IN LOVING DEDICATION TO
RAUL PAREDES OUR CLASSMATE STUDENT AND FRIEND.
"These are difficult times, and right now, we think it is all bad. But some good is going to come out of this. No one was ready for this, so appreciate every single moment you have and every single memory." - Raul Paredes, English Class Journal, 2020
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editor's note Thank you to every single person who has helped make this a reality - to everyone that answered surveys and submitted their work for publishing, to the teachers that helped us contact our talented students, and to our wonderful officers that went along with all my crazy ideas for this project of ours. The biggest "thank you" goes out to the person that deserves most praise for all her work with this club, helping students, and ALWAYS being there when any of us needed it: Ms. Kneeland. We're sure you're going to make such a great mother, with your calm demeanor when everyone's freaking out, your aid when we rush crazy ideas and have to improvise, and your (greatly appreciated) advice. Thank you for your patience, compassion, empathy, lessons, positive energy, honesty, and kind heart. None of this would've been possible without you! STEFANIE COHEN / BALBOA TALKS PRESIDENT
a special thanks to Emilie Mendoza
Catalina del Canto
Diana GateĂąo
Mr. Cardenas
Emilia Salazar
Ms. Dolan
Gabriela Zans
table of contents 05
CLUB NEWS Ecology Club, RISE, DRACO, Science Club, Student United Way, Dragon Paws, Math Club, Debate Club, Chess Club, Board Game Club, NHS Photo Competitions
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STUDENT VOICES We sent out a survey every month asking for the student body's opinion. This is what we found...
31
GENERATIONS: GAPS OR CONNECTIONS? Do you identify as being Gen Z? Juniors at Balboa reflect on their GenZ labels
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FICTION Imaginative short stories across genres
47
POETRY Insights, reflections, and honesty in short form.
73
NONFICTION Castellano, English, Recipes; student's analyses, opinions, and personal explorations
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BALBOA TALKS Balboa Talks is a student-led club at Balboa Academy aimed at helping students express themselves and raise their voices on issues they find important. Over the past four years, Balboa Talks has organized several activities such its annual Poetry Fest, high schoolers having open discussions with Middle School students, writing contests, traditional "Balboa Talks" (our school's version of TED Talks), and just recently opened a Book Club during quarantine.
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D R A C O
|
C L U B
N E W S
Dragon Council (DRACO) WHAT DO WE DO? On our retreat in the beginning of the school year, the council plans out all activities to be done throughout the school year. We plan for: Dragon Days: recreational game days where Houses compete with each other, including Water Day in which all games will soak us wet Field day: games competed by class versus class Senior Tribute: farewell celebration to the senior class
WHAT IS DRACO? DRACO is a high-school council that hosts Dragon Days, raises funds for charity, oversees all club activities happening within the school, including the formation of new clubs and approbation of any club-hosted event. Each House selects one representative per grade to become a DRACO member, and the officers are selected from such a group. Our objectives are to foster school spirit and provide for the community.
Service Days: beach cleanups, Dragon for a Day to have a game day with kids from marginalized neighborhoods We fundraise year-round through our daily after-school store in the Dragon’s Den, sales during break time on Wednesdays, and pizza sales. When we decide to donate to a group of need, we designate all revenues of a day to that cause such as to areas impacted by natural disasters and other Dragons who need support. We oversee all club activities: approving petitions for club events, charters/addendum to form and renew clubs, and host an annual club fair.
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S C I E N C E
C L U B
|
C L U B
N E W S
SCIENCE CLUB
All of our competitions have prizes for winners AND participants, such as extra credit from some of our high school teachers!
What have we done? The Science Club has held several competitions and activities open to all high school students. Some of them were the Egg Drop Competition, Mole Day, Are You Smarter Than Mr. Durbin, and the Bridge Building Competition.
What's next? The Science Club plans on continuing with our diverse and entertaining scientific activities in order to engage students. We are looking forward to having more students join our club and express their interest towards science. We will continue with our annual competitions such as the Egg Drop and the Bottle Rocket Competition, but we are also looking forward to planning new projects as well, so if you are a high school student who has a great idea in mind, do not hesitate to approach us and join us!
Welcome to the Science Club! The Science Club encourages students to develop their interest in science through various methods. We have several activities that include the use of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics to solve problems and build apparatuses for different projects. The Science Club also offers community service opportunities by tutoring students in the sciences and giving classes in public schools about science and robotics. Our mission is to encourage the appreciation of science by engaging students in academic scientific activities. We aim to provide students with the necessary skills, personal connections, and selfconfidence that will help them become contributing members of our community. Our vision is to ensure that all Balboa Academy students acquire and use knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to become productive and successful members of society.
IG | @ba.science
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S T U D E N T
U N I T E D
W A Y
|
C L U B
N E W S
Student United Way We mobilize our peers to make lasting community change and work with United Way, an NGO that promotes the development of the neediest communities in Panama, working for early childhood and adolescence. It also promotes the development of people, especially the neediest communities, highlighting the importance of education, health, and environmental care. What have we done? Participation in Banco General’s Christmas Bazaar. El Mercadito Sabanero took place at the end of December, where we worked with three other private schools in Panama to raise funds for preschool parks. The building of parks through the United Way chapter demonstrates how a child’s motor and social development is strengthened during playtime at one of these playgrounds. With this addition to the parks, kids release energy while acquiring social skills and confidence at their early developmental age.
IG | @suwbalboa
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D R A G O N
P A W S
|
C L U B
N E W S
Dragon Paws MISSION
Improve the quality of life of domestic animals (dogs and cats) through the assistance of a variety of organizations that offer veterinary attention and sustainable social participation for the care of animals.
VISION
Provide service, awareness, and assistance that guarantees the quality of life of domestic animals.
RECENT EFFORTS
While Panama has been working together to stay inside, local shelters, organizations, and volunteer foster homes have been working diligently to help care for and sustain support for an increased number of abandoned animals during this economic and health crisis. We decided to take action. With our fundraising budget and in coordination with Donaton - who seeks to support rescuers, organizations and foundations that contribute to giving a better quality of life to animals at risk of death - we donated $500.00 worth of dog food to aid Panamanian animals during this crisis.
PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR Volunteering at shelters: Volunteer with a group of students at least twice a month in Fundasis and other local shelters. Spaying: Fund the spaying of at least 25 dogs and 25 cats in order to further prevent the existence of more stray cats and dogs. Expansion: Help an animal rescue center expand their facilities through funding and student volunteer labor.
Instagram: educate the public on domestic animals, provide exposure for cases of emergency in the rescuing community, and provide a link on Instagram with multiple resources that give easy access to information about current ongoing adoptions and donations. Interview series with different animal shelter owners in order to provide insight on what it takes to run a shelter.
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Happy Pawlidays NHS PHOTO CONTEST SUBMISSIONS
STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES
STUDENT VOICES Songs to listen to when insomnia hits:
Who do you think will win the US presidential election in Nov?
Chill compilations with rain playing in the background
Trump 25.8%
Andres Mauco | 11th Grade
Mystery of Love- Sufjan Stevens Hey There Delilah- Plain White T's I Have a Dream- ABBA I love you- Billie Eilish For Emma- Bon Iver Best Part- Daniel Caesar ft H.E.R
Biden 74.2%
Francesca Calvosa | 9th Grade Pizza, burgers, or neither?
NEITHER 16.1%
Pizza 38.7%
Burgers 45.2%
Fine Line, Falling, Sweet Creature, Meet Me in the Hallway, In the Dinning Table, Girl Crush, Two of Us, Infinity, Fearless, Right Now, 18, Strong, Fool's Gold, Walking in the Wind, Story of My Life, If I Could Fly, Fool for You, Dear Patience, Two Ghost Daniella Castillo | 10th Grade
Forest Hymn by Averno
Emilie Mendoza | 9th Grade
STUDENT VOICES Movies to stay up watching until 4am on a school night
Early 2000’s Romcoms - Marella Pinto | 12th Grade
The Breakfast Club and The Edge of Seventeen
Any Disney movie
- Brune Castillon | 10th Grade
- Kacy Dabbs | 11th Grade
A series that came out recently on Netflix that you'd recommend
This is difficult, Ghibli movies are nice, I think maybe any movie with a soft, relaxing vibe.
I'm Not Okay With This - Maria Pitty | 12th Grade
- Stefanie Cohen | 12th Grade
15
10
5
O th er
R io t/P ro te st D ar k H um O or bs cu re C om ed y
Ac tiv is t
Ar t
W C on on ve ka nt io na lC om ed y
Which side of TikTok do you prefer?
W illy
Bo ok To k
Al t/E lit e
PO V
Th eH yp eH ou se
0
STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES
STUDENT VOICES Best Halloween Candy?
Best scary movies to watch when you're alone
Candy Corn 15.4% Other 26.9%
The Shining - Omar Rodriguez | 10th Grade
M&Ms 19.2%
Coraline, Devil's Pass, 7
Three Musketeers 11.5%
- Rebeka Nickell | 11th Grade
Milky Ways 15.4%
KitKat 11.5%
Not a fan of scary moviesanything thriller is solid though. (ex: In the Tall Grass)
Favorite horror game? Waking up 1min before virtual class
- Maria Pitty | 12th Grade 6
- Diego Lara | 12th Grade 4
2
&
O th er
C hu ck y
Ka ya ko
Kr ue ge r
Fr ed dy
W az ow sk i
M ik e
W er ew ol f Su lly
Favorite movie monster(s)
Sc re am
Pe nn yw is e
Sa da ko
D ra cu la
Fr an ke ns te in
0
STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES
STUDENT VOICES Which marching band song goes
What's something you're thankful for?
the hardest? Pescado 22.2% Other 38.9%
Marcha Panama 27.8%
Those days when you wake up earlier than anyone else accidentally and you get to sit in silence and peace watching the sunrise and everything feels calm and happy.
Marching Band Vers. of Modern Songs 11.1%
Paper. Cognition. Ignorance. Is that contradictive?
- Stefanie Cohen | 12th Grade
The amount of knowledge that I have at my fingertips
- Gavin Barclay | 12th Grade
- Andres Mauco | 11th Grade
My family
Best Panamanian food?
- Cecilia Carcamo | 10th Grade
Best way to spend time during fiestas patrias/thanksgiving break? See friends and family - Valentina Vivas | 11th Grade
Other 18.2%
Ropa Vieja 27.3%
Tamales 4.5% Chicheme 9.1% Arroz con Pollo 4.5% Tortillas de Maiz 9.1%
Hojaldre 13.6% Sancocho 13.6%
STUDENT VOICES Eating, hanging with family and relaxing - Kacy Dabbs | 11th Grade
Desfilando and finding good Dark Academia books - Emilie Mendoza | 9th Grade
Spend the first couple days of break just doing things you enjoy / resting. After that, prepare for the rest of the semester! That way we avoid anxiety later on lol - Stefanie Cohen | 12th Grade
Pumpkin spice: scourge of the earth, or heavenly delicacy? ALL HAIL PUMPKIN SPICE, NECTAR OF THE GODS, SPIRIT OF THE FALLTIME. IF I ALLCANNOT HAIL... CONSUME IT AT LEAST ONCE I 16.7% WILL DIE SORROWFULLY
WHAT IS THIS BLASPHEMOUS SLUDGE? IS IT EVEN PUMPKIN? IS IT TRULY SPICED? HEATHENS!EW HEATHENS I SAY! 22.2%
Don't like 11.1%
I guess?? 22.2%
Ambivalent 22.2%
Ambivalent, but trends 5.6%
STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES STUDENT VOICES
STUDENT VOICES What's something that's bringing you cheer?
Which holiday song goes the hardest? Jingle Bells 11.4%
School ending and only having one midterm to do - Omar Rodriguez | 10th Grade
That me and my family are healthy - Sofia Bistrain | 10th. Grade
My dog, my family, and my phone - Cecelia Carcamo | 10th Grade
Burrito Sabanero 17.1%
Other 45.7%
Carol of the Bells 5.7%
Let it Snow 14.3%
What are your hopes for 2021? Any resolutions? College! And no more corona. Very boring thoughts. Probably going to resolve to write more
Best holiday food? Ham 28.6% Other 42.9%
- Diana GateĂąo | 12th Grade
To make good music and perform it live - Juan Posada | 11th Grade
Turkey 11.4% Latkas 2.9%
Hallacas 8.6%
That we come closer as a people and love each other more - Carson Dabbs | 10th Grade
STUDENT VOICES EW 6.5%
DISGUSTING. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE I WOULD WILLINGLY PUT THIS COMBINATION OF FLAVORS IN MY MOUTH? THE TASTE OF AN EVENING OF MISTAKES, CONCEPTION OF SOME POOR SOUL TOO INNOCENT TO REMEMBER HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DRANK COCOA AFTER A DENTIST'S VISIT AND THEN INSANE ENOUGH TO MARKET IT TO THE MASSES? YOU DISGUST ME.
PEPPERMINT AND CHOCOLATE ARE SO IMPORTANT TO DECEMBER YOU CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT THIS OKAY THE HARMONY OF FLAVORS HAS BEEN PROVEN, BY YEARS OF SURVIVAL AND SUPREMACY OVER ALL OTHER FLAVORS, TO BE THE ULTIMATE FORM OF WINTERTIME FOODSTUFF AND I WILL NOT STAND FOR ANY SORT OF BLASPHEMY-
Don't like 16.1%
VITAL 38.7% Ambivalent 3.2% Ambivalent, but it's pretty 3.2%
hot chocolate + peppermint: Hellish concoction, or divine panacea?
It's Nice 32.3%
What are your parting words for 2020? You were not the best year but you had some fun in you.
Surprisingly, I really needed you
- Cecilia Carcamo | 10th Grade
- Stefanie Cohen | 12th Grade
Thank you for the experience, a year we will never forget - Carson Dabbs | 10th Grade
Thank you for a year of intense introspection and growth - Andres Mauco | 11th Grade
"B
Our focus should be 100% centered on solutions for the carbon-emissions as well as plastic pollution. I cannot stress enough the importance of redirecting the public and government interest towards sustainable goals and improvements to our society in order to prevent the further worsening of our climate condition. So please, sign petitions, stay up to date with the countries’ new environmental policies, and increase your awareness on ways to live more sustainably.
s you'd recomm g n o end ys n ?" "A My Spotify wrapped said Bad Bunny was my top artist... which, first of all, what? but second, I think that you might prefer NOT having my recs
Sabor a Mí by trio los Panchos don't judge me ok.
mated feature i n film ta s e
?"
As someone who wanted to be an astronomer for quite some time and invested a lot of time in researching about space, I’d totally support space exploration if we weren’t so deep into an environmental crisis, right here, on the Earth.
Ratatouille.
You might ASSUME it's "unsex me" because I Look Like That but it's actually "Out, darn spot" because I'm basic and I love female characters who go insane.
Happiness?
A good cuppa joe and a bad cowboy movie. Never fails.
When you look up at the sky and the first cloud you see is super fluffy and looks very compact... so pretty. Warms my heart Baking sourdough bread is the ultimate producer of “happy” neurotransmitters. Look up a recipe, go buy some good flour, and start your levain.
I’ve already had 2 nightmares about midterms and I have only finished one so... interpret as you please
ya
?
ow H
midterms been e v for ha
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generations: gaps or connections?
Diana GateĂąo
PAGE 32
According to the media, many feel isolated from older or younger generations due to their cultural differences and the lifestyles that set them apart. Do you identify as being Gen Z? A Millenial? Zillennials feel out of touch with either the Millennial or Gen Z label. Perhaps you find generational labels polarizing and unnecessary. Do you feel it is unnecessary to identify as Gen Z, Millennial, or Boomer at all? How might they be more destructive and culturally inappropriate? Juniors at Balboa Academy were asked these very questions. These are their reflections.
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ALEXANDRA LABBATE
CLASS OF 2022
GEN Z ALL DAY Being part of such a powerful generation made me question my involvement in it. Their uniqueness and influence made me feel belittled to be part of them. As my days in quarantine mixed into a blob of nothingness, I started devoting my days to old music, cinema and art, and while beautiful in culture, it merely made me feel more isolated from my generation. I questioned my influence, and found my answer on tiktok, the most GenZ app to exist. I found that the majority of the teens felt the same: we feel lost not because of each other but from other generations. Struggling with depression for some time, it became hard to get out of bed and even brush my teeth, and while ashamed of how I felt, I found a little home on the internet going through the same thing. The internet, while looked at negatively by most adults, has changed my life. I find it beautiful how teens from all different nations have gone through the same feelings, and while only knowing our usernames, we all care for each other and are prepared to make anyone smile, because we are all too familiar with the feelings we get when we don't. We are all just anxious teenagers trying to find their place in a world run by a generation that has ruined the world, and while that sentence may feel biased, statistics would say otherwise. No, I do not hate any older generation, I just disagree with their past actions. Hence, I am proud to finally feel a part of GenZ. I believe that we fight for the change we wanted our past generations to perform; for example, when I heard what had happened to George Floyd, I ran to my mom demanding for her to book a ticket to the protests in the USA. When that understandably fell through, I decided to do the most I could: I donated and signed as many petitions as I could and forced all my friends to do so. Then, when I heard the words the president of the United States had to say about black people, I gagged in disgust. In that moment, I felt the most encouraged and empowered to work towards change, and that feeling was felt by all teenagers around the world. I'm eternally grateful to be part of this generation. I realize now that our diversity only makes us more connected, and our uniqueness only makes us more powerful; in a beautiful way, feeling lost helped me find a hidden connected world.
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KACY DABBS
CLASS OF 2022
GEN WHO? In some way I feel out of touch with my generation (Gen Z) because I find it hard to keep up. Every other day there are new songs released, popular games, slangs, trends, tik toks, etc. There’s always something new, bigger and better going on and I always seem to be late and miss out on these trends. For example, yesterday my friend texted me, “Kacydilla. Wyd.” Naturally I replied by saying, “wazzz up.” She then said “nmm,” and that's when she lost me. I was so confused because I’d never seen, heard or even knew what an “nmm” was. So I asked her and she died laughing saying it meant nothing muchhh. I felt silly when she told me because I felt like I should’ve know that. Another incident of me being way behind is when I found out about this trending game Among Us. Everyone now-a-days is playing it, and I on the other hand didn’t have the slightest clue what they were talking about. Honestly I didn’t care or bother to find out. Until one day my friends decided to play this game as a group. So I was forced to learn how to play and understand the game. Just so you know I’m still learning how to play it. I just don’t get it, but at the same time I do.
RONIT SCHVARTZMAN
CLASS OF 2022
UNSURE GEN Z At first I was very confused about the division between generations, like why all these letters? Am I a Gen Z? What the heck are Boomers? I recently learned about the terminologies around 2019, so before that I was not fully familiarized with the concepts. If speaking strictly about Gen Z and Millennials, I don't believe the differences are as marked as they would be between the older generations. I feel like the things that are said to be setting us apart are very stereotypical, since I don't completely connect with all the aspects that supposedly define my age group. As much as I don't quite understand the major division, I have to credit my generation for our immense advances and desire to contribute in shaping the world. We are characterized as being able to speak up and letting the rest know when something does not feel correct. Technological advances have definitely impacted our ability to share our thoughts as platforms such as Twitter and TikTok became available during our time of growth. While I do recognize that there is a clear way to identify with your generation, I believe it to be more of a personal preference when it comes to simple aspects such as music taste, TV shows, or financial gains. It is quite usual for Millennials to find us immature or consider us “babies”, since when I was in 9th grade I was always looking down at the 7th and 8th graders as if I were 19 years older than them. Whichever the case may be, It is not necessary to take it too far nor essential to argue that all Millennials are obsessed with Friends, because so am I and many others! It is correlated to our surroundings as we grew up; I find it to be more influenced by the availability of distinct aspects, rather than a “cultural” matter.
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LUCÍA GAUDIANO
CLASS OF 2022
THE ZILLENIAL ARGUMENT I was born in 2004. Since I was young, I have been using all types of technology: At age 4 I got my first Nintendo DS and at age 6 I was exposed to iPads (though I never really had one of my own). As I grew a bit older, I was exposed to Youtube and the relatively new idea of Youtubers, like any other Gen Z was. At the time, when I was 10-12 years old or so, most of this platform was full of millennials creating content, so I was exposed to all of their “#relatable” videos and jokes, as well as the infamous Buzzfeed, a staple of Millennial culture and the source of most of my exposure to culture and activism and everything in between. Seeing all this millennial activity around me as a Gen Z, I craved to be a millennial because other Gen Z around me weren’t interested or even aware of all these things I was exposed to, so in a sense, I felt isolated. But I also felt isolated from millennials, because the only VHS I’d ever been exposed to was my parent’s wedding video, and all the cartoons and movies “90’s Babies” grew up watching I’d only watched in reruns. A bit later, around age 13, appeared younger creators that I started seeing, especially after the tragic demise of Vine. These younger people talking about technically being Gen Z but feeling some relatability to millennials was nice, but even then, I still felt isolated because I was never exposed to all those relatively analog technologies and experiences that Millennials had. Millennials grew up in the late 90s/early 2000s where there was still some sort of stability in the world around them and had the space to be naive until late in their teens (and that naivety and disconnect is sometimes present to this day). I’m growing up in a post-9/11 world where being “woke” and aware of recent events is essential, and we are a bit overwhelmed by the state of the world and the fact that there’s nothing being done about it. As I was exposed to more Gen Z in my age group, I realized that I should be proud of having technology at my fingertips throughout my life, and using it for my own good and the good of other people; to connect. As Gen Z, we are one of the most diverse and connected generations, and I don’t care if we are ridiculed for our abstract memes and TikTok, because it truly is a voluntary regression and change from the overly technological and complex world we spent our early years in (hence the popularity of analog technology like record players and aestheticization of previous decades like the 70s-90s). In the tiny microcosm that was TikTok when it started in 2018, there were a lot of Gen Z that I really related to and humor that I liked, so I really identified with all of them. Sadly, all the self-deprecating humor and aesthetics are a small solace from the world around us, but we still are very adamant and proud of participating in the discourse of topics like politics, Black Lives Matter, and others. The world essentially collapsing around us is our normal, so we live with it and try to find the good in the bad and always try to do our best to connect everyone regardless of age or generation.
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ISABELLA ARIAS
CLASS OF 2022
THE LUCKIEST GENERATION I was born in 2003. I spend more hours that I would like to admit watching Tiktok, and when I want to listen to music, I only have to click the on button, but I've seen multiple Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter updates, and I grew up enjoying Hannah Montana, Drake and Josh, iCarly and Fairly Odd Parents. Troy Bolton and Justin Bieber were my first crushes and I wanted to be as cool as Selena Gomez. I listened to Gangnam style on my iPod on the bus on my way to school, and I remember when apple came out with the iPhone 4 and my older brother got one. And what I find really interesting is how my brother’s and my childhood were so different even though we don’t have a huge age gap. My eldest brother, being born in 1994, I honestly can't tell you what it was like- like- I have no idea what my brother was doing when he was 12. However, my other brother, who was born in 1999, was probably skateboarding and trying to make electricity with two potatoes, and of course, running around the neighborhood doing “parkour". When I was 12, I was giving my American Girl dolls away, buying rainbow looms and the newest Tiger Beat with a picture of One direction on the cover. I played club penguin and wore Justice as if my life depended on it. My brothers and I all saw when they switched the TVs in our rooms from those huge boxes to the now skinnier TVs, but our parents also raised us with everything from The Beatles to Michael Jackson. Personally, I could watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Grease on repeat till the day I die. I enjoy We built this city by Starship Cobra and know every word to Twist and Shout by the Beatles. People tend to put Gen Z in a box with The Kardashians, vaping, dumb challenges and weird dances, but we have something no other generation has been able to enjoy: we pretty much always have a time machine in our pockets; we can enjoy the music, the movies, the shows our parents enjoyed. When my grandfather wants me to play an old song, I only have to type it into Spotify and in less than 30 seconds we are enjoying it together. We have millions of books to download, and we care about what's going on in our planet. We accept differences and fight for equality. Generation Z is, in my opinion, one of the luckiest generations to this day. Yes, we have global pandemics, climate change, forest fires and thousands of animals going extinct, but we also have the initiative to make a change.
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ISAAC FERGUSON
CLASS OF 2022
GEN WHO? THIS IS DUMB. All of these generation generalizations are dumb and stupid. Instead of bringing us together as a whole, they separate us even further. This is an irrelevant fight between generations that I feel is not a big deal. I say this because I’m a person who grew up with the 00s music and TV shows. I also saw many 90s shows and I listen to the music often. I think our Generation Z is too dramatic and get triggered too easily from social media, from a person that is probably not in your country and only wants to mess with you. I grew up also with my first ever phone being a blackberry. I know about the avocado toast, too (which I think is pretty disgusting) having read that people who grew up in the 90s were obsessed with avocado and its benefits as they also started to have a fitness-focused life. But the overconsumption of this makes it so dumb! Listen, I have to admit I have tik tok installed but I don’t use it as much because when I started watching, I clearly saw this was the most toxic social media community there is, so I don’t go in there. As you may have deducted, I may be classified in your eyes as a Zillenial. Even though I wasn’t born in that year, I had the lifestyle. Moreover, I think it is stupid to categorize a whole generation as one thing when we know for a fact that there are people like me and people more representative of the average Millennial and Gen Z. So I think that we really have to stop categorizing a whole age group because we are all different; we all have different taste in music, TV shows, and social media. I know many old people that are very also active on social media and also young people who don't have social media at all and prefer to watch tv and read books, 90s style. My input here is that we have to stop treating people like they’re supposed to be in contrast to what they really are. I accept us likewise.
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NICOLAS CLARE
CLASS OF 2022
GEN Z 24/7 As someone who has a millennial as an older sibling, finding out in what generation you actually belong to is liberating. Gen Z has always had progressive and inclusive thoughts and actions. Being able to figure out that you are your own person, different from your parents and your sibling, entitled to your own opinions, and having the right to speak for what is right is what being part of this generation is about. Gen Z is the future of not only jobs, but of society. We brought a reform to what the normal is. What was considered appropriate no longer applies to Gen Z. We create our own rules and for the better. The discriminatory thoughts and racial actions of the older generations (stereotyping) have met their end. We, as Gen Z, have the duty to bring change to the world. During my lifetime, I have experienced some events that reflect Gen Z mentality. For example, mental health was not considered a crucial aspect to daily life, but Gen Z has normalized it. By being someone who suffers from anxiety, I don’t feel excluded or anormal just because of my situation. I know people who are just like me and are not ashamed or afraid to show it. Gen Z has and will continue to evolve with time and that’s the beauty of our generation. We will never go back in time, we will always move forwards for what is right.
I T O C N I F
EMILIE MENDOZA
PAGE 40
CLASS OF 2024
GHOSTS AND VIOLETS The library was haunted. Katerina had never met a ghost in it, but she knew that the library was indeed haunted. It simply made sense for a library like this one to be filled with ghosts of the past. Situated at the heart of her university’s campus, the library was a building considered more alive than those around it. The
building
itself
was
intricately
designed, clearly built to be admired and to
catch
eyes.
Every
detail
meant
something, and most students barely even scratched the surface of its beauty. But those details were there, and they were always there, if you cared enough to look. Though, as beautiful as the outside of
the
occurred
library when
was,
the
you
real crossed
magic the
threshold, out of the cold and into the cozy.
DIANA GATEÑO GATEÑO DIANA The floor was wooden and polished, old and clearly recently maintained. It looked perfect for a winter evening, when the few poets left in the room might take off their shoes and glide around the room, laughing and quoting Shakespeare. The furniture in this library was nothing too out of the ordinary. Somehow, you could tell that the tables and chairs had been the place where students braved to study and attempt to pass their classes. Those were clustered in the center of rooms. The other seats, the softer and more comfortable ones, that is, were scattered about. These were worn and held memories of sitting by the fire during blizzards. Yet, the most impactful sight in the library was its walls.
PAGE 41
A STEFANIE COHEN COHEN STEFANIE
Lined with tall shelves filled to the brim with books and
She sat at one of the tables, knowing that today needed
sprinkled with different paintings collected by the university
to be a day of efficiency and not relaxation and got to
over the years, the walls of the library were a daydream. To
work. She had carried over a small stack of books that she
some, looking around at the walls of stories and knowledge
had gotten with the librarian, Mrs. Kaufman’s help, and
was overwhelming. To Katerina, it was cathartic. In the
opened up one of her beloved empty notebooks.
moments she found herself sleep deprived and finishing a
Katerina’s note taking was very much practicality over
paper, the bookshelves looked so tall and majestic that she’d
aesthetic. She scribbled in cursive with her trusted
need to fly to reach each level. Yet, she had never been able to
fountain pen and when a thought popped in her head
test that theory out.
(which was often), she wrote it on a soft-colored sticky note. Kat was one of those who annotated quite a bit, but
On the particular day that Katerina’s life changed, the weather
this wouldn’t work with library books. She doubted Mrs.
was perfect. The leaves had started changing colors and the
Kaufman would ever speak to her again if she did.
temperature called for Kat’s favorite dark-colored blazer. She arrived at the library just as the sun was beginning to set, with
By the time Katerina finally took a break, Mrs. Kaufman
a cup of coffee and a productive mindset. Days like these
was already heading out for the night and the library was
heightened Katerina’s thirst for knowledge. It was strange, but,
becoming increasingly empty. Soon enough, the library
while she often struggled to focus, calm afternoons posed
would be still and peaceful, like a world outside of the
absolutely no struggles. So, she tried to take advantage of
busyness of being on a college campus. Katerina took
those moments as much as she could.
advantage of this break to walk around, laying her eyes on the spines of the books that surrounded her. She wasn’t
Today’s topic was the fall of the Roman Empire. An overdone
particularly paying attention to what she was reading, but
topic, I’m sure, but one that certainly appealed to the more
when she saw the spine of a small leather-bound book at
dramatic side of Katerina’s mind, at least from her perspective.
the end of a shelf, in the corner of the room. She plucked
It was perfect. The library was surely full of information for
it out and saw that the cover gave her no information
Katerina to use and shape into her own perception of it. To be
either. Yet, as she looked at the exterior of this peculiar
able to show others the world the way you see it, no that is a
book, she felt the air around her grow colder.
true skill. And it was a skill Katerina longed to develop.
PAGE 42
Kat opened the book to its first page and the realization dawned on her. This is a diary. She read a bit of the first two pages and from what she gathered, this diary belonged to a girl named Ophelia from an unspecified time period, though it was clearly one from long ago. The way Ophelia wrote was so raw and poetic, that much Katerina could tell from the start. It felt exhilarating, knowing that someone’s story was in her hands and Katerina couldn’t stop herself from taking the book with her back to the table and tucking it into her tote bag.
DIANA GATEÑO GATEÑO DIANA
The rest of the night was fairly uneventful, most of it being spent scribbling notes and sipping the bitter contents of her coffee cup. She had managed to stay up long enough to get through the majority of her readings (thanks in part to several energy drinks, though Kat would never admit that) and had largely forgotten the diary she had found in the library until the late afternoon of the next day, her day off, which was when she decided to actually read it. It felt strangely intimate to Katerina, reading the personal story and thoughts of another. Ophelia’s life seemed plain enough, yet her words made it so much more. Ophelia was a poet, but not one who lived long enough to be published, though that fact would not be revealed to Katerina just yet. Ophelia was the type to notice every small detail and shower it with love. To her, everything played a role in making life the way it was, whether good or bad, and therefore needed to be celebrated. She had a somber type of optimism and a way to be so blunt yet so artistic. She wrote verses about her family and her home - verses Katerina would continue to analyze for years to come. Reading Ophelia’s words was the sweetest form of escapism. She could make you feel like you were there with her, in a field of lavender enjoying the sunshine or running from the rain. Reading jokes a
DIANA GATEÑO
person has written only for their own eyes is a different kind of feeling and closeness. There was a phrase, halfway through the diary, that Katerina felt so deeply, she wrote it on her forearm and memorized it. “I will be a star. I will light myself on fire, if I must.” Upon Katerina’s first reading of the diary, she couldn’t help but relate. “Oh, how the artists struggle,” Katerina whispered to the soft and gentle pages. She then stopped and wondered what a conversation with Ophelia might be like. It was useless to wonder that way, Katerina knew, but she couldn’t help but long for it, after hearing Ophelia’s voice through her writing. Her diary could make you feel so close to her, even when she was so incredibly far away.
DIANA GATEÑO GATEÑO DIANA
PAGE 43 She wasn’t that far away. That was a grim truth Katerina learned
Ophelia spoke just as she wrote, meaningfully. She
the next time she went to the library to grab a book for her own
had such an eloquence that Kat felt the need to hold
pleasure. There wasn’t anything in particular that she had in
on to as many of her phrases as possible. As the
mind while she roamed the main room. A few books had caught
moments sped by, Katerina found the conversation
her eye, but upon further inspection, she put them back in the
to be steadily flowing. What started as an awkward
spots she had found them. At some point, she had decided to
discussion of literature became a swapping of
look in one of the smallest and most secluded areas of the library
anecdotes between friends. That was the strangest
- a spot that was typically empty, but held wonderful books that
part, actually. They felt like friends who had known
Katerina quite enjoyed. She felt herself gravitate towards a worn
each other longer than they actually had. It didn’t
paperback on a lower shelf and as she bent down to grab it, she
feel like they were a dead girl and another who had
felt a rush of cold air breeze past the back of her neck. “I will be a
read through the dead girl’s diary. Though, that was
star. I will light myself on fire, if I must,” a voice hummed, its
exactly what they were.
gentle tone dripping in honey.
Ophelia had started commenting on Katerina’s outfit Katerina’s first instinct was to abruptly look up, but she stopped
when she suddenly stopped. She remained silent for
herself as soon as the recognition of the quote settled in. So now,
a moment thinking deeply of something. Katerina
her movement was slow, gazing up to see who had called out to
looked away from her and asked, “Is this weird?”
her. And there she stood. Her hair, long and flowing, was a soft
Ophelia gave her a questioning look and she quickly
red that no one could ever ignore, even if they tried. Her eyes
added, “I mean, I’ve read your diary, isn’t that an
were a gentle green, the kind that you didn’t see very often. She
invasion of privacy?” Ophelia gave a look, one that
was pale, a complete juxtaposition to Katerina’s own tan skin,
Katerina didn’t fully comprehend, and then smiled. “I
with a constellation of freckles glittering over her colored cheeks.
always intended for my diary to be read by others. I
Everything about her seemed soft from her expression to that
guess it’s a bit strange that I don’t know much at all
flowing, cream-colored, dress. Katerina smiled at her. “Am I to
about you but I’m sure that can be fixed.” They were
assume
both smiling at each other now.
you’re
Ophelia?”
she
asked,
noticing
a
strange
transparency in the girl who stood before her.
They kept talking, in the lonely room that no one ever “You’d be assuming correctly.” Katerina smiled at this, amused at
visited. Ophelia didn’t know why she was a ghost,
finally putting a name to all of those beautiful words. Ophelia
though she was very forthcoming with how she died.
eyed her, with a look that insinuated that she was trying to figure
“Influenza got to me,” she said. “It happens.” It
something out. She moved closer to Kat, with an unnatural grace
seemed to not faze her, though perhaps that was a
that unsettled Katerina. Finally, she spoke again, with a light-
good thing. Katerina doubted that Ophelia had
hearted tone, “Have you no shame for intruding on a dead girl’s
moved on from her own death, but she seemed to
thoughts?” Katerina stiffened, “So what? You’re a ghost?” The
be at peace with it to a certain extent. That’s really all
words felt weird to say, but she said them anyway and Ophelia
one can ask for.
replied, now smiling, “Naturally.”
After that one afternoon, Katerina had a new reason At this, both of them relaxed. The tension had eased ever so
to come to the library. Sometimes, Ophelia would
slightly, and Ophelia led Katerina over to a nook in the corner of
help Katerina study, as much as she could. Most of
the room, darkly lit and with a single cushioned seat by the
the time, they just talked. Ophelia knew very little
dimmed window. They sat down and Katerina truly realized how
about the modern world, having lived until 1936, and
ghostly Ophelia was. They properly introduced themselves and
her curiosity seemed to never end. She sprinkled
started talking. As she was saying her name, Katerina realized
about stories of her siblings and her home in the
that she likely wouldn’t have much in common with this ghost,
countryside. She spoke so passionately of her family;
so she decided she’d ask about Ophelia’s writing. Now this, they
it was clear how much they had mattered to her. Yet
very much had in common.
her smile was forced into being somber by the everpresent reminder that all that was gone.
PAGE 44 Ophelia was ever more curious about Katerina herself. She
Katerina
often
found
asked why Kat wrote so many unrelated words on herself -
wondering. How much time until she would never see
her arms, the base of her neck. She asked why Kat often
her again? Why now? What happened after? It was the
lost herself momentarily, gripping the back of the chair
last question that held her in thought the most, the
nearest to them in an attempt to ground herself again. She
question of the future. Would she grieve Ophelia? Would
asked why Kat had this habit of covering the back of her
she forget Ophelia? She wasn’t quite sure which one
right hand with her left hand. All questions that had never
was worse.
been asked out loud, therefore Katerina couldn’t find the words to answer her. They were questions Katerina had hoped she would never have to answer. So, to all of them, she said, “I’ll tell you about it some other time.” Their meetings at the library went on through the winter, as Katerina always preferred to stay on campus during the break. She and Ophelia knew each other better than she had ever thought possible. They stayed up late in the library together, talking about anything and everything. Ophelia’s sense of humor was soft and gentle, juxtaposed yet harmonious with Katerina’s morbid humor. To Katerina, seeing Ophelia smile was the greatest comfort she could find. Winter was difficult for her, it had always been, yet that reminder that she could, in fact, make another happy. It was nearly spring when Ophelia began fading. When they had first met, the only way to tell that she was a ghost was by her faded edges, not much more. Yet one afternoon, she had been perched on a table in the room where they had met when Katerina noticed. She looked blurrier, fuzzier, and clearer. She chose not to say anything, hoping it was just a trick of the light. Two days later, Ophelia had forgotten the names of her sisters and that was when Katerina knew. “I’m disappearing, aren’t I?” Ophelia finally asked one night. They were sitting on the floor together, against one of the bookshelves. Spring had already begun, and so had the semester. Katerina looked up from her book - a book of Norse mythology for her Mythos course - and nodded. Ophelia deflated, “How long do you think I have?” Katerina closed the book and said, “Not much. Whatever unfinished business you had seems to have been resolved.” To this, Ophelia cast her a melancholy smile and they agreed to go on as usual. Whatever was coming was clearly inevitable, there was no use in worrying about it.
STEFANIE COHEN COHEN STEFANIE
herself
staring
at
Ophelia,
PAGE 45
It finally happened in early April, later than Katerina had expected, but earlier than she had hoped. All throughout that spring, they had been together. Katerina would bring Ophelia flowers every day, remembering how she wrote about the flowers back home, colorfully and passionately. On this day, she brought Ophelia violets, tied with a white ribbon. She looked for Ophelia first in the room where they had met, the room where they liked to sit together most often. It was empty. So, she moved into one of the back rooms, a reading nook with pillows and blankets that most students didn’t even know existed. Katerina only knew about it because Mrs. Kaufman had let it slip that it existed. It was where Katerina and Ophelia would stay as the days drizzled into nights, laughing and stealing glances at each other. And, as expected, it was the place Katerina found Ophelia on this fateful day.
STEFANIE COHEN COHEN STEFANIE Ophelia was kneeling, with a handheld up in front of her line of sight. She flexed her fingers, focused on the subtle movement, and as Katerina moved closer, she realized what was happening. Ophelia tilted her head towards Kat, saying something, but there was no sound. Instead, both stayed silent as Ophelia slowly became air. Gone.
Going back to the library to simply study became
a
melancholic
experience
to
Katerina. On lonely nights she would skim through Ophelia’s diary, now worn and annotated
with
love,
and
sob.
She
memorized those verses, those peaceful words written by the only one who cared about her during that winter and spring. And eventually, she moved on.
PAGE 46
EMILIE MENDOZA
CLASS OF 2024
ADVENTURE I was never an adventurous kid. My sister liked to run and yell and collect pebbles as treasure from our backyard. I was content with fading away. When we were really little, I used to go out to play with her, though it was clear she enjoyed herself more than I did. She always took the lead when we played pretend, coming up with intricate stories of dragons and pirates. I enjoyed adventures more as an observer. On rainy days - our favorite type of days - my sister would run outside to jump and dance in the downpour. I would sit by a window, reading poetry and stories of old, knowing that they most likely came from minds most comparable to our two halves put together.. We got older and her rampant imagination began to take different forms. She started doodling often, letting her pen roam and ending up with full drawings of characters existing only in her mind. And then, she would tell me all about those characters, and I would write. That was the beauty of our dynamic. She spoke, blurting out ideas and changing topics quickly, while I wrote. We knew each other well enough that I was able to piece together her thoughts and tie them into neat stories that I wrote in a faded composition notebook. She would smile and say, “One day, you’re going to publish those stories and we’ll be rich. Then we buy the whole forest and have adventure all for ourselves.” When we were 17, she came up with the idea to go cryptid hunting in the forest. She said the students of our nearby random liberal arts college did it all the time, but never told anyone anything concrete about what they had found. She wasn’t content with that answer and longed to be able to discover something new. “This quest,” she mused, “of finding the cryptids of our decrepit little town, is calling to us, dear sister. It is only right that we do our part and show the truth to the world!”
We spent a week going into the forest when the sun went down. My sister played around with her radio to see if she could hear anything other than the expected static, while I sat up against a tree, writing about the woods and the forest floor and the stars. Writing about nothing of interest is an underrated experience. We didn’t see much else than shadows and the expected beauty of the forest. Well, I saw the shadows, but my beloved sister was always asleep. The morning after our final night planned for cryptid hunting, she woke up, stood and walked out of the forest with my notebooks. I did not. The shadows had whispered to me in the dead of night. They hummed songs of girls unbound and living better days. They spoke words of finding true freedom in a world of shackles. They lied, yet I still followed their voices, deeper and deeper into the overgrown woods. Those voices, dripping in honey, held me still, as mossy branches wrapped themselves around me and held tight, promising to never let me go, to never leave me behind like she did. I was not an adventurous kid. I was the sidekick that kept a record of the adventures. Yet, I wasn’t a necessary part of the story. It would still happen without me, the only difference being that it would be a lot messier to tell others about. She claimed everything I wrote, knowing I was now no more than a ghost, lost to forest and unable to refute her lies. And I stayed here, in this forest made of rage and familiarity, lost to time and lost to memory.
poetry
poetry ENGLISH Tied Right Hand II
After the Rain Comes the Rainbow 50
Grace DeVries
Diana Gateño The Misclassification of Balram
When Certain Things are Ommited 51
Not everything is what it seems 52
thank you 54
Religious Fraud 53
We're Not Laughing at You 55
SPANISH 56
Procesión
Mai Lee Berghaus Finality
64
Diana Gateño 57
Compañia Indcondicional
Ben Codirla If You Asked Me
63
Grace DeVries
Susana Saiz Don't Just Say, Do
63
Valentina Corral
Emilie Mendoza Within Darkness/Light
62
Maria Paula Aguirre
Diana Gateño Telescope
61
Laura Hermida
Diana Gateño As Father Asks
60
Alex Gonzalez
Diego Lara Enough Ghosts
59
65
Daniel Arreaza 58
De Esther a Esau
Sofia Bistrain
Diana Gateño
48
66
poetry Burbujas y la muerte
67
Francesca Calvosa El sol
67
Francesca Calvosa ¡No te vayas!
68
Gabriel Andrade Poesía libre
68
Marcos Zambrano Poema libre #2
69
Francesca Desogus Poema libre #6
Diana Gateño Villancico
69
Francesca Desogus
Francesca Desogus Trovadoresca #1
Cantiga de escarnio
70
71
Francesca Desogus
Valentina Bravo Trovadoresca #2
71
Tú no sabes y yo tampoco
70
Juan Posada
Valentina Bravo
49
72
PAGE 50
DIANA GATEĂ‘O
Tied Right Hand II When I'm on edge and empty I tie down my right hand With twine, frayed in the middle wrapped in knots And passages that braid in down And up and down diagonally Each finger separated by sensation Soft and marking tight The feeling, the occasion Of my organ in the light Like tying down will tie me closer Tying down and tying knots When I'm on edge, like as a child when My right hand was home to strings from Stray balloons in shopping malls and Theaters my right hand was home to Sweat and bug-bites my right hand was home to Bibles and to Dressing-gowns my right hand was home to me My body home to nothing Floating miles above the ground When I'm on edge and Empty I tie down my right hand And it's camping It's a tin roof it's Imperfect it is Home to me for now
CLASS OF 2021
PAGE 51
DIEGO LARA
CLASS OF 2021
The Misclassification of Balram The Monopolizing blight exhaust the Chinensis Submitted into languish, smothered by the spores Germinating from dreck raises a heinous bud
The frosted petal stains the vermillion scenery A nimble breeze displacing it along the azurel hue Leaving nothing but an ethereal spoor of ignominy in its odyssey
Rousing from the boreal the flourishing desolation Arching with a velvet nudge, uring the sail from the vermillion Imbuing the cerulean spectacle with its tinge
Frenzy propagates from our ghastly traveler Tailgated by a coercive gale Contemplating its scarcity of hypanthium
Petal dwindling from Elysium Wilted embracing the Pandendemioun Husk nourishing the Oedipus
PAGE 52
DIANA GATEÑO
CLASS OF 2021
Enough Ghosts The brush of that small hand on her lips felt like a constant ghostly whisper. Why did you love him? If he tried to kill you, why did you love him? Mama always said a lover’s got to know your needs. Why did you need it? Why can’t you do it? Honor and true grit and idiocy. Why can’t you do it? Why can’t you vanish? Because the fine touch of her lips to his fingers still haunt her, and there’s enough ghosts in the desert.
PAGE 53
Telescope She saw the world Through a telescope With the curiosity and wonder Of an astronomer. She was starstruck, And oblivious, And whimsical, And naĂŻve. I saw the world As a member of humanity With the passion and despair Of a dissenter. I was angry, And tired, And cynical, And defeated. She saw stars. I saw injustices. The stargazer and the protester.
EMILIE MENDOZA
CLASS OF 2024
PAGE 54
DIANA GATEÑO
CLASS OF 2021
As Father Asks Father Time he had a son and lo his name
"Your mission is a noble one
was death
O son of favored breast
With moon-white scythe and bone a-step he cashed in all man’s debts
For yes, all souls succumb to death The noble, gross or poor Through eager means they face their threats And soon, in time, obscure
When death was one in younger years All pale and spry a thing He turned himself to father’s ears And started querying
“Why must I be designed, milord For suffering and strife? For all your creatures’ eyes are bored To fear for end of life”
“Father wise your products fear, And loathe me!” Cried the son But father simply held him near And said “continue on”
Although of others there is none Who to this may attest”
Now death has seen his many moons And served his purpose well No longer flinches, blinks or doubts When all are crying hell
His fathers words emboldened him Advice he’s closely kept But deep within, full to his brim He holds the same contempt
To take away the gift of life Is not an easy task But death, though grim, holds tight his scythe And does as father asks
PAGE 55
SUSANA SAIZ
Within the darkness/light Maybe it's the luminous avenue or the dark alley, Only he can sense the rawness of the valley.
The wanted man for despicable murder lies within, The darkness and the light only brings karma in.
Perhaps it's the yin & yang with complementary balance , He realized it benefits the rich with an unjustified allowance.
I became a man with that darkness and some light, take the time to read my narrative on becoming bright.
My name is in every corner of the street, Lies being spread like butter with cheese.
You must wonder if I'm a sociopath Mr. premier, The truth is inside each individual who becomes a billionaire.
CLASS OF 2021
PAGE 56
MAI LEE BERGHAUS
Don't Just Say, Do You see yourself standing, You never wish to fall, But your head is banging. Feel like it might be the ending, Feel like you’re against a wall, And the wall is staring. You don’t think you’re understanding, Feeling kind of small, Running off chanting. I want it! You’re saying, You stand and call, But no one is answering. You start commanding, Seeing your heart fall, and it starts landing. You wish to be settling, You see a ball, Telling you, don’t just be saying, Start demanding.
CLASS OF 2023
PAGE 57
BEN CODIRLA
CLASS OF 2023
Finality My feet are blistered and swollen, As I stumble out of the snow-covered woods, The path I once trod obscured, By tangled nettles and thick branches, A dim streetlight is the only indication of what’s ahead.
The looming woods behind seem to open up, And the winter air, paralyzed, cools to a warm summer night. The mysterious drivers draws up the reigns. I look him deep in the soul, and smile.
The shards of ice coldly kiss my neck, As I stand shivering under the lamp pole, My last bastion of hope. And as tiredness drawn over me, My body weak and weary, I hear the ring of bells, the neigh of horses, And the shadow of a macabre carriage. As it draws up, the driver gives me a long stare, Husks of eyes scrutinizing every pour of my face. Warmth resonates from his being, His extended hand a reminder of home, A home left far behind. My battered legs draw themselves into the seat, And he puts his arms around me. Suddenly, peace.
We ride away into the night.
PAGE 58
SOFIA BISTRAIN
If You Asked Me If you asked me if I regret what I said I would say no even though I regret every single work I said I could just sit you down and you could say “oh” or just really care and try to fix things instead your truth is like an ugly taste in my tongue your actions and way greater than a simple “you know” and I have learned and now have a long way to grow
The wind might have made him look like the stronger one here but everyone knows all she was feeling was fear my cheeks swore to not drop another tear loyalty is a gold chain neither have learned to hold it’s the same story just being retold that fairy tale has been wasted and is already old although what really hurts is what was left untold
Life if a journey and everything happens for a reason And overthinking them makes your mind to feel like a prison true friends are like stars, but some stop shining along the way, she will realize sooner or later, yet that might not be today!
CLASS OF 2023
PAGE 59
GRACE DEVRIES
After the Rain Comes the Rainbow A single candle glimmers in the darkest shadow On a trail where the wind blows east. After the rain comes the rainbow. The struggles, the failures; it seems like they never go. They’ll haunt every second with the wrath of a beast. A single candle glimmers in the darkest shadow. Hope wears thin and ceases to flow like a river run dry, all of it released, but from the water of my pain forms a rainbow. Capture the light and let it grow; A flame of joy evading the rain, all but deceased. A single candle glimmers in the darkest shadow. At the edge of a cliff I watch it glow. The storm calmed down, it greatly decreased; the rain, but a sprinkle, gave way to a rainbow. It sparkled and glittered, letting my forgotten smile show. Through darkness I crumbled, but with this light I feast. A single candle glimmers in the darkest shadow; hope is not all lost, for it is the path to the rainbow.
CLASS OF 2023
PAGE 60
ALEX GONZALEZ
CLASS OF 2023
PAGE 61
LAURA HERMIDA
CLASS OF 2023
Not everything is what it seems
PAGE 62
MARIA PAULA AGUIRRE
thank you When I open my eyes, every morning Thinking about the dream that keeps me going, I smile and I say thank you When I run, and I’m out of breath And I stop in front of the sea, I smile and I say thank you When I see my mom and I see my dad Giving them a hug and a kiss, I smile and I say thank you When I am at school, and I get stressed Even though I am crying, forcing it, I smile and I say thank you When people try to hurt me I often think of what could be hurting them, and I smile and I say thank you When I see and talk with my friends I understand how lucky I am to have them, and so I smile and I say thank you When its late, and I’m tired, I could all my blessings and all my joys When I jump into bed, I smile and I say thank you.
CLASS OF 2023
MULTIPLE AUTHORS
PAGE 63
CLASS OF 2023
Religious Fraud
VALENTINA CORRAL
Adam and Eve Lovers of the dawn Founders of deception Brainwash posed as divinity Morals stuck in a tale Truth distorted By the star-crossed lovers Adam and Eve
We're Not Laughing at You GRACE DEVRIES
Pushed and kicked We’re not laughing at you So gone, so weak Irony hits hard Laughter escapes We’re laughing with you
PAGE 64
DIANA GATEÑO
CLASS OF 2021
Procesión Por qué la gente pregunta
Pero su hija
¿Cómo estás?
Esa mujer
En los funerales
Esa escultura
Esperando que respondas con palabras
Esa gigante
Esa mujer era Mi futuro, sus hombros
En mi mente Quema como fuego enfermo
Contra el cielo, indomables
El gato negro en el portal del templo
En mi infancia alrededor de otras
Está de espaldas a nosotros
Flacas, finas
Duerme sin conocerse
Sobre alas de metal volaba
Una superstición joven, roncante
Con la fuerza de cualquier hombre Con la dulzura de un adiós
Esa mujer Mi tía
Su madre, en nuestro carro
Hecha niña en su edad adulta
Costa del Este a Chanis
Su abrazo, saliendo de la sinagoga
Rodeada por familia a todos lados
Quema como soledad
Pero no tengo mi flaco Llora ya, mujer Que no se puede respirar sin agua En el aire una tarde seca como esta Tres veces casi lloro Su memoria en mi es Ausente, corta Nunca conocí al difunto Ese hombre flaco y bravo Gringo por aprendizaje Tacaño por nación
¿Cómo estás? Pues estoy Patas 'pa 'rriba.
PAGE 65
DANIEL ARREAZA
Compañia Incondicional Me gustas por ser como eres. Por ser tan dulce, por ser tan genial. Me gustas porque me alegras los días amargos. Los días grises que quisiera olvidar.
Me gustas porque te sabes quedar, cuando todos se marchan, cuando todos se van. Me gustas porque sabes lo que la amistad significa. Porque entiendes que el amor es bueno.
Compañera de mis incansables travesías. Guía en medio de las tinieblas de la oscuridad. Cómplice de mis sueños en los que me pierdo cada día. Ilusión querúbica de la que no logro escapar.
CLASS OF 2021
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DIANA GATEÑO
De Esther a Esau De Esther a Esau uno camina un sendero vacío excepto por las piedras Hiere la planta de sus pies, se para de su cama de seda y decide El hombre, hecho de piel y huesos, su cabeza puesta todavía Sobre tan delicado cuello, decide salir a la caza por el honor de su nuevo ser
De Esther a Esau uno vende su nacimiento por un plato de vida y muerte Sus sorbos eliminan toda noción nacida, todo otorgado Por un dios sediente, se convierte en amo de su vida Líder de naciones nuevas y extrañas, obsequiado y temido
De Esther a Esau uno termina su ayuno y empieza a devorar Animales, de segunda, y lentejas rojas como sangre, como pelo sobre piel Sangre de muerte, vida y luto, abandonada, sangre azul. Su sangre se convierte en suya
De Esther a Esau, el beso esconde sangre viva. Deja el sepulcro y el altar a favor del arco y flecha No cobra el nombre de profetas, y los desbanca en muerte- las paredes De la tumba bajan a abrazarlo, el hombre transformado
De Esther a Esau
CLASS OF 2021
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FRANCESCA CALVOSA
CLASS OF 2024
Burbujas y la muerte Espíritus en burbujas y héroes en la muerte. La verdad es confusa y yo me rehúso a pensar que un día esa seré yo. Despertándome en un mundo donde vuelas en vez de caminar y juegas con almas que nunca conociste, pero todos llegaron aquí y nunca resolví lo que pasó con mi vida en la tierra.
El sol El sol pegándole al vidrio, la luz cegando mi vista. Pensando en el día que viene adelante con alegría sonante. ¿Qué pasaría si el sol no sale? Yo tampoco saldría con él, no saldría hasta que la luna duerma y las estrellas paren de bailar así a los rayos voy a acariciar
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MULTIPLE AUTHORS
¡No te vayas!
CLASS OF 2024
GABRIEL ANDRADE
Suspiros y fragancias a la sombra de las ramas, Y he de decirte adiós para siempre, querida, sabiendo que te alejas para nunca volver, quisiera retenerte para toda la vida, ¡Pero no puede ser!.
Poesía libre
MARCOS ZAMBRANO
Me gustaría compartir contigo cada respiración, Cada segundo de mi vida y toda la nostalgia que cabe en un recuerdo. Silencio nocturno, doloroso silencio... oigo el zumbido de mi sangre, dentro de mi cráneo pasa una suave tormenta. ¡Insomnio! No poder dormir y sin embargo soñar y pensar.
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FRANCESCA DESOGUS
CLASS OF 2024
Poema libre #2 Contrariamente a la creencia popular, la humanidad es hermosa. Hermosa en las palabras que son capaces de pronunciar, Hermosa en la forma que podemos escribir sin parar. Tendemos a ignorar tanta belleza, da miedo en verdad, Si tan solo pudiéramos detenernos y ver la realidad que en cada ojo hay una gota de dulzura de miel Que tenemos marcas pasadas en toda la piel. Me niego a creer que la humanidad es mala Cuando podemos tejer nuestro futuro con lana
Poema libre #6 A menudo me sorprende el poder de las palabras, Más específicamente, el poder de la escritura. Es simplemente ordenar palabras Sin embargo, si se organizan correctamente Recibimos obras maestras, escritas para la historia. Si se organizan correctamente, obtenemos la capacidad de hablar desde el alma. Si se organizan correctamente, las palabras pueden vivir para siempre. Si las organizamos correctamente, rompemos los límites del tiempo y del espacio. Te animo a ordenar estas palabras Porque si se organizan correctamente, has descubierto los secretos de la vida. .
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VALENTINA BRAVO
Trovadoresca #1 Mi amada hoy te digo que te protejo con mi espada Y que con mi escudo te cuido de todos los males. Para que estés conmigo te digo cuanto tiempo te he esperado, Que hoy te tenga a mi lado es mi mayor honor. Como caballero te protejo hasta que me muera yo Espero que me dejes cuidarte, así como lo deseo
Trovadoresca #2 Con mi espada te protejo como todo lo que tengo Con mi caballo te llevo a los lugares que quieras Con mi escudo te escondo de todo el mundo para que siempre estés a mi lado Y te valoro como oro preciado Soy caballero del rey, pero servidor tuyo Te protejo hasta que se acabe el mundo .
CLASS OF 2024
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FRANCESCA DESOGUS
CLASS OF 2024
Villancico Ese aire azul de verano, y no, No me refiero al azul triste y plano. Ese tipo de azul que te envuelve en sus brazos y te da vueltas y mil abrazos, Azul que te hace mirar todo tu ser y te llena de alegría porque no hay nada que temer. Puedes recorrer cada centímetro de este mundo y nada se compara por un segundo con mi azul cálido veraniego.
Cantiga de escarnio Me ilusioné, me has dejado herida te diré. Sé que no te importa y que tengo la historia al revés, pero tal sinvergüenza nunca me la espere. .
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Tú no sabes y yo tampoco Vivir es difícil, morir es lo facil
Lyrics
Nos gusta fingir que esto no es así
instrumentals
Una de las varias mentiras
Production
Que repetimos para vivir
Editing all done by
Ser o no ser, es lo que no se
Juan Posada
Vivir aquí o antes o después
Class of 2022
Nos mentimos sin saber que son verdades Ahora hay un yo que nunca conocí No se lo que soy Eso es lo que me molesta No se lo que soy Lo de ayer no aplica para hoy Ser o no ser eso es lo que es No se lo que soy Eso es lo que me molesta No se lo que soy Lo de ayer no aplica para hoy Ser o no ser, eso es lo que es Porque buscar es facíl Ser o no ser, eso es lo que es Porque ya me encontré, aunque yo no lo sé
NON FIC TIO N
CASTELLANO CASTELLANO CASTELLANO
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DIANA GATEÑO
CLASS OF 2021
Ética de urgencia En el año 2012, Fernando Savater publicó el libro “Ética de urgencia” como parte de su serie de manuales filosóficos modernos. El libro lidio por gran parte con la nueva popularidad del internet, y las consecuencias que tendría este medio en la ética. Tocando temas variando desde la educación a la intimidad, Savater hace una variedad de comentarios y predicciones- muchas de ellas sorprendentemente precisas, pero muchas otras que hoy en día se han refutado. Habiendo pasado casi una década desde que Savater toco pluma a papel, ¿qué ha cambiado? ¿cómo hemos reaccionado, y qué significa para la ética? La escala e influencia del mundo digital ha estado en un estado de crecimiento constante en los últimos 8 años: subiendo de 2,27 billones usuarios de internet en 2012 a 4.79 billones actualmente. Con esta mayor escala también ha crecido su poder como un foro social- la ubicuidad y accesibilidad económica de los “smartphones” que nos permiten conexión constante, aumentos en los mil millones en usuarios de redes sociales como Facebook, y un aumento de uso tecnológico diario de 4 horas a 6 y media como promedio. Además de esto, ahora es casi imposible desconectarse totalmente del internet: hasta si ignoramos el estigma social de no existir en las redes sociales (y este es considerable), usualmente es requerido por las compañías que sus empleados tengan una cuenta de e-mail, y lo mismo va para estudiantes. Ni hablar de la variedad de aplicaciones específicas de comunicación cuyo uso es comúnmente demandado, como WhatsApp y Zoom. Similarmente, es un requerimiento para muchas instituciones tener un número de celular o dirección de e-mail para conseguir planes de teléfono, cuentas bancarias, o semejantes servicios. El internet ya no es el foro de aficionados que era en los 90s, ni la moda creciente del 2012, sino que es parte de la vida de casi todos alrededor del mundo, dándole un nuevo sentido de “realidad” que ha creado tanto beneficios como dificultades.
En el segundo capítulo de “Ética de urgencia”, Savater hace el argumento que “se ha vuelto más complicado identificar lo que es real, distinguirlo de lo virtual”, citando como ejemplo una situación en dónde se asume que un grito viene de la tele cuando antes este sonido sería causa por preocupación inmediata. Savater concluye que esto terminará con un empeoramiento de la insensibilidad ante el sufrimiento ajeno, diciendo que “Hoy estamos acostumbrados a ver tantos horrores, en las series de ficción y en los informativos, que es muy raro que una persona se eche a llorar por lo que le pueda pasar a una estatua, por dramática que nos parezca su situación” pero estaba errado, y con el tiempo llegó a ocurrir lo opuesto. Ahora que el espacio virtual ocupa tanto espacio en nuestra vida, la moral dentro de él se controla mucho más firmementesea el sujeto las interacciones reales dadas o expuestas por medio de esta plataforma, u obras de ficción. Con el aumento en habilidad de digerir y difundir información en masa nos hemos hecho más efectivos en actuar y crear un impacto real al ver el sufrimiento de nuestro prójimo, y la ubicuidad de la vida digital aumenta nuestra sensibilidad al juzgar el sufrimiento ‘virtual’. Como fuente directa de noticias y acontecimientos, el internet conlleva a muchos a actuar por causas que no consiguen cobertura por medio de fuentes convencionales por la censura o falta de rentabilidad. Por ejemplo, fueron videos caseros de ataques racistas y muertes por abuso de poder policial lo que instigaron protestas nacionales (y después internacionales) a favor del movimiento ‘Black Lives Matter’ este año- videos publicados en y difundidos más que nada por medio de la red social Twitter, donde también se lograron recaudar fondos de fianza para manifestantes que fueron arrestados y dinero funerario para las familias de víctimas de pocos recursos. Con el apoyo de miles de usuarios de las redes, llegaron al cabo cambios al presupuesto policial de varios estados, y encarcelaron a algunos de
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los policías que habían asesinado a jóvenes afroamericanos sin justificación. Otros movimientos han conseguido esparcir su mensaje con métodos similares, sea en el caso de las protestas en Chile, las marchas contra el femicidio y abusos sexuales alrededor de Latinoamerica (ambos del año pasado), y los abusos contra la democracia durante las elecciones de 2020 en Bielorrusia, efectivamente comprobando que nuestra habilidad empática no ha sido negada por la concentración de información. Cuando conlleva el contexto del sufrimiento “virtual”sea este referente a actos perpetuados por medio del internet, o a los “tantos horrores” ficticios a los que se refiere Savater en su cita previa- una práctica en particular ha aparecido como su respuesta. Llamada “cultura de cancelación” por sus críticos, es la tendencia de crear campañas de boicoteo o formular críticas públicas contra acciones, figuras, publicaciones u obras creativas que son percibidas como dañinas por una razón u otra. Las ofensas varían en gravedad, desde mentir o decir algo políticamente incorrecto, a acusaciones serias como aquellas de violación o abuso. Muchos de sus proponentes argumentan que, dada la ubicuidad de la realidad ‘virtual’, esta debe mejorar para evitar que sea aprovechada por predadores, haga daño a entes reales, o empeore problemas sociales tales como la misoginia u homofobia. Efectivamente, el internet no solo mantiene la posibilidad de crear reacción ética dentro de la vida real y sus problemas, sino que también creó un impulso para ser más éticos dentro de los espacios virtuales e intangibles, Pero sus críticos tienen una perspectiva muy diferente- una preocupación que se basa en la reciente pérdida de intimidad por el internet. Savater menciona la intimidad en “Ética de urgencia” dentro del contexto de las llamadas y conversaciones públicas dadas por medio del celular, o las videollamadas que en su tiempo eran una novedad preocupante, pero ambos de estos casos son completamente obviados por un lector moderno. Para nosotros, llamar a alguien por teléfono o sentarse en una videoconferencia es común y corriente, sin más consecuencia agregar contra la intimidad que cualquier otro modo de comunicación.
La verdadera cuestión para nosotros es aquello que él menciona solo por accidente- la pregunta de dónde y cuándo ceder la intimidad, y por quién hacerlo. Él da el ejemplo de pruebas de alcoholemia o escáneres de metal, pero no pudo predecir que en nuestra época, la pérdida de intimidad no se daría en persona, si no por medio de invasiones a tus datos personales perpetuados por compañías digitales. En su película “Television Delivers People”, Richard Serra describe el surgimiento de comerciales en la televisión pública por medio de la frase: “Si no estás pagando, no eres el cliente; eres el producto que se vende.” Las redes sociales de hoy en día- compañías como Google y Facebook- obtienen sus ganancias aglomerando y vendiendo data de sus usuarios a terceros y compañías de publicidad. Interactuar de cualquier manera con estos programas elimina cualquier posibilidad que tendrías de privacidad- tu ubicación, tus hábitos, las instituciones o empresas a las que perteneces, tus familiares y amigos, y hasta tus gastos pueden ser registrados y entregados a terceros. En algunos casos, no es ni siquiera necesario que uno interactúe con el sistema del todo- Facebook y compañías asociadas con ellos como Cambridge Analytica han creado sistemas que extraen datos de personas conectadas a aquellos que interactúan con sus sistemas, sin que se den cuenta o den consentimiento. En Facebook, estos “perfiles de sombra” están basados en las listas de contactos publicadas por usuarios activos, así que el mero acto de tener un número de teléfono guardado en el celular de cualquiera persona que utilice este sitio te expone a una violación de privacidad. La información recolectada por estas compañías también puede ser accedida por el gobierno del país en donde estén basadas- por ejemplo, los Estados Unidos, por medio de ordenes generales llamadas “Geofence warrants” puede conseguir la ubicación de cualquier aparato tecnológico que esté conectado a alguno de estos sistemas sin la necesidad de tener una sospecha razonable y sin que tú te des cuenta. En audiencias públicas entre compañías de data y el congreso estadounidense, se reveló que la demanda para ellas ha crecido exponencialmente estos últimos años.
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Más y más, uno puede ver rápidamente que la intimidad ya no es una cuestión, para usar el ejemplo de Savater, de quitarse los zapatos en la emigración del aeropuerto. Ni tampoco es una cuestión comparable a su peor caso, que vengan a tu casa y te requieran alguna información o examen- ya están ahí, ya tienen lo que necesitan, y no tienen ninguna obligación en decirte que lo consiguieron. He aquí la preocupación contra el vigilantismo digitalcon tanta información disponible a aquellos que quisieran conseguirla, es posible causar daños mucho mayores que antes. Aquellos que han sido “cancelados” o que simplemente tienen una presencia digital lo grande suficiente para tener disidentes se encuentran con un real peligro de recibir amenazas, perder su empleo o posición, o hasta ser víctimas de “doxxing”: publicar información sobre la vivienda, empleo, escuela o familiares de una persona, usualmente con la intención de causarles daño o permitirles a otros a hacerlo. Aunque se ha utilizado para bien en casos como la exposición de las identidades de miembros de manifestaciones de supremacía blanca o nazismo, la posibilidad de errar y exponer a un inocente, o abusar de este poder convierte esta práctica en un punto de controversia intensa dentro y fuera de los medios digitales. En el capítulo “Internet y derechos”, Savater critica a Julian Assange de Wikileaks por revelar secretos del estado, algo que impacta a toda la población- así que no me imagino que él hubiera creído o celebrado este nuevo poder que se ha hecho disponible a las masas, pero muchos ven estas acciones como morales en relación a las posibles ofensas o abusos que perpetrarían sus víctimas si no son interceptadas, marcándola como una excepción moral. En los últimos 8 años, tanto ha cambiado que es difícil resumirlo en un solo escrito. Aunque Savater ha logrado predecir e identificar muchos de los problemas éticos causados por la presencia aumentada de la tecnología en nuestra época, no logró captar la medida en la que el mundo “virtual” se convertiría en una realidad diaria. Aunque la sensibilidad, la justicia y la intimidad hayan evolucionado radicalmente, algunos de los comentarios de Savater erraron completamente la marca.
Sus temores ante las células madre se basadas en dinámicas que nunca llegaron a cristalizarse, su creencia que la especialización digital no afecta la identidad cuando gran parte de la formación personal del hombre moderno se da por las redes, y sus preocupaciones por la pérdida de la creatividad ante la piratería en el internet cuando es esta misma plataforma que ha creado unos de los espacios más lucrativos posibles para artistas y entes creativosYoutube, Spotify y similares- y permitido una reanudación del patronaje artístico directo por medio de sitios como Patreon y Kofi. La época digital está en un flujo constante e impredecible¿quién podrá decir lo que sobrevivirá de hoy después de 8 años más? Sin embargo, la ética y los valores nunca morirán, solo mutan y se adaptan a las nuevas realidades, espacios y aprendizajes que descubrimos con el tiempo.
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CATALINA DEL CANTO
CLASS OF 2021
El infierno oculto Cada persona, sin importar sus creencias o cultura, en alguna ocasión, ha pensado en lo que es el infierno, independiente al hecho de si realmente existe o no. Algunos lo consideran un lugar, como Dante Alighieri en La Divina Comedia, en el cual uno se ha de encontrar con las cosas más aterradoras conocidas, o incluso, desconocidas por la humanidad. Mientras que otros, tales como Jean-Paul Sartre en Sin Salida, encuentran el infierno, no en ideas fantásticas sino queen otras personas. La idea de un lugar subterráneo en el cual habitan horrores inimaginables, castigando a aquellos que les han hecho daño a los demás, es muy intrigante. Saber que aquel que ha lastimado, será castigado por una eternidad por sus acciones. Sin embargo, no creo que dicho castigo divino realmente exista. Personalmente, el concepto del infierno como un lugar no me hace mucho sentido. En el programa de televisión “El lugar bueno”, se introduce la idea de que si alguien, quién originalmente está destinado a ir al infierno, repite su vida la suficiente cantidad de veces como sea necesario para aprender, podrá volverse inherentemente en una buena persona, independiente de sus errores pasados. Y esto se supone que es lo que le permitirá entrar al cielo. Este concepto, es uno que realmente tiene un propósito además del castigo físico. Y el cual, a pesar de mi escepticismo sobre la existencia de dichos lugares, me parece más sensato que el propuesto por el de Dante. Ya que, ¿por qué llenar un lugar con sin fines personas en un sufrimiento eterno cuando se puede ayudarlos a aprender a ser la mejor versión de sí mismos? De cierta manera, esto me parece mucho más cercano a la posible realidad de este concepto. El infierno de Dante describe el mismo infierno que se me ha enseñado que existe durante toda mi vida, ya sea por mis padres, la iglesia, o las películas. Por un tiempo creí que si había tal lugar que era en el que podía terminar si actuaba mal y no me confesaba cuando iba a la iglesia. Sin embargo, crecí con padres que nunca me obligaron a apegarme a una religión, solo me la introdujeron a pesar de ambos ser Católicos. Así que, después de decidir que no era algo que quisiera continuar, en términos de actividades, me abrí a diversas posibilidades que pudieran responder las grandes preguntas de la vida, tales como “¿Qué pasa después de la muerte?”. De aquí entonces ya no pensaba en demonios, fuego, y Satán, sino que en todo menos eso. Pronto, fui introducida al concepto de la reencarnación, no basada en un sistema de castas como en elHinduismo sino que más a base del conocimiento universal. Este, similar a “El lugar bueno”,habla de que el humano es un alma, un ser de luz, que reencarna, en diferentes vidas, hasta poder volver a conectarse con el mundo, hasta aprender, y poder ascender. Este pensamiento no lo llevo como creencia religiosa necesariamente sino que más como un edredón, algo que me consuele de la respuesta hacia esta pregunta. Ya que, si realmente existe un Dios, y asumiendo que es un hombre, no creo que le gustaría ver a su propia creación sufrir por toda la eternidad, sino que crecer, y poder volverse en seres dignos de un lugar como su dicho cielo. Basado en esto, es por lo cual pienso que similar a lo propuesto por Sartre, el infierno es encontrado en otros, o alternativamente, en nosotros mismos, a través de nuestras vidas.
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Es muy cierto que como dice Sartre, el resto del mundo, puede llegar a ser más infernal que un castigo físico, pues como ha sido comprobado a través de muchos casos de estudio de psicología moderna, el castigo psicológico resulta ser más fuerte o traumático que el físico alargo plazo. Considero que este infierno es mucho más sensato también por esto. Sin embargo, pienso que por la misma razón, nosotros somos más de un infierno que los demás. En esta vida, no hay críticos más despiadados que nosotros mismos. Similar a Estelle de Sin Salida, es entendible decir que no quiere ver su reflejo en los ojos de Inez por lo su preocupación de cómo Inez realmente la ve a ella. No obstante, sigue siendo Estelle quien se está condenando a sí misma pensar eso. Y, uno puede argumentar que es la presencia de las otras dos personas en la habitación que le dan este pensamiento en primer lugar, pero, a mi parecer, Estelle o cualquier persona en este caso, puede terminar volviéndose loca sin la ayuda de alguien más. Creo que, ponernos como humanos en una habitación solos por la eternidad, podría ser igual de terrible, sino peor, que con alguien más. Dicho esto, en lo que a mí concierne, el infierno no es un lugar, sino algo que se encuentra en uno mismo. Este sucede durante nuestras vidas, no después de nuestras muertes. Es cada experiencia que tenemos, buena o mala. Por ejemplo, es fácil adivinar porque los malos momentos que experimentamos a través de nuestra vida pueden ser interpretados como el infierno en sí. Sin embargo, las buenas vivencias también lo pueden ser, ya que estas fácilmente pueden volverse malas debido a nuestros propios pensamientos. Puedo ligar una buena memoria a un elemento o a una experiencia traumática o dolorosa, inmediatamente volviéndola mala.Factores o procesos mentales como el pensar demasiado, asumir lo peor, saltar a conclusiones, entre otros, son cosas que hacemos por instinto. Son aquellas características las que nos hacen humanos, las que nos hacen sufrir. Nosotros mismos nos causamos dolor al exponernos a un mundo que no conocemos, un mundo que a veces no nos quiere, en el cual aprendemos, a la buena o a la mala. Un mundo en el cual, a pesar de todo lo que hagan los demás para herirnos, somos nosotros quienes realmente nos lastimamos más. Nuestros sentimientos, nuestra vida humana, nosotros. Nosotros somos el infierno. Diferente a lo que es propuesto por la mayoría del mundo, al igual que es visto en la sobras de Dante y Sartre, el infierno no es un lugar, ni algo que vive en los demás, sino que algo que proviene de uno mismo, de nuestra humanidad. Todos tienen su propia versión del infierno, pues es la única condición que tenemos para vivir. No compartimos la misma condena porque está varía dependiendo de la persona, sin embargo, tenemos en común el sufrimiento que este causa, el cual proviene de cualquiera, sino de todas nuestras experiencias. El infierno en el cual vivimos puede llegar a ser solitario, pero por lo menos, tenemos a 7.5 billones de personas con las cuales podemos compartir esta soledad. El infierno está aquí en la tierra y vive oculto en nosotros.
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DIANA GATEÑO
CLASS OF 2021
La tragedia y el destino: análisis en contexto de Es que somos muy pobres Desde su título hasta sus últimas palabras, Es que somos muy pobres nos revela un extremo muy real de la filosofía del hombre latinoamericano. Su tema es la tragedia, y cómo es afectada por esa creencia en la inexorabilidad del destino y sentido de justicia o culpa religiosa que es tan prevalente en nuestra cultura. En ella, Rulfo explora las consecuencias de esta actitud que lleva a muchos a lamentar su situación sin verla como producto de la causa y efecto, estancándolos y dejándolos sin esperanzas para el futuro. Nuestra idea latinoamericana de la tragedia le hace un contraste directo a aquella de los maestros del género- los griegos. Aunque el destino, llamado Moira, existía en la tradición helénica, consideraban que tu fortuna, Tyche, solamente se afectaría por medio de tus propias fallas, tu Até. El hombre no nace, como en la tradición católica que fue importada a América por los españoles, cargando la culpa del pecado original, sino que el camino que tomas hasta llegar a tu destino es lo que te hace merecedor de la tragedia o victoria que te espera. El cuento nos presenta su mensaje en breve dentro del primer párrafo, y después expande más y más el efecto de esta actitud. Lo primero que dice el narrador es “Aquí todo va de mal en peor.” Nota el uso de “aquí”, no “ahora”, no “en esta familia”, ni siquiera “en esta época” o “este año”. Para él, su sufrimiento no ha llegado por medio de la historia o acción humana, es simplemente parte de la tierra en la que se encuentra. Continúa hablando de la muerte de una tía, y una lluvia que llegó durante el duelo y terminó arruinando su cosecha de cebada. Durante la lluvia, su única respuesta es sentimental- “A mi papá eso le dio coraje”- pero sin intentar ver qué pudieran hacer o cuánta cebada pudieran rescatar, se quedan sin actuar- “lo único que pudimos hacer, … fue estarnos arrimados debajo del tejabán, viendo cómo el agua fría que caía del cielo quemaba aquella cebada amarilla tan recién cortada.”
Vemos desde este incidente menor la actitud que tienen el narrador y su familia ante la tragedia, la manera que- literalmente- son simples espectadores de su propio destino, pero ¿qué tipo de vida puede tener uno pensando así? El resto de la historia se centra en el desborde del rio local, que termina con la desaparición de la vaca que la familia había comprado para el futuro de Tacha, la hija menor. La lluvia llega en la madrugada, pero nuestro narrador la ignora- primero regresando a la cama, después viéndolo entrar al corral de su vecina (sin considerar por un segundo la posibilidad que lo mismo le ocurra a su familia), y quedándose, con su madre y su hermana, viendo el rio subir por “horas y horas sin cansarnos”. Hasta llegan a subirse por la barranca- no para salvarse de la inundación, sino para poder oír lo que dicen sus vecinos. Es solo en este momento que recuerdan a la vaca, y para entonces ya se la ha llevado el rio. Tanto la vaca como su becerro desaparecidos, la familia se agoniza ante el futuro de Tacha- sin su vaca, supuesto dote y distracción, se convertirá en prostituta igual que sus hermanas. Supuestamente, la vaca era la única cosa parándose entre el destino de sus hermanas mayores y la pobre niña (que ni siquiera ha llegado a desarrollarse), y a menos que encuentren el becerro vivo, ella sucumbirá a su tragedia. La familia no ve su propio rol en la crianza de sus hijas- la madre lamenta confundida que toda su familia era religiosa y obediente, y no entiende por qué le nacieron hijas “con la misma mala costumbre”. Ven su futuro como resultado de algún pecado, un castigo divino. Le atribuyen al mismo cuerpo de la niña esta intención malvada, como si fuera consciente de su misión suicida- “los dos pechitos de ella se mueven de arriba abajo, sin parar, como si de repente comenzaran a hincharse para empezar a trabajar por su perdición.”
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Dentro del cuento, Rulfo muestra la manera que este sentido de un destino inexorable afecta a la clase baja, pero esta actitud permea toda la sociedad Hispanoamérica- el impulso de culpar al otro, sea dios u hombre, por nuestras fallas, el sentido de lástima hacia uno mismo, y el estancamiento causado por esto es algo del que están exentos exclusivamente aquellos en el nivel más alto de riqueza y poderío (quienes irónicamente ven su poder y riqueza heredados como el resultado directo e inmutable de su mérito individual). Veamos por ejemplo nuestra propia patria- es verdad que la clase baja en Panamá vive bajo la crítica común de su dependencia en programas del gobierno, que pocos trabajan consistentemente, y menos les permiten a sus hijos una educación completa, pero de la misma manera que ellos se mantienen en miseria, la clase media es abusada por la corrupción política y el nepotismo dentro de la economía, y rara vez hacemos más que quejarnos para cambiar el orden. Es difícil tener esperanza para el futuro sabiendo que el sistema en el que vivimos no es una meritocracia pura- muchas familias pobres dependen en la ayuda del gobierno porque saben que hasta esforzándose igual no están asegurados a avanzar socialmente, y ven la educación como un obstáculo para la seguridad que consiguen cuando todos los integrantes de la familia trabajan. La clase media los ve con resentimiento por no apoyar a la economía e impuestos y ser los que reciben apoyo, aunque también ellos luchan por mantenerse. Aún así viven en el mismo país y saben que la gente rica tampoco aporta lo debido la mayoría del tiempo, y que sin importar cuánto trabajen en su vida muchos no lograrán volverse ricos o ver a sus hijos hacerlo. Aunque haya excepciones- artistas o deportistas que nacieron pobres y llegaron a ser íconos de este país, viviendo cómodamente- es irrealista pensar que esto es posible para todos sin hacer cambios a la manera que funciona nuestra sociedad. Y con tanta tragedia… ¿por qué no hacer cambios? Por años, han existido excusas como “el mundo no es justo”, “no existen políticos honestos” y “si todos los gobiernos roban por lo menos este ha hecho obras”, pero estos son lo mismo que pararse en la barranca y ver el rio llevarse la vaca.
Son tus votos los que escogen a ladrones, y tu candidatura o voluntariado que pueden cambiar la sociedad. Es solo recientemente que la candidatura y el reportaje independiente llegaron a ser aceptados convencionalmente en Panamá, pero en una época con tanto poder de comunicación y organización en nuestras manos, sería ignorante seguir con esta actitud fatalista que la gente no puede hacer nada. Hay que reconocer que todos formamos parte de esta sociedad, y somos quienes decidimos su orden y sus intereses. Hay que reconocer que la educación no es solo entrenamiento para un empleo u posición social, sino que nos permite distanciarnos de tradiciones que nos dejan atrapados en el pasado, como el fatalismo y el fanatismo religioso, y nos enseñan a pensar por nosotros mismos. Hay que abandonar la pena y la culpa que nos mantienen estancados, y hacernos, por nuestro estudio y nuestro esfuerzo, merecedores de una victoria futura.
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CATALINA DEL CANTO
CLASS OF 2021
Sófocles y la tragedia griega
Culpa a los dioses, ¡no a mí! La clásica tragedia griega se trata de la imposibilidad de eludir el destino. A través de la literatura de su tiempo, la misma condición ha permanecido, aquella que dice que nadie tiene control sobre su destino y que todo poder que crean tener sobre él no es más que una ilusión. Sin embargo, a pesar de la perpetuación de esta idea, héroes tales como Edipo tienen más control sobre sus acciones de lo que se les acredita, y son capaces de tener un final diferente al que se leses impuesto.
A pesar de que los personajes de Sófocles son caracterizados como figuras ideales, tienen cualidades realmente humanas. Esta humanidad que se les da logra resaltar su normalidad, su falta de algo artificioso o fuera de este mundo, lo cual acentúa el hecho de que cualquier acción que ellos tomen, es únicamente basada en su propia naturaleza, no de una fuerza divina que gobierna su vida y es responsable de cualquier conflicto que se les presenta.
El final de toda tragedia griega escrita ya es conocido, y el núcleo de este es la inexorabilidad del destino. En Edipo Rey de Sófocles, la imposibilidad de evitar el dolor que estete cause es visto a través de ojos humanos, los ojos de Edipo. Al poder ver las oportunidades que se le presentan tales como saber de su destino antes de que se haya cumplido, le da una gran ventaja para poder evadir lo que esté destinado a pasar. Sin embargo, este conocimiento es exactamente lo que de igual manera puede llevar a la perdición de nuestros personajes.
Al enterarse de la profecía vista en Edipo Rey, los padres de Edipo pudieron haber hecho más para evitar que se cumpliera. Por ejemplo, podrían haberse asegurado personalmente de la muerte de su hijo, sin embargo, al no hacerlo y simplemente dejar que alguien más se encargara, le dieron la oportunidad a Edipo de sobrevivir, lo cual eventualmente lleva a sus muertes. Y Edipo, por otro lado, pudo haber hecho un sin fin de cosas, ya haya sido acordar consigo mismo no matar a nadie (o por lo menos a un hombre), no casarse, no tener hijos, etc..., todo cual pudo haber evitado el parricidio y el incesto.
Después de conocer a oráculos, tanto Edipo, como el rey Layo y Yocasta, terminan eventualmente desenlazando algo terrible. En el caso de Edipo, se le es advertido el final al que se aproximaba, por lo cual pudo haber tomado ciertas acciones preventivas al respecto además de dejar su hogar. No obstante, ese sacrificio es inútil debido a que hace exactamente lo que se supone que no debe, tomar el primer paso hacia su perdición al matar a un hombre, quien irónicamente termina siendo su padre, dándole un viaje de primera clase hacia su ruina. Por otro lado, están el rey Layo y Yocasta, que después de escuchar lo que pasaría con su hijo como castigo, tratan desesperadamente de evitar que dicha fortuna se cumpla. Pero a pesar de sus esfuerzos, no logran nada más que cumplir su condena al pie de la letra. Esto todo pasa después de obtener el conocimiento de dicho destino. Uno se preguntará, ¿Cómo es posible que sin importar que hayan hecho, ambos lados terminaron en el mismo lugar? Pues en la psicología hay un fenómeno socio-psicológico conocido como una profecía auto cumplida. Esta es una falsa creencia que, directa o indirectamente, lleva a su propio cumplimiento. Dicha creencia influencia nuestro comportamiento y puede hacer que inconscientemente hagamos que nuestra peor pesadilla se vuelva realidad. Esto puede ser visto en la historia de Sófocles, pues es después de escuchar a un oráculo decirles lo que ha de pasar, que las acciones de nuestros personajes cambian para tratar de evitar dicho final, pero eventualmente, igual los llevan a cumplirlo.
El hombre humano que Sófocles construyó es alguien que encarna la viva imagen de la conducta humana ideal de la sociedad de aquel tiempo. Esta establece que la verdadera virtud se basa en el conocimiento de uno mismo y de sus propios límites. Sin embargo, al igual que Ícaro, de El mito de Dédalo e Ícaro, Edipo no respetó sus límites. Al ignorar las advertencias que le dio su padre, Ícaro cayó a su perdición a pesar de saber que el acercarse más al sol derretiría sus alas.De igual manera, Edipo sabía que cada acción que tomó desde escuchar al oráculo podría contribuir al cumplimiento del destino que se le había impuesto. Ninguno de estos casos fue obra de la intervención divina de un dios, sino que consecuencia de conocer tus propios límites e igual ignorarlos. Contrario al fundamento de cualquier tragedia griega que dice que todo conflicto es debido en un destino inexorable, realmente todo lo que le ocurre a los personajes está basado en su propias acciones. La causa y el efecto es una regla universal que aplica a todos, sin importaren qué pieza de literatura o experiencia en la vida real en la que se encuentre. Todo lo que hacemos es responsabilidad nuestra y no necesariamente de un poder más allá de nuestro entendimiento. No deberíamos poder decidir cuándo definimos que algo está fuera de nuestro control y cuándo es nuestro propio mérito.
ENGLISH ENGLISH ENGLISH
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EMILIE MENDOZA
CLASS OF 2024
Deviancy How low has the bar been set for tolerance? Lower than you think. One would hope that mediums more popular with the youth, a notably progressive generation, would be the perfect place to find a truly accepting environment. While it may be true for some, video games, their industry, and their communities simply cannot be included in that category. No, video games have allowed themselves to aid and abet the continued prominence of homophobia and transphobia, noticeably lagging behind almost all other forms of entertainment. Many might argue that there are several titles with proper LGBTQ+ representation; however, that is irrelevant to my point. Progress starting to be made does not take away from the harmful rhetoric reinforced by the content of some of the most popular titles in the industry and well as the very anti-LGBTQ+ gaming culture that persists. There is still a major problem here that continues to be ignored and until it is properly addressed, it will continue to hinder these already marginalized groups. The first place you’ll find the trend of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in regards to video games is in the content itself. It’s not explicit. Of course not. But it doesn’t take too long to notice. Going through a list of LGBTQ+ characters in video game titles, you may start to notice a trend. For example, we can look at a list of gay or bisexual characters in popular titles - Trevor from Grand Theft Auto V, Ash from Streets of Rage 3, and (with a description very indicative of the pattern) the villains of Metal Gear Solid, to name a few. If we combine this with a list of transgender or gender-noncomforming characters - Birdo from Super Mario Bros. 2, Flea from Chrono Trigger, and Alfred Ashford from Resident Evil: Code Veronica, to name a few - the common trait is clear. LGBTQ+ characters are and have been portrayed as villains and violent individuals, a tactic used by homophobes and transphobes to continue spreading their agendas. There’s really not much else to say about it; the harmful rhetoric supported by this content speaks for itself. When we see such blatant queerphobia coming from the content of so many different iconic titles, one can’t help but wonder where exactly that is coming from. Of course, it's coming from the industry and the work culture developers that surround it.
DIANA GATEÑO This isn’t even just speculation: time and time again we’ve seen official social media accounts use their platforms in, to put it lightly, distasteful ways. For example, we have several instances of official Twitter accounts making blatantly transphobic jokes like “We actually identify as an attack helicopter” from the Sonic the Hedgehog account - a joke known for being used to invalidate the gender identities for nonbinary people. Aside from those notable moments, one simply cannot ignore that culture around game developers. It’s an extremely heteronormative one, where, unlike other mediums, you can’t even find a community of LGBTQ+ developers. The work culture has forced them to assimilate. Because of this, a queerphobic atmosphere persists, though it is slowly getting dismantled.
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Finally, we can’t forget to discuss the gaming community. Now this is where the true impact of the video games themselves and the industry is highlighted. Similarly to the industry, the gaming community is extremely heteronormative. However, unlike the industry, the homophobia and transphobia in the community is a lot more explicit. The use of slurs is rampant and well known. Slurs that were historically used to gruesomely massacre a marginalized community. What makes it even worse, is that this community is known for being full of young impressionable kids, who will further the spread of use of these slurs as seen by anyone who’s played online before. It’s a vicious cycle that culminates in a community that marginalizes further, already marginalized and underrepresented individuals. Video games are undeniably the newest form of entertainment, and they’re not going away anytime soon. As much as this pioneering industry should be applauded, its shortcomings in terms of treatment to the LGBTQ+ community shouldn’t be ignored. It’s important to realize that this does actually do harm. Entertainment must keep up with social progress in order for the world we live in to become the one we dream about. So, I ask again, how low has the bar been set for tolerance? More importantly, will you allow it to stay there?
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HAILEY JENSEN
CLASS OF 2024
Strong and Courageous “My mother would have said, ‘Don’t sit around and complain about things. Do something.’ So, I did something.” Kamala Harris reflects much on the type of person she is. Since childhood, Kamala Harris has faced racial justice issues. She was taught that things would never be easy for her due to her color and gender. However, Kamala Harris’s immigrant parents have encouraged her to become a strong, influential woman. By going to law school and becoming a lawyer, she has been able to “do something.” Now, as the Vice President-elect, she can take action on the things she believes in and what is best for the United States. However, acting strong also comes with controversy, and many disagree with some of what she has done. Nevertheless, Kamala Harris will continue to strive for change in the United States to benefit women and people of color. Kamala Harris’s early life was strongly influenced by her immigrant parents. Her mother moved from India to the US to earn her doctorate degree at UC Berkeley, and her father moved from Jamaica to study there as well (Miller). Kamala Harris was born on October 20, 1964. In her childhood, she spent time in both India and Jamaica. Although they divorced when she was five, both her parents were major civil rights activists, and this influenced many of Kamala’s views about race, poverty, and democracy (Miller). Kamala said that her parents were “very intentional about raising my sister, Maya, and me as strong, Black women.” Her mother, for example, would take her to “Rainbow Sign, a Black cultural center near our home” (Miller). With his background, she decided to study political science and economics at college and then attend Law School at Hastings College. She earned her degree in 1989, and began to work at first as a prosecutor for the district attorney’s office in Oakland, California (McNamee). Although Kamala has had many successes, she has also had her controversies. One of her great victories was winning the race for Attorney General in California, becoming the first African American and first woman to hold this position. She ran for and won a Senate seat in 2016 (McNamee). She was “considered a rising start within the (democratic) party” (McNamee). Her most famous success, of course, has been to be elected the first woman and first Black-South Asian woman to the second highest office in the United States. Once selected to run alongside him, she helped Biden by raising money. In fact, President-elect Joe Biden announced she was his running mate on Tuesday and by Thursday, 34 million dollars had come into the campaign (Merica, Merica, and Cole). Clearly, she attracted people of color and women to the ticket, helping pull in people who were not as attracted to Joe Biden as white man. However, Harris has had her controversies as well. She is a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood and always has been. Because of the many controversies about abortion, this has turned voters away from her. In addition, she built her reputation as being tough on crime and drugs. She has been accused of ignoring police misconduct. She was very vocal about reform after George Floyd died. Some see this as “a political maneuver to capitalize on the increasing popularity of social change” (McNamee). The argument questions how honest she is about her motives in politics.
Because of her career, Harris has been an ongoing influence for women and people of color. One major way is that she is supporting women in politics. For example, her senior staff that will serve with her when she is VicePresident are all women. One author writes, “In a real sense, Harris is elevating women to new positions of visibility” (Rubin). Some people may feel this is unimportant because it can appear that women are equal. However, in reality, in the year 2020, only 25 out of 100 senators are women. Only 4 are women of color. When Harris steps down, there will be none who are black women (“Women”). Her actions in making women in politics more visible are important to this country. However, this is a complicated issue. Like Barack Obama, some AfricanAmericans have already accused her of not doing enough for Black people, for choosing white women. Even though she is a strong supporter of Black Lives Matter, she was not, they say, a descendent of enslaved people and comes from a position of privilege (Pearce). But for many people, this is not the important discussion, a most feel that simply through her career and victory, she is an example of success to groups who have not always felt successful. One woman tweeted, “My heart is soaring for all the kids out there who see themselves in her and will dream bigger because of this” (Pearce). Children and young people around the United States can look to her as a model of what they can do if they want. The defining characteristic of Kamala Harris is her desire to help and be a positive influence on others. As for me, personally, I am excited. My parents and I watched the livestream of her acceptance speech, and I felt chills to see how far our country has come. As a young woman with a strong Asian cultural background, I think it is exciting to see that a woman, a person of color, and a child of immigrants is showing that all these different groups are capable of anything they aspire to. Kamala Harris not only represents positive changes for people no matter where they are from. Now as Vice-President of the United States, we will have the opportunity to see the things Kamala Harris can do for the whole country.
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EMILIA SALAZAR
CLASS OF 2023
Jeju Island and Its Women: An Essay on the Deeply Rooted Haenyeo Culture of South Korea’s World Heritage Site Jeju Island is one of South Korea’s most exotic and captivating tourist locations today, and one of their greatest attractions are the haenyeo, also known as the female divers. These women are one of the few authentic portrayals of the culture of the island left as wars and globalization have led to the suppression of their most ancient rituals and practices. Oppressive governments imposed during World War II and the Korean War have forced most natives to replace their beliefs with the ones practiced by their invaders, while later, the imminence of globalization and the need for a better life after years of conflict led the war-struck 1950s parents to encourage their children to look for opportunities beyond their villages. Due to this, the young generations have had to quickly adapt themselves to this new interconnected, yet intolerant world. Regardless of these changes, the haenyeo community still persists, allowing historians, writers, and any curious tourists to catch a glimpse of what belonging to this group and land entails. In the novel The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See, the readers are able to be a part of this world through the life of its main character, Young-sook. The author uses the protagonist’s family, friends, and surroundings to portray the life of the “Mermaids of the Pacific,” sketching this society with each interaction, religious ceremony, and song. Both See’s novel and the recording by historians of the daily lives of the native citizens of Jeju island reveal distinct characteristics of their society, emphasizing their singularity. For example, within each haenyeo collective there is a hierarchy that ranks every woman according to her age and expertise. Exhibitions in the Haenyeo Museum of Jeju Island teach visitors that the divers are “divided into three levels: Sang-gun, Junggun, and Ha-gun,” and the woman chosen as their leader, the ‘Dae-Sanggun,’ has to possess “special wisdom and virtue.”
Due to this, an ambience of equal parts respect and mockery is sensed in every collective because the young are always learning from their seniors, creating connections that link them together as sisters. These bonds also provide them with the confidence and determination they need in order to carry the responsibilities that come from being an essential part of their island. When fishermen were replaced by female divers in the 18th century under the command of the Korean monarchy, the core of Jeju Island’s communal life shifted from a common patriarchal society to a matrifocal one. The husbands would stay at home caring after their children, to later distract the constant dullness of their days with vices or the socalled “little wives”, with whom they led amorous relationships outside their marriages. The unique, flexible, and independent lifestyle of the haenyeo is witnessed in Lisa See’s novel through the daily interactions between men and women, and the insights confided amongst divers. Opinions such as Sun-sil’s, the main character’s mother, confirm this notion: “You can’t blame our men for drinking. They have nothing to do and no purpose to push them through the day. They’re bored.
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And think how it must be for them to live in a household that depends on the tail of a skirt” (See 62). Also, unlike in other Asian countries, the birth of a girl is not condemned. In fact, both boys and girls are valued in their own different ways since the first practice ancestor worship once their fathers teach them, while the second dive alongside their mothers: “when a girl born, there is a party...when a boy is born, there is a kick to the hip” (See 152).” Conservative people could say the traditional marital roles are inverted in this island where being born a woman is a synonym for provider; however, as the whole world advances towards more egalitarian times, the matrifocal society of the haenyeos is no longer repudiated, but admired and strived for. Another important aspect of the life of the Jeju divers is their faith. Before the neoprene suits they wear today and all their sophisticated tools, the only things that accompanied them into the sea were handmade cotton suits, a pair of small metal-rimmed goggles, a few knives, their tewaks (ball-like floaters from which they hung their nets), and blessings from their goddesses. This last element was crucial to their daily outings since it guaranteed a bountiful catch and everyone’s safe return to shore. In The Island of Sea Women the village’s religious leader, Shaman Kim states: “Given the dominance on Jeju of volcanic cones, which are concave at the top like a woman’s private parts, it is only natural that on our island females call and males follow. The goddess is always supreme, while the god is merely a consort or guardian” (See 30). The author describes these beliefs as female-oriented, which is the complete opposite from the Confucian practices in neighboring nations. Halmang, meaning “goddess” and “grandmother,” precedes the name of each deity: Halmang Seolmundae is the creator and protector of the island, its surrounding waters, and every living thing within it; Halmang Samseung looks after fertility and childbirth; Halmang Juseung has the power of destruction, while Halmang Yeongdeung governs the wind, and the Dragon Sea God, one of the few powerful gods, oversees the sea’s behavior. This traditional doctrine is known as Shamanism. Joey Rositano, a photographer captivated by the religion, documents it in his book Jeju Island’s Haenyeo, A User’s Manual and photography portfolio, pairing the pictures with descriptions like: “The shamans of Jeju Island...are village priests concerned with the physical and spiritual well-being of their community’s residents. [Also] called shimbang, [they] serve in leadership roles, helping to settle disputes and organizing rituals.”
Entire villages would seek comfort in their shamans’ ability to talk to the dead, interpret the will of the goddesses, and lead rituals like Haenyeogut, which pledge for an abundant fishing season and the safety of all haenyeo. The all-encompassing power of goddesses may be a by-product of, or another reason for, the unique status of women in the island; however, regardless of its nature, it is just another element that renders Jeju’s culture and its people as unique. Lastly, it is important to mention the haenyeo songs and aphorisms, which keep them company during the long working-hours and teach them ways to navigate through their problems. In the article “The Sea Women of Jeju” published on the Financial Times and written by Simon Mundy, 80-year-old divers share songs like: “As I enter the sea, the afterlife comes and goes…I eat wind instead of rice...take the waves as my home.” The lyrics in their call-and-response songs open a window for those listening to understand the hardships and discomforts of their daily tasks, such as hunger, domestic afflictions, or their yearning for a good catch, but they also describe the soothing and rewarding feelings they get from being surrounded by the greatest creation of Halmang Seolmundae, Jeju Island. In a similar way their aphorisms also reveal some of their burdens; however, the invention of each one is consequential to a specific and recurring struggle since they warn against, or remind divers of certain difficulties. Lisa See includes in her novel great examples of these traditional sayings. The first is an aphorism that highlights the never-ending responsibilities and duties of a woman, saying “it’s better to be born a cow than a woman” (See 328). Active divers have to not only work on their wet-fields (the sea) and their dry-fields (their crops) every day, but they also have to care for their roles as mother and wives, the other women in their collectives, and their own fatigued selves.
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The saying that follows is one that every haenyeo must keep in the back of her mind, playing it again and again: “A greedy diver equals a dead diver” (See 27). It warns against those cocky divers who, blinded by their eagerness to harvest prized animals like octopuses and abalones, ignore their lack of experience, techniques, or knowledge. Such indiscretions put whole collectives in danger as no one except themselves can protect each other from the powerful sea creatures and currents, spreading the apprehension that “every woman who enters the sea carries a coffin on her back” (See 17). The third and last aphorism is the most recurrent of them all: “If you plant red beans, you will harvest red beans” (See 39). It soothes the soreness of each diver by reminding them that all efforts count, and the more they achieve, the more satisfying their rewards will be. Perhaps, it is an evident enough truth that whatever a person, in this case plants, will grow into something; however, this exact certainty is the purpose that drives every haenyeo. They feel part of an identity greater than their individual selves, justifying their endeavours with the conviction that their ultimate goal will always be giving their future generations a better life. Nowadays, those active divers are scarce, counting only with 4,500 as opposed to the 26,000 there used to be back in the 1960s. However, it is as if their culture is as live as ever since the principles guiding their lifework, bravery, endurance, and defiance of the adverse, resonate in every person around the world more and more. The young women of Jeju are no longer illiterate, so they choose less risky and more comfortable jobs, but they still strive for the label of haenyeo in their respective fields of study or work. The curator of the Haenyeo Museum, Kang Kwon-yong, once said, “these women have their own jobs, they earn their money, they’re the ones who resolve problems in the family. Most Koreans are still quite old-fashioned but these old ladies are the ones living in the 21st century.” These “Grandmothers of the Sea” are no longer thought of as those impertinent girls convinced of their own indispensability, but the brave women who built a future for themselves with every harvest, empowering thousands of mothers and daughters for years to come.
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MARIA JOSE JIMENEZ
CLASS OF 2021
Puzzles I enjoy puzzles, their rationality. Although at first one cannot see the big picture and the scattered pieces seem impossible to fit together, as one keeps on trying, piece by piece, the picture eventually appears, clearer each time. Puzzles have taught me that even if things initially seem complicated, implausible, they are achievable through persistence. When I was young, religion made no sense to me. I kept hoping for it to since my mom’s life appeared to be dedicated to it. I kept waiting for the pieces to come together, trying out as many possible scenarios as there could be, but no matter how many times I tried, none of them ever seemed to fit. Seventeen years later, I am still trying. I find comfort in facts, statistics, logical thinking, using evidence to back up ideas. I believe in what I can prove, so you can understand why I struggle to believe blindly. It is odd that I feel this way because everything around me should say otherwise. I live in Latin America, where people follow society blindly; rules are set and followed, if not, one is nothing else but an outcast. I was raised in a Catholic home where I was taught never to question but to merely trust and believe. Growing up in Nicaragua, I remember how important religion was to everyone. The after-school Catholic class took all of my Friday afternoons. At first, I had a positive attitude; it was a fun class with all my friends and free pizza! So, how bad could it be? As we delved deeper into Catholicism, my brain could not help but question everything. I questioned why there was a hell or why we were punished by Eve’s sin. I was constantly disappointed with the scornful response, “Just have faith.” My questions were not only dismissed as insignificant, but my doubts were reported to my parents as if asking questions counted as misbehavior and I needed to be disciplined. Since then, I realized that people did not want me to pick at their puzzles nor question how their pieces fit. Instead, they prefer to leave the unexplained to faith. The uncertainties that I had on religion were left unanswered, swarming around my head for years and silencing me externally, but amplifying the voice inside. I still attended church on Sundays, because, well, it was either voluntarily or physically dragged there by Mom. Kneeling in the church, I sinned. I envied everyone in the room - my friends, my family, and those who did not need to complete their puzzles in order to understand them, who could have missing pieces and still feel complete. I ended up resenting not just my religious community, but myself. Eventually, I abandoned my puzzle. For years, I quit. Two months ago, I met a young man. As we casually talked, I realized he was like me, a scientific thinker. In hope that we would share religious doubts, he surprised me by saying he was full of faith. He eased me by saying he had questions too, and as we discussed them, he never filled my empty pieces with “just have faith”. Instead, he told me how his questions drove him to dive into religion, questioning its details, finding more answers each time, strengthening his bond with religion. He taught me that it was better to question than to settle and inspired me to keep working on my puzzle. Even though I have not completed this unfathomable puzzle or have the answer to what encompasses heaven. Hell, if I did, I would be a published author. I do have answers about myself. I am an extremely curious thinker who will always try to explain the unexplained even if it takes me another 17 years. I’ll always find comfort in knowing that my questions will no longer be silent but will lead me to complete this puzzle and an infinite more.
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FRANCESCA DESOGUS
CLASS OF 2023
A Comprehensive Look at the Shortcomings of a Patriarchal Industry As stated by Jane Austen, “I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon a woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men." (Austen, 1818, p.423) From the outset, the video game industry has produced offensive, over-sexualized female characters, vindicating their actions by saying it is a “male-oriented” market. Regardless of which gender video games are targeted towards, it is the image of women that suffers from the misogynistic creators' poor choices. The hypersexualization of female characters has wrongfully become a staple in many video games. It is yet another example of the modern-day patriarchy; we have learned to view women as background adornments, blurred the difference between sensuality and sexualization, all while indulging in rape culture, with the excuse that sex sells. We all like decorating, or at least interacting with well decorated spaces. This time of year, we fill our homes with the most festive adornments, put up trees that tower over our living room with touches of light, pull out our beloved Santa Claus figurines and lay them on our tables for everyone to see. To put it simply, we like to make our living spaces pretty. The equivalent of this for many video game developers is creating nonplayable female characters that will stand on the sidelines as “eye candy”, often working in programmed strip clubs and red light districts, both graphics that have become a must in R rated video-games. The playable female characters are not any better, and in many instances much more offensive. A prime example being their clothes, more specifically their lack of clothing. Common sense would dictate that characters engaging in constant battles and perilous missions should dress accordingly; instead, we have warriors fighting in lingerie and see-through nighties.
Jessica Sherawat is a secret spy for the Bioterrorism Commission in the game Resident Evil. She is faced against mutants and aliens; yet her costume is impractical and looks as if it belonged elsewhere. Parker Luciani is her partner in the game; unlike Jessica he is sporting army pant sand a grey t-shirt, completed with a bullet proof vest. This takes us back to the root of not only this essay, but the Feminist movement itself- women still aren't equal to men. Additionally, game developers have found yet another way to suppress women – by creating a negative stigma around sensuality. Sexualization (often seen in video games) instantly erases all the other qualities of a woman: she is now a sexual being and only pertains to sexual qualities. Sensuality can be viewed as a measure of selfacceptance and many consider it a pillar in a healthy relationship with oneself. When these two terms suddenly merge into one, something that was once empowering becomes degrading. This process reinforces already notable gender stereotypes, opening the door to more social issues such as objectification. Computer Space, created in 1971, was the first commercially sold arcade game; any Gen Xer can tell you about its bright yellow color and (at the time) high resolution graphics. The advertisement for this revolutionary product did not show off the technology involved, as much as it did the model’s underwear, leaving one unable to differentiate if they are selling the console or the model. As stated earlier, the video game community enables the sexualization and objectification of women. In conjunction with the violent aspects of these games, and modern misogynistic views, you get a perfect environment for rape culture to thrive.
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As defined by Oxford Dictionary, rape culture entails “a society or environment whose prevailing social attitudes have the effect of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault and abuse.” Back in April of 2019, a game called Rape Day was set to be released on Steam (the most popular PC gaming store). The game is set in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, and as the name implies, the game allows you to participate in programed sexual violence against women; you play from the perspective of a “menacing serial killer rapist” and your goal is to rape and kill as many women as possible. Luckily, several petitions were signed and this disgusting game was pulled off the market; however, it is absolutely terrifying to think that there was the need for thousands of people to sign a petition in order for Rape Day to be banned, a game in where women suddenly became virtual objects you could do anything to without any real-world repercussions. Ultimately, our society seems to have evolved from degrading and misogynistic views in movie and TV media; yet video game developers have remained put in their inappropriate stances that diminish women, oppress young females, and promote sexual violence. As consumers, I urge us to play video games that portray equality for all, we are in control and have the ability to change this toxic, outdated videogame formula. So that our future children will be able to view themselves as equal in every aspect of the media. Restating Jane Austen, "Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything” (Austen,1818, p.423).
PAGE 93
SOFIA CLEMENTE
CLASS OF 2021
My Eternal Spring Every human, at some point in their lives, has complained. We have all overlooked. We have all wished to be somewhere else, even if we were standing in a lovely place. I find myself gazing at the crashing waves from my room, imagining it wasn't the pacific, but the Mediterranean. When the sun is shining and showering the sky in gold, some days it seems like a blessing. Yet other days, it seems like an annoying setback. I always find myself doing that. So I wondered, why do I find myself wanting more and more? How come the grass is never greener on the other side, although it always appears to be? The answer I found, not long ago. It all started when I was walking through an eternal spring. The place sounded beautiful in the pages of my book. Pink cherry blossoms, endless green meadows, hummingbirds chirping, crystal rivers flowing through rocks. They said the air smelled like honeysuckle and apple pie. The sunshine was always glowing. As if she didn’t want to miss a second, she could spend looking at the view. I’ve never been to a springtime. I also rarely find myself in places like this. Flower fields? Endless streams of tulips? I could only imagine how beautiful it was. So as I explored my surroundings, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I wished I was there. An abandoned gazebo, now swallowed by roses and vines ,stood in my way. I imagined myself dancing ballet there, day and night. The hours seemed like minutes as I danced and danced away. How much I wished I could stay there forever. “If I lived here,” I thought, “I would never complain again.” The pages looked the same, white paper with black letters. But as a read, I saw a million things, felt a thousand emotions, and forgot that the movie in my head wasn’t my reality. Even though I was still in my room, I was actually gazing at a diamond infested sky. I studied the gems glittering behind the sapphire curtain; they seemed to be shining, just for me. Only a few times have I seen stars. In my city there are never any. But whenever I catch one, I find it so rare and important, I talk to God through it. Nothing as heavenly as catching a star in the smoky night. “ If I lived somewhere with stars,” I thought, “I would be closer to heaven.” In the distance, huge mountains with snow, like a hat, posed. As I gazed down from my ice balcony, the floor was an endless scene of frozen ice. Roller-skating makes me feel free, and I remembered the few times I’ve ice skated. How right it felt, how fun it was. It made roller-skating seem too easy, silly even. I never forgot how my body glided through the ice automatically, as if I had been doing it my whole life. “If I could ice skate here forever,” I thought, “I would never complain again.” At last, the pages brought me to a summer paradise. Boats adorned the turquoise waters, seagulls flew by the teal skies and tropical heat hit my skin. I saw the water and I felt better. I had been so absorbed in my head, I had forgotten the beauty of my home. As I read through the descriptions of a place, that fit like the pieces of a puzzle, with my home city; Panama. I became sad, heartbrokenly sad, at how perfect my home is.
Then I realized. There is no need to glorify what we don't know. No need to glorify what we don't have. Chances are someone who has what we dream is taking it for granted. Likewise, we all live someone else's dream. The problem is that we constantly break our own hearts by overlooking the beauty that surrounds us. The solution is simple. It didn’t matter what I saw, where I went, or what other places had that we didn’t. The smell of the beach, the blazing sun, the humidity, the tropical tunes playing, the people laughing and playing. That makes me happy. That is perfect just the way it is. That is where I grew up, and even though I want to see the whole world and learn. I want to travel and grow as a person, andeven though I want to see the whole world and learn. I want to travel and grow as a person, and maybe, never even come back. Yet regardless, I will never forget where I come from. Of course my home isn't perfect. It is far, far from perfect. But I love Panamá with all my heart. My favorite thing about it is the sky. It might sound odd but the sunsets seem like they are painted by the spirit of Monet. They are so pure and delicate, yet so unreachable. The night sky looks like royal blue silk, like just a sheet that separates me from heaven. The sky is home, and when life in the land gets too hard, I simply look up and know everything will be okay.
RE CI P E S 96- SPICED BUTTER COOKIES 97- OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 98- DATE MERINGUE TEACAKE
GENERIC HOLIDAY SWEETS GUIDE FROM THE MIND OF A PERSON OBSESSED WITH FOOD
CLASS OF 2021
DIANA GATEÑO
95- HELLO DOLLIES
HE L L O DOL L I E S The dessert equivalent of an aging golden retriever being bothered by their hyperactive child. Adorable, timeless, makes you cry tears of joy..
CRUST: 1 pack of honey cookies (marias if you’re still in latam but graham crackers are good too) ¼ cup of sugar ½ cup of crushed walnuts 1 bar of melted butter
FILLING: 1 1 1 1
pack of baker’s shredded coconut pack of semisweet chocochips ½ cups of crushed walnuts ½ cans of condensed milk
FOR THE CRUST: Crush the cookies in a food processor until they reach the consistency of sand. Add sugar and melted butter until everything is well-combined. Press onto a 9x13 baking container thingy (those glass ones with the big sides)
FOR THE FILLING: Dump everything dry in in layers and press down lightly to compact. Then pour over the condensed milk and bake at 350f for 30min. Cool and chop into squares. Don’t blame me for the incoming addiction.
S PI CE D BU TT E R C O O KI E S These make a great dupe for those Dutch cookies in the blue tins that your grandma traumatized you with forever by only ever putting sewing supplies in? yeah those. ½ pound of butter 1 cup of sugar 1 egg 3 cups of flour 1 teaspoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of mace or cinnamon Pinch of salt
Heat oven to 325 F Cream butter and sugar, then add the egg In another bowl, sift and mix the flour, baking powder, spices and salt. Then, add little by little and stir into the butter mixture. Stick the whole mess into one of those cookie extruder things (or you could just… shape them into any flat shape by hand. Just know that these won’t really spread out at all.) and bake until golden (about 12-14min? They stay quite pale on top but the bottoms burn quickly. Be careful!)
O ATM E AL C HO COL AT E C HIP COOK I E S this makes like…. A lot of cookies. You will want this amount because they are so delicious and they freeze so well, but be warned, it’s kind of a daunting amount of cookies once it hits you 5 cups of old fashioned oatmeal (uncooked) 2 cups of softened butter 2 cups of packed brown sugar 2 cups of sugar 4 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 cups of flour 1 teaspoon of baking powder 2 teaspoons of baking soda 2 packs of chocochips 3 cups of crushed walnuts (I don’t know why all my recipes contain walnuts. If walnuts killed your father, feel free to use another nut) Preheat the oven to 350 F Put the oatmeal through the food processor till it’s a powder Cream the butter and both sugars, then add eggs and vanilla (I recommend using something electric here unless you want/have SWOLE ARMS) In a separate bowl, mix the oatmeal, flour, salt, baking powder & soda (all sifted except oatmeal). Combine with butter mixture little by little With a wooden spoon, mix in chocochips and nuts Lay out on a pan with a spoon (one of those scrapey ice cream scoops is good for this) and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
D ATE MERI N G UE TEA CAKE
Dainty! Mostly composed of butter! Chewy and delicious! This has it all folks. Use it to seduce a sophisticated suitor, or make your grandparents proud for eating fruit, or something. ½ cup of butter (yes these measurements wildly fluctuate no I will not convert them I’m scared to defy the family recipe and feel the ghostly ancestral disappointment of my bloodline) (ok maybe my grandma really mostly clipped these from women’s magazines in the 50s. But there’s gotta be SOMEONE’S ancestral bloodline looking down on me, ready to curse me and my descendants for messing up their cookie recipe AND I AM NOT TAKING THAT RISK.) ¾ cup of sugar 2 egg yolks 1 ½ cups of flour 1 teaspoon of baking powder 1 cup of chopped dates
TOPPING: 2 egg whites 1 cup of brown sugar 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Cream the butter and egg yolks, then add the sugar, flour and baking powder and mix well. Spread the mixture on the bottom of a greased pan (again the glassy tall-sides one!) and add chopped dates on top. Whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt until you get stiff merengue peaks. Then add brown sugar and vanilla. Bake at 325 F for 30-45 minutes, then cool and cut into squares.