was a door
That stopped me from things I adore.
Things I would try to do, even if I die.
The biggest thing I wanted was to fly
My perseverance made me open the passage
As I leaped out I got a message
Flying isn’t so easy at all
You try and try and all you do is fall,
But I found partners that held my wings
And at the same time showed me how to sing
To this day I have not yet learned how to fly
But I will try to learn to fly until I die.

Be Silly, Free, Yourself - By Austin Church

I believe that we must be silly, free, yourself. Don’t be grumpy, cranky or stressed. I believe this because people become two sided and lose sight of reality. I can be normal one minute someone will say something wrong to me and I will it will make me mad and I will be grumpy and I will turn negative and people wont want to be around me. So it is a matter of staying positive and not letting things get to you. And people want to be free and positive so they base themselves around positive people. Pretty much treat others the way you want to be treated. Stress is another one that effects people because people who are stressed will tend to take it out on other people.

I Am and Other Poems - By Kayla O'Connell-Rodriguez

Kayla O'Connell-Rodriguez is 20 years old, recently married, and living life day by day.

From Just

From just a touch
My skin turns worm
But with chills
From just your eyes
I can see clearly
But only fog
From just a kiss
You make my heart race
Yet it stops
From just your smile
All worries and sickness
Goes away
But from your worries
I turn scared
And don’t know what to do
And when you’re sad
My stomach goes to knots
My heart breaks
And all I want to do is
Take the sadness out of your eyes
But when you say
“I love you”
That all I can believe
For my heart stops
My sight goes fogy
My skin turns hot
With chills
And all worries and
Sickness are nonexistent
Because
“I LOVE YOU TOO”

I Am

I am a girl, deprived of my innocence
I wonder if the innocence I once had will ever return
I see life changing so fast with out me
I want my life to be easy like it was before
I am a girl needing her innocence

I pretend that my life is fine
I cry for what I have lost and gained nothing
I scream for the pain that I feel in my heart
I am a girl with out her innocence

I dream of the day of no worries
I try to convince my self that I don’t need it
I understand that things will never be the same
I say why did you take my innocence? Why?
I am a Girl.



Family Cry

People crying
No one can help
Why is this happening?
Why can’t they help her?
They do test after test
And yet they say there’s
Nothing they can do.
So they send her away
For more tests
Putting hope in
Our eyes
While we cry.
For there is nothing
We can do but pray
That she’ll be strong
And pull through
For those two
The two kids that
Need their mom
For those little things
That only mom’s can do.


Truth 2 Lies

Through all the lies
there is a truth
yet
through all the truth
there is a lie
to find
the truth
you must look
to lies
for no where
else can the
truth lie