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Student’s Writings

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Student's Writings
April 23, 2023

The students were tasked to “picture yourself in Wonderland.” The prompts included the Beatles song, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which was inspired by a child’s nursery school drawing and the imagery of “Alice in Wonderland.” We  are  featuring three very different approaches to the topic. Jayla takes us (and two of her fellow students) down the rabbit hole. Rhys considers it from the perspective of a real world trek to reach America from Colombia. And Kendall reminds us that Wonderland is always within us. WONDERLAND A land or place full of wonder? Do any of you know a place like that? I do—my brain. I would love to see my brain one day. I would cut open my head and rip it right out. You know, if it wouldn’t kill me! My brain is different from everyone else’s. Sometimes I can’t even wrap my own head around it. Like when I’m having a bad day and my brain just shuts it out. Or when someone says something that really tests my patience, and my brain figures out a way to make a joke out of it. My brain can make a joke about anything. People tend to be attracted to me because of my brain. Whether it be how funny I am or how empathic I am. But you know the thing about having such a good, funny brain? When I get low, I don’t stay low long. My brain tries to fight every bad thought that I have. Sometimes even before I’m done coping.  It's like...

by
Student's Writings
April 23, 2023

The students were tasked to “picture yourself in Wonderland.” The prompts included the Beatles song, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which was inspired by a child’s nursery school drawing and the imagery of “Alice in Wonderland.” We  are  featuring three very different approaches to the topic. Jayla takes us (and two of her fellow students) down the rabbit hole. Rhys considers it from the perspective of a real world trek to reach America from Colombia. And Kendall reminds us that Wonderland is always within us. WONDERLAND There is no opportunity in my country. I can’t make enough to support myself. I have to go to America. America seems like a wonderland. I won’t be persecuted for what I say, I can practice my own religion, and it has good paying jobs. But how do I get there? I have no visa or a green card. I have to make it there myself. I started off in Colombia to make it through the Darien Gap to Panama. Hundreds of miles of jungle are between me and freedom. The cartels set up a sophisticated operation to move us; they’re trafficking us. They told us it will only be a two-day walk. I use my savings to buy water, some clothes, and to pay the fees. As soon as we make it on the trail, it's nothing like the cartel said it would be. The mud grips your feet and pulls you down. People lose their shoes and have to walk the rest of the trip barefoot. Cartel members get paid...

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Student's Writings
April 23, 2023

The students were tasked to “picture yourself in Wonderland.” The prompts included the Beatles song, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which was inspired by a child’s nursery school drawing and the imagery of “Alice in Wonderland.” We  are  featuring three very different approaches to the topic. Jayla takes us (and two of her fellow students) down the rabbit hole. Rhys considers it from the perspective of a real world trek to reach America from Colombia. And Kendall reminds us that Wonderland is always within us. WONDERLAND Sitting in the classroom, my head felt light. I closed my eyes and started thinking. A few minutes later I hear this ticking. I try to ignore it, but the ticking continues. I pick up my head, everyone is gone, and this white, ugly, red-eyed rabbit is staring at me. It looks down at its ticking clock, then at me, and runs off. I run after the rabbit. We get to a park, and he jumps down a hole. It reminds me of the movie “Alice in Wonderland.” However, when I jumped down the hole, my trip wasn’t as slow or as nice as Alice. I smashed into a piano, dislocated my finger, and slammed into the ground. “Damn gang, why you land like that?” Karla says “What you mean? You acting like this a regular thing” I said “You saw that rabbit too huh? He threw a rock at me, next thing I know I’m spiraling down this hole” Karla explains “Anyone else down here?” “Kendall, but she ain’t see the rabbit, she was walking and fell into the hole” “Where...

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Student's Writings
April 16, 2023

An important aspect of Creative Writing is an opening that grabs attention and provokes the reader’s interest to know more. Last week, the students were tasked to share stories about their Spring Break experiences. Here are some of their opening lines. CHASE: I wake up at 3 P.M. on the table. My head feels light. This massive white light shines down on me. People surround me in white coats. “Okay, Chase. We’re going to move you onto your bed,” a blurry figure says. I nod my head. I can’t talk. I can barely breathe. I’m hyperventilating. “3, 2, 1,” someone says. I’m lifted off the operating table. Someone shoots me with a shotgun 7 times. At least that’s what it feels like. RHYS: I don’t know if anyone else does this, but I have a list of the coolest things I’ve ever done. I’ve been on a roller coaster with no seatbelt, drop-kicked my brother, and saved my house from a fire. But nothing I ever did tops what I did over Spring Break—I met Batman. HECTOR: On Wednesday afternoon, I finally snapped. JAYLA: I thought it was a great idea to go out to eat. The car ride was terrible. Shonda was blasting church music the entire ride. KARLA: Spring Break was terrible. I was so sad. I hated it. KENDALL: On Saturday, I decided to change things up a bit. I knew what had to be done. It was finally time to get my nose pierced....

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Student's Writings
February 19, 2023

AWOL…the two students who sit to your immediate left and right have gone missing. Help us find them. Chase fears he may be responsible, given that this is not the first time his next door neighbors have disappeared. His dialogue with the cops is classic. AWOL I walk into the school, my stomach churning at the thought of having to watch the news. I wish I could just disappear for today, go AWOL, and not have to watch the news. Too bad Mr. Tom would make me fetch a switch if I skipped. When I enter, I see the usual sights. E is sitting by the door playing football on his phone, Danny is looking up quantum computers, Rhys isn’t here yet, like usual, and Jayla is also missing, which is weird. She’s usually early, making Mr. Tom his five cups of coffee. I shake Mr. Tom’s hand and sit down at my seat. I do the attendance at 7:45. I’m here, Karla still isn’t here, E is here, Madison is here, Hector is here, Danny is here, Ethan is here, Kendall is here. But Rhys isn’t here, and Jayla isn’t here either. Mmmmmm. Guess who’s gonna be on the homework list today! Rhys comes in at 7:50. Dang, that’s early for him. The entire day goes by and neither Karla nor Jayla show up. They didn’t even text. Mmmmm. Mr. Tom gives us another one of those super serious talks about following the honor code and showing up every day, on time, and calling the school if you can’t make...

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Student's Writings
February 19, 2023

FAB FOURS…life is full of great foursomes. Some might even grow in your backyard. Kendall literally personifies the life of that rarest (and luckiest) of foursomes. FAB FOURS It gets hard being this liked. I have a whole holiday based on me. I’m just “that” girl. People have been looking for me for years, but you'll never find me unless you have spectacular luck. I may not be a flower but boy, do I have power. If you haven’t guessed already, let me tell you who I am. I’m a clover. Green and clean, kind of mean. I'm a clover, but not one of those three leaf dirty clovers. I’m a Four-leaf clover. You know the name and don’t wear it out. BACK TO THE REAL LIVES OF PLANTS… So over here in Plantville, these weeds and dirt eaters are trying to tell me that I'm too cocky and I'm not down to earth enough. Like how are you gonna tell me I’m not down to earth enough when I’m on earth? Girl, I literally am the Earth. But anyways, other than that mess I have just been chilling. You know, blowing in the wind, eating well, and just doing me. I don’t know why these other plants hate on me when they know they wanna be me. Like, make it make sense! Imma give y'all a little tour of my 10.5 million dollar house. So up here is my shower because you know I don’t wanna be out here smelling like mulch. Right here is my Fenty beauty chloroplast spritz....

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Student's Writings
December 16, 2022

The students were tasked to enter one of three doors, marked YESTERDAY, TODAY, or TOMORROW. YESTERDAY would allow them to experience any historical event, but not change the outcome. TODAY would place them in the middle of any current event. And TOMORROW would take them forward 12 years to celebrate what would then be Mr. Tom’s 80th Birthday. CHASE skips ahead to find Mr. Tom having finally succumbed to the virtual world. VR Golf at 80 “Take those ugly, good for nothing, spawn of the devil himself goggles off, Chase!” Mr. Tom demanded. I look at him through my virtual reality goggles. “But, Mr. Tom! You know my eyes hurt when I’m not wearing them. Ugh, the real world is sooo boring too!” I groan. “Back in my day, we ain’t have no fake reality goggles.” “Mr. Tom, your days were the 1960s. Things have changed now. This is the new norm.” “Ain’t nothing ‘normal’ about living your entire life in a fake, dream world where nothing matters.” He fires back. “It is normal, though. You get used to it!” I tell him. “You do get used to it, just like how an addict gets used to crack. You’re more addicted to your virtual reality than a crack addict is in a world where crack is free.” “Dang Mr. Tom. You didn’t have to go that far. I could stop anytime I wanted to. I just don’t wanna stop!” “Sure thing, bud. Just don’t come running back to me when your obsession eventually overwhelms you, and you are slowly consumed by virtual reality until it takes control of every...

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Student's Writings
December 2, 2022

The students were tasked to enter one of three doors, marked YESTERDAY, TODAY, or TOMORROW. YESTERDAY would allow them to experience any historical event, but not change the outcome. TODAY would place them in the middle of any current event. And TOMORROW would take them forward 12 years to celebrate what would then be Mr. Tom’s 80th Birthday. JAYLA feels the pain of slavery and meets a woman called Minty. A Woman Called Minty I open the door to Yesterday. I walk through and it feels like I’m falling until, suddenly, I slam into the ground. I look around and see nothing but African Americans being whipped, people crying out, others picking cotton. Suddenly, a huge force connects with my face. I cry out in pain only to be hit again. The brutal force inflicted on me left me extremely confused. After a while, the hits stopped, and the white man walked off. My body ached. The amount of pain was enough to make someone want to end their life. “Get up” a woman said. “Get to work before he brings more.” The woman walked off and went back to doing the tasks given to her. I managed to sum up enough energy to get close to her. I started picking cotton as well, my body still burning from the punishment before. “Where am I?” I asked “Dorchester County” the woman said “W-What’s your name?” I asked the woman “Minty” she said. “Stop talking before you get us both whipped or worse...

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Student's Writings
December 2, 2022

The students were tasked to enter one of three doors, marked YESTERDAY, TODAY, or TOMORROW. YESTERDAY would allow them to experience any historical event, but not change the outcome. TODAY would place them in the middle of any current event. And TOMORROW would take them forward 12 years to celebrate what would then be Mr. Tom’s 80th Birthday. DANNY takes us into the bizarre 9th Century papal synod of a cadaver. The Cadaver Synod I’m walking down a long, paved road in the countryside, where each house and patch of land is so very separate from another. I go off to a trail, where the trees are marked with crimson stripes of paint, and I arrive at a cave with distinct graffiti on it. I walk into the cave, compelled by boredom. Surrounded by darkness, I use my phone as a flashlight. After a certain point of depth into this cave, I see architecture and artifacts of which I’ve never seen before. I find artifacts of great technology, almost as If crafted by gods. Things that I cannot begin to comprehend are scattered throughout. I arrive at a room with three doors, all of which have symbols over top of them. Not knowing what each of these doors represent, I reluctantly search the cave for some sort of hint or translation for the symbols. I find 3 tablets, one of which is broken, but the two are in a language I’ve never seen before. From then I connect the dots that this language is very similar to Cuneiform, and I spend several...

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Student's Writings
November 21, 2022

Hector takes his blessings for granted, until an all-too-real dream of being homeless, cold and hungry makes him appreciate what he has. Homeless for Thanksgiving I went to bed after arguing with my mom about why the food was not ready. I woke up, lying on the ground somewhere in downtown Baltimore, with a blanket covering me in the freezing cold, my stomach empty and growling. I was so confused about what had happened. I was just in my room a second ago, comfortable, and warm. The cold became so unbearable, and my hunger got so bad that I could not sleep at all the whole night. As the sun came up the next morning, I had no money so I had to start asking for anything so that I could get food. I asked many people; some were kind and others were rude and told me to get a job. At the end of the day, I had enough money to get myself a McChicken from McDonald’s and that was the best tasting meal ever. But I regretted arguing with my mom over how the food was not ready, and I missed all of the things that I had. I took so many things for granted—my bed, my room, a warm shower, having somewhere to stay and call home. As night came, I tried to find somewhere to sleep. I found a place and laid down. I tried to go to sleep wishing that I could return to how things used to be. When I woke back up, I was in...

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