Ammy Castaneda-Torres
Table of Contents Red Ribbon Week
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Jaydn Johnson
Roses are Red Ribbon of Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Katia Burrows
Drugs
Ayme Pariente
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Shawty, can you hear me? It’s gas or what? Let It Go
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Jermiah Patterson
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Red Ribbon Week Poem
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Back Story of Red Ribbon Week Drug Free
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The Pink Inhaler Short Story Drug Free Red and Blue Drugs Don’t Do Drugs
Janya Curry Kianna Perkins
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Antonio Jordan Eveline Dorce
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Drugs can ruin your snugs Trap
Marilyn Rivas Canales
Kenauz Kelly Hannah Debord Albertha Neal-Flournory Chrisara Tindall Jason Bello Christopher Soto Nickia Whitehead Sidney Henry, Jr.
Ascend Logo, all other Graphics Courtesy Clip Art
Cover Art - Ammy Castaneda Torres, 10th Grade
Back Cover - Nakia Jackson, 12th Grade
This is a Publication of Ascend Academy Charter High School - English Department @2021
Red Ribbon Week No More Drugs No More Drugs Trying to hide the pain Losing everything they had Creating a monster, insane People are not all bad But with the drugs they lose themselves Families barely recognize them It’s really confusing and sad No More Drugs No More Drugs Robbing, Stealing, Drugging - acting a fool, Nah, I'm good I’ll just stay in school I’ve never done drugs so I don’t know myself But I’ve seen it take lives till there’s nothing left No More Drugs No More Drugs
- Jaydn
Johnson, 9th Grade
Roses Are Red & The Ribbon Of The Truth Roses are red Including the ribbons of the truth. Using drugs makes you feel happy But little do you know It’s unhealthy for you. Though you are living a harsh life You assume doing drugs Is a solution for you, Instead of going to get help You rather bury yourself with death And each and every night, Whatever you’ve done in the dark Will soon come to light. You look at it as satisfaction But in due time It will soon give your body A bad reaction. The ambition you lack Comes from the drugs you take And for the sake of feeling It’s giving you a heart-ache. Some nights you think about quitting But it’s hard to stay Away from that bad addiction I pray that one day You will Eventually get it But this is the truth About the Red Ribbon.
- Katia
Burrows,
11th Grade
Ugh... drugs... aren't they great? They can be sooooooo fun, aint it? Every time you're just out here “wanting to have fun” U get such a rush, making you feel like you rule this world till that one day comes. You lost your friends because your getting to angry or rude maybe even selfish, All Your money is being spent ‘N even worse now you don’t even recognize No matter how long you stare at yourself in the mirror. Who are you? What are you? What day is it ? How did time go by so fast ?
How did I ruin every good thing that could've probably made my life a sweet, sweet miracle? Cause I chose you instead of myself I wasn't strong enough to choose myself at the time “N if it weren't for that, who knows where I'd be Addicted? Dead? Not everyone is as lucky as I. Yeah, I might have messed things up My house life, college opportunities, But now I’m better and learning to love myself again with the great opportunity of finding my new path to take and can proudly say drug free is me.
- Ayme
Pariente, 12th Grade
Shawty, can you hear me? Drugs are addictive They hurt your feelings Even the devil be interfering Make you love ‘em drugs Even find you a plug .
Damn things be so messed up When stuff is rough you get ‘em drugs Shawty, why can't you just find a solution? A solution that won't give you delusions. Speak yo’ mind Shawty, you got this, You know you don't gotta deal with this bullsh*t by yo’ self, c'mon you know you will rock this. Life you got, don't take it for granted Or you will end up stranded In your mind. Can't you see Shawty, are you blind? Let yourself get some help by some professionals, You know that drug is very obsessional, You know what's your potential, My see-through is you killing your ego. At the end of the day it's your decision But take this decision with precision.
- Marilyn Rivas
Canales, 10h Grade
. . . it’s gas or what? Gas is good - weed - I’m talking exotic packs, even tho people think it’s gone, have you out of there, it’s other facts - like I know y'all be feeling good when you high off that THC, but it could be laced - so if they give it to you say let me see, but there are a lot of other facts to it. Marijuana can have you on the streets strung out so if you decide to do drugs look into it first - there isn't always a negative to it - but there is. So think about it before you do it. I took an edible once, not the gummy worm bears and that type of stuff, it looked like a vitamin . . . That one small edible had me in a hospital tripping.
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Jermiah Patterson,
9th Grade
Let It Go The best way to stay drug free Is by being me You must let it go And have the power to say no It’s not as great as you think Its effects and damage can make you sink Get better before it’s your last day to blink You got better days to live ahead Do better and choose something else instead Drugs can damage your life Including your family, friends, kids, and wife It’s like sticking someone in the chest with a knife Get yourself on the right track and live your dream Work with the right people, together as a team Drugs will not take you to the top They’ll just make you drop You’ll end up underground I will stay drug free Because I want to be me.
- Antonio
Jordan, 11th Grade
Red Red Ribbon Ribbon Week Week Poem Poem “You took away all my anger & sadness But somehow in the end I always ended up with anger & sadness. You made me feel like floating in the sky was my happiness But somehow in the end I always ended up with anger & sadness. You made me forget the disasters that were going on around me But in the end it all came back.”
“You said you’d be there for me but I guess that was just for the moment.”
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Eveline Dorce, 11th Grade
The Back Story Of Red Ribbon Week Have you ever thought about what’s the true meaning of Red Ribbon Week? Today, I will be talking about how this started. Red Ribbon Week goes for being drug-free. It also symbolizes the dangers of drug use. Red Ribbon Week is important for many people who deal with different scenarios of abusive drugs. Furthermore, Red Ribbon Week is an awareness campaign that gets different kinds of information to the general public about drug use. This week is also designed for people to get other people together and work on activities that help rebuild a sense of community and a common purpose. The person who inspired Red Ribbon Week was Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. In 1985 he was brutally murdered by drug traffickers while he was investigating a drug cartel in Mexico. People started wearing red ribbons to honor his sacrifice. His friend, Henry Lozano, Californian’s for Drug-Free Youth Board of Directors, created the first Statewide Red Ribbon Campaign in memory of Enrique “Kiki” Camerena, who was as a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent. Red Ribbon Week is also the largest and longest running drug awareness and prevention program. As a result, Red Ribbon Week should really be known because most people don’t know what it stands for, how it started, and how it affects a lot of people. The red ribbon became a symbol for prevention in order to reduce illegal drugs. There is also a Red Ribbon Week Patch Program to “empower young people to engage in drug-free activity and strengthen their anti-drug beliefs” (Malloch). People may also ask why people wear red ribbons or why people wear red due to this specific week. Well, Camarena High School friend Henry Lozano and Congressman Ducan Hunter created “Camarena Clubs” - wearing the red ribbons to show their opposition to drugs. Therefore, Red Ribbon Week should be known everywhere as in different countries and states. This week can also help people who have drug addictions or just starting to get into smoking become aware and maybe seek help.
Pictured: Henry Lozano with young guests from Calexico High School in California, where the Red Ribbon Campaign began in 1985. Wikipedia.
Source: Malloch, Marlena, Waving the Red Ribbon. The Paw Print, 2019, RedRibbon.org
- Janya
Curry, 9th Grade
It’s that time of year, Red ribbon week is here, Dear fellow peers, it’s no need for fear. We’ve all taken the pledge. We do it every year. No drugs for us! We want to live clean. We promise to stay away, From nicotine, drugs, and alcohol, too. Why? We want to live and travel down successful avenues.
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Kianna Perkins, 12th Grade
Drugs Can Ruin Your Snugs Drug use is life abuse Drug user is a looser Drugs are a hole that ruins the soul Drugs are like a knife which kills your entire life Drugs are not cool, they make you a fool Do a good deed and kill the weed Don’t be insane, drugs ruin the brain Don’t puff, keep away from that stuff Drug abuse is of no use Drug abuse? No excuse Drug addiction is not a fiction Drug is a poison that kills your ambition Injurious to health are all slugs And did you know this? Drugs can ruin your snugs.
- Kenauz
Kelly, 10th Grade
Trap Trap Legs start shaking, palms sweating, getting anxious . . . Victim: I need it but no, I can't. Bad Side: Just do it, it’ll make you feel better. What's the worst that can happen? It’s not like you're not going to die. Good Side: Don't do it, it will only make things worse. I know it feels good but in the end you can die. Bad Side: Just one more pill. Victim: No. I can't. Bad Side: Come on. It feels great. Victim: Okay, fine. Just one more. Good Side: I told you not to do it and now you're here. The drugs got you one last time. You should've listened. Victim: It was a dumb trap and I fell for it. Don't fall for the trap like I did.
- Hannah
Debord, 10th Grade
The The Pink Pink Inhaler Inhaler “OH NO! I forgot my inhaler at the office. Mary, come here, please.”
“Adam, my sweet boy, can you come down for a second please?”
“Yes, Madam?”
Adam replies. “Okay, Mom, give me a second!” Adam runs downstairs. “Hey, Mom, what’s up”?
“Mary, can you go by my office on your way to pick up my things from the dry cleaners and look on my lower desk. You should see my pink inhaler.”
“Good morning, Sweetheart. I wanted to ask what you have planned today? I was wondering if maybe we could watch a movie or chill and talk?
“Thank you, Mary.”
Adam thinks to himself , *I don’t want to spend another drinking or high night with her and then I have to Carry her to bed.
Mary starts on her way then stops short. “Madam?”
“I’m going out with my friends for a while. I’ll see you later, Mom.”
“Yes, Mary?”
Well ,I guess it’s just me and the bed tonight.
“I just don't seem to understand why you have to pretend like it’s an Inhaler when everybody knows What it is really for.”
*Knock Knock*
*Laughs*
“Karen, it’s me, open the door.”
“Mary, you see, I pay you to do things for me and Help me with things I need. I suggest you shut your little mouth before I fire you. Understand?”
She walks to the door and opens it. “Oh...well... hello, Thomas. It's really early in the morning so can we speak later?”
Looking upset, Mary replies.“Yes, Madam.”
“Okay, Karen. I just wanted to let you know there's a program running tonight called Drug Free Awareness. It runs from tonight until Wednesday and the hours are from 9pm-12pm.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“Okay, then. Have a great day, Mary! I’ll see you later.”
Hmm. I wonder what I will do today? I’m Rich, I own a Business, I control almost Everything. Let me go check and see what my son, Adam, has planned today.
Hmm, who’s here this time of morning?
“Thank you, Thomas for telling me. I'll look forward to going. Bye bye now.” *Closes Door*
Such an idiot if he’s really thinking I'm showing up to that event tonight.
The doctor tries to calm her down. “Ma’am, you need to lay down and rest.”
3 Hours Pass
“GET OFF OF ME! STOP TOUCHING ME! I DEMAND YOU, OFFICER, TO ARREST THIS LADY!’
Where in the hell is Mary? Let me go call her and see what’s holding her up. *Footsteps Approach* “Well, well, well... speak of the devil. Did you do what I asked you to do, Mary?” “Yes, Madam. Sorry it took so long. It won’t happen again.” “It better not happen again,” says Karen snatching her things. “The bathroom and my room need cleaning.” “Okay, Madam. I will get to it.” *Sips Coffee* “Whoa, I’m feeling dizzy.” *Starts Blanking Out*
“Ma’am please.” The doctor gives her a shot. 2 hours pass until Karen starts to wake up* “Aww, look who’s finally awake.” Thomas lays his hand on his mother’s arm. “Mom, are you okay?” The doctor walks in. “Okay, great, since everybody is here. . .” Doctor looks around. “ It’s going to be heartbreaking, I know, but Karen, you have stage 4 cancer.” “MOM!” cries Thomas. Karen gasps. “Oh my goodness.” “Do you know what it possibly came from?” “Nicotine,” says Mary. “This is why we always say no to drugs, Madam.”
“Mary, come here, please.” “Yes, Madam?” “Can you call...” She passes out. *Sirens Ringing* *White Lights* *Wakes Up* “Why am I here? Nothing is wrong with me.”
- Albertha
Neal-F lournory, 11th Grade
I personally have no problem with people smoking or drinking, I just wouldn’t do it myself because I have a future just like everyone else does. I do dislike when people take certain drugs because I hate seeing people on the street, homeless or strungout. I feel like everyone shouldn’t take drugs, even if they are going through a hard time, there are other ways around it - but SAY NO TO DRUGS. NO. Drugs are bad and can cause so much damage to people, I like to see people succeed, so please don’t take drugs!
- Chrishara
Tindall, 9th Grade
I am Drug Free Because I love me And that’s why I vow to be Drug Free.
- Jason
Bello, 11th Grade
The RED and BLUE The red and blue Were the colors of light that bloomed Atop the white truck that made me rue How I wish that I could have withdrawn Or maybe not have taken the outlawed.
- Christopher
Soto, 11th Grade
You shouldn’t do drugs when you’re young Using drugs can mess with your mental state of mind Drugs can mess up your career like Micheal Jackson If you think drugs ain’t a joke take a dose, you will be awoke Spend your money on drugs, you’re gonna wake up in a tub Looking like, where’s mom, my momma? I need a talk and a hug.
- Nickia
Whitehead 12th Grade
Roses are Red Violets are Blue Drugs are bad They will kill you. It starts with a hit A hit turns into two You don’t notice you’re gone Until your skin turns blue. You’re dead. Gone.
- Sidney
Henry, Jr., 12th Grade
From Family Friend Poems.com “Of all age categories that abuse drugs, the teen population is definitely the highest. Older people may use drugs on a recreational basis, but teens approach drugs with the same intensity and desperation with which they approach everything else. Many teens have a sense that they are immortal and that nothing that they do will have a lasting effect. Unfortunately, much to their chagrin, many find themselves struggling with addiction their whole lives.”
FamilyFriendPoems.com/poems/teen/drug-abuse/
Nakia Jackson
12th Grade