Aura Pineda -Persona Poem

Darkness fallows me everywhere I go

Gloominess, violence and all terrifying things that you can ever imagine fallows me everywhere I go.

I’m terrifying to other people

I feel so low when everyone comments about me

And how I look.

Everywhere I go theirs always a negative comment about me.

It’s hard living in this type of world where all I can think is dead.

Negative comments affect me every single day.

I try to look a way to hide and live without rude comments but I just cant.

I look my self in the mirror also I see is a horrible face.

Why?

That’s why I am the person I am know!

I’m cold-hearted looking for someone I can ruin their lives

Like people ruined my every single day.

I’m violent I see this all the time in the streets

I get to learn something ever day.

How I defend my self from other people who wants to harm me in any way.

I see my self all I see is sadness.

I’m not happy the way I am

Is it me or is it them?

Judging by looks shouldn’t matter I don’t judge people by their looks

I’m so deep depressing everybody thinks I’m a bad guy who wants to harm people from what my face looks likes.

Looks shouldn’t matter I say to my self .

Santana Taylor, Persona Poem

Throughout the day, I am to myself.

I stay quiet, for I not know what they might say.

I am scared for what they think of me and I tend to be rude

I am a lost boy throughout this world,

not having any direction.

Where will I go?

What will I become?

I am more than lost in the statistics of society

What they say may be true,

I am trouble.

What can I say?

For this is true.

Jairo: Maliya Story

One day in a cold,night Maliya didn't wanted to go to bed.So she went downstairs and she felt like dancing Maliya mom was asleep and she didn't wanted to make her up. There was a little problem thought she needed her music to dance so she turned on the radio and she put rhe volume to 5 so thar her mother would hear it and wont be loud


after-
Maliyah always think about her future. She loves dancing. She doesn't care about what others think. She was angry about her father left.She danced, but it was hard.She began making a lot of money.Her dad showed up in her life she wants nothing to do with him

Lexus Madden Significant Event

When it happened, I lost myself. I became another person. Not even my mom could pick me up and put me back in my place. I had never had such a tragedy in my life. It came out of nowhere. I was depressed. I cared about no one, not even my mom. She was the worst. She would cry, then I would cry. I hated my family because they asked questions. I just wanted t o be left alone. But even when I was alone, I was left with my sorrowful thoughts, I was left alone coping with the loss of my father. I needed an escape.

I started drinking, heavily. I had some friends who always threw parties. I lied to my mom and told her I was going to birthday parties. When I first started going to the parties I was nervous, I had never drank before. I got lured into it. I’m not blaming peer pressure, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to fill my body with something to make me feel empty. The first party was 10-12 people. It was harmless. We played drinking games, and I got what I wanted. Looking back now, I remember staring at a wall trying to figure out what was going on. I was happy. Still to this day, my friends would say that I was the life of those parties. I was happiest when I wasn’t feeling. Things were going good. I even ended my relationship so I could go out and party. All night long I was happy. I was having fun by not feeling anything.

But one night something changed. The party was live; there were tons of people, tons of alcohol. Sure, there were adults, but the adults were just there to get drunk as well. This was the first night that I ever took shots. And I was feeling feisty, so I took 6. Less than an hour later I was sitting on the couch spacing in and out. The night was a blur. That night I was almost raped; no one would’ve stopped him if it weren’t for me gaining some sort of consciousness. After that night, I started to reconsider drinking.

A few weeks later, I met someone. His name was Flo. He was different, I liked him. But I knew it would never happen. I was wrong and we started talking. I put my faith in him and told him everything that I was going through. He lifted my spirits and things were better for once. But I wasn’t 100% better. I wanted to drink again. But he gave me an ultimatum. Him or alcohol. The choice was easy. He made me happy so I didn’t have to fill myself with things to make me blind to the cruel world. Once I stopped drinking, I was still a mess of emotions. I felt like no one understood me. But eventually, I got my act together. I wanted to make my mom proud. I had to show her that I wasn’t the crazy girl who screamed every time someone said his name. I had to show her that I could be an example for my sister.

I pushed myself. I pushed myself to the very edge of life. I started making good grades, I got a job to help with my struggling family, I started doing community service to show myself that it can in fact be worse. When I was almost ready to give up again, I got a letter. It was a letter from the school. I thought it was maybe for truancy because I barely went to school. But it was a letter talking about me being a possible candidate for National Honor Society. At first I didn’t make a big deal out of it. I didn’t think it was as great as everyone said. My family made a big deal out of it. So to prove to my mom that I was maturing, I went for it .

I did my hours, I did my clubs, I kept my grades up. But on the voting day, I was told that I might not make it because a teacher felt that I didn’t deserve it. I cried hard. I had disappointed my mom. The letter was delivered to my advisory on a Friday. I didn’t want to open the letter because I was scared of what it might say. I opened the letter and I had gotten in. I called my mom and we cried on the phone together. In only 3 short years my mom has became my best friend. She is the only person on my team.

At only 14 years old my world turned upside down. I had to fight all of the negative thoughts in my head and overcome the devil. He was dragging me down to live my life with him in hell forever, but on the other side holding my hand was my angel, the man whose legacy I will live through me. My father.

Lexus Madden - Persona poem

A boy who thinks he is a man

Being forced to grow up alone in this world

His cries are silent

No mother

No love

No father

No guidance

Just him

One man in this world to fend for his own

He call out to anyone but the silence only meant that he was alone

Broken and burdened

He turned away from the sky

Believing in God not

It gave him no reasons to try

At that very moment he knew he was alone

But at that very moment his ignorance had grown

Kaleigh jordan Significant event

Lust, can be the only word to actually describe who i was. Although the saying goes no one or nothing can define you but God,i did not have the privilege to shake hands with the Holy spirit and acknowledge that i was a daughter of the most high. Instead I brought discouraged myself, through the feeling of a man to comfort me in ways i wasnt ready for. Like a scared child trying to find their way through the dark, so i was trying to find my way to something more than a wasteful relationship. What was the point? So confused in who I was I cried, daily, but never for anyone elses eyes, just the knowledge that I was broken and had given away so freely my kiss, held so precious in the eyes of the savior. What did i know? I was only a kid, yet I was so encouraged to take on the adult hood and be with a man… but I couldnt. I could feel the hot breath of a man with lust in his eyes, and I stood back. So disgusted with my actions I looked into his eyes to see the very meaning of what it was that I wanted and I saw nothing. No love, no remorse, no guilt or shame just... nothing. As I pushed him away I drove away silently... afraid to face the God who had saved me from my sins, and was trying to show me the better way. Instead of following his grace I kept up the steady pace

of sin. I began to cry because I was so ashamed of who I was. I had been fairly new to the concept of living a holy life set apart for God's use... but I knew in my spirit it was wrong. So deeply furious I pulled over and screamed, and pounded on my steering wheel I was so hot in the face with anger. I felt as though i had been living in a blinded lie that everyone else could see but me. like the moments you walk through a hall with strangers and think they all are staring at you, with embarrassment I cried out. “Everyone knows my secret shame now!”

at this point I heard, with my own ears my fathers love pour into me. Sitting in my empty car with just me and the creator we began to talk, fellowship, him telling me of his love and that when i first got saved long ago.I should've broke down and took the hand he offered me.

instead I allowed myself to go on with my life until I knew all I needed was him.

so I took his hand, and with a new hunger and a fire set in my heart I started my journey, erasing guys one by one until Jesus was the only one. With my heart set on him I continued to be dedicated, having a family in christ raise me up. year after year I see all the filth he stripped away from me. Like the outer layer of flesh of a diseased woman, I became clean. All that I held on to he took away. Showing me the better way, he forgave and forgot and taught, me to do the same.

as I finally started dealing with the things from the very beginning, I started to see how far I had walked with him in my Journey and began to wonder why I ever made the unconscious decision to become a victim of lust. So ravished in the beauty of who God was he began to lift me up. He showed me i was no longer a no faced characterless girl, I was a fearfully and wonderfully made Woman of God! With this confidence he finally bestowed on my heart, he opened my eyes to his kingdom, showing me my purpose here on earth,

the ministry to take over, The song that is always on my heart, made to worship him and teach others to worship, what the meaning of my voice is and friendship used build.

Finally, he opened my eyes to a man i didn't know existed. Physically or Spiritually, I began to wonder how God kept track of all my prayers, of a man I secretly desired for. A Man after his own heart, one who cherished God even more than I do, and with this new knowledge instead of taking old actions, I place this gift in my Creators hands and let him guide me into righteousness. And with this, I know who I am in him.

Santana Taylor, Significant Event

When I was growing up, my mother and my father always seemed to be there for me through thick and thin. No matter the circumstances and no matter the cost, I was the baby and I was always more than taken care of. Loved I was. Little did I know, that my parents were going through their own trials and tribulations of a lifetime. When I was 6 years old, my parents  got a divorce. I was confused and sad because I felt like everything was perfect. I didn’t see the need of their departure from each other. My heart, love and soul was ripped from my chest. Nothing would ever be the same. I no longer had the perfect life and I wasn't catered too any longer.

I felt like their separation from each other was always my fault. That thought stayed in the back of my mind for a long time. Was I the cost of their divorce? I mean, what other reason would they leave each other? Regardless of what I thought, they were no longer together and no longer had the respect and love to be with each other. So that left me with the choosing of which party I was to stay with for the rest of my premature years. Of course I picked my mother. She was nurturing and loving like mothers are supposed to be. I felt cared for and loved by her.

I grew up with my mother for the remainder of my years to date. I rarely see my father. He is the type to come and go as he pleases and shows up on his own time; basically whenever it is convenient for him. I do miss him dearly and the mother and daughter bond we shared but what exactly can I do to reach out to him more? My parents not being together has affected me tremendously. I seem to be missing a part of myself, that I know I could have if my father was around. My decisions and life choices are affected my parents choice. I stay to myself and try not to get into certain relationships. From their choices, it has affected me as a person and the future choices I will make later on in my life. My eyes are now more open to life now and I make decisions based on those actions that my parents made.

Estrella Gonzalez- Persona Poem

A man who has no life,

No care in the world,

No love standing by his side,

One that feels so alone like he’s the only one in the world,

A man who wants things given to him without working hard

Who smiles everyday but inside of him is a broken heart

A dead heart that is held deep in the ocean so lonely with no one near

A man whose mind is full of fear

A head filled with doubt, always brought down to tears

A man that is not brave

Always feeling like he is in a cold, wet cave

A man with no love,

A man that is bitter,

A man with no courage,

A man.

Jacob Bennett - Opposite Persona Poem

Quietness is a bliss

and the ignorance won’t be missed

unbeknownst to her a world full of wonder

but her life is covered

forever under

“what is society?” some may ask

but she can barely hear as she drinks from a flask

their words shine and glisten

sadly she watches but rarely listens

the world fully in reach

crushed confidence not built to teach

depressingly her home life is just as bland

No one to hold her trembling hand

“her beliefs?”

she’d laugh

for her belief

is that her belief will always go last

as they slowly approach

coming to coax

the sadness from this lion den

but her voice trembles and quakes

as her body tremors and shakes

just to the thought of talking to someone else

confiding in them what she keeps to herself

The Boy--(Ms. Gray)

There’s a darkness in his eyes

Not the kind that can be seen from far away, but the kind that flickers

Only to be mistaken for a signal

A “come hither” to the women he encounters

A baby BOY

Bibbed by his mother

Expecting too much from another

And never fully meeting the mediocre standards of manhood

This boy has no HOOD

His stature is strong, shoulders bold and jaw cut from onyx

However

The last thing he can do is be

Honest

And

Pure

And

Holy

And

Loved

He will never see the innocence that she threads into his soul

Never knowing where her love will go

He’ll use her like a cloth to cover his mistakes

He’ll cut her with his anger and demand that she stay

He is no stranger to her

He is a familiar touch

He is the silence when she demands noise

He is her

If she were

A BOY

Significant Event- Eda Medina

I never dreamed about success till I got my first job. Yeah my job is not one of the best ones but it is better than working at a fast food place getting yelled at and disrespect from people I don't know. I feel comfortable where I'm at right now. I feel that my job is my second home and family. A job isn't just a job, It’s who you are. I’ve learned that life isn't easy, Its hard specially for a 17 year old girl who is trying her best to graduate because she rather work than go to school. But one thing I tell myself every morning is “ you’re a senior and you are almost graduating just 3 more months, and it will be over soon”.  Having to run in a schedule get tiring. Have to wake up for school at  6a.m.-2.20p.m then go home a nap from 3:00-5:00, then wake up get ready for work and by there by 6 or 6:30, later get out of work 3:30 in the morning, get home as fast as possible, be at home by 4 a.m. get ready for bed by 4:30/4:50 have to be in bed by 5 no matter what, then take a nap for an hour. Doing this routine for a year has physically ruin me. I actually cried because I can’t anymore. I felt like giving up, not  just in school and work but in life because I felt I haven't got anywhere in life for the past year I’ve being doing this. Since I haven't gave up this lead me to have great things in the past year, also brought my family way closer than is use to be. This change me to believe that I’m not a failure to society. That I should expect more of me and that I have more to offer. The amount of effort I have done lead me to move up a ladder in life.

Significant Event, Cooper Flowers

Significant Event

           I was 13 years old when my mother had her first heart attack. It was a cold and gloomy September day when I got home from school to see a note on the front door of my house that read; “ Coop, went to the hospital, had bad chest pains, dad will be home soon”. I didn’t really know how to feel. My mom is a fighter and I knew that, but, I had already watched her beat cancer twice. I couldn’t just sit down and let my thoughts drown me. I couldn’t drive at the time so I called my aunt to come pick me; she was already at the hospital.

           I was asked to wait in the lobby, by myself. Of course, I was 13 at the time, but I was as dumb at that age as I am now. I demanded to see my mother because I was her son and I had the right to see her one way or the other. Finally, I get called back to her room, and I can’t even look at mother. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. She was pale in the face, with wires and two IV’s hooked on her. She truly looked helpless. For the first time in my life, my mom wasn’t back on her feet as if nothing had happened.

           At this point, I’ve used three boxes of tissues trying to get myself cleaned up. I knew I need to be strong for my family. I was the only male from the family there at this point. I did what I thought my father would, which was to be strong and help calm the others as best as possible. It was a role I did under my own power, knowing that would be what both my parents would want. All said and done, my mother had 12 family members by her side. And me, well I stayed all night by her side. I couldn’t sleep knowing that she wasn’t alright.

           I tossed and turned all night once I tried to fall asleep. My mother was worried about me sleeping so I figured I would try to get some rest just for her. She should’ve been worried about herself, but being the woman that she is, put others first before herself. There I was at 13, trying to mature a little too fast because I thought my mother needed another man in the house ( she already had two) so I was doing my best. The doctors kept her for 3 nights just to make sure everything was okay. Being 41 years old and having a heart attack isn’t the highlight of someone’s life. The heart attack was the effect of my mother being a restaurant general manager and mother of three children with a grandchild living in the house.

           My mother ( just like me) doesn’t know when it’s time to take a day off to let her body rest. She says I’m cursed, I say I was brought up the right way.  I never knew how much my mother actually meant to me until I almost lost her. To this day, whether I leave for work, school or just to go out, I hug her and tell her I love her. She is the most important women in my life and I would be lost without her. Often, I forget about this moment and can put her through some hard times, but she always as her arms wide open worrying about me, when in reality, I should be the one taking care of her because she’s done it for me for 17 years. Those four days, have made rethink life as a whole.

aiko medina significant event

      Looking at my new born baby brother my hand around him wanting to cry but just one tear fell. I feel sad because i told myself this baby is an ugly child, But deep in me I was happy for a little brother. My mom named him ALEXANDER. After he was born few months later i started to have more responsibility.I had to do all the adult stuff like clean the house, making food for the family. my parent started to work. and when I had more responsibility taking care of a  10 month old baby and because of that I started to lose interest in my drawing. I would draw every day and now i barely even draw. I think that I am losing my creativity and becoming  more as an adult. I started to lose interest in school because of the responsibility that I have at home I trying to not slack off from school work

Jacob Bennett, Significant event post

Flowing, Rolling, Caressing all these things are what I feel. These sensations trampling through my mind like a storm. A wave, I sit and play my viola. These emotions not necessarily new but still foreign. As I sat and just played I realized I might like this. But my awareness to this new addiction was nowhere as strong as it is today. As the school year began it was mediocre, I liked playing but it was a hobby. I had no consideration for a career, just a thing to play. But then I realized I wanted to try more.

I started going to auditions and competitions, trying to better myself in this beautiful art. Each loss a lesson, each win a victory. If I didn’t get the best I tried harder, an all consuming passion to just do better. I went to solo/ensemble contest as my first true competition. As my elation and anxiety maxed, my audition came closer. See, I was already under a mountain of pressure. See it was my first competition so I was already nervous.But I was the first one to audition that day too.

So as I sit there cursing my last name: Bennett. Questioning why alphabetical order is such a normal custom. My teacher came in and told it was time. So being myself I played for him first. His amazement at the fact that I memorized was just a personal high. Imagine; me just a child playing a song with no music. I brought the music still because it was a rule that we had to have it.

My introduction, adrenaline pumping, heart bumping. “My name is Jacob Bennett, I will be performing Bouree, from the first suzuki book.” I pushed my stand to the side, wiped the sweat from my hand, and readied myself. I breathe deeply and give my teacher a nod. We were using a thing called smart music. It could give me a piano accompaniment without having a pianist. As the piano plays I feel my jubilation coming to an all-time high. My fingers start flying over the fingerboard. My notes like an angels voice. I’ll admit I’m not the most humble and I might be an unreliable narrator. But to me, I sounded like an angel.

My favorite part fast approaching I prepare for what could be compared to as fiddlin’. BAM…  forgot the notes as the computer played on I could feel the humiliation seeping up through the bare library floor. My eyes burning I listened and found the measure the song was at. But it was too late I had failed, as they gave me advice the only thing that crossed my mind was that I had failed my teacher. He had other far more superior players going to the competition but I felt like a let down. So I walked out and sat down at the bench and waited for my mom to come and pick me up. Knowing later that day I had an ensemble audition as well.

Feeling bummed out and not like myself I napped until it was time to spruce myself up. I woke up and prepared myself for another audition, dreading the faces I would see. As we pulled up to the school and I entered the lobby. I checked the posted scores and right next to my name was a three.  You see, the scoring scale is one to four. Four being that you epicly failed the song one being you played like a master. I felt I should’ve gotten a five. I mean who forgets notes, emphasis needed. And just like that the fire was back hungrier than ever. I had to do this again next year, I knew that I had liked music but never like this. This fire, and something akin rage was all I could feel. This invigorating scene, no longer feeling like a saddened pup with my tail between my legs. I left the school holding my head high. My walk possessing  the grandeur of a king. As I swiftly approached my car I looked my mom in the eyes, and with all the determination in the world I stated, “I’m going to do this next year.”.

Cielo Charles Significant Event

I grew up in a very much dysfunctional family that really caused a lot of deep depression to go on. My little brother and sisters dad was the reason for my dark part of my childhood. Although I adored their dad and believed he was my dad since he was all I knew when I was little. He had made the whole roller coaster of dark emotions start for me. After the huge split, by court order he made it very clear he never wanted me part of his custody. This is when the first drop of the roller coaster hit, I started my depression and anger, it definitely built up. I hated talking about my feelings because my mom, I felt didn’t care at the time. I didn’t have anyone to talk to, everyone didn’t understand a little girl who had “problems”. From then on I put a huge wall up to block every man out and anyone who tried to get close. I felt everyone who wanted to get close to me would soon leave so it was a lot easier to just shut myself up and nobody would get hurt. Every man that tried to talk to my mom I hated so much, I would be so rude whenever they came to meet us. I knew from then on I would never let a guy get close to me nor try to even care for me. It all was because of my brother and sisters dad leaving. I hated him. I hated the fact that my mom married a guy who didn’t have a great mindset. I thought all men were like him, all men just wanted to be with a girl for that reason, have kids then leave. I started to just keep to myself, walking around with a dull face and a broken spirit. A little heartbroken girl who had her wall builded up so high that man could ever hurt her again.

When I met John, my boyfriend, he was a light in my life. He taught me that I didn’t have to hurt anymore. He would be there to uplift me when I couldn't uplift myself. Many thought well “young love", Cielo. It wont last because you two are young and don’t really know what you want in life.” Yet in reality he has helped me so much to let my wall come down, to trust again.

He adored my smile that I hated so much because I thought if someone ever saw me smile they would feel I was weak and easily made happy. Whenever he saw me become closed off he told me to just relax and speak whats on my mind. Once I started telling him what I have felt over all these years it was like shackles broke off.  That was when I learned it was okay to cry, it was okay to be weak sometimes as long as I get back up. He has comforted me when I have been to rock bottom. I have a low immune system ever since I got sick with viral and bacterial meningitis. So of course doctor visits come easy. This past time I fainted at church and my body just collapsed, John rushed to church to meet me but the ambulance already had taken me. When I got to the hospital there he was, he gave me a kiss on the forehead and said,”I didn't know what to do but pray.” It was like as if my heart just felt overwhelmed with peace. Peace in knowing I didn’t have to be strong and hold everything together by myself anymore.  All I have ever wanted in life was just to have someone I can run to and break down and have them tell me everything will be alright, you're going to be alright. John has definitely been a blessing from God, he has helped me open up and try new things. He doesn’t mind me messing up , all he wants is to see me happy. Meeting him was a huge breakthrough for me. I have learned so many things from him. He has taught me to love myself and that my feelings do matter. That I don’t have to feel like im in this world alone. Not to mention his story is almost like mine so our values are both the same. Thats something I really do adore. The fact he came from a household where he took care of the kids and parents weren’t together but doing somewhat their own thing. It really helps me because my family struggles at times and he just pops up with pizza for dinner and helps me clean up. Like how could I be so blessed with a best friend as my boyfriend and someone who I can just run to and vent as long as I need. I truly believe if I didn’t meet him I wouldn't be here because of all the hurt and pain I was dealing with silently each day. He has made me better.

Maliya going into school did not know what she wanted to become. At school every teacher asked her every year what she wanted to be when she grew up. Thinking to her self every time after the kid before her said an astronaut or a rock star and the teachers said "well if you try hard and do good in school everything is possible." Maliya always thought that is she said she wanted to be a famous dancer everyone would laugh. her passion for dancing didn't stop her. Every time they would ask her what she wanted to become she would say a famous dancer proudly with a smile. Time went by and she became famous now going back to looking at the pictures she would take as a little girl doing what she lived most, in a room with no shoes on arching her closing her eyes thinking about what she would become and how strong her passion for dance was.