The Muse: Winter 2020 by Archbishop Mitty High School

The Muse amhs student literary magazine 7.01

muse \ ˈmyüz \ noun a source of inspiration; a state of deep thought or dreamy abstraction

TABLE OF

CONTENTS COVER Top Image, Elizabeth Joseph Bottom Image, Ariadine Antonio Letter from the Editors 5 FICTION Apple, Nathan Elias 52 ART Kirsten Lovely Mejia 7 Amaya Nerb 9 Resources and Tools, Sara Simoni 17 Fly to the Moon, Oscar Ortega 21 MudMade, Jaalen Mhoon 27 Legends Never Die, Jaalen Mhoon 27 Quarantine Window, Lena Choi 30 AI-I, Karina Mehdizadeh 33 A grey world, full of color, Julia Kerner 36 Clementine, Annabelle Barbazette 39 The Waiting Girl, Annabelle Barbazette 39 The Overseer, Karina Mehdizadeh 41 Taylor Rakow 41 Witch Owl, Alexandra Wong 44 Nostalgia,Vivian Volpe 46 Clairo, Annabelle Barbazette 55 Rising From the Water, Annabelle Barbazette 56 PHOTOGRAPHY Elizabeth Joseph 6 | 14 | 24 | 34 | 35 | 48 | 53 | 55 | 72 Julia Mae Mallari 7 Enya Liu 44 | 51 | 57 Lena Choi 30 Mia Yamagiwa 19 | 26 | 31 | 34 | 42 Terrance Pai 18 Ariadine Antonio 13 | 18 | 53 Maren Neunfinger 10 | 31 Erica Cardozo 8 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 29 Sunset in Quarantine, Nathan Wang 19 Alexandra Wong 17 | 26 | 48 Moonwatcher, Nathan Dhanani 31 Painting with Trees, Matthew Beymer 37 | 54 ESSAYS Our Future is Now - From the Lens of a Political Campaign, Ali Aslam 61

POETRY 6 Who am I?, Sienna Flores 9 rise & fly, Ria Sudhir 10-11 i’m not a number, Ria Sudhir 12-13 gen z difficulties, Emilie-Anne Roxas 14 To the Mind of Disturbed, Matthew Cervantes 15 diseased bodies, Jessica Hsu 16 Everyday Voices, Joy Barsoum 18 standing atop the golden gate bridge, Emilie-Anne Roxas 19 home coming, Emilie-Anne Roxas 21 Fly to the Moon, Oscar Ortega 22 Long Lost Tune, Joy Barsoum 24 Heart Belongs Home, Arnav Mishra 24 Sunrise, Taylor Huerta 25 All That Remains, James Huang 26 A Time Capsule to Quarantine, Maren Neunfinger 26 Quarantine Alarm Conundrum, Dylan Williams 28 A Dress-Up Doll, Rina Okuda 29 what’s the point, Sophia Schilb 30 The Guessing Game in My Head, Jay Morrison 32-33 Unearth, Danielle Slaughter 35 grasping clouds, Maren Neunfinger 40 The Painting of the Beach, James Huang 41 Brains Gone Wrong, Joy Barsoum 43 I’m Special, Ria Sudhir 47 Electric Love, Sara Simoni 53 Walk in the Woods, Joy Barsoum 53 Sea Mountain, Kelly Ilmi 54 Understanding, Emiliana Lo 54 some things don’t move…, Minh-Anh Pham 55 My Room, Kevin Liu 56 Bubble, Julianne Glahn SIX-WORD STORIES 41 Minh-Anh Pham 63 Elizabeth Joseph 63 Jessie Werthman 63 Joy Barsoum 63 Nathan Dhanani 63 Brooke Dal Ponte MUSIC 65 Dragon, Supash Bhat 66 Route Blanche, Dylan Williams 67 Highlands Track, Alexander Call 68 Byway 12, Mando Gonzalvez 69 Head in the Clouds, Arnav Mishra

DEAR READER...

5 If the beginning of 2020 was tumultuous, the rest of 2020 was an earth-shaking tsunami threatening to pull us all under.

In other words, it got worse.

We watched as the world fought against a virus, against systemic racism, against those who do harm in positions of power. We were saddled with the task of learning through screens, of missing important once-in-a- lifetime milestones, of not seeing the people we love most.

We faced –– still face –– a mirror before us, asking us this: Who were you, back then? Who are you, right now? Who do you want to become? In this issue, Pandora’s box opens to reveal language meant to encapsulate not the answers to these questions, but the stories about the societal problems exhumed by this strange series of unfortunate events. The struggles within ourselves we endured, hunched over a computer, alone in our rooms, clocks bearing an ungodly hour of the night as witnesses. Through art, trying to make sense of its (or our) place in the world. Through photographs, speaking more than one could ever alone.

We were asked: What do you stand for? Who are you fighting for? What will you do to change?

No matter how suffocating the darkness gets, we have never failed to lose hope. We hope for a new day, a new future, a new success. As Amanda Gorman said in her inaugural poem “The Hill We Climb”: When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid, the new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.

The following works are the intellectual property of Archbishop Mitty students. All ownership rights reserved.

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Who am I? by Sienna Flores ‘23 Who am I? An infant Innocent and watchful Absorbing all the wonders of this world Protected by my own ignorance. A teen Rebellious and unruly Intoxicated by the fumes of freedom As I take large breaths of it. An adult A little bit older, and a little bit wiser Working to find purpose But is purpose simply to live? An old soul Weathered by the journeys of life Awaiting death with open arms Grateful for a life to have been lived I am all these things All these possibilities And what I am Is what I want to be.

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

7 Julia Mae Mallari ‘22

Kirsten Lovely Mejia ‘22

Maren Neunfinger ‘23

Erica Cardozo ‘21

The clock strikes 10 I dream and aspire For the things that could have been Glimmers of hope that dance above my head

The clock strikes 11 Reality hits hard Like being awakened with a pail of cold water I sputter and mutter and cough and splutter But the truth is when I look up at the sky, all I see is guilt Guilt of falling but failing to rise again and guilt of quitting

The clock strikes 12 I fall asleep once more Uncertain of what the future brings Unsure of my mistakes All I know is that life is too short To lie waste in front of the tv screen So I fall asleep and dream I dream of a bird Flying free and guilt free Forever free I will be, as long as guilt doesn't engulf me

Amaya Nerb ‘21

Quarantine Project: Mural of sunflower field on garage door. Completed with help from Mitty alumni Ronja and Laura Nerb (classes ‘15 and ‘18). Completed in 160 hours. Rise & Fly Ria Sudhir ‘24

i'm not a number Ria Sudhir ‘24 1600 1250 A’s and B’s Numbers So small So helpful Suddenly it became a poison apple It knocked on my door I bit into it And I fell prey to a world of smoke and mirrors I struggled to fight it But I was no match for the devil himself It choked out my identity It stole my name Only whispers of it remain I’m either number 1 or 2 They have forgotten who I am I’m not a number I am not what you made me to be I will not And I can't be you I am me I sing I dance I laugh And I cry I’m a person living my life I have ideas I have jokes I have dreams and hopes Can you ask me Instead of what I scored on this or that

My mama named me IDEA My name has 4 letters But no one knows that The thing they know me as Has no letters It has no melodious sound No ups and downs Its Number 2 Not spelled out in letters Just number 2 Plain, boring, and marginalizing Numbers Meant for calculus and addition But sadly they became ones for self destruction My mama she told me To be brave To stand tall and to stand out But i can't do it anymore For the last time My name is IDEA Spelled I - D - E - A

gen z difficulties Emilie-Anne Roxas ‘21 My sword drags through blood and mud and bodies As I trudge on through the sea of screaming Crying desperately with a searching hand to the light The pyrite crowns have glitter shrouds and Gold is buried beneath writing, suffocating Mists are pulled by swindlers to offer to charlatans Spreading like snakes along the ground Underneath all the terrible, terrible screaming I have become attune to the suffering Because what else is there to do? Forced into a war that they say doesn’t exist Forced to push against mountains that Everyone and no one believes in Forced into armor too large because I was never taught my size

Forced to bring needles to a sword fight Watch in terror constantly in the terror of terror Up in their castles in clouds with golden geese and singing harps The giants laugh merrily, fed by mockingjays We poke with our needles at their feet and we are nothing But a small annoyance to them; The castles in clouds taught us that we will learn to wield swords When they are the anvil, the hammer, and the scythe;

Is it enough to stitch my wounds, pick the lock, and escape into the night? If I snap, will I light up the forest or explode? If I drown, will it be in words and water? I hear gurgling, creaking, snapping as I stand up stand up Stand up! Bad wine mixing on the floor Dripping from my diamonds Fight until your breath collapses under the strain of armies battling on its fields! I lift my last needle hope it becomes a sword one day and charge.

Ariadine Antonio ‘22

To the mind of disturbed Matthew Cervantes ‘21 May I ask you, why do you hurt? Is it you or are you scared of the feelings of abandonment? Answer truthfully, don't lie to yourself Why do you suffer? You cry and cry, but nothing gets better The disease consumes you The addiction kills your hope in life So once again why do you hurt? Now say to me it isn't the highs That life beat you down you are consumed your mind is behind the cage of lies when will you learn that no matter how high the highs are, the lows hit even harder why do you suffer? why? maybe life is too hard? maybe you are a victim? you’re lost. let me ask you one last time why do you suffer?

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

diseased bodies Jessica Hsu ‘21 infinitesimal thorns from blooming roses crawling and prodding at unexplained words shivering on my frozen, shocked tongue my voice holds sealed poison, slippery numbers toiling laborers desperately sweep away remains growing rectangular harsh screens reflecting in my eyes emitting blue light, alien sensations dulled fear amplified by the unknown. like superhero stories i used to love a crisis now entwines my legs with its muscled fingers, tripping me again. i can only wait for white clothed figures i call heroes because my hands are no longer mine, a toy of fate’s sweeping me in the annals of history papers the clock hanging listlessly the waiting room fills anxious cries tug on reluctant little strings in the amygdala

Tiffanie

i take scissors, wildly severing them all, picking apart crusted over regret choosing certain ones to hold, to store, to destroy so I can at least try to define my own body not made of cries but from sweet ethereal hope that will not be set in stone.

Everyday Voices Joy Barsoum ‘22 When something goes wrong: Don’t make a peep, you’ll only disappoint yourself. Don’t say anything, they’ll yell at you. Speak up! Worries: You’ll never make it. Fly! Be free! Don’t let it weigh you down. School: Your grades! I never knew that. This is so cool! Comparison: But--but--but--but, they are so much brighter, more hardworking, more creative, more liked. It must be their genes. That’s a pretty cool attribute. What an inspiration! Let’s work on it. Me, me, me. I’m a failure. You, you, you. You’re a masterpiece, and so am I.

Resources and tools Sara Simoni ‘22

Capture Hearts Alexandra Wong ‘22

Ombré Bridge Terrance Pai ‘22

standing atop the golden gate bridge Emilie-Anne Roxas ‘21 when the sky falls with a boom and a blast (will you be there?) if they trample the cockroaches under the heels of their boots (will you go with me?) if they rip my heart from my chest beating for someone else (will you find them, and tell them i'm not sorry i loved them?) if the sea rises and the hills burn (will you be there when our lungs fill with smoke or water?) when the drowning is all in my head (please be there) i know you won't leave me but i can't help but wonder as we stand together pushing against diamond ceilings (please let us be) (please let us be okay) (please be okay)

Ariadine Antonio ‘22

home coming Emilie Roxas ‘21 Indigo skies and dark brown eyes (Your heart will ache and break and cry.) Sleepless language, tuck flowers in hair (Your eyes will dry while your lungs die.) Starry-eyed smiles, Polaroid perfect (Your arms too heavy in your insidious neglect.) Summer wind whipping, sun bleeding, dripping (Water pours down your body — how deep is it, crippling?) A castle on clouds, spiraling into the gyre (Pillars of sand to hold our stone baggage.) Fast car, wine hot, golden bridges, make it stop— (Wreak havoc in the moonlight — daylight nigh) Scream until laughter pours down your cheeks! See the world in bleeding red — watch it fade from your vision Hollow and empty — to fill up again.

Mia Yamagiwa ‘21

Sunset in Quarantine Nathan Wang ‘22

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

To that little girl Surrounded with her blankets and building blocks With hair as messy as an untangled ball of yarn With small flowers pierced on the ends of her ears With cheeks as round and puffy as bread rolls Served with steaming cups of hot chocolate

Fly to the Moon

Oscar Ortega ‘24

When you grow up When you no longer need someone to hold your hand As you run down the street When you learn how to tie your shoes When you can reach the top of my head You’ll need to keep your head held up high You’ll need to learn how to recover You’ll need to meet people who can pass you a bandage Whenever you fall down Or who can give you a hand Whenever you’re ready to get back up Because one day you’ll fly to the moon Whether you grow out small wings Like those of a butterfly or a bluebird Or tie yourself to thousands of balloons Remember to be patient and wait until night comes But be quick and do not let it pass Because you might get burned by the sun It may take days or months It may take meticulous planning Or just quick action You may plunge back down onto the cold dark ground Where you may lose hope Or crash into a city building Not being mindful of where you’re going But one day, you’ll make it You will look back down at the city And you will see the lights You’ll wave back at us And I’ll be proud of the new star in the sky

To that little troublemaker Running around in her own world Exploring, Learning, Creating Never wanting to stay still Remember to keep changing, growing, and loving yourself And to also bring a jacket You might get a little cold

22 Alexandra Wong ‘22

Long Lost Tune Joy Barsoum ‘22

That mischievous tune Singing, flitting in your head What is your name, you!?

Erica Cardozo ‘21

Maren Neunfinger ‘22

Erica Cardozo ‘21

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Heart Belongs Home Arnav Mishra ‘22 I see blue and white reflective light all around me The church, the dome, so far from home, on this island But Every place I’ve been to there is one thing I know That my heart belongs home The streets are paved, they lead the way to the water The wheels, they turn as bikers go by unbothered But Every place I’ve been to there is one thing I know That my heart belongs home I see, a grand and ancient circle it surrounds me The stone is cold, the columns old it is crumbling All these places I’ve been to have led me to believe That my heart belongs home Every place I’ve been to there is one thing I know That my heart belongs home

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Sunrise Taylor Huerta ‘22 Throughout these hard times we need to remember to find the beautiful things in the world. This can help us appreciate what we have around us.

All That Remains James Huang ‘22 Life drifts out like morning dew The fleeting past leaves only few Legacies that shall remain A chance to fight does not refrain Through life and strife and stories told, We only count the ‘counts of bold Now and next can’t stay the same None remains but gold and fame We only have the chance today to etch our names and grasp toward fame to leave our only mark that lasts the leaves of gold of legends past Life drifts out like morning dew and when the church bells toll our name The passing stories leave but few Legacies that shall remain

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Mia Yamagiwa ’23

Maren Neunfinger ‘23

A Time Capsule to Quarantine Dylan Williams ‘23

Quarantine Alarm Conundrum A day that felt wasted: nothing done, nothing gained. A slash on the calendar, days of regret. A sticky note with pen, a plan for a new day. A crumpled, forgotten checklist. A slash. A slash. A slash. A year gone by: nothing done, nothing gained. A waste.

The purpose of that ringing is A long forgotten memory; Alarms that come and merge as one Colossal humming bustling tone of Work that piles in stacks so high I cannot seem to reach the end! The days become monotonous; How else to keep my sanity, Then remind myself with jolting sounds Reverberating from my phone which slowly start to become one Quarantine alarm conundrum

MudMade Jaalen Mhoon ‘23

Legends Never Die Jaalen Mhoon ‘23

Rina Okuda ‘22

A Dress-Up Doll When I was younger I used to play with my favorite doll You can do anything with the doll You can change her voice You can change her hair Her dress, her makeup Everything I would always tell her I will always love you so always be my tiny, little princess Now that I am in high school I don't play with my doll anymore I do more "girly stuff" I put on makeup to look pretty I raise my voice high so I sound cute I try to lose weight to look more attractive I act like I'm really dumb because I heard that boys like dumb girls I even got myself a boyfriend He told me I don't have to study because he can nourish me He wants me not to have opinions though Because apparently having an opinion is "not cute" Oh yeah he once told me "I will always love you so always be my tiny, little princess" Well, I mean if you say so but be careful, this princess is a little more expensive than the other ones.

what's the point Sophia Schilb ‘22 her hair is too frizzy, too greasy, too long she’s an utterly hopeless case, just because she’s not blonde you can barely see her eyes behind those glasses she wears her socks are too high, and they’re not matching pairs nevertheless none of the acne and the awkward will stay she’ll be newly born with all her flaws waxed away she’ll be envied, glorified, and some will be pining but when she goes to bed her stomach will be whining at the end of it all she’ll be a ten no longer a one but her chances of making it out unscathed are slim to none

Erica Cardozo ‘21

The Guessing Game in my Head Jay Morrison ‘22

Quarantine Window Lena Choi ‘24

A puzzle every conversation but The pieces keep changing Nobody told me the rules to this game I have to play it all the same There is too much input Light Noise Touch Facial expressions have meanings How am I supposed to look My face struggling to be correct Slang eludes me The dictionary keeps changing I try to listen and learn But it’s Too fast Too loud Too bright Too hot Too cold Why can I understand metaphors but not sarcasm I feel like I missed the class On how to be a person I see and repeat Then people call me fake I’m just trying to help you relate These things are hard to learn Every meeting adjourned I’m doing my best I’ll keep trying I guess.

Mia Yamagiwa ‘21

Moonwatcher Nathan Dhanani ‘22

Unearth Danielle Slaughter ‘21 I pass my time in abandoned ruins, Walking through a world plagued by past doings. I glance at the faces of forgotten legends Living in a world that I know has ended. Your past calls to me with a beckoning smile, Urging me to rest, to stay for a long while. But I’ve fallen victim to a charlatan once before, So why do I feel compelled to do it once more? The world fueled me with its false perceptions As I fawn over your blossoming deception. Only silence and peace touch this land of ruin While my mind ponders an untimely resolution.

Maren Neunfinger ‘23

AI-I I yearn to lay this land to rest, But my heart refuses to accept this request. I imagine what world once stood in this place, A kingdom of power or an empire with grace. But no matter the riches that stood on your land, I see the rubble and turmoil and begin to understand. The glamor and gold I see in this waste Are merely a façade of what I wish to face. The beauty of your land no longer holds worth, And I know to keep our memories and past unearthed.

Karina Mehdizadeh ‘22

Mia Yamagiwa ‘21

grasping clouds Maren Neufinger ‘23 i reach so high on my tippy toes, leaning forward. balancing only by imagining a skyscraper, surrounded by the white cotton candy. so tauntingly close, the sky jeers at me, at my effort. i am determined to grasp the wispy cloud with my pleading, outstretched hand. i reach it, it floats away, it disappears. i did it.

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

A grey world, full of color Julia Kerner ‘24

The Gloomy Chronicle Matthew Beymer ‘21

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Clementine Annabelle Barbazette ‘23

The Waiting Girl Annabelle Barbazette ‘23

The Painting of The Beach James Huang ‘22 Cream-colored shores pink-laden skies and clouds reaching far as sea stretches wide For long I so stared into the painting and desired to feel the sun on my feet Then all of a sudden the clouds I could feel had started to move as if they were real The silky white trail -a hazy figure walked along I blinked once or twice and then she was gone.

Minh-Anh Pham ‘22

The Overseer

6-Word Stories

Karina Mehdizadeh ‘22

Red nose. Sleepy. Not Rudolph. Sick. wish i could teleport. avoid traffic. green to yellow and red. fall...

Taylor Rakow ‘22

Brains Gone Wrong Joy Barsoum ‘22 When you think you’re so smart and you can derive every geometric postulate without a textbook. So you depend on that and forget to say good morning to your mother.

42 Mia Yamagiwa ‘21

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

I’m Special Ria Sudhir ‘24 Life is a dream. In a sea of smiles I float. Through shades of hope Show me a rainbow of love. I hear my momma crying. My home is a prison now. I want to go outside I can’t. I want to learn I’m stopped. I want to say I’m fine I yearn to shine Be on cloud 9. Let her have peace of mind. Why am I not good enough? Why do I need approval? I’m no different. You and me; We have the same basic needs So tell me Why do you forget me? Her grays are showing. I’m calling Hear my plea Give me education Give me kindness Show me a little love Shower some hope I promise it’s free Watch me bloom and grow We are no different, are we?

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Witch Owl Alexandra Wong ‘22

Enya Liu ‘23

Maren Neunfinger ‘23

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Nostalgia Vivian Volpe ‘21

Electric Love

Sara Simoni ‘22 I want a friend before a lover. Only in the absence of tension Can we go all in. Nothing forced or planned The intricacies of your hand And your life in mine Two sparks set to fly A bond unbreakable The connection unshakable. Better than a soulmate A friend to go on play dates And share every laugh and joke A smile to hold Onto for dark nights Wings to help me take flight. I want to be drawn to you The way a baby turtle is drawn to the big blue No vampires, kissing booths, or lost letters Just our simple adventures, a better Endeavor, nothing drastic with scars Just hold me in your arms under the stars. No pictures to prove affection Just memories of imperfection And your touch, when we dance When we leap and take a chance.

Make no mistake, Someday I’ll marry my friend, But there won’t be broken promises to amend I want u to kiss me like my kindergarten lover to defend me like my oldest brother. Your eyes meet mine, the storm begins I see the spark within This is not romance that I speak of, But rather, an electric love.

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Enya Liu ‘23

Apple Nathan Elias ‘22 The dying leaves of a single tree splitting a soft hill perfectly in half clung for dear life as the breeze mocked them, and the grass begged them to fall down. Two friends laid there on either side of the tree, and the first was occupied with tossing one of their apples and catching it over and over again. “What if you tried this,” the second friend murmured to the first, turning their head and arm to reach for the apple. The first friend shook their head. “Hold on a sec, tell me what you want to do first,” the first friend replied. “You keep tossing it in the air and waiting for it to come back down,” the second friend said. “Yeah, and. . .” “That’s boring. What if you moved your hand,” bringing up their arm to demonstrate, “like this. Try and catch the apple before it comes down all the way. That’s a better challenge.” “This isn’t a challenge, I’m just catching an apple,” and upon seeing their friend’s disappointment, “It’s easier this way. The apple comes up, and falls back down in a perfect arch. Why ruin it?” “. . .” “My parents are having dinner outside later today, they said it’d be nice to enjoy the air.” “. . .” The leaves’ rustling intensified with the wind, filling the silence. “Do you think it’s the breeze or the leaves that make the noise when it's windy?” “. . .” The apple tosser turned back away from their friend, and refocused their efforts on catching the fruit at the right spot.

53 Walk in the Woods Joy Barsoum ‘22 A song vibrates in the mountains The melody rings over the crests The harmony resonates, enveloping the trees, Slipping behind their trunks, pouring through the creeks. Flying through the air swaying with the leaves. Ariadine Antonio ‘22

Sea Mountain Kelly Ilmi ‘22 Oh the bitter smell enclosed in the surrounding air, Compliment the clashes and roars as they unfold and retract. Then just peering over, their fine beauty just emerging, The crystal stones approach, approach each time, to the majestic beast, As it heaves inwards, accumulating its victims into the dark depths.

some things don’t move... Minh-Anh Pham ‘22 some things don't move-until you stop the clouds the moon the wind, trees, grass some things don't move-until you stop until you lie down one bright day on a vibrant purple FILA mat floating, moving, winding, flowing celestial movements unseen revealed while i lie there i can't help but think, how did i not know simply existing just watching asking why some things don't move-until you stop

Understanding Emiliana Lo ‘23 i get it, me too yeah we go through the same things i understand you

Painting with Trees Matthew Beymer ‘21

My Room Kevin Liu ‘24 A peaceful place for me to work, A peaceful place for me to sleep. A peaceful place to stay all day, And to put all the things that I keep.

Clairo Annabelle Barbazette ‘23

Rising From the Water Annabelle Barbazette ‘23

Bubble Julianne Glahn ‘21 The sky was filled with gray Rain whispering on an empty street And minds were filled With the wants and cares And so the people watched In bubbles of worry, doubt, and fear But the clouds broke The sunshine came And people smiled

Maren Neunfinger ‘23

Enya Liu ‘23

Traveling Back in Time Enya Liu ‘23

Maren Neunfinger ‘23

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

Erica Cardozo ‘21

Our Future is Now - From the Lens of a Political Campaign Ali Aslam ‘22 The COVID-19 era had brought together a series of new and old politicians running to make the world a better place. During this unprecedented time, I decided to join the new Rishi Kumar for Congress campaign. Being a part of this campaign was a unique experience, which gave me a perspective of how some political figures view the COVID-19 era. Rishi Kumar always promoted the message that “Our Future is Now.” When I began this campaign, I thought of this phrase as something very generic; however, through the outreach programs that this candidate introduced, I was able to take part in new experiences, which eventually gave me a perspective on how the “Our Future is Now” message meant to always prioritize your community. I was able to learn this message by seeing through the lens of a new politician. One prime example that helped me understand this message was when this campaign launched an extremely important outreach program. During the midst of the pandemic and one of the most important stages of this campaign, Rishi Kumar decided to suspend all his campaign activities to launch the Neighborhood Pandemic Preparedness Team (NPPT). This program brought together hundreds of volunteers and interns to reach out to 86,000 senior citizens-- offering help with groceries, medication, and masks. In addition, during the California fires the NPPT reached out to evacuated citizens and offered our help during this crisis. This program that I took part in showed me how politicians often put their community before any other campaign-related activities. All in all, I interpret the “Our Future is Now” message as a phrase that helps me realize some of the issues that we are facing within our community and encouraging me to ask, “How can I help?”

6-Word Stories “I don’t know what to do.” -Elizabeth Joseph ‘22 “A virus stopped all; can't return.” -Jessie Werthman ‘22 “Chrysalis shell remaining. She’s gone flying.” -Joy Barsoum ‘22 “You’re a whirlwind with perfect timing.” -Nathan Dhanani ‘22 “‘I can’t breathe’ - another innocent man.” -Brooke Dal Ponte ‘22

Elizabeth Joseph ‘22

SONGS

Dragon Supash Bhat ‘24

Route Blanche Dylan Williams ‘23

Highlands Track Alexander Call ‘22

Byway 12 Mando Gonzalvez ‘22

Head in the Clouds Arnav Mishra ‘22

Moderator Mr. Kevin Brazelton

Proofreader Mrs. Janelle Kroenung

Administrator Mr. Keith Mathews

Editors Ariadine Antonio Matthew Burrows Jessica Hsu Tiffanie Huang Elizabeth Joseph Brady Koong Arnav Mishra Stella Park Christa Rios Emilie Roxas Georgia Stolpman Ishir Vaidyanath Lauren Vu

Archbishop Mitty High School Literary Magazine

Mission Statement

The Muse: AMHS Student Literary Magazine is a collection of original, creative content produced by students of Archbishop Mitty. The purpose of this magazine is to support students' creative expression, to allow students to share their words and experiences in an imaginative way, and to establish a community of artists, writers, and thinkers. By creating an outlet for student voices, The Muse hopes to foster a culture of self-expression and interconnection throughout the entire student body.

Thanks for reading this issue of The Muse: AMHS Student Literary Magazine! Our creative ventures can have a profound impact on our understanding of the world around us. It is our sincere hope that the content within this issue has inspired you to think, write, dream. Please look forward to more issues. We hope to see you again as we publish more fantastic work of AMHS students. – The Editors