Identity

By Allie

“I guess we should get her a helmet for the pool,” my dad said to break the silence that permeated his rusty old maroon station wagon. With me bundled up in the back seat, my parents and I were on our way home from a consultation with yet another doctor. Two hours earlier we had sat in a doctor’s office as he told them that I would not be a “normal” child and that I would never be able to go to the beach, read, and certainly never play sports. I like to think that I have acquired my parents’ indomitable attitude towards adversity. I have been discouraged, made fun of, stared at, and ignored because I have albinism.

By Franchesca, Age 16

Reach-

I know you feel cold,

and alone inside.

The drama you went through,

and questions “Why?”

By Gabriela, Age 21

What is Up? Some days I cannot shake the fact that I should be doing more for humanity and it produces in me a peculiar anxiety that is hard to calm. On good days, it can result in a surge of momentum and I make blueprints for my future in making things a little better. On bad days like today, though, I feel the need for distraction, so I sit at my computer and open iTunes. I peer over my shoulder and make sure that I am alone. I am. Then I let myself be hypnotized by the lullaby of glossy colors and little waists, by the mobile of changing fonts on the constant white background.

By Catharine D., Age 21

Like any high school student, I wanted a summer job that would make me a lot of money, and fast. I had accepted a job to work part time as a waitress, but my measly salary of $6 an hour was not enough and was probably illegal and considered slave labor. I had been asked to baby-sit for a few families, but it seemed as though they all wanted me at the same time during the week days. Thus, I came up with the solution to start my own play school.