La Revolucion 2013 by Kayte VanScoy

La Revolucion

2012-2013 Volume 9

John H. Reagan Early College High School

La Revolucion 2013 What you are holding in your hands is the product of the hard work and open hearts of dozens of students at Austin’s John H. Reagan Early College High School. First and foremost, I would like to thank those students for sharing their ideas, their hopes, and their dreams with all of us. Without your generosity of spirit, we wouldn’t have this book! I’d also like to thank the teachers who shared their students’ work and who followed along as I raced to finish, always helping to make sure that there was enough art or double-checking that a student’s work had made it in. I am especially grateful for those teachers who made special efforts to get me as much student work as possible. Thank you so much for all your assistance! Finally, I’d like to recognize the inspiration of Mr. Matthew Payne and the guidance of Ms. Angela Buckingham, who have produced this book every year for the past many years, until now. This year they decided to bring in someone new to edit La Revolucion, and I have loved every minute of it. Inside you will find many things: suffering and sadness, heartache and longing, happiness and inspiration. Working on this book, I have learned that Reagan’s students are an extraordinary group. Many have already lived through enormous trials and come out on top. They are focused on their futures and optimistic about the present. Of course, there’s plenty of regular teenage stuff: romance, parents, homework... but I think you’ll find within these pages more than just kids. I think what you are holding here is the work of young adults, full of ideas and ready to share them with the world. Kayte VanScoy Editor

Contents Indecision 9 Marks 9 Trey Trey 9 All of Us Belong to God 10 it’s time to forget the past 12 Never-Ending 12 You Will Always Be Missed 13 Memories 13 There’s a spirit in my heart 13 The Desert 14 None Of It Is Right 15 You leave. Leave me broken, leave me hopeless. 15 my heart like a dart 16 My Love 16 Thanksgiving Delights 17 Where To Go? 18 My Death Dream 20 don’t fall for love 21 The Dream 21 More Than a Day 22 I feel trapped like a rat 22 Love is Not A Choice 22 Influence 23 Heaven 4 Gs 23 Alone, P.R.C. 24 Now It’s My Turn! 24 LIES 25 Smiling and curious, she stood looking 25 Believe 27 Her Journey 27 Did You Truly Love Me 28 Music 29 Going Partying 29 When my mother was a child, a rooster’s crow 30 When I Notice Him <3 30 Loyalty and Commitment 31 Test Takin 32 Field of White 32 My World 33 My Chest 33 Life is hard 33 I Can’t Breathe 34 Knock! Knock! 34 Melodies 35 It’s Time 35 Life is like a cherry blossom in bloom 35 Where are you? 35

How many cuss words can someone take? 36 The Outside 37 Nothing’s Really Wrong 37 I’m Ready 37 Sunshine 37 Growing up I was a very happy kid. 38 Roses are red, violets are blue (and 38 Me, Myself, I 39 The End of My Misery 39 I love myself. I love everything 39 My Treasure 40 Mixture Feelings 40 Ice Cream 40 Friendship 40 Your Love 41 The Smiles to Remember 41 Love & Hate 41 Nighthawks 42 A Cosmic Tear 44 Companionship 44 Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder 44 Jesus on the Cross 45 How much pain can one take? 45 Kindergarten 46 I have stolen 46 Pulling a Jason 46 In My Heart 46 A field in the midst of nowhere is the sea 47 Age and death are inevitable things 47 There’s a Hole in my Heart 47 The Love of my Heart 48 Fragment Found at 0X0000 48 Impression 48 Poetic Pickles 49 Money Is Important 49 The sky is ocean blue. 50 Boredom 50 Hole in My Heart 50 Even though people make mistakes, 51 The Heart and the Mind 51 My Heart 51 Boys, Boys, Boys 52 On February 8th—today— 52 Long, Hard Day 54 Being raised by a single mother 55 Be A Man 56 Life is beyond just a regular English word; 56

It’s All about Veggies 57 What Would I Be Without You? 57 But being in the last steps 58 Lack of Knowledge 59 Truly Us? 59 Healing Heart 59 It’s a blank in my heart 59 The Girl On The Block 60 You are my everything <3 60 Culture and individual beliefs are capable 61 There’s a Broken Piece in my Heart 61 The_______in my Heart 62 A Smile to Remember 62 A Smile to Remember 62 Love Is Real 63 Things Happen When Teens Stop Listening 63 A Blank in my Heart 63 Sweet 64 All over the world many girls 65 A Smile to Remember 65 automotive shop 65 Myself 66 The frustration of being put out 66 Writing Is Like A Red Rose 66 My Only Love 67 I am going to talk about a new 68 That Little Old Lady 68 Family Love 69 My love for you is like no other 69 What a love… 69 A need 69 The more I think about it, 70 A Smile to Remember 70 My dream girl… 70 It’s been five years 71 Poem 71 I wear my heart on my sleeve 71 (Time is something special 71 The Big Issue 73 Have you ever thought about someone 75 Have you ever felt so tired 75 A Smile to Remember… 76 I Will Lend You A Hand 77 We were surrounded with big 77 There’s a blank in my heart like air in a balloon 78 You’re 78 A Smile to Remember 78 There is happiness in my heart 78 The big smile is always in my mind. 80 Why am I such a fool? 80

Growing up in a low income 80 The End of Four Years 81 They say dreams don’t come true 81 The other day I had a hard time thinking 81 My Love for God 82 A Feeling in my Heart 83 To My Princess 83 Reality 83 It was a newborn baby, 83 Young Adult 84 My Revolution 85 Follow Your Heart 85 I took a step towards the light, 85 Mixed Feelings 86 Blue Women 86 Hustler no need to change my route 87 Eyes that can bloom a flower. 87 To the Dead, Parents, And Cuffed Shooter Of Sandy Hook Elementary 88 There’s a Sound in my Heart 88 There’s a song, I enjoy listening 89 Oddly this always reminds me of my father. 89 There’s a hole in my heart 89 The Wall 90 My BFF Poem 90 To Whom I Wish I Could Openly Say, “I love you…” 90 A Smile to Remember 91 My Chest 91 Dream of You 91 Soft as velvet, smile so bright it shines 91 Dealing with Anger and Depression 92 Impacting Blessings 92 I believe in love at first sight 93 Humans Li’l by Li’l 94 My Name… “Change” 95 Lacking Real Poetry and Positivity 96 My heart’s harder going 96 My Sweet Babies 97 What Happens! 97 Unexplained 97 Love is hard, not easy 98 Exploring the world 98 LOVE MEANS TO RESPECT. 98 I hope to have time 98 Electricity 98 Dreams are what we need 98 They Move And Stop Things 99 Dreams are our target 99 TIME 99 insulators can’t 99

A leaf is simple 99 Conductors are not 99 Animals 100 Would God Visit Us? 100 Sunflowers 101 I Love 101 Summer 102 Depression is hard to think of 102 His eyes 102 Karma 102 Falling 102 Met with ye I hast 102 As I hear the sound 103 Soccer is my passion 103 His eyes 103 Jason is stupid 103 Sun 103 Cookies 103 Sky Above The Clouds 104 I Want to Be Someone 105 Rainy Night 105 My Shadow’s Here to Stay 106 I think dreams are what 106 the devil inside 106 Time is passing by 106 Time Is Unexplained 106 Make your dreams come true 106 Haikus are simple, 107 Time is passing by 107 To believe in faith 107 June 5th is the day 107 Love is felt, not seen 107 I hope to have time 107 Selfishness 109 Love 110 Dreams Intangible 110 im gonna love you 110 Time 110 My Haiku 110 Time is running out 110 Dream 111 Keep it up for real, 111 Time where did it go? 111 Senior 111 Dreams lead us forward 111 I was eve, you were 111 Broken Hopes 112 Sorry, Comic Sans 114 Some are positive 114

It was all a dream. 114 Oh, you guys just stop. 114 Me-tal is the best 114 Flashlight Beams Brighter 114 The small light is bright 115 Test test test test test. 115 Supercolliding. 115 The Generator 115 I did not know the 115 Flashlights light up night 115 Something Needs to Change 116 love lives and holds on 118 We don’t wish we dream 118 My silver conduct 118 Dreamland 118 Energy transfers 118 Mott Insulator 118 Accomplish My Goal 119 Love Can Be Good, 120 Time is so endless 120 Questions 120 A Child to Remember 120 I hope you are doing great 120 What Doesn’t Kill You, Helps You 121 There’s a constant battle between love & life. 121 Love tends to fade when 121 Insulators stop. 122 Conductors and Insulators 122 Flashlight Beams Brighter 122 Insulators and 122 Reagan Robotics 122 programming is lame 122 Blinding From The Start, 123 Many cars go fast 123 Love is beautiful 123 girls dreams 123 Love can be dazzling 123 Love is a need. Why? 123 Haikus are simple, 126 Who invented this 126 He keeps on calling 126 I am now so scared 126 People look at me 126 He can’t remember. 127 hard worker college 129 I never imagined myself 133 Longest Dance 135 Dream about moon light 135 Nice Guys Finish Last 135

Indecision I stand and stare, as the sun and the moon fuse. Half of the sky is full of stars and the other full of clouds. I’m standing in the middle, indecisive, wondering. There’s no one here to help me choose, or to persuade me. As the night gets darker, the day gets brighter. One side gets colder, and the other is like fire. Once the sun and moon are fully connected, I stand in the middle, as the two halves of my body split And fly away from each other. Jacquez Price Marks

Trey Trey Boy I wish I could spend Time with you each and every day while my heart fades away think of you more than one time a day and, your love got me feeling like i am in heaven you have me flying over the moon so high that i can touch the sky and come back down to sweep you off the ground

1 mark, 2 mark, 3 Pain it hurts inside of me Quit the cutting, the knife against me. Each mark means something Each scar means many lies, the length of each scar is how many, And how many lies you said over and over again. Marks. Some you see and some you don’t see. There are many. I’m telling the truth, there no reason to lie to you. So if you really don’t love me, stop cutting me like the slaughtering of a chicken, the blood drops to make a puddle, a river that never stops. STOP!! STOP!! I’m done, the marks hurt, let me run, fly so high 1 mark, 2 mark, 3… It’s over for me. Tamayra Davis

when i look in your eyes i can see the blue ocean as wide as my heart that flows with love for you this poem is to you. Deborahlynn Rucker La Revolución 2013

All of Us Belong to God

All of us belong to God. Just like he brought you to life, he can take you right back. He took my dad and brothers away; they were his from the start. All we can ask is why? Why us? All we ever did was love them. Life can be so cruel. Only the ones who have lost a loved one know my pain. My greatest fear was to lose my boys; now that I’ve lost them I’m not afraid of anything. All I can say is, value your family. Love and enjoy them as much as you can, because today you have them but you never know if tomorrow you will. April 10, 2005 was a sad day for St. John’s neighborhood. My two baby brothers got out the house and nobody had seen them. I still remember my parents’ faces, full of pain and devastation. After 25 minutes of searching, finally one of our neighbors found them. I ran as fast as I could. When I reached the creek, my heart stopped as I saw my mom giving CPR to my older brother while another lady gave CPR to the smaller one. At that moment my mind went blank, and then I saw my father run toward me and hug me tight. I had never seen so much pain in my father’s face; a man who seemed so cold-hearted finally was broken down into pieces. As I saw my dad’s face, I remembered that I had never seen him cry. He was a man who kept his feelings locked up inside him. Never did he speak about his feelings. A man who always said, “Never show your feelings in front of someone. You’re letting them know you’re weak.” Now his words were being carried away with the wind. He couldn’t bear the pain no more and all he did was cry out loud. I won’t ever forget that day. I still remember his words, “Why God? They were just babies who hadn’t lived life yet. Little angels who had only brought happiness to this family and now they’re gone.” When we arrived at the hospital I felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest. Minutes seemed like hours; finally the doctor came toward us. My dad’s face showed pure sadness. I knew what was coming, but I still didn’t want to believe it was really happening. Losing two angels was painful. At least I thought to myself, “They’re in a better place, a place where pain is never felt, a place called heaven.” “I love you, baby girl. You’re my pride and always will be. No matter what occurs today, remember that I’m always going to be taking care of you.” Those were the last words my father said to me. December 10, 2006 was a day I will never forget, I just didn’t feel like myself. I woke up with a very strange feeling, a feeling I had never felt. I went to church, but I noticed my dad hadn’t arrived. I wasn’t comfortable at church; all I wanted to do was 10

John H. Reagan Early College High School

go home and see if my dad had arrived. After two hours of hearing lectures, I was ready to go. On our way home my heart was beating fast. I could hear my blood rushing through my veins. As we were going down Carver. I saw the police line: Do Not Cross. I looked at my mom and she had a worried look. As we were going down Bethune Street, I saw half of St. John’s neighbors at our house, just waiting. I had a feeling that penetrated so deep, deeper than where my heart is located. We got out and everybody’s gaze was just full of pain. I was only ten, still young to know what was going on, but that cold feeling I had wasn’t going nowhere. Have you ever felt like your heart was being ripped out your chest? Yeah, that’s exactly how I was feeling. “Come quick, your Uncle Arturo just committed suicide,” my Uncle Salvador said over the phone to my cousin. As I heard those cold words, I felt my world crashing down. For the first time ever, I dropped to my knees, something I had never done before. I guess there’s always a first time for everything. As my mind went blank all I could think was, “Why, Daddy? Why would you take your life?” Questions that would never be answered nor would be known. For the first time ever I felt I had nothing else to live for. As I came back to my five senses I saw my mom crying in devastation. Her face showed many feelings I had never seen before. I just can’t explain her emotions. All I could read on her face was, “Be strong, baby girl.” As I saw my dad’s casket drop six feet under dirt, all I could think of was, “Why God? You already took my baby brothers & now you took my dad?” I had hate penetrated deep in my heart. Feelings I had never felt before, but know all you could see in my eyes was just pain, hate, & sadness. It took me many years to understand why everything happens for a reason, I understood that he, God, brought us to this world & just like that, He can take you right back with Him. Enjoy every moment you have with a loved one. Love them as much as you can, but just remember sooner or later they’re going to be gone. You have to get used to the idea that nobody lives forever. It hurts to think about it, but that’s how life is. Live it to the fullest with no regrets included, today you live but tomorrow you might not. Tell your loved ones how much you love them; remind them every day that they’re the most important thing you ever got. Keep in mind, that those who have already passed away, are always going to live with in your soul & heart. In memory of Arturo Ponce, Arturo Ponce, Jr., & Jose A. Ponce Jennifer Ponce La Revolución 2013

it’s time to forget the past even though it was a blast you gotta forget what happened in order to be a captain sailin the oceans of emotions everybody knows about the time when y’all hang around looking fine but it’s just not the same since he came everything changed and you two went into a far range where each other couldn’t be heard even your eyes got blurred you say this might be the end but its like you’re heading into a dragon’s den the war of friendship is over Yet you keep it like if it hovered friendship is as valuable as gold you can’t just let it be hold you must forgive each other and agree to hate another for he is the one who started it and for that y’all feel like sh-it affects us all especially in the halls when passing each other feeling weird so one another stays clear

hoping for the best and getting no rest you cry, she crys she shy, you’re shy she wanna talk but all you do is walk you walk away from her leavin trails of fur for her to follow even if they’re hollow she keeps going for you and you have no clue you must turn back because this is just wack having to separate with your mate you will regret this no matter what then you will feel hot you can’t lie saying you fine when you truly like to whine so go communicate your rights and wrongs and maybe i just might sing a song to celebrate your victory for the fighting is history so put a real smile on and stick out your tongue for all your haters are lost and paused in to a new life of a wasp Hugo A. Lopez

Never-Ending

Rainy days fade away Days passed All I wanted you to do was stay. Stay with me. Stay with us. We all loved you so very much. Why’d you have to go? My true feelings I’ve always shown. I still ask, why?

How I wish you stayed here. To hear you laugh, hear your voice Pierce my heart with brightful cheer.

I think about your warm, kind, Gentle embrace. I go to sleep and try to dream, But that’s interrupted by your face. More each day.

Love is everlasting so they say, But my love is never-ending And I promise to you Never-ending it will stay.

Oh, now I want you back so bad. I reminisce on all the times we had. I see you, but do you see me? I hear you, but do you hear me? I’ve always wondered that.

Tamera Akins John H. Reagan Early College High School

Memories

You Will Always Be Missed Why do I live? Why do I cry? I even question myself, Why I haven’t died. All love is lost All sorrow is found. There’s a disruptive mist in the air: Air in my heart, A space that wishes you were there. Why thou art left me in tears, Pain, and sorrow? When you abandoned me you gave me words My heart and I shall follow. Pain so intense it’s like My love and pain paused, As if time were to stop Tick, tock, tick, tock. I continue to watch the clock. Time progresses. I can’t do anything but watch. When you left you made me drown In a sea of tears. A memory of you I won’t forget for many years. We will meet again, you stay and see, but It is my thought not my heart That shall deceive me. The love that we’re there is a love You can never forget. You’re not gone, your spirit is here In the mist. Every one of my breaths Is a sweet gentle kiss. For now and always, my lovely love, You will always be missed.

Think… think a little bit harder. I see me, you, and the places we was. The places we had smiles at. Why would I give all of that away? It’s just two or three words we repeated between me and you. “I LOVE YOU” “I LOVE YOU” “I LOVE YOU” I’m tired of having the memories of me and you!! You tell me to move on, why if I still have memories of we? I have a question to ask……. DO YOU LOVE ME!!?? Tamayra Davis

There’s a spirit in my heart That wants to get out, but I’m So strong to not let you out. I give you pills for you to get Crazy, and go to sleep after Then with no way out. There’s a spirit in my heart That wants to get out, but I give you a blunt of marijuana For you to smoke and relax, and Fly on the clouds while you smoke. There’s a spirit in my heart That wants to get out. He Wants to turn people into Zombies and change their appearance.

Tamera Akins

There’s a spirit in my heart That wants to get out, but I give him a beer for him to Drink and get drunk. Few hours Later still drunk and goes to Sleep no way out until I die. Horacio Pacheco La Revolución 2013

The Desert Being in the desert for a week without water and food is worse than being in hell. All immigrants that move to the United States suffer a lot, and I know because I lived for a week in the desert when I was moving to the United States. One hot and dark afternoon we crossed to another country as immigrants. That was the first time I was very afraid, thirsty, hot, and hungry. Being in the desert is the worst thing that can happen to a twelve-year-old. In the desert are a lot of dead souls, and a lot of dangerous animals. The first thing we did was cross the Rio Bravo. We crossed it in a rubber canoe. I was afraid of the canoe being destroyed by things that ran under the water. When we were in the middle of the river, I felt something under the water. I thought the canoe was going to be destroyed because the water started to get in the canoe, but thanks to God we got to the other side of the river. But, the sad thing was that a man who was traveling with us fell from the canoe and was dragged by the water. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heard from that man since that day. The river had a floodgate where things get stuck. We think he ended up in the floodgate.

Bruno Estrada

I was carrying a backpack with some food, but it was not enough for a week. The first day walking I was almost bitten by a snake, but a man pulled me back, and thanks to him, that snake didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bite me. We kept walking, and honestly, I was really tired when I was about to jump the sixth fence. The fences are really tall. Some of them had

John H. Reagan Early College High School

electricity, and if we touched them, we got shocked. That is why a man separated the fences with a hard stick so we could cross them, without getting shocked. The water that we were carrying was gone in just two days because it was really hot. After two days without water, we decided that if we wanted to survive, we had to drink water from the animals. Yes, I know. It was disgusting. We didn’t have another choice, so we drank water from the animal’s trough. I really didn’t want to drink it, but the necessity made me drink it. The fourth night, we found a dead body in the desert and that made me cry and feel more afraid than I was before. Every night, I just prayed to God to protect us from all danger in the desert. Animals are not as dangerous as humans; there are things that happen to women in the desert that aren’t supposed to be told, but I will tell everything I saw. The fifth night was the worst one because two men appeared from nowhere and had a gun. They took a woman that was traveling with us and took her with them. A man tried to defend her, but they pointed the gun at him and the rest of the other men decided not to help because they were afraid of the gun. My mom, my sister, another woman and I were hiding behind some trees that protected us and kept us out of sight. All my mom did was cover my eyes, but she didn’t cover my ears. I heard a lot of bad things. After all these experiences in the desert, we finally made it to a house where they fed us with food. All I can say is that we immigrants suffer a lot in the desert and that is an important issue for me because I know how it feels to be in there with a lot of danger. This issue of immigration affects me because I don’t want to be deported back and suffer again the same thing because I got traumatized by what I lived in the desert. After experiencing a week in the desert, I have thought really hard about my future and that is why I value all things that give me an opportunity to succeed in life. I will be the first one in my family who is going to college. And, with education, I will never have to cross that desert again. Maria G. Meza None Of It Is Right Imagine waking up to flashes of light. The smell of smoke clouded the air. Luckily, I got away. The end result of those I once knew, Gone in a matter of seconds. Numb from the thought that I could one day know bravery, But tarnished with fear. My bare feet covered in red, and muck. Dirt and grime. Not sure if the next day I would be captured at the witness of the end. A pistol at my side as I joined an alliance. A group of survivors all little faces, Some of us a little less than a knee high in height. Fully trained in the art of war, Yet taking care of our own. None of us old enough in a mindset To understand what love is. I wake up to a nightmare That is my every day reality. A cold body that was once my neighbor. I’ve grown up too fast to realize this isn’t truth, Although I know none of it is right.

You leave. Leave me broken, leave me hopeless. Why? You left, you left for a while, that time you left I was just completely broken. Who knew that a person could be the reason for all the bad things that happen to you (I loved you so much) who knew that you had to depend on someone for happiness I never believed that until it happened to me I love you, I love you, I love you, I loved you. Now you come back, and you tell me all these sweet things to get me by But little did you know, I’m too broken to believe you. I’m so sorry, but things are just not the same anymore. Don’t hate me. I don’t mean to ‘cause you trouble. I never meant to ‘cause you trouble. I never meant to do you harm. All I wanted was for you to be happy. I really thought that I was doing just that. I guess I was wrong. Nancy Villarruel

Sandra Nyamuhebe La Revolución 2013

My Love Love hurts i just want to know why me cause i just can’t see me and you Love takes me away cause I can’t stand here all day. I been up, I been down and in and out I can’t find my way around I need to hold you. You were just that special dream that made everything seem pretty all right. My love this is all I have for you. I waited all this time to see if you were right. Running for you makes my heart turn gold I wonder why I can’t stay in the cold. They say I’m running out of time for your love, But I say I can’t find the love that you stored away, and I take it like a hit to a drumbeat. Maybe tonight I can get some sleep.

my heart like a dart being aimed for the game Every time I turn my head I’m looking for a guy I feel like sh-Each-time to see if they can love right. so this may be It Cause I know I want true love, I have no way out But I can’t find anybody but you. but in all I doubt You say take me back, cause you know you still want me, so let’s hope I win today but I say why you ask! for I can say He says that I love you and I don’t want to let you go. I’m free I’m free But I say colors and promises, but yet that is only a dream that’s all you gave me. I have to keep climbing SO STOP WITH ALL YOUR COLOR MIXING. and have perfect timing or I’ll end up in a bush Deborahlynn Rucker with nothing left to push so with that said forget everything and leave for the dead but if you don’t then you won’t live long enough to be with the rest living nice and clean and not a mess at the end everything will add up to success living happily like a bird in a nest but while you live a happy life be careful or you just might get knifed by stranger in a dark or a friend taking you out for a walk in the park just know life ain’t easy while it goes on you never know when you might mess up for being dumb Hugo A. Lopez 16

John H. Reagan Early College High School

On a stormy day of autumn, I was walking on the sidewalk of the street where the dry yellow leaves began falling and fill the street, and I was walking and looking at the river beside me. Everything was beautiful and quiet; the wind was so soft I didn’t hear anything but the sound of my feet walking on the dead leaves. I was enjoying that wonderful view of the river then I heard a car coming from far away behind me. It was very fast. For a moment I felt like it was gonna hit me. I looked behind and I saw a man who had his head and hand out of the car window; he was carrying a gun directed at me while the car was approaching more and more. I wanted to run but my body was frozen and could not move at all. Then I heard a gun fire and something solid pierces my body, cruelly tearing everything in its way. I fell on the ground like a dry leaf falling from a tree. I hit the ground strongly and the pain was unendurable. I screamed strongly from inside, but I couldn’t get my voice out. It was caged inside me. I wanted someone to help me. My tears began falling on my cheeks like a hot waterfall. I breathe with difficulty…. I turned my head to the house next to me and a young girl caught my attention. She was staring from the window at me; she was shocked and scared…. I saw fear in her beautiful brown eyes, her skin was white like the snow and her hair was black like the darkness of a night without a moon. I looked deep in her eyes. I ask for her help without speaking a word. I feel like she could speak to me from only the look in her eyes. She wanted to help me, but she is just a young girl that has no strength to do anything…. For that moment, I felt like time was moving slowly, seconds like hours…. Suddenly a woman came and pushed the girl and closed the window. At that moment, I felt like hope was gone. I was seeing that hope in her eyes and now she was gone. I want her again. I don’t want to die alone. I wanted her there for me. I want to be seen…I turned my eyes around trying to find some one to help me but there was nothing, no one. I didn’t hear anything but the sound of my heartbeats. I knew these were my last moments. Here comes the end for me. I wish I could see the ones that I love for the last time…. But I have no chance… everything starts disappearing. I couldn’t see anything anymore. There is only darkness. Suddenly I wake up screaming from my bed. I was terrified, but it was just a nightmare that I’d been having for a week…. I put my head on the pillow and start crying….. and that’s how the real story begins…. That story happened four years ago. I saw a man dying. I was that young girl who looked from the window but I couldn’t do anything to help him. Well….I tried, but I guess destiny turned much against me. I was never able to forget that day because it was the day I lost my childhood forever!! Aya Noor Ali

Thanksgiving Delights On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for our blessings all year through, for family, love, for good friends, old and new. For trees of green and skies of blue, and puffy clouds of white. We’re grateful for our eyes that see the beauty all around, for arms to hug, and legs to walk, and ears to hear each sound. Demetria Harris La Revolución 2013

Where To Go? My uncle Demetrio died at age 40. He started doing drugs at a very young age. When we were living in California with him he was always the one helping out all my uncles and aunts, including my mom. Any problem they had, they would go to him and he would help them out. One day, my uncle revealed a secret that he kept inside for a long time. He admitted that he was gay; he had no interest in women. Once everybody found out about that, they criticized him. Every one judged him. The only person that supported him was my mom and my grandma. As a result of the fact that almost all his loved ones turned their back on him, he found his escape with drugs. Even though he and my mom shared an apartment, she was never sure if he did drugs. But, he got violent and my mom noticed he started to get drunk often. She knew something was wrong. He wasn’t a happy person any more. His smile went away. He went from responsible to irresponsible. He stopped being my uncle Demetrio and became a total stranger. I didn’t know who he was anymore. It was when he had a heart attack that my mom knew he was doing drugs. He almost lost his life from using cocaine. It was too much for his heart. Fortunately, his life was saved with surgery. This did not happen once; it happened twice. My mom was there to help him get him out of that temptation. He changed; he had given up on the drugs and was having his normal life back again. My mom decided to move to Austin, TX, but she was afraid of leaving my uncle alone. He said that he was going to be fine. We still kept in touch. He would call me or I would call him every weekend. If I had a problem or needed anything I could count on him. Even though he was far away from me, I felt him close. He was like a dad to me. He always gave me advice and was there for me on anything. He would send my mom money so that she could buy me stuff that I needed. My grandma left to México and he went with her. They both went through difficult times together. He couldn’t find a job; it was hard for him. We kind of lost communication with each other. Our calls went from every weekend to once a month. My mom always called my grandma to see how they were doing. My grandma was fine, but my uncle was almost never home. He would always tell my grandma he went to look for a job or that he was helping a friend of his sell fruit. But really, he was getting wasted. We found out that he wouldn’t come some nights and sometimes he wouldn’t even sleep. He had fallen in drugs again. Not only in drugs but in stealing too. He stole money from my grandma that my mom sent her. He used that money to buy his addictions. The times that he and I talked on the phone he made the conversations shorter, as if he didn’t care about me anymore. He put his drugs first over me. That disappointed me and made me feel alone. He was the one that could cheer me up. He wasn’t there any more. He was in his own world. One day, I got to talk to him for a long time. I asked him why he had forgotten about me. Why was he going towards the wrong path? What happened to the only man I looked up to? He couldn’t answer any of the questions. He just made me promise that no matter what happened I was going to be strong and that I was going to make my mom proud, as if he knew he was in danger. After I promised him, I also made him promise he was going to get help. “For you I’m going to get help, because I want to be there for you as long as possible,” he said. A few days later he disappeared. Nobody knew where he was. My grandma looked for him everywhere. Until, he finally called her and told her he was in a rehabilitation center. He told her to tell me that he was keeping his promise. There was no more talking to him, but I knew it was for a good reason. He was getting the help he needed. A year later, he got out and called me. He said that he felt that he could do it, that there were no more drugs for him. He got a job as a security guard in less than a month. He called me three days a week. He talked about one day coming back to the United States and helping me to succeed in my education. That he was not leaving me alone, that I was his strength. We would both cry on the phone, promising one day, sooner or later, we will be able too see each other again. 18

John H. Reagan Early College High School

For about five months he kept his promise. He got fired from his job and once again fell on those drugs. He was in wrong steps. People told my grandma he had joined “Los Zetas,” a drug cartel that is very powerful. Later on, they told my grandma that some guys were looking for my uncle. Nobody knew where he was. It was December 25th when they found his body outside a bar. It was news that I never expected to have on Christmas. For a long time, I cried every night, not wanting to believe that he was gone. We both made a promise and he couldn’t just leave me like that. Only God knows why he took my uncle away from us, from me. He couldn’t keep living the way he was. I know he is in a good place and that, wherever he is, he is with me and he is not leaving me alone. He is in my heart and will never be forgotten.

Trevon Gray

I relate to you this story because I’ve learned that many people find their way out of problems by doing drugs. Drugs can damage you mentally, emotionally, and physically. But why do people go towards drugs? Some do it to get attention because their parents keep distance between them. Some struggle and stress too much and hope it might take your problems away. They just want to escape from reality and forget about that “unhappy” life they are living. My uncle turned to drugs because he stressed too much when his loved ones criticized him and took drugs as a survival. I feel like those who do drugs need to be heard, need that attention. They need help and, unfortunately, there are not a lot of people that are there for them. I want all drug addicts to get the help they need. This changed my life in a way that if I know someone that goes to the wrong path, I now try to help them however I can. Evelin Real

La Revolución 2013

My Death Dream Playing video games with my brother, having fun. My mom screaming at me, telling me to go to sleep for tomorrow. Getting ready to go to sleep with a good shower. Sleeping really tight, raining hard…

Kevin P.

Walking down St. John’s Street with my new clothes and shoes. When walking down St. John’s looking around I saw police people on one street that connects to St. John’s. An accident was happening and I was shocked. There were two cars that were flipped upside-down, and I could see the passengers were dead. I got scared and I just kept walking down the streets, and praying for their lives.

While walking farther from the accident I saw a bunch of gang members that didn’t like others. So I started walking fast and when I looked back I saw a gang member that was following me, so I got scared and started running as fast as I could. He started running too behind me. When I saw him running I got scared and I was screaming “Vete marijuana degame en paz.” I was running through the streets and houses and when I looked back I had lost him. I got lucky, so I kept walking. I decided to go to the Texan’s store. In fact, when I went there, there were gang members, but this time I was inside the store and they were just staring at me. This time I was shaking really bad. When I got out, a gang member came out and he asked me, “What do you claim, nigga?” I told him, “Nothing.” I just told him, “I hate gang members, okay, so leave me alone.” When I told him that he took out a 9mm gun and shot me in the head, and he ran away. I couldn’t do anything, just lie there and die silently. I sat up, screaming. My heart was beating hard. I touched my head and eyes and realized that it was only a dream. For the rest of the day I just sat in my bed.

Horacio Pacheco 20

John H. Reagan Early College High School

don’t fall for love it’s like a dove it just flies away leaving you afraid making sure you never trust a hoe for they can take your soul so be smart like dan he’s an imaginary man he lets no girl control him but yet very dim too bad he don’t exist for every man has his own mist lost forever in it for every lasting minute but when he’s out the mist all you hear is a hiss a hiss of the snake who you will hate for now your eyes are open to see the world as it is broken you then realize who you are so you walk very far on till you reach a farm where you believe there be no harm soon came a farmer and his wife. in the hand of the wife was a knife they dress in colors looking like power rangers being ready for danger running away you trip

and fall in to a dip getting up you run in to a crop where all you see around are props feeling real worried you began to hurry you escape in to a city where all you see is kitties making his way back home he began to grab a cone not realizing it was just a clone who had the same drone that once lived the life of a lost boy who owned a coin and wrote poems about his toys they brought him joy until he turn into a teen he became very mean yet he knows none bout his life now he always says wow just get away from conversation it like a salvation he fighting a war the war against whores There ain’t much time left here comes death he comes closer and closer and not like any poser he acts like the boss and he will be no matter the cost Hugo A. Lopez

The Dream Just a little far I hope my future is bright And amazing too. Brenda Nieto

La Revolución 2013

More Than a Day As Thanksgiving Day rolls around, it brings up some facts, quite profound. We may think that we’re poor, feel like bums, insecure, but in truth, our riches astound. We have friends and family we love we have guidance from heaven above. We have so much more than they sell in a store. we’re wealthy, when push comes to shove. So add up your blessings, I say, make Thanksgiving last more than a day. Enjoy what you’ve got; realize it’s a lot, and you’ll make all your cares go away. Demetria Harris

I feel trapped like a rat being chased by a cat there’s no way out but yet with out a doubt I believe I will be free out into the green where i would climb up a tree and take a look at the sea where the boats sail and the people yell to say good bye and have a safe trip hoping the ships don’t rip I wish I was free but yet I am in a spree running from a cat who chases me, a rat Hugo A. Lopez

Damian Perez

Love is Not A Choice

Love is never a choice Love comes by and takes a place Love stays in your heart Love leaves you lost like a little leaf falling from a tree. Angelica Carbajal John H. Reagan Early College High School

Influence I was never violent But when I’m with friends, The rules are bent. We act the fools, skipping school, Breaking all the rules, harming people with the right tools. But I wasn’t really violent. See, the way I see it. If you hurt someone without a purpose, you really don’t mean it. I seen many things as a teen But when I see people bleed I freeze in disbelief I heard a woman scream once, “Don’t! Please!” As I watched my friends had a bloody frenzy We escaped the scene Where a rape taken place Trying to get home was a difficult task Because once I got home my mom will ask “And where were you at, Matt?” I never did make it home though. I was never violent until today See, when we got to the end of valley this caddy pulled up beside me Three guys jumped out and shouted, “That’s the kid!” I started walking back and started feeling my gat. Violence is always there.

Heaven 4 Gs 7:30am October 2nd, 2012 Mama on the phone. “Chriss, is Rodney there!?” NEWS: “Car accident with two teenagers and three adults, one teen dead, the other is alive.” Nobody’s saying it, but… “We hope Rodney ain’t dead.” 4:45pm after school Phone started ringing. I got the news. I had lost my cousin at only 17. He was my friend, my brother, my everything. No disrespect. A car accident is better than being found dead October 2, 2012. No bullets in your head. REST IN PEACE, MY GEE. Now that you’re in heaven, keep an eye on me.

I shot them all And watched them fall. They had me against the wall. Now they’re gone. Violent Influence. Anonymous27

Makayla Wright La Revolución 2013

Alone, P.R.C. Whining, working, whistling STOP! I’m bored… Gates of freedom perchance 5-3-13 Cooperate, attend. And I shall change my behavior No more bad choices I want to be an upright, principled Student…

Now It’s My Turn!

Separated from the outside world 4 grey walls, cubicles, a cage Squeezing me. Running out of air. I want to get out!

My mom got kicked out of her house by my grandpa because she wanted And I shall change my behavior. education. She was living in Mexico. Her family was very poor; they No more bad choices couldn’t afford my mom’s education. She wanted to be someone important I want to be an upright, principled when she grew older, so in order to afford her education, she started workStudent… ing at six years old. She helped my grandma sell candies such as lollipops, gums, chocolates, etc. My grandpa didn’t agree with her going to school. Juan Jaramillo He said that women should just be in the house cleaning and cooking. But, my mom wouldn’t pay attention to him. She kept going to school. It was hard for her since she had to work even more. She was renting a place and couldn’t afford it. So, she eventually dropped out of school. After a few years, she migrated to California and went to school to study English. My uncle Demetrio helped her with paying for school while taking care of me. After she learned English, she went to medical school. She graduated and became a nurse. It wasn’t easy for her to get that far. It wasn’t only her learning; there was some racism in her school. Some people at her nursing school made it hard for her because she was the only Hispanic person there. My mom still graduated. In getting her education, she became someone important, someone that helps people. Things got even harder for her. We moved to Austin, TX and she had my two brothers. She had to leave her nursing job to spend time with us. Now, she is a waitress in a restaurant. She struggles in order to maintain and give us what we need. I know she wouldn’t like for me to have a life like the one she had. She wants me to make her proud; I want to make her proud. I want to show everyone anything is possible. But, especially, I want to show her. I’m going to show her that I am thankful by going to a university and getting that education she fought so hard for. She taught me that the only way to accomplish my goals is with education. Education may sound so boring to many people, but in reality, it’s the only way toward a better future. Getting the education you need by going to school can give you a lot of opportunities. Knowing that she worked so hard for me makes me want to go even more beyond and achieve a success, not just for myself, but for my mom as well. Now it’s my turn to give my everything for her. Because of my mother, I am who I am now. I’m going to be the first member in my family to attend a university. I’m going to make my mom proud. Evelin Real 24

John H. Reagan Early College High School

LIES LIES ARE JUST ANOTHER WAY TO SPEAK, BUT WHY LIE IF YOU NOT TRUSTWORTHY, WHY SET IN MY FACE AND LAUGH WITH ME, MY EARS CURL FROM THE FAKE WORDS THAT FLIES THROUGH THEM. LIES ARE JUST THE FAKENESS OF HATRED, OF LOVE, JOY, HAPPINESS, WHY GIVE THAT UP FOR JUST ONE OR TWO LIES. WORDS ARE THERE TO USE TO BUILD UP ONE OTHER IT’S LIKE EACH WORD IS THE BOWLING BALL THAT KNOCKS DOWN THE LOVE, JUST POWER, FRIENDSHIP, AND FAMILY… PINS ALL DOWN. QUIT THE LYING IF YOU SHOULD, QUIT THE FAKENESS IF YOU COULD, IF YOU CARE. Tamayra Davis Smiling and curious, she stood looking at me trying to understand everything I was telling her and her siblings. My job was to help children make a paper wreath. So I taught her older siblings how to make a wreath out of a paper plate and stickers. But she stood there curious and a tad too little to reach the barrels full of stickers. While I crouched by her side I used the one word we both knew, stickers, and her curiosity evolved to an excited bright smile. The wind was cold for a Texas October day, but the joy my simple job brought her warmed my heart. She was a little girl like I used to be, small in stature, bright-eyed, and naïve to life’s troubles. Based on her clothes and the event at which we met, I would say she hasn’t had the life of a spoiled child. We were at Hope Fest. A day held in October in the St. John’s community that provides resources for families financially short-handed. An event I wish I had when I was younger. I’m sure, though, at the end of her visit at Hope Fest, she got to go home. Her home probably had her ma and her siblings, possibly her padre, Tio, and Tia as well, but, nonetheless, a loving family and meal. Her house is probably her home. The place where she probably took her first steps and learned her first words. The place where she learned how to run, and where she will learn how to argue with her siblings. It’s where her mom will put her daughter’s address so when she goes to school her report card can be sent home. She has a home that she knows is hers. She doesn’t question if it will be hers tomorrow or the next day. She knows it’s where her bed is, and where her family will always return to. As a girl I never stayed in one place for too long in my hometown of Topeka, Kansas. When I was two, I lived in a house. By four we lived with my mom’s friends, and by five I lived in a trailer by the highway. School became my stable place. My friends were always there, there was always food in my belly, and there were always smiles on my teachers’ faces. My address was always a P.O. box. By the time I was seven my family moved in with my uncle in his two-bedroom duplex. Under one roof lived my mom’s older brother, my mom’s twin sister, my grandma, my younger brother, my mom’s younger sister, and myself. This would be my home for four years. This is where I would have my birthday parties, have sleepovers with my friends, and learn how to play basketball as well as football. This would be where I pulled my brother’s arm out of place, because we only had a twenty-pound weight difference within a four-year age gap. This would be where my brother and I would be left to be watched by my youngest aunt while my mom and grandma gambled away any extra money. It was my comfortable place, my warm and homey, my place where my mom always returned to, and tucked me in at night. But my time in my home was cut off with an eviction notice. This is when life became all too real too quickly. Now, instead of my home, I had a room, a maid, an indoor pool, and complementary breakfast. Sounds like everyone’s dream right? Wrong. My mom, my grandma, my brother, and I were all placed into one hotel room. Arguments were more common than hugs. Questions of what’s for dinner and where are we going became more and more complicated to explain. My goals moved from going to 7th grade to protecting and raising my brother and making sure he had all he needed. I made sure he was never hungry, he was doing his homework, and that his tears never hit his pillow. I was his role model now. My mom often told us: “Everything will be ok. You will never go hungry, you will never be without clothes, and we will alLa Revolución 2013

ways love you.” I grew up too fast though acknowledging that my mom wasn’t always sure when she told us this. I noticed after being evicted from our home the only thing that changed were the arguments. They still went to gamble, they still worked normal hours. Money was still short. My friend’s parents would notice my brother and I still wearing the clothes we had two years back. Our pants were a little too small, our shirts a little too short. Out of the kindness of their hearts they would give us clothes. At first, my brother and I didn’t like the thought. We didn’t like taking our friends’ old clothes, but when we’d look into our suitcases and see old clothes that were too small, we’d graciously accept the hand-out. We both would learn the limit of pride, one can be proud of not letting life take away our dreams but not too proud to accept grace in all its forms. My mom needed help. She couldn’t raise two children and work a steady job. I was hiding behind a banister when I saw my mom really cry for the first time since we left our old house. We were at my papa’s (grandfather’s) house when my great-grandmother and him offered her the one solution she never wanted to accept, sending my brother and I to my aunt’s house in Texas. From behind the banister I cried along with my mother. I didn’t want to leave my friends, but more importantly I didn’t want to leave my mom. Though resistant to wanting to send us off, my mom finally did agree to their solution. So off we went to Oklahoma City where my grandma would meet us to drive the other half of the way to Kyle, Texas. I cried allowing myself to let down my guard. My brother joined in my weeps as we hugged my mom before we would take our separate ways. Texas was a new start, a chance to show I could survive, I could be strong, and I could love. Tender care and understanding is what I needed as well as a strong leader. As a child, I moved from place to place, some nights unsure of my next meal. Though I never moved very far, I grew to find comfort on anything that was warm and homey. As a child I thought of this all to be normal, but when I saw others with their families in their homes I was silently envious. As I grew, I never let my shortcomings be something to hold me back. Thankful to not be on the streets and have loving friends and family, I grew to be resilient of self-pity, but not too proud to appreciate things that were given to me out of the kindness of someone’s heart. From my experiences I have learned that strength is always important, but love is always needed. So, in my moment with the small naïve girl, I see myself and how I hope she never has to grow up as fast as I did. I pray that her life be full grace, her never knowing an empty plate, and that her family stay as one through hard times. Kylie Garrett

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Believe Believing is part of life Believing gives the chance to dream Believing gives the chance to realize new things Believing teaches a moral lesson Believing is good for everyone

Believing is dreaming for children Believing brings happiness to children Super heroes, chocolate candy, castles, cartoons Kids need to believe Believing is like taking a train far away

Believing is good for grown ups It is like a dream come true To have a good house, good life, and a positive point of view

I believe in happiness I believe in dreams coming true I believe in love Love is a dream come true, A shining star

Paula Serrano

Her Journey Maggots. Dead animal skin. Blood. How can a human being tolerate that? And just for a good future for your unborn child. I will always look up to you, mother. The tales you have told me about the journey you took from San Salvador to United States. My gut is telling me when I was a child I might have not appreciated what you have done for me, but now it’s a whole lot different from back then. I never thought that you would take such a risk to come to the land that everyone dreams of: the United States. You traveled for about two months from where you lived, walking, running and breathing, not only for yourself, but for me too. You endured the unthinkable, inhaling the sickening smell of decaying skin, surviving with a limited amount of food, sharing the same drinking glass with fourteen other people, as the man that is driving you is carrying pounds of dead animal skin.

La Revolución 2013

After the normal, routine checkups for human trafficking, you all had to hide under layers of animal skin. The repulsive odor blocked your scent from the canines. The man assured you that the trip was going to be a piece a cake, but it turned out that was just for him. The sense of relief as soon as you crossed the line separating the two nations must have been uplifting; you started when you were just six months pregnant and achieved your goal at eight months pregnant. You did all of that just to give me a better future, knowing that journey would have put your life at risk and also mine. I know that you probably talked to me while I was inside of you. I imagine you telling me that everything would be okay. I imagine your hand stroking against your stomach, you humming a lullaby, trying to stay calm and not show your fear, knowing that, what you felt, I would feel it too. As a response, I would probably move inside you, trying to tell you that: I love you. Mom, I’m extremely proud to be your daughter. I will take the opportunity of a great life here, as you wanted me to. You have been there for me since the beginning, as I have been there for you. I was your drive to survive that encounter, and now your drive lives on with me. Now, it’s my turn to make you proud, and soon it will be my turn to take care of you. Mom, I promise that I would take this chance you’ve given me, to show the world that a mother’s love is unbeatable. I will show everyone that it doesn’t matter what our background is, our race, our gender. All that matters is that our drive for success is unstoppable. Mom, I will let everyone witness what you’ve shown me, that the limits of the world can be broken. Kelin Cisneros Did You Truly Love Me You set and hold me. You care like no other. Why do I need to kill myself to see if you truly love me? I cry in pain. Heart feels like it falls to my feet, every time I step it drops me down to my knees. So hard that I feel the cracking of the bones that are in my body. I scream loud, so loud that heaven hears my outcry. So just tell me, tell how much I just have one question, did you... Did you truly love me? Tamayra Davis

Sunflower seeds Make my lips chapped But I can’t resist eating them They’re so delicious I follow the motto: Eat. Spit. Be happy. Lorena Estrad 28

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Music I could listen to LMFAO Maybe for an hour There’s Lady Gaga though I like her girl power Eminem likes to fight His rapping is violent Justin Bieber, not quite I rather put it on silent Drake raps and rhymes Which I think is cool Shakira’s hips don’t lie I love that song too. Some music is great Some music is lame Some are for soul mates For me it’s better than games Marcos Flores

Going Partying Weekend partying Going out with friends Coming home late Making moms mad at us Moms get worried Dancing and doing Bad things at the Party music the Heartbeat for teens Moms get worried

After the parties We go to McDonald’s And eat like animals Make-out with a lot Of girls Moms get worried Weekend partying Going out with friends Coming home late Making moms mad at us Moms get worried Carlos Plasen Cia

La Revolución 2013

When my mother was a child, a rooster’s crow in the morning signified a bleak outlook in a blasted landscape. Eventually, she left her family in Mexico, not because of choice, but out of a sense of obligation. In Spanish, giving birth means “giving the light.” And this she did, in many positive ways. Her grief and hardship made my mother into the strongest woman I have ever known. My grandmother died when my mother was only seven (and one of the oldest of the children). On the dreadful night when she saw her own mother die, she began a life no daughter should ever endure. Still a child herself, she became the family’s caretaker: she kept the house clean, washed clothes, and cooked whatever food was there. The family had tortillas with salt for breakfast. She has made the ample effort required to attain that certain piercing look in her eyes. Every morning I wake up for school, get dressed, brush my teeth, comb my hair, and take a step towards the door. There, this wonderful woman waits, and her greeting is my reminder of what I work for and why. My ambition has long been clear to me: to get the job done in school and to attain a bachelor’s in engineering. That degree can assist me in helping others: I intend to use the knowledge that I gain through my education to reduce the level of struggle in society. I wish to spare others the struggles that I have either seen or have heard about when she tells of her memories. My mother—and her mother before her—share a beautiful burden, which is now mine. Their endeavors make me eligible to be the first college graduate in my family. As a consequence, I have an obligation to them—and to others whose burdens have been similar—to enter a future that my ancestors could not. Whatever brilliance I come in contact with in the future is partially theirs. My achievements and honors in school are the result of a voice that persists in my head: Remember what you’re fighting for. This reminder is my inspiration and guide. My words are only a small part of my recognition of her influence. My actions, however, will prove the passion I have for a university education. She has made possible a degree of influence for my life in the USA. Yolanda Rodriguez is a woman who has sacrificed and struggled for others. All along the way, she helped me with kindness, humor, laughter, and advice. She gave me the light of life; I know it shines through her soul, and I intend for that same spirit to be evident in mine as well. Her struggle has impacted my heart, and I deeply respect her willingness to keep working for a better future. In her journey from then until now, she has often been on a dark path where the only light was an idea in her head of what lay ahead. Arturo Garcia When I Notice Him <3 Chocolate brown eyes His beautiful smile As a star perfect He is just perfect But the sad thing is that He doesn’t notice And doesn’t see what I feel for him.

Every time I see him I just wish his eyes Turn my way, but he Seems too busy with The other girls probably He is never going to be aware of me or like me as I like him.

My heart tells me to tell him what I feel, but my nerves keep me from it. What I feel for him is impossible. It might never happen.

I dream that one day he will Turn around, stare at me and look at me like a woman of interest, a woman he could date. His face Is the universe.

The sad thing is that He doesn’t notice me He seems like a cheater. Girls Are always up on him.

The sad thing is that he doesn’t notice me. He seems like a cheater. Girls are always up on him.

The sad thing is that he doesn’t notice me. He seems like a cheater. Girls are always up on him

The sad thing is that he doesn’t notice me. He seems like a cheater. Girls are always up on him.

Aimee Hernandez 30

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Loyalty and Commitment In the middle of my eighth grade year one of my friends came up to me in the cafeteria and told me in a very soft voice that she was pregnant. At first I thought I heard her wrong so I looked at her perfectly round face that was covered with smooth skin and asked her to repeat what she said. She looked right into my eyes with her brown ones and repeated what she said. When I realized that I had heard her correctly, I just pulled her into my arms and petted her thick, soft hair while she cried on my shoulder. When she stopped I told her my mom and I would do anything we can to help her even if it meant letting her live with us. That afternoon while I was eating some delicious fried chicken in the kitchen with my mom I told her about what happened with my friend. “Mom I have to tell you something that is very serious,” I told her. “What’s going on?” She replied. “My best friend is pregnant.” To say she was shocked would be an understatement. Though she was shocked she told me exactly what I told my friend, that we would take care of her no matter what. The very next day we went to her baby’s daddy’s house. We went up and knocked on the door and as soon as he opened it you could smell the cigarette smoke from inside the house. “Who are you?” He asked. “You got my best friend pregnant and we’re here to tell you that you are going to help her take care of the baby,” I replied. “Oh yeah, who’s going to make me do that?” “That would be my mom and I. Trust and believe that if you try to avoid your responsibilities we will find you and make you take care of yours.” “Ok, ok. I promise to help her take care of the baby.” My friend was extremely relieved to know that she would have his help. Fortunately he did help take care of the baby, but unfortunately my friend had a miscarriage and lost the baby. Not too long after that my friend came up to me and said another thing that shocked me in the same cafeteria we were in the first time she told me shocking news. I was nervous because I thought she was going to say she was pregnant again, but that’s not what she said. “Thank you for all the help you and your mom gave me. I wouldn’t have made it as far as I did with that pregnancy if it wasn’t for you guys,” she told me. “Don’t worry about it. It was no problem and you know I will always be there for you,” I told her while hugging her. Although there was misfortune one good thing did happen. My friend learned that I will always be there for her. She found out that I will always be loyal and committed. Keiko Harris La Revolución 2013

Test Takin Testin, again Feels like the numbers are after me Yellin, Screamin, Scratchin, Scarin Thirty minutes in, why not ten? Already the chair’s bitin me Two plus two equals four Why not more? Four plus four equals eight Bro, it’s runnin late On question fifteen and I’m a preteen. What fraction, axis, equivalent? Man, I’m ambivalent! Daydreamin about the time Two plus two equals four Why not more? Four plus four equals eight Bro, it’s runnin late

Half plus half equals a whole Why not two-fourths? Six plus six equals twelve Is that the bell? Cierra Hurrell

Field of White I am the morning mist there but never seen. The bricks under your feet stepped on but never noticed. I am the black rose in the field of white, the one you never notice even in the dead of night.

You are the sun in a cloudless sky, shining brighter than gold. You are a cactus in a burning desert, painfully beautiful. I am the black rose in the field of white, the one you never notice even in the dead of night. Travis Scott

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Cierra Hurrell

My World

Life is hard But never impossible. Love is beautiful But complicated. Never give up What you love, Because what you love Will make you happy.

My whole world used to revolve around (you) My world wasn’t perfect it wasn’t special. You made it special You made it (pefect) My whole world used to revolve around (you) But my whole world was destroyed by you My world was okay it was Higher. Until I can’t anymore. alright. and Until I touch the sky You made it Higher. And fall on the worse up. (Moon) You back Until I see the made get (Stars) me I’ll .................. fall. But And forget

Tomas Soto

(My world) Vanessa Carreon

My Chest You hear that? That beating or whipping? The pounding that pours from my firm, underlying body. The feeling that you can feel through every single pore or cell in your body. It’s my chest. A broad, strong, standing site. You see or have you forsaken a commonly taken-for-granted soul? So many fears, so many tears. Kill me like the uncertainty that feels my soul as tragedy takes its toll. Yes I’m aware of the glass that seems to follow my cluttered mind. Here I am thinking, I’m a damn failure to my past and years beyond me. It’s just that I keep sensing that whipping sound through my vest. But what vest? The vest i’ve worn every day I was torn. I said so much pain and this sound just keeps pouring, ringing from ear to ear. Load, cock, aim, and shoot. Those would I fear. So wear this shield to protect me. I’ll just wait till life says, Next. Until then I’ll wear this vest, the vest that protects a strong chest. Tamera Akins La Revolución 2013

I Can’t Breathe They swarm me until I can’t see. Their words sting like bees. Their laughter suffocates me. The impact punctures my skin. I can’t breathe. The hive doesn’t call them in. They continue to feed. They just won’t leave. Why can’t I breathe?

Their poison soaks through me. Skin red, eyes full of tears. Laying on the ground trying not to hear. It’s something that’s not so hard to believe. I can’t breathe. The hive doesn’t call them in. They continue to feed. They just won’t leave. Why can’t I breathe? Dejone Wright

Knock! Knock! Life is a blessing given to everyone; it’s painful but it gives you so much in return. I don’t know exactly what my plan in life is right now, but I know I’ll make mistakes, but I’ll get up. Life sometimes doesn’t make sense and I get so frustrated, angry for the different pains that it makes you go through, but then I think of the people who are a second a way to death and it gives me that sense of power and want to keep on living. Even if it meant me having to live the different emotions and feelings of life. The resignation that someone comes to terms with when they know they are that close to their end, it’s so amazing. It takes so much courage and strength to accept their death. They have to know they are going to leave their loved ones and not only will they feel pain, but they are going to cause sorrow and pain to their family and friends. The best way is to grow old and have lived their lives the best they could. But unfortunately, not many people get that chance. Nowadays some people don’t get the chance to live past their childhood or teens, and some don’t even make past adulthood. People don’t appreciate life and see what it can truly offer you. You laugh, you cry, smile, shout, and you love. Love is truly one of the most amazing feelings you can experience; there are many kinds of love. The love you feel for a friend, a family member, and the love you feel for that special someone who you meet at least once in your life. The strongest love you can feel is the one you feel for the person who gave you life, raised you, and the one who never gave up on you, always on your side no matter what. The love between a mother and a child is the strongest thing there is; nothing can break it. For me, the one person I would truly never be able to let go of is my mother. I know one day I will have to, but until then I can only pray to keep on living and for the people I love as well. Life is a neverending cycle: you are born, you live, and you give life to another being; and when death comes knocking on your door, there’s nothing to do but to accept it. That’s the life of a human, an endless loop that has no escape. You can only hope to have lived life. Sara Garcia Catalan 34

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Where are you? Left alone to cry Where are you? My eyes are screaming for a sight of you My heart cries for your love My thoughts play memories of you Empty inside I feel dead Take me away Where I will no longer feel You ripped my heart out And broke it into a million pieces My heart shattered like a broken glass But you won’t care at all You won’t care at all! Empty inside I feel dead Take me away Where I will no longer feel

Melodies Soft melodies are played A tune everyone soon hears Day or night, light or dark It consumes your soul With all its might You feel no pain, you see a light So beautiful, you think There’s no coming back. The end is near, but you hold on For those who will feel the loss when you’re gone. It’s time to go You say goodbye Tears are shed Resignation takes place Don’t worry we’ll see each other one day, Meanwhile, I get to rest. The last note is played as my Song ends!

Anonymous

Sara Garcia Catalan

It’s Time Play with Barbie dolls Clean, wash, cook that’s what you’ll do (Oh and cut your voice) From now to the end. You walk straight, sit right, And smile (feel nothing) Nod along, don’t argue (Save yourself) There’s no way out, it’s been planned since birth. No escape (only marriage) That’s the way it’s been (forever!) Not me (Break the chain) (It’s time to stand up) It’s not easy No more holding back!

Life is like a cherry blossom in bloom Wrapped in warmth hiding from the world Awaiting your chance to leave your small tomb All colors of your new life unfurled All gaze in the new glory of a life They gather from afar to stop and stare Not caring about the mother or wife Only taking time to handle with care But after your colors begin to fade from you And no longer are you precious and dear You find time has taken a toll or two And Death is no longer so far or feared You hold on for everything you still can To wither into her precious small hand.

Sara Garcia Catalan Kylie Garrett La Revolución 2013

Carlos Sanchez 36

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Christophe r Hernandez

How many cuss words can someone take? How many wars in the world are left? How many more deaths are there going to take place? How many more neglected children? How many more suicides? How many questions can I ask? How many prisoners in jail? How many tears will break? Before this violence will come to an end? How many more battles are left to be fought? How many times would you get up from the ground? And continue the fight. Would you reach for help? Or pretend this doesn’t exist Will you be stuck on reverse, Not knowing where to go? I plead to know. What’s to follow? What’s ahead? What’s next? Same question Different day. Are dreams worthless? Or only fake? Is this a test? What’s to prove? Where are you taking me? I’m so confused? What’s to learn from this? How should I know? Is this the challenge? Or a simple task? I ask for answers? But there’s no response? Keep on going with life? I forgot how I’m stuck on replay 2 steps forward 2 steps back What is the reason ? For so much combustion Can we bring an end to all of this? Do these questions matter? Apparently not. Violence rises Crime continues Why keep asking for questions When no answers are to be found?

The Outside The sun’s rays came in through the window. It shined so bright on my face that it woke me up. Time to start the day. Every day was the same thing. Wake up and start cleaning. When I was a child my parents decided that they wanted nothing to do with me. So, they took me to this giant tower and told me not to leave, they would be back in the afternoon. I waited and waited, but they never returned. I had no idea that they didn’t want me, so I never left the tower; I thought they would come back. The tower was in an abandoned city. It was surrounded by an enormous lake. Every day I would look at how beautiful the sun looked as it shined its beautiful rays on the lake. It gave me hope. It made me think that maybe someday they would come back for me. Today was the day that I got the courage to leave. I put on my socks and opened the door. As soon as the door opened, a cool breeze came in, blowing leaves into the tower. I was scared to go outside. But I did. My first step outside the door was amazing. I felt like a new person. The sound of the birds was much clearer. The smell of the grass was so nice. I knew then, that my life had just started. Casandra Del Castillo Nothing’s Really Wrong

I’m Ready

Sunshine

Sleepy Wanna get home Go to bed Don’t feel like talking Song Jamming Head hurts Friend lost Last night

You say to grow up But you still cannot let go Its time to say goodbye!

The sun is stunning. The way the sun shines comforts me It shines on everything in this dark world It helps me see the beauty around me It makes me feel warm Its light gives me a sense of security.

Carina Leonides

Sara Garcia Catalan

It’s not forever I’ll come back one day, don’t cry It’s time for me, bye I’ll finally fly Probably fall once or twice Scraped, hurt but it’s ok.

La Revolución 2013

Casandra Del Castillo

Growing up I was a very happy kid. I didn’t worry about things; I just liked having fun. I grew up with a brother that always made situations fun. My older brother is a big part of my life. He has always been there for me when I had problems. He has made me change my views on my life. He is important to me because he understands me and he is someone who I can trust. Things started to change when I started sixth grade. I started stressing out because of all of the assignments I had to do. I wasn’t really good at any of the school subjects, and to make matters worse I was really shy and didn’t talk to many people. This meant I didn’t have many friends. I noticed that I stopped socializing with people. Every day, after school, I would go straight home and just read a book in my room. It was my daily routine. When I started high school, I did not know what I wanted to do with myself or what I wanted to do with my life. I knew that having some confidence made people succeed in life; unfortunately I wasn’t very confident about myself. All of that worried me. I did not talk to people about my worries, because I thought that they would not care. I would just keep everything to myself. One day when I got home from school, my brother noticed that I was acting different and that I had a very tired look on my face. I didn’t want to tell him that I was stressed and worried about my future, but I did, I decided to tell him everything that was on my mind. I normally wouldn’t tell people my thoughts, but since it was my brother, I told him. My brothers and I have a really close relationship so I never felt awkward after having a long emotional talk, and the times we talked I was always honest because I knew he would never judge me in a bad way. After telling him so much, the only thing he said was that he would always be there for me. Having him say that made me feel like I was safe from harm. I realized that people did care about me and that I was not useless. I realized that people’s opinions should not bother me and the only thing that I should care about is whether I am happy or not. From that day on I tried to keep positive thoughts. When my plans would go wrong, I looked at the bright side. I now appreciate the things I have because there are people who are living in worse conditions, and yet they still manage to be happy with their lives. Even though I have bad days, I get over it and move on. My parents always support the things I do. I am glad to have such a great support system. I try to surround myself with good friends that I know will always be there for me when I have a problem. Now, as an eighteen year old, I have learned to be a good person and enjoy the things that life throws at you. I feel like I am ready to take on what life has to offer. I am glad that my brother talked to me because he changed my mind. He was the one that made me want to change the way I look at life. He has pushed me to look at life in a different way and enjoy it. I can honestly say that he has made a big impact in my life, and I am grateful to have him as a brother. Casandra Del Castillo Roses are red, violets are blue (and sometimes yellow or white too) As sure as the stars at night or the sun at day, so is my love for you As the seasons pass (it shall not fade), my love is the only thing that remains No testy waters or darkened sea can this affection tame For the day you came into my life (I shall not forget) Nothing ever felt so new (I have no regrets) You are more than just a pet You are the rose to my bud, the sun to my shine The day I met you my life became sublime Saragail Ledgister 38

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Me, Myself, I

The End of My Misery

There’s a space in my heart for everyone that I care about For everyone that I come across with With anyone I bond with Because without that kind of connection you create With others You might as well be alone Forever Cut out your heart Your heart is your center Your own personal universe filled with complex matter Millions of emotions, feelings So many wonders, Unknowns Filled with so many ripples, scars, secrets That may never be discovered Those kept hidden in the deepest part of your heart. So precious is my heart, Mine, mine, only mine! Lucky if you can get inside You need a key, it’s hard to get But even then it not ever all the way open It’s just the way I keep my heart safe. My heart Always mine!

Is this the moment? Is this when all my pain and sadness goes away? Do I finally get to leave this terrible world and go to the beautiful castle? I can see the light. It is so close I can almost grab it. I didn’t really imagine it like this. People have told me that the light is very bright. I’ll assume that it is because I have been left in this kingdom, tied for weeks. No one has tried to save me from this misery. They have left me to die here because of the mistakes I’ve made, but who are they to judge me, who gave them permission to decide my punishment. The only one allowed to do that is the real king. God. He has heard my prayers and now I am going to be truly judged. I am leaving and I am going to heaven. Where I have dreamed of going since the first day I was left here. Goodbye.

Sarah Garcia Catalan

Dalia Esparza-Zapata

I love myself. I love everything about me. I’m not saying this just because I love myself but because I love how I am. It’s just incredible to be me. Maybe that’s not what others think, but I just care about positive comments. I couldn’t care less about negative comments. I really like how I like making others laugh. Of course, that’s all done in my own way, or when I feel like to. I love my family, love them a lot. They’re just wonderful people. I like that we’re always together no matter what. We can party the whole night if we want. We like to be united every time we can. In every party we make it the best. We laugh, we talk, we fight, but at the end of everything, we’re still together as a whole. I love my boyfriend, maybe because I’m in love. I love that he loves me too. I love to hang out with him. When I see him, my day gets better. I just love how he is. I love to write. It’s something I really like to do. Probably I like to write instead of reading. I like to write when I’m bored, when I don’t have nothing to do, when I’m in the mood, and I also write when I’m asleep, ok maybe not. Still, I think of what I want to write the next day. I love life. Life is beautiful, life is borrowed. So why not live life happy? With many happy moments. Life is a gift so don’t waste it on something that is not worth it. I love everything that I have said. Like right know, I like what I’m writing. I like that y’all can know what I like. I hope y’all can like what I wrote. Kimberly Romero La Revolución 2013

My Treasure There’s a treasure in my heart. I keep it closed with a key and a lock because I don’t want anyone to take it away from me. That treasure is my life. That treasure is the one that gives bright to my dark and light days. I feed my treasure everyday with good moments, with smiles, with hugs, with love and with honesty. Kylie Garrett

Mixture Feelings There’s a mixture of feelings in my heart. All kinds of emotions, every day. There’s sadness, happiness, and pain. I like to feel pain inside me. Why? I don’t know, but I like it. I like how it hurts. I like to show my happiness Inside And out. Why? Well because it shows how I am. We could say that I also show Sadness in myself. Even if I try to hide it, You can always see it. Why? Because everyone knows me as Laughing, serious, fun, joyful, wonderful, and much more. Kimberly Romero

Ice Cream Sweet cold sensation into my mouth, Yay! Cools down my body when im lost in heat. Perfect companion of a summers days. Nothing better I must say can’t compete. I Love this creation I’m addicted Cookies and cream my ice cream I need it. My favorite ice cream, what’s not to like? Many flavors but this one is the best. Oreos with vanilla can’t dislike. No Competition for the flavor test. My tongue has decided to share its vows. Because shall it stay forever in my house. Gairo Rodrigues

Friendship Friends are like diamonds They are rare Last forever Will always be with you Help you when you need help Some are real and some are fake, But even the fakest are still a friend Friendships are like a rollercoaster You have up hills and down hills But any ride is enjoyed Friendship.

Dalia Esparza-Zapata

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Your Love Somewhere I never traveled but I see it everyday Your laugh, that twinkle in your eye (it’s actually a dead giveaway) Your thoughts on the other hand I question what could be (it’s a little scary) I want to know every little river running in your mind (when do you think of me) As we sing in the car exchanging deafening tones I wonder what words you mean I guess that’s what makes life a little confusing (and a lot of scary sometimes) I jump into our love out of faith (and hope that you’ll be here when it’s not so good times) In the words of hunter hayes (and out of tone deaf love of my life) If you’re gonna be somebody’s heartbreak If you’re gonna be somebody’s mistake If you’re gonna be somebody’s first time, somebody’s last time Baby be mine (forever and always) Kylie Garrett The Smiles to Remember A smile to remember would be your future child’s A smile to remember would be yours when you’re in love A smile to remember would be when you’re having fun with your friends These moments should be cherished They might be the best memories you ever have A smile to remember would be the one you have when you graduate A smile to remember would be the one you have when you get your first real job A smile to remember would be the one you have when you get your own place These moments should be cherished They might be the best accomplishments you will ever have A smile that should really be remembered is when you’re of old age You’re with the one you love Right before you move on to a better place you get to say I Love You one more time A smile to remember would be the one you had when you realized you had a great life Keiko Harris Love & Hate Why is LOVE amazing? How come LOVE changes your life? How can we LOVE each other so much? Why is there HATE? How come HATE changes everyone? How can we HATE each other so much? How can HATE be the meaning of LOVE? How can LOVE be the meaning of HATE? Why are they so hurtful? Kimberly Romero La Revolución 2013

Nighthawks Pow! Shots started being fired and as Nathan jumped behind a crate and prayed that Frank didn’t kill him he started thinking back to how this all started. It was 1942 and Nathan Harper had just got finished with a tough case. To relax he decided to go to Phillies Café. Little did he know this place would be where he would start a new case and reopen an old one. A case that involved his heart and a woman he used to love. He entered the café and sat down. “Waiter, can I get a coffee?” he asked. The waiter turned around, made Nathan’s coffee and then gave it to him. “Thanks.” He said in gratitude. No sooner that he uttered that word a beautiful woman with long flowing red hair came in. She looked like a little piece of heaven in her red dress. After he snapped out of the trance she had had him in he noticed the gentleman following behind her. He was wearing a very nice black suit with a fedora sitting on top of his head. As soon as they sat down he was able to take a closer look at the two of them and he gasped. Thinking back he probably shouldn’t have done that because as soon as the man noticed him he took off with the woman. The reason for his gasp was because that woman was the former love of his life, Anna Stewart, and the man she was with was none other than the notorious gang leader, Frank Gravanzo. He had warrants out for his arrest that include murder, drug trafficking, extortion, robbery and much more. The reason he ran was because he recognized Nathan. Not to brag or anything but he is a world-renowned detective that has solved cases from the United States all the way to Japan. He has done cases that range from homicides and murders to divorces and civil suits. He has pretty much taken down all the major gangs except for one. If you guessed Frank Gravanzo’s gang you would be correct. He has eluded Nathan for years and Nathan has been waiting to take him down. But now that he knows Frank has Anna it’s become personal. Wait what are you doing Nathan? You should be chasing him down not ranting about Frank and yourself in your head! With that thought in mind Nathan took off after Frank. But by the time he got outside Frank and Anna were long gone.

Israel Jimenez

Even though Nathan was disappointed that they left it only made him even more determined to find them. Nobody can hurt the only woman he loved and get away with it. The very next day Nathan started trying to find any leads he could to track Frank down. He put another warrant out for his arrest and asked his fellow law enforcers about any information they can give him about Frank. He even got desperate enough to try and get information from convicts he put in jail but he came up empty. Just as he was about to give up hope he thought of another plan that might take awhile but it was the only plan he had. He was going to go to the café everyday and wait for Frank to show his face again. Everyday Nathan would wait for Frank to return to the café and everyday Frank never came. Just when Nathan was starting to give up hope Frank showed up again at the café. Granted it was two weeks later but he still

John H. Reagan Early College High School

showed up. Nathan was over the moon with happiness because he knew he would now have the opportunity to find Anna. As soon as Frank sat down Nathan went straight to him so he could confront him. “Hey Frank. How are you doing?” Nathan asked with sarcasm. As soon as Frank turned around and looked at Nathan he started to get up to run but Nathan stopped him. “Hold up. Where do you think you’re going Frank?” “Nathan I suggest you let go of me if you know what’s good for you.” “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me where Anna is.” “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The fact that Frank was denying knowing where Anna was only angered Nathan even more. He wanted to know where Anna was and he wanted to know now. “Don’t play dumb with me Frank. Where is Anna?” Before Nathan knew it Frank had punched him in the face and started to run. The difference this time was that Nathan was not going to let him get away again. He could not lose his only chance to find Anna. So he took off after Frank. When he ran out of the café he saw Frank running towards his car so Nathan jumped into his car. When Frank sped off Nathan was right behind him. Frank was swerving between cars trying to escape Nathan but Nathan stayed right behind him the whole time. Frank even attempted to make a car swerve into Nathan’s car but Nathan quickly moved out of the way. Before Nathan knew it they were at a warehouse. Frank jumped out of his car and ran into the building and Nathan was right behind him. It was extremely dark inside the warehouse and Nathan was feeling very wary about going inside without back up. Right when he was about to turn around, he heard Anna scream. “Help! Somebody please help me!” Before Nathan could think about it, he started running towards Anna’s voice. Anna screaming was his only focus as he ran through the dark warehouse trying to figure out where she was screaming from. Finally he found a door with light coming from under the door. He opened it to find Anna tied to a chair. As soon as Anna saw him she had a look of relief on her face. “Oh Nathan I was so scared. I had no idea what Frank was going to do to me.” “Well you don’t have to worry anymore, Anna, because I’m here now.” With that Nathan untied Anna and she jumped out of her chair and hugged him in gratitude. Nathan let her go after a couple of minutes and looked her right in the eyes. “We have to go now, Anna, if we don’t want Frank to find us and hurt us both.” “Ok let’s get out of here.” Anna grabbed Nathan’s hand and Nathan led them out of the room. When they were almost at the door, Nathan heard a voice yell. The lights came on then and Nathan turned around to see Frank and his goons. “Where do you think you’re going with my girl, Nathan?” “Look, Frank, we don’t want any trouble. Just let us leave in peace and we can let all of this go.” “Hmm let me think about it. Yeah that’s not going to happen. Give me the girl or face the consequences.” “No Anna is staying with me.” “Fine it’s your funeral. Boys shoot him.” Nathan finally snapped out of his thoughts about how this whole thing started when Anna shook him. “Nathan please do something before we die!” “Ok let me think for a second.” Nathan looked to his left and saw that luck was on his side. There was a mirror there that was angled so that he could see his attackers perfectly. Nathan pulled out his revolver, he had it hidden in the waistband of his pants, and aimed at his attackers. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Nathan had shot down all of his attackers. He waited a couple of minutes and when he heard no more gunfire he rose from behind the crates. When he looked around he saw that Frank was the only one standing. “Frank, you can either come with me and go to jail or you can make this harder than it has to be and have a shootout with me. What do you want to do?” “ I can’t go to jail, and I refuse to get shot, so I think I’m going to run.” Before Nathan could comprehend what was happening Frank was running out of the back of the warehouse. Nathan was going to give chase but he decided it wasn’t worth it. He would get Frank another day. He turned back to Anna. “Let’s go home, Anna.” “Wait! Nathan, before we leave I need to tell you something. I-I still love you.” With that Anna kissed Nathan like it was the last thing she would ever do and Nathan did the same. When they finally stopped, Nathan grabbed her around the waist and they left the building with their thoughts only on their renewed love. Little did they know Frank was hiding below a window outside the warehouse. When he saw this act of affection he shook his head in disgust. “Don’t worry, Nathan, I will find you again and kill you. Then Anna will be mine. Ha ha ha!” Keiko Harris La Revolución 2013

Companionship Once again, it’s really not easy to be honest knowing that this could probably be shown to people. I don’t know if this will come out the way I want it to; if it’ll sound good, if it’ll sound interesting so I’m really going to try. Lately I’ve been really good at being social. I often smile at people I don’t really know and talk to them too. A though I’m improving, that certain feeling of loneliness never really goes away. I always have someone to talk to but that little voice that says “I’m alone,” is in my head every time. In one of my classes, we had to do a PowerPoint about us. One of the slides had us tell 3 friends that we have. I had more than 3 friends. Had. Now, because I moved, I don’t talk to them anymore. Sometimes I wonder if they forgot about me and I wonder if they’re happy without my company. Here, in this school, I talk to people but are they my friends? What makes someone a friend? Seeing each other every day, talking, hanging out at lunch and even after school? Is that a friend? Trusting them, fighting but forgiving each other in the end, knowing them for a very long time? I don’t really know, that’s why it’s hard for me to really consider someone now my friend. Sometimes I feel like approaching someone in the library who’s reading a book. But then again, do they really need company? In groups in classes, I’m just a company momentarily. It’s easy for me to make people laugh. I’m not a clown or anything but I prefer to make people smile instead of making people dislike me and take me as “that serious, stuck up, quiet girl.” I’m really not a bad person, so sometimes I ask myself “how come no one really considers me a friend?” And sometimes I wonder how come no one really invites me to join them during lunch? If they knew, after my mom got sick, I need that certain companionship. I need that certain little push that tells me to have hope and try again. Vanessa Carreon

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder I Am Not Beauty. Who Is The Beholder? Society? I Am Not Beauty. Friends? I Am Not Beauty. Strangers? I Am Not Beauty. Myself? I Am Beauty. I Am My Own Beholder. Francisca Sanchez

A Cosmic Tear As it flew through the night sky it resembled a cosmic rocket. Soaring like a newly freed bird turning to a down spiral reminding most of the galaxy’s tears, flickering as it hit the surface. The melancholy tear then evolved into a giant beacon of light and fire, engulfing the living along with memories of the deceased. My home was in shambles, reduced to rubble… it hurt to see it like this. Chris Fresch

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Jesus on the Cross In “Jesus on the Cross” by Salvador Dali, Dali shows the love by sacrifice and the ungratefulness of those Jesus did it for. Dali uses dark ominous colors, bright contrasts, and the position of the cross to convey Jesus’s significance and the little emphasis given to him by the average man. Jesus died on the cross as punishment from the ones he was going to die for so that they may be pardoned of their sins while they sin against him. For Dali to have Jesus surrounded in darkness symbolizes the dark, cold reality of what really happened to him on that day he was crucified. Normally we see Jesus with his arms stretched out illuminating in a golden light with his thorn crown on as a form of love and forgiveness. And instead he is surrounded by darkness as the “fishermen” (no longer being “fishers of men”), at the bottom, are surrounded in bright daylight, living their happy lives disregarding why they get to live the way they do. For Dali to use brighter colors to portray an everyday existence, he emphasizes that Jesus is surrounded in our dark sin out of love for us. The position of the cross, for it to be angled downward toward Earth and for Jesus to be looking down on us, symbolizes the depth of disappointment. By not showing Jesus’s face in the painting, Dali portrays Jesus’s feeling of defeat and like his death happened in vain. No longer are the fishermen fishers of men, no longer is his death just pardoning sins, but it is now showing the true ungratefulness of his father’s creations he died for. Dali has Jesus’s body hanging from the cross, surrounded in darkness to emphasizes the ungrateful and unrelenting dumping of sins onto his shoulders so that lives may be lived the way they choose. Dali’s people show what we do every day, simply just go about our business. In this painting no one is positioned praying or looking up in recognition, but simply working on a beautiful day they were given. In “Jesus on the Cross” by Salvador Dali, human kind is expressed as ungrateful to Jesus’s great sacrifice so that we may be pardoned of our sins. In Dali’s painting, Jesus is weighed down in darkness, so that his Father’s loved “fishers of men” may live in the brightness of day. Kylie Garrett

How much pain can one take? Before people know that they are hurting someone. How much humiliation and disappointments can one take? Before you know that you can’t please everyone. How many “friends” have to walk out of your life? Before you understand that there is no such thing as friends. How many times do you have to get your heart broken? Before you understand that there’s no such thing as forever. How much sadness and depression do you have to take in? Before you find happiness. How many let downs do you have to go through? Before you realize that you can’t depend on people for happiness. How many sleepless nights do you need to have? How many rude people need to be in your life? How many disappointments do you have to go through? How many people do you need to tell you that you can’t? Before you FINALLY realize that you need to leave that hell hole and You need to prove them ALL WRONG! HOW MANY MORE THINGS DO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH? BEFORE YOU REALIZE YOU CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE AND END IT ALL. HOW MANY!?!?!?!? Nancy Villarruel La Revolución 2013

Kindergarten

I have stolen The ball That was with the defender

Kindergarten was the best time ever! Not one kid had a care in the world. We believed that happiness was forever. Everybody was watching Hey Arnold! Nobody was worried about real love. The playground was our only focus then. We were all happy and free like doves. You would always have a close friend. Living young and wild and free was cool. Playing around not focused on the time. There was no such thing as bullies at school. No worries about committing a crime. Freedom was the only important thing. And I wish I could go back to those things. Keiko Harris

And which you wanted to Score A goal Forgive me It was right there So close And so round Eduardo Castelan

Pulling a Jason If you trip and fall Or do something else stupid You pulled a Jason Jason Dominguez

In My Heart There’s a little girl in my heart. She’s strong She’s funny and outgoing. Sometimes I don’t let her out. When I fear she may be dying, I let her out again. There’s a little girl in my heart. She’s innocent. The type of innocence I wish I could have again. She’s strong But she’s not brave and I have to defend her and tell her, “It will all be okay.”

When I hurt When my heart breaks, she breaks too and I don’t see her for a very long time. There’s a little girl in my heart. She likes to go out to discover the world. When she knows I’m happy she comes out to meet me. And Vanessa is different.

And Vanessa is strong funny and outgoing. But then, she hides and I don’t see her for a very long time. And I tell her, “It will all be okay… please come out.” Vanessa Carreon

John H. Reagan Early College High School

A field in the midst of nowhere is the sea, many of his brothers and friends fling across it to a different plane of existence. Over the many years Tot has seen kings fall and rise, the sky darken and lighten repetitively as each entity dies. The stubbornness of each infatuates him, each with set ways like the others yet believing to have otherwise. Every empire has sought to last forever, yet know not they do of time itself being numbered in its days. This field grows into health with rich golden color and hearty stalk, even though the road to it is overrun by weeds and grass. Dumbfounding it truly is to Tot, who watches his brothers sprout their dark wings and fly away to some distant land. Tot is terribly lazy and does not do his job as a scarecrow, he just lazes around the unknown object he has been placed on by the neglecting master. The neglecting master, what an odd fellow, just as Tot does nothing and lets the field grow wild and to its own whims. No one even knows if the master ever did exist to tell the truth. Tot ponders this in his hollow head. The truth, what is truth? Can it be eaten? Tot recognizes the emptiness of himself and that of the entire universe, for how can such an existence be full of such stubbornness? Such things have angered him over the many years and Tot just forces himself to ignore such thoughts like the airhead he is. Yet this day in particular, darkening with the fall of the latest and greatest dead king, Tot feels his anger at the world swelling, his own being turning in on itself and finding the Ashen Blade hidden deep in his dried, hollow, hay. The strikes himself with the hardest of blows and falls down. Tot does not feel angry at this though. It was bound to happen, it could even be the start of changing the world. Tot begins to pull himself from the pole he was stuck on, all while thinking of the stubbornness of the world and himself. Surprised even is he to see the object he was attached to and shows it to the entire golden sea. “Behold master’s scythe!” Tot holds it in his hands and stares down at the wheat, growing despite all neglect and lack of light. Tot swipes the blade, sundering all those around him “Fools! Nothing is forever! Can ye not see?” Tot’s eyes finally find their way up his empty self and into his equally empty head, and thus Tot sees Time, or what is left of it. Michael Salazar Age and death are inevitable things Snow will melt, roses will wither and fade But this is sure, even as a dove has wings Day and night your destiny you evade From time indefinite your presence was Like burgers and fries, like honey and bees Your presence marked by joy, sparks, lights, a buzz So powerful many fall to their knees Young and old cannot deny your ways Yet some have tried to deceive in your name You prove them wrong for nights, even for days Nothing will make you fall or bring you shame As sure as the day as sure as the night You will never fail, you will never fight. Sarahgail Ledgister

There’s a Hole in my Heart There’s a hole in my heart. Why you ask? I’ve hung out and been around the wrong people. I am trying to find a way to make it whole again. Will you help me? No, don’t, I might get attached and you might leave me alone and I don’t want to start from square one. How this happened you ask. I’ve hung out and been around the wrong people. I am trying to make this heart whole again. I hurt because there’s a hole in my happy heart. Let me find the pieces of my heart and glue them back together. And I will have my happy heart whole again. Until then, leave me to find pieces of my heart alone. I need to do this alone. Nancy Villaruel

La Revolución 2013

The Love of my Heart There’s a beat in my heart That once it starts it doesn’t want to stop I take a deep breath And try to slow it down There’s happiness in my heart It just cannot be hidden Once I look into your eyes The sadness becomes forbidden There’s love in my heart For that special one I hope I could get it back Until you realize that’s all I have Cintia Vilchis

Fragment Found at 0X0000 Ever on and on I carry (the world) In this dark eternity With nothing but myself (that is not) Suddenly vanishing I see I cannot break free Ever going round and round (black or white?) In this strand Slipping through the cracks (maybe it’s a dream, Maybe nothing else is real) All the people I see, Who I am, who I was (uncertainty?) I will never understand Have I forgotten how? (did I ever even know?) Will it all fade away (Not even I…) Will it all shatter(no more turning back Nothing but me left) How can I ever Michael Salazar

Impression I have nowhere to go, no place to call my own. All that was is gone and all that hater is will soon fade. “David, where are we going?” My heart aches to answer; the truth is I have no answer. “Papa can we eat now, I’m really hungry?” “Shh… your father has a lot on his mind right now, go to sleep, we will eat in a little while.” My son, the only one that bears my name, how will I teach you to be a man in a world like this? He is too young to understand the severity. It came with no warning. Burned bodies everywhere, children screaming for help as their little bodies are crushed by rubble, wailing mothers, shattered dreams; shattered lives. My family and I were lucky to survive or so they say. What good is a man if he has nothing to look forward to? No way to provide. I’ve been rowing this boat for days and I still cannot find a place to rest my head. The soldiers still haven’t arrived with food and people are taking to cannibalism. We don’t have much time to get out. I hear voices in the fog, men, women…babies. I want to help them but I can’t. Why did God have to make us suffer? As night draws to a close and dawn approaches, it seems as if hope only lies in the sun as it rises over the horizon. It’s the only thing I know won’t leave me. “Papa my legs hurt.” The weather is horrible, it has rained for days straight, its cold and in a matter of days we will die from frostbite. My wife…God bless her soul is the only one with some sort of sanity left. She’s beautiful with eyes the color of emerald, and hair so luscious it resembles silk. What will I do if I lose her? I struggle with the fact that I cannot support her the way I should. “David, I see a light coming.” Voices. Light. A loud crash. Water. Silence. My body is paralyzed with fear. My wife? My son? I turn and look, but they’re not on the boat. Blood everywhere. My vision is blurred and I can no longer breathe. Is this the end of it all? I know I should be sad, but in my last few breaths, as I feel the pitter patter of my heart slow, I smile, because no longer is my family trapped by all that we see. We are finally free of the impression bestowed upon us. Saragail Ledgister 48

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Poetic Pickles I hope pickles don’t like humans ’cause Humans like pickles. They’re the Best, bringing happiness to my taste buds Flavor like the sunrays pickle dickle Wickle they’re all good to me

Small, tall, short, fat Long, skinny, different Varieties. The love of My life. PICKLES.

Jordan Blake

Pickled-flavored Pringles, sunflower seeds And hot chips are my favorite to eat When i run out of pickles. I have a poetic Pickle passion. Pickles run when they see me Coming dancing to the pickles heartbeat. I eat.

Money Is Important Jose and Monica live with their child in an apartment. They live upstairs, with two bedrooms. Jose works at H-E-B as a cashier while Monica stays at home, taking care of the baby while Jose works. Monica is cool, and Jose works too hard. Monica is worried because they don’t have anything to eat, and Jose works to get money for Monica and Jesenia at H-E-B. Monica says, “We need food to eat.” Jose says, “I don’t have a lot of money to buy food.” Monica says, “Well, you should take some from your work.” If he gets caught, he will go to jail for stealing food for Monica and Jesenia. Jose has to work to hard to get money for Monica and the baby. Jose has to get money to pay the rent and to buy food so they can eat and so they can have something for the baby. Jose almost gets caught stealing food for them. Jose is scared. When he gets home he tells Monica, “Well, why don’t you get some job to get money for the baby to eat?” Monica says, “That’s a great idea, Jose. Tomorrow I’m going to see if I can get a job at Wal-Mart. But I have to ask Mom if she can take care of the baby so we can go to work.” So Jesenia’s grandma takes care of the baby for Monica and Jose, so they can go to work. Amberly Pina La Revolución 2013

The sky is ocean blue. The sun is just right today. The day is so beautiful. You just want to go swimming With your friends, or chill at the beach. Have you ever thought about something you always wanted to do. But something kept you from doing it? That something was, Fear. Fear is a hard thing to overcome. It can lead to anger. The more angry you are, the more you cry. Don’t keep anger balled inside you.

I’m bored I don’t know what to write There is nothing I can think about I am Really confused Right now Rodolfo Sanchez

Anonymous Hole in My Heart There is a hole in my heart, but can it be filled? It seems to suck up ever thing And yet it’s never full. There is a bird in my heart. It sings with every heartbeat, its feathers and wings flutter with every joyful breath. It seeks to know more, a caged bird Of innocence. That Has no love Needs no love Wants no love. Contentment is its every desire. Lonesomeness. I know why this caged bird sings. It sings for the past, what has been done And cannot be reversed. It sings for all there is and all that will be. As time passes, it grows; though there is nothing for it to feed on. It gains ambition with each moment and Strength with each trial. It lives on when Life is no more. It is what you are Remembered by. Saragail Ledgister

Boredom

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Even though people make mistakes, it’s not a bad thing because you learn from your mistakes. Everything happens to you for a reason. Every day you learn something new. You usually learn a life lesson through bad situations. It’s okay because next time you know to not make the same mistake. Not everyone is perfect. During the end of 10th grade I started getting excited, since school was almost over. The more I thought about it, the more anxious I would get. Some of my classes were boring. Honestly I did not feel like being in a boring class for a whole hour. I’m sure I was not the only student in the school that felt like that. My friends Gloria and Blanca, also felt that way. “We should go get something to eat”. I remember saying that to my friends. “Okay,” Gloria and Blanca said. “Where?” Gloria asked. “Let’s go to McDonald’s,” I said. “Alright,” they said. So we all went in Blanca’s car to McDonalds. As soon as we were done paying through the drive through, Blanca said she didn’t want to go back to school. Gloria and I agreed with her. So we ended up going to Blanca’s house. We stayed there until school was over. Every time we would leave during lunch to a restaurant, we ended up not going back to school. Since I had good grades I didn’t think it would matter, but it did. When school was over and summer began I was so happy school was over. Since my friends & I skipped the time went by so fast. One day my sister was checking the mail and saw a letter for me from school. I wasn’t expecting a letter. I opened it up and began to read it. It said that I lost 3 credits because of too many absences. I was scared that I didn’t get all my credits, but at the same time I knew why. I started regretting ever skipping. I was saying to myself: “If only I didn’t skip I would have gotten all my credits.” I wasn’t done reading the letter. At the bottom of it, it said that I could recover my credits by just making up hours. I was so relieved. As soon as school started I asked my counselor what I had to do to make up hours. She told me that I needed to attend an orientation with my mom. My mom and I went to the first orientation. They told us how I would be able to make up hours. They said I could attend Saturday School or tutoring. They also gave me a slip my teachers would sign and write how many hours I stayed. I had to make up 12 hours in total. I finished in 3 weeks. I was so happy that I was done making up the hours that I needed to get my credits. Even though skipping was not a good idea, I don’t regret it because I had fun and got to get my credits. That’s all that mattered to me. I have learned to never regret anything and make the best out of it. If someone were to ask me what’s one thing I believe in, I would say “I believe in never regretting anything.” Selena G. The Heart and the Mind Never listen to your heart keep your mind and heart apart the heart brings pain the mind abstains the heart breaks and the mind awakes the heart believes the mind controls who would you listen to the heart or the mind? Ceci Lopez

My Heart There’s anger in my heart That I can’t take out Once I get mad I prefer to cry. There’s happiness in my heart That just cannot be hidden Once I look at your eyes The sadness goes out. There’s stress in my heart That when I think about that My blood gets warm and hot. Laura Sanchez

La Revolución 2013

On February 8th—today—is when I attended my father’s funeral five years ago. Now, I never talk about such a topic because I always get teary eyed and I refuse to be sad, but sometimes you just have to vent and let it all out before something you don’t want to happen, happens. For this sole reason, I have always been so careful to what I say about my peers because I don’t want them to know that I have such a side to me because they are so used to the happy-go-lucky Chris, and every time I think about what my life would have been with my father on this earth, I always seem to have such a sour face that people aren’t used to seeing. Now, I am going to tell you about what had occurred up to the point of the funeral. About six years ago, my father was contemplating moving back to his home state of North Carolina. With me being a twelve-year old, I didn’t want my father to leave because then I wouldn’t have anyone to go to that I trusted enough to get a man’s point of view on something, but it just wasn’t that. I knew that something seemed so out of place when he said that because he had a heart failure on his fiftieth birthday, and before he left he had started to pick up drinking again. Being there and hearing such terrifying stuff made me tear up and start to cry the second he said, “Move back, too.” Thrashing and bashing frantically, I begged him not to leave, but his hardheadedness started to show, and he was set on leaving the youngest son. This is where the anger starts to kick in. every time I think about this, because his own death could have been avoided if he had just listened to me! He has missed out: so much has happened in my life. Now, I am almost about to graduate from high school, and I am about to start on my journey of getting out into the world and learning what it has in store for me at such a young age. But, nevertheless, I know that he is somewhere watching over me constantly making sure that I do the right thing in life. No matter what happened, my father will always be in my heart and in my memories.

Boys, Boys, Boys

Christopher Mewborn

Watch out, ladies. This one word can cause so much pain, heartache, emotional breakdowns, and insecurity. Being in love isn’t easy. For some it can be the hardest thing they have ever done, for others it could be the silliest mistake they have ever made. It all depends on the person you are. I’m not writing this to judge anyone. I’m simply just writing my sutra on what I believe and need to say. I have a lot of stories I can tell you about boys, but there is just this one particular story I would like to share. “Babe, I love you” is the line that most of us girls fall for. Trust me, it’s the line I fell for, which started out as a pretty good relationship until things began to crumble. The lying started, not hanging out, ditching me for his friends, not even calling or texting me when I was sick. He promised me that he would never do any of these things to me as long as I stayed true to him also (which I did for sure), but to him that wasn’t even good enough because he still thought I was doing things he had no proof I was even doing. I began to feel heartless, broken, lonely, and empty inside, which was not a good feeling at all. I just wanted to be alone all the time and not worry about anyone else and their drama, so I did the unbelievable and cut off best friends, stopped hanging out, and just didn’t respond to anyone. That was the worst mistake I could have made because I lost many friends just for those small actions I made. I wish taking friends back was that easy, but it’s just not. That guy meant a lot to me, just as my friends did, but I chose the guy over them! Never again will I make that stupid, silly mistake again because the friends I have now are already helping me to find that right guy, not the one that is just going to tell me he “LOVES” me and not mean it at all. NO!! We’re looking for the right one that is going to make something of himself and help me to make something of myself. So when I do find him, YES, ladies, I am going to hold on to him, because he just might be that keeper I’ve been looking for. Ziara Mckenzie 52

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Sugey Zavala

La Revoluci贸n 2013

Long, Hard Day Standing in the middle of my neon bright, pink room with fluffy pillows, chairs, and blankets everywhere, I stare out the window only seeing sunshine and hearing children laugh so hard they’re screaming. Chirping, thumping, and loud music fill my ears as I begin to walk toward the door. I shake the knob while twisting it to exit my room, because my door knob was broken due to numerous times I had to break in my room. The reason why I had to keep breaking in my room was because I would let my little cousin in there and she would lock herself in. I finally get the door to open, and walk down the long (what feels like three mile) hallway. With my legs shaking like I’ve just finished running (not walking) a marathon, the slower I walk, the longer this hallway seems. With pictures, awards, fancy drawings, and colorful designs, the hallway looks like a museum. Finally I reach the stairs, which are so steep sometimes I wish they were a slide. Next comes the front door, which I dread to open, because there’s always someone knocking on it. Magically this wonderful Saturday afternoon was different. All I got when I opened it was a note from Krystal, the next door neighbor, who I babysit for every once in a while. Her note read:

Ziara, this is Krystal. When you get this will you come to my house, I got called into work and no one to watch the boys for me. I will pay you when I get home.

Please and Thank You! Love, Krystal So without hesitation I put on my purple and blue Nikes and head out the door. When I got to Krystal’s we had the same 5 minute talk about the boys (who are just so cute) every time I babysit. As I walk into the living room where the boys were supposed to be, I feel tugging on my jeans, and hugging at my knees. There they were Kevin, 2, who had short, curly blonde hair, with rosy red cheeks, and blue eyes that could light up a dark room. And Gabriel, 6 months, with light brown hair and the same blue eyes as his brother. His smile makes his cheeks spread from ear to ear. Trying to get my attention, they both begin to hug and tug harder. I loved hanging with the boys because I know they needed someone to be there. There I was the person who going to be there for them whenever both boys needed me. Swimming, laughing, snoring, and making messes is what we did to pass time by. Getting them to wind down after having so much fun was hard. So making them dinner sounded like the right thing to help them with that. I honestly didn’t enjoy cooking for the boys because they are picky. Kevin wanted thin-sliced celery, with a spoon full of peanut butter, and peanut butter and jelly with the crust cut off in the shape of a circle. He also liked his grape-flavored juice box put in his Sippy cup filled with ice. Gabriel, on the other hand, liked spaghetti O’s with no meat balls, chopped up carrots, and a sippy cup filled to the top with creamy chocolate milk. I can say that having to deal with these encounters of these kids is hard and makes me want to wait on having children. But by babysitting, I know that I’m doing something good in my community and sooner or later it will make a big difference. Yawning lets me know the boys are done and ready for bed. But before that I know changing a smelly, poopy, soggy, hanging diaper is coming soon. Which I don’t enjoy at all. The smell is so strong my nose flares and it feels that my nose hairs are burning to the extent that I started lighting candles, ones that when I opened my mouth I could taste the forest fresh air, and the luscious berries. Sooner than I had thought came bed time: books, stuffed animals, night lights, hugging, and hearing their mom’s voice say goodnight and she would be home soon. I turn their night lights on and walk out, going to wash the dishes for the night I stare into the dark sky and day dream about how much babysitting will pay off soon. Krystal walks in as soon as I run the dish washer and clean the table. As we talk and she thanks me, I get 54

John H. Reagan Early College High School

paid well by her so I’m always willing to babysit for her. My life begins to change knowing I can help someone who needs it. Sleeping begins to sound better and better. The smell of true dedicated babysitting lingers all over me, so I head home to hop in the warm shower then right under my neon pink blankets. When I lay my head on that fluffy pillow I start snoozing, thinking of my fun day with the two boys who make me happy. Ziara Mckenzie When I was little, he was the person who taught me the right and the wrong things. I remember that one day I went to the school and in an hour I returned to my house because I did not want to go to school. There was a girl who told me bad words, and I started to cry in front of all my friends. When I got back home, my grandpa got mad at me and he told me, “That is not the right thing to do,” and I asked him, “Then what was I supposed to do?” He told me, “You have to be a strong person and never ever let a person let you down, so return to school and don’t listen to anybody because this is your life, not their life.” I went back to school. Those were the words that my grandpa told me when I was a little girl, and his words helped me a lot. There was another day that I was crying in the backyard because I failed all my classes, and I was scared that my mother was going to get mad at me. My grandpa told me that if I tell my mom the truth, she would know why I didn’t pass all of my classes. My grandpa talked to my mom about what was happening and my mom told me, “That’s ok, Mija. When I was your age I also failed my classes because they were difficult for me, and I know how you feel. So don’t worry about it.” I thanked my grandpa for all the things he helped me with. Now that I don’t have him anymore, I miss all his help. I thank him for always being there to help when I needed his help. Maria Meza

Being raised by a single mother didn’t seem like a big tragedy to me when I was growing up, like others may say it is. Why? Because I had my big sister, Dora. Behind the eyes of a little girl, I felt as if my life was perfect, even though my parents were no longer together like most families. Just like a princess, my wishes were granted. I had everything I needed and wanted. My sister Dora, on the other hand, didn’t really get a lot of what she asked for. But I didn’t even notice. Now that I’m older, however, I know everything my mom had to go through and all the hard work she did to raise four children on her own and fill in for the absence of my father. I feel bad for her. But, I mostly feel bad for Dora. Being the oldest out of the four, she had to see the hardest times and struggles we had growing up. Due to my mom always being at work, my oldest sister, Dora, was the one who would always take care of me and protect me. Dora is eight years older, so she was still in school at this time. Though only a freshman in high school, she would do everything for me: wait at my school bus stop, feed me, help me with homework, play with me, and always make sure I was bathed and in bed by the time my mom got home from work. Not only would she help me out, but she helped my mom out by having my other two siblings do chores around the house. She did all this because she knew my mom would be getting home tired from working all day long. Dora is now married and has two children of her own and, to this day, still finds the time to watch over me like a hawk. She is still here for me whenever I need her support. She is my backbone. There are times, though, when I wished my big sister, Dora, was able to better help me balance extracurricular activities with academics or to help me do some of the chores around the house. But every time I feel overwhelmed, I think about how much harder it must have been for her when she had to do all her school work, take care of me, and my other two siblings, all at my age and younger. As such, my sister’s impact on my life has become a part of me that will never fade away. I couldn’t imagine how I would have gotten all the way through elementary school, middle school, and high school without her help. I saw the way that she balanced school, love, family issues, and all the other situations life threw at her with her head in the sky and a smile on her face. I learned it all from her. All those things are the values that make up my heart and that will follow me all my life as I enter college and for the rest of my life. Ashley Duran La Revolución 2013

Be A Man There are a lot of selfish men out here who lack the responsibilities of taking care of their child. On the other hand the responsibilities of taking care of their child must have been way too much. Why lay there and make the baby if you are not prepared ? The responsibilities of taking care of a child must be too much to handle. You may not be ready to cut out all the partying and hanging with your boys, getting high or drunk, or spending money on your child and not yourself. “It is much easier to become a father than to be one.” Being a father is just as important as being a mother. A child needs both parents in their life. Growing up without a father, the child may feel like something is missing, or may feel unloved and confused, or angry towards men. She may begin to ask herself questions like, “Why me? Why doesn’t my father love me?” Single motherhood could also put a lot of pressure on the mother, because the mother doesn’t only have to the take responbilities of being a mother, but she also has to have the responbilities of a father. I am a single young mother myself, and being a single mom can be very overwhelming sometimes. I don’t only have the responbiltlies of a mother, but I also have the responbilites of a father. I began to feel sorry for my daughter, because I grew up with my father. Why can’t she? When I see other kids playing with their fathers I always say to myself, “I wish my daughter could do that with her father.” My daughter may be too young to understand. But I really feel sorry for her. I wish I could convince her father to be a part of her life. How could you do that to an innocent little baby? Kiana Jones

Life is beyond just a regular English word; it is the sense of happiness or sadness. Happiness a simple word found in the dictionary. As simple as it sounds but happiness is one main theme in human life. To humans a good life is a happy life; therefore, a sad life is an unhappy one. Some of us wake up thinking there is no meaning to life; some of us wake up thinking today is a new beginning. I have met a lot of people younger, and or older than me that believe life has no meaning. They believe there is nothing to live for. In my thoughts I wonder why they think that. Sometimes everyone has the need to look for happiness, especially when you do not have it. Obviously, at one moment, we are all happy, but at some point it vanishes. We all come across events in our lives that we never expected to go through. Those events have placed a mark on us for life, which will later on make us stronger that what we are today. At some point in life we ask ourselves,” Why did this happen to me?” I remember this one time that I went to Mexico, I heard a woman say, “Good things happen to good people, bad things happen to bad people.” I believe this isn’t true because in reality many bad things happened to good people and many good things happened to bad people. I’m guessing all these situations in life make people believe there is not a meaning to life. I have been through so much at my young age that only the man up there knows. I have come across moments in my life where I believe there is no sense to life. Where I wish I wasn’t here again. But at the end, I seek my happiness and the meaning of life again. I just believe that we all should be happy to be here and thank God we woke up once again. Always remember what they say, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Miriam Ontiveros 56

John H. Reagan Early College High School

It’s All about Veggies Although most of the people in the world eat meat every day, humans don’t know what they are putting in their own bodies. Eating meat is bad espeally when they hit on the animals or treat them like if it was a piece of trash. You just want to bet the people that are beating the animals is so sad makes me don’t what to eat, or smell or even look at an animal because of the sadness you have inside a feeling. Think about it. If more people eat veggies, more people are going to be healthy. People are not going to be in the hospital and will live for more time. Okay, humans are meant to act as caretakers and protectors of animals, and the planet, not exploiters and killers. Please, please humans, act like a good person and don’t kill animals. They did not do anything to you, they’re just here to live, like us humans. Did you know that monkeys are like almost the same? Look, people thought that we came from the monkey species, but really I don’t know, that could be true. In my opinion, people that eat meat are more mean because they’re tasting something different, something that your body is not used to. In other case, veggies are the ones that make you a more nice and peaceful person. Did you know how many people in the world eat meat? Well my answer is most of the people. So why will you follow others when you can be special and eat different? Jaime Olea

What Would I Be Without You? My family and I moved to a little village called Alemgena when I was just a baby. My father is a pharmacist, so he opened up a pharmacy clinic to support our family. The main reason my father had us move to Alemgena was to spread the word of God. The residents in the village are Islamic and Orthodox, so they did not like it when my dad would start preaching to the patients who came into the pharmacy. We were treated as the enemy. They tried to harm our family in every way they could. But still, Mom and Dad did not give up hope; instead, they prayed and praised God every day and every moment of it. I give examples in the coming paragraphs. At this point in time, we did not own our own house so we had to sleep in the pharmacy at night and, early in the morning, remove our mattresses, our clothes, and any cooking and eating utensils we had and put them in back of the building. We did not eat much because most of the people did not want to sell anything to us. As a result, my father had to go to a neighboring town called Robe on his motor bike. He would ride 26 kilometers away to purchase groceries or any other necessities we needed. Despite all of these hardships, my mother and father’s faith in God did not vanish; it only grew stronger. It is their faith in God that helped us go through the tough times. Sometimes when I think about what I have been through and how God has lifted me up in every challenge that lay before me, I say to myself, “It is funny how God works.” When everyone figured out we were Protestant Christians, the public officials made it illegal to visit our pharmacy. However, the day after it was made illegal to come to our pharmacy, the head of the public officials was hit with diarrhea. The first thing he did was make it legal to go to our pharmacy so that he could come and be treated. Like I said, it is funny the way God works. When I was five years old, one Sunday morning we came back to the pharmacy from church in Robe. We saw this man frozen still with a tank full of gas and a match in his hand. Immediately, my parents figured out exactly what that person was about to do before God froze him. My mother grabbed a bat lying down beside the house La Revolución 2013

and gave it to dad. “Beat that man!” my mom shouted. “Who am I to punish this man? I am not the one who trapped him. Instead, let’s invite him in the house and feed him and give grace to God,” my dad replied. The man spoke. “You’ve got to be joking, I’m here—” “You’re here to eat lunch with us,” my dad interrupted the man. That was the most heroic thing I have ever seen. The man came in with a confused face. He began asking about God. Dad answered every single question exactly how it is in the Bible. The next day, that man returned to our house/pharmacy and said, “I have this land I don’t even use and I would like to give it to you with no charge. I have even signed the papers.” The smiles on my parents’ faces were priceless. It took about five months to finish building our new house. That was the turning point of our life. More and more people started accepting us. Within the next six years, my father built seven new churches: one in Alemgena, one in Sinnana, one in Hisu, one in Darara, one in Goro, and the other two in other neighboring villages. He brought in electricity and phones for the whole village. We practically owned the town at that point, and it was all possible because my parents sought God’s guidance and never gave up hope. God took us from the dirt and put us on the throne for their faithfulness. Five years ago, when we told everyone we were going to America, the whole town burst into tears begging us to stay. God is amazing. Those people who were willing to burn down our house and kidnap us to make us leave were now begging us to stay. God has always protected my family and me. I know that he will continue to do so. Maintaining faith in God through the worst and the best is what lights the way in pitch-dark moments and makes us shine for the glory of God. One thing I learned from my life is that God never fails to deliver and he will not abandon his children. Yosef Habtegiorgis

Pressure Pressure is something that I feel at the end of my high school year; teachers want me to realize that I need college in my life. But they don’t recognize that someone like me struggles to be in top of my grades and even my life. Pressure is something that I feel. When my friends are successful without even trying Getting in to colleges with high grades and great point averages. My life is not perfect or bad either. To get away from all the pressure that is on my shoulders. Like a juicier squeezing out everything that a fruit has mixing it with other fruits to make it better. That’s how I feel when people expect so much from me. Pressure is bad, but at the same time it is good because it makes me realize things that I never thought I had in me. Having people expect the best from me is really special to me. But being in the last steps of the ladder to jump in to a big shadow not knowing where to go looking for a light to bright my way in to the real world. That makes me feel scared and sorrow. To let my people down is something that I don’t want to do. That’s something that hurts me and bothers me, too. That makes my life more complicated that I might lose the warm, loving love that my family feels for me because I didn’t turned out what they expected me to be. That’s the pressure of the thought that my family might not love me like I love them even though I’m not with them anymore. I let them down once, I don’t want to do it again. I don’t want the be the daughter that their love can fade, always walks away, and then I can be forgotten. Meliza Medrano 58

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Lack of Knowledge Without a lecture we know how much of the Earth’s population are in church when they’re at a young age. If you came to the realization to capture what you see around you. Discombobulating, unsatisfied human beings in commitment to their soul called God. But really the almighty would be petrified to see society way in over their heads, despite the fact that they really have their minds set on converting other civilians to believe in the one that’s known for doing the impossible and the magnificent. Delusion has made its home in most of the world. Example: it’s when you see 65% of our younger ones wearing the rosary, but still doing the sinning with this spiritual protection from greater forces. That still doesn’t mean that the church they get won’t take a toll on them as a person. But all these gangs, sets, turf, different sides of the wall stuff has got to come to a complete stop. What ever happened to being united as one? We have televised debates on republicans and democrats all the time. Where is the together thing now? Take it from mere future reference. If people would try to have common sense and follow a leader that not only shows us change, but to leave it the way the leader puts it. Reality can hurt only if you’re not around it. IPods, biblical illiteracy, etc. Those are the ones that draw you away from reality, slowly but surely. We need a person to come from nothing to finally show the world that it takes elbow grease and people skills to really turn the world into something it should have been since 1960s. Considering knowing the fact that we need a good one to stay around to keep the right hand up and keep the left/wrong hand down. Can there be a way to sustain the population at a rate of success at a young age? If so then every child will have the mentality to be successful no matter what swerves in their lane on the road to success. Nick Sylvain It’s a blank in my heart Waiting on him to fill it in No pulse comes from it cause he wasn’t in it He see right through me like I’m transparent Bang Bang he shot me down Desere Williams

Truly Us?

Healing Heart

Why represent brands, When they don’t represent us, Why try to show off our cloth, When we aren’t even being recognized, Who will discover me?

There is a deep hole in my heart A deep hole that still remembers the smile The smile of the one that made my heart whole There is a deep hole in my heart That wishes he was here To tell him the reason why To tell him

Eduardo Martinez

There is a deep hole in my heart Miriam Ontiveros La Revolución 2013

The Girl On The Block Everyday kids go door to door, selling cookies or chocolate, all for the same reasons. At least that’s what I thought. She looked about six or seven: too young to be walking the streets alone. Her hair was always messy and her school clothes looked worn out. Neighbors would refuse her like she was some kind of stray dog looking for food. I started to notice her energy was decreasing into a slum, so I invited her inside for a cup of water. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: “Why would she go inside a complete stranger’s house?” Don’t worry, she knows me. She sat down while I was in the kitchen looking at her from afar. “Why are you working so hard to get rid of those cookies?” I asked. She hesitated a bit until finally an answer came bursting out of her mouth: “To buy my own things of course. To stop asking mom or dad to spend their hard-earned money on me.” I was astonished at the fact that a kid like herself would want to do that. The thought of her doing this made me wonder, who helps her make those cookies? Are they homemade or not? If so, how does she get the ingredients? Her responses to these questions were quite simple: herself. The day was turning into night and she wasn’t close to being done. Although she didn’t seem to want any help, I offered. She was angry at first, but looked mostly glad. Our first stop was this rude, cranky old lady that always yelled at kids to get off her lawn from the window and she never really bought anything from anyone or even came outside. We knocked at the same time, hoping we wouldn’t get yelled at for disturbing her “beauty sleep,” like she says. “Get off my yard!” she yelled. Although it was frightening, all we could do was laugh. I gestured for her to speak up, and so she did. Apparently, asking if she wanted to buy cookies was us trying to make her fat, as if she would really need to look good, right? Beside me, a sigh of exhaustion was heard---the girl didn’t really want to put up with this old lady complaining about how fat she might get, so we moved on. The next house was owned by a lady that loved to please everyone. We knocked and she hugged us like she knew us already. I stood and watched as the little girl introduced herself. I was impressed by the way she used her words, by how she stated why she was selling cookies and for what cause. Seeing what she can do made me feel surprised that there’s still hope for the young generation to know what being independent feels like, even though they should just worry about being a kid until it’s actually time to grow up. Hopefully she can teach my generation a few tricks; we can really use a few words of wisdom. Amanda Garza

You are my everything <3 I don’t have the perfect word to describe All the emotions I get every time I have you by my side There are times I think what my life would be without you I can’t image how lonely would it be because having you Every day telling me how special you are just by the fact that I’m in your life. Erika Maldonado 60

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Culture and individual beliefs are capable of affecting the principle and reasoning in every area of thinking. In view of the fact that all cultures are diverse, there are some which are more likely to commit particular fallacies than others. A person’s culture is based upon numerous aspects such as race, history, geography, religion, and language. All of these things play a different part in cultures and affect reasoning in a variety of ways and areas. As the country people live in gets more urban, people tend to lose the fundamental things that are essential for the way of human life like respect, honor, integrity, their beliefs, and loyalty to friends. On my first day in middle school in the city of Austin I was shocked to find out the big cultural difference. While Ms. Allen was teaching the class, a student walked in late and the teacher asked if the student had a pass. The student shook her head no, while texting and walking towards her seat. Then Ms. Allen asked the student to put the phone down. The student said no, and one thing led to another. They ended up having a huge argument. I was looking at the student with a shocked face thinking, “What is she doing? Ms. Allen is like 40 years older than her! Where is her respect for the elderly?” This American competitive style of living is ruining the humanity of the American citizens. Everything people in America live for is to be on top of the ladder, no matter what they have to do to get there. A lot of important people stab their trusted colleagues in the back to get to their main goal: “getting on the top of the ladder.” In conclusion, what I have learned is that as the country gets more urban, the people in it lose their fundamentals. Yosef Habtegiorgis

There’s a Broken Piece in my Heart There’s a broken piece in my heart Sadly it came to a point like this, but I have to face the facts that it be like that sometimes. This topic is crazy right now, man, because I feel this way right now as we speak. But I’m strong you feel me. I have to worry about my child, her life is what matters the most. You’re still in my heart Even if it’s torn apart This whole insanity is making me crazy, why do I keep waiting, Waiting for you to see my feelings, When they don’t even matter to you I was dying with pain while my Still without you I believe I will be able to live heart turned gray, and my eyes But not able to love filled with pain. My mind blanks WILL MY LOVE EVER LEAVE FOR YOU? out to all darkness in my eyes. No BECAUSE I STILL DREAM OF YOU clouds when I cry. For all the love LOVE, LOVE, LOVE… I had for you, struck up like gold from the sun, melted on my skin. Angel Waldon When you touch my hand, this love, our love will never be broken, just only growing in the moonlight. Deborah Rucker La Revolución 2013

The

in my Heart

Just knowing who I’m around or even just even looking. I go to school in the morning and to work in the afternoon, all so dull. No happiness unless you make it or try to. I don’t know what life is going to bring but I hope it brings good with it, and I procced in life happy and with no worries. I know it ain’t going to happen, but I try to get it someday. I live with boring people, and it makes me feel depressed. I notice that the pain is making me strong, but my human side makes me weak. But I never will settle for no one. I hate that life sucks as much as it does, just throwing low blows, but oh well. It’s the blank in my heart. Sergio Hernandez

A Smile to Remember What a smile to remember Your smile is something I look for It lights up the night as 4th of July would It brightens my day When you left it died with you When I think of you I think what A Smile to Remember Jalen Reasonover 62

A Smile to Remember I know you get hurt, That’s how we learn. The stronger people out there are the ones who laugh the hardest with a humongous smile. Those who have fought the toughest battles. Because they chose to not let the world hold them down. Instead they show the world the smile to remember every day. Gabriela Garcia

John H. Reagan Early College High School

A Blank in my Heart Love Is Real How many stars could I count? Until you find out that I am counting them for you How many noises should I have to hear? Until you find out that I am screaming for you? How many times does my heart have to beat? Until you find out that it was only beating for you? How many times should I trip? Until you know I am falling for you Yes, how many times should I get beat? Before you know that I was getting beaten just for you Yes, how many times should I cry? Before you know that my tears are for you Yes, how many times should I have a fake laugh? Before you know that is just because of you Yes, how many times should I smile? Until you realize you caused that

There’s a blank near my chest A blank that carries stress A blank that makes me feel less But it’s ok I got some medicine that makes you feel blessed Relieving your stress So chill homie And look for your success And don’t expect nothing less Take this in and carve it in your chest Don’t worry it’s just a test So look forward because the world is in your hands Now that blank might just be your strength Jordan Vasquez

How many times should I let you go? Before you know I was just doing it to keep you close How many times should I waste my money? Before you know I was just doing it for you How many times should I sit alone? Before you know that I am waiting for you? How many times should I tell you I love you? Before you know I will die for you. Mona Jeizan

Things Happen When Teens Stop Listening I’ve never forgotten the cops with flashing lights, people crying, news people everywhere, and everyone asking me a bunch of questions. My mother cussing, while people moved around in every direction in a hurry, is all I can see from the window in the backyard. Standing there wondering why my mom is dropped to her knees holding my aunt in her arms, is what I asked myself. How come I see fire fighters running with long poles and ambulances driving over my mama’s flowerbed to get to where our pond is in the backyard? No one is trying to tell me anything, so I start to think the worst of the situation, which from the looks of it, is really what’s going on. “Mom!” I scream from the window trying to get her attention. “Tell me what’s going on!!” But still no answer. When I finally do get her attention, I see the look of hurt and loneliness in her eyes like she just seen ghosts in her room. As minutes go by, I hear loud sobs and feet moving as quickly as they could. Then there, in the flash of an eye, I get a glimpse of the fire fighters pulling what looks to be a body out of our pond. So without any hesitation, I sprint to where the whole commotion started and just drop… There they were, right in front of me, my two little La Revolución 2013

cousins laying there frozen to death. Pale white faces, arms and legs just dangling, eyes frozen shut, and mouths so white and crisp they looked glued together. Nothing in my mind made sense anymore because I knew I had just seen them in the house not even ten minutes prior. All I wanted was answers, answers to the questions that floated around my head like bumble bees around a beehive. Who let them outside? Why wasn’t anyone watching them? How did they get the door opened? These questions just kept on replaying, and replaying, and replaying until something clicked to me: if I would have been watching them like my mother and aunt asked me to instead of texting and watching TV in my room, then none of this mess would be going on. Tears! Of knowing that if I would have just done the things I was told, then my cousins wouldn’t be getting carried out of my backyard pond in body bags. How could I have let something this dreadful happen? Watching my aunt barely able to pick herself up and my mother glaring at me every chance she got was the worst hurt I’ve ever felt right there in the top part of my heart. Lying in bed NOT sleeping, not eating, and actually the feeling of not breathing are things I felt, and I’m sure my whole family felt the same things. Having to attend counseling sessions and being behind in school can’t be any worse than the hurt that I KNOW MY AUNT AND MOTHER ARE FEELING THE MOST. Blaming myself for what was just done and what has been done to my family is something I will never stop doing until I really feel that I did nothing wrong. Things like this take time, time I’m willing to give up for the “true” love and care that my family shared before all the life-changing transactions occurred. To this day I still wake up every day and pray that I wouldn’t have been that girl who didn’t do what she was told when it came to younger family, or the girl who never cried until the accident really affected her ability to be social, leave her room, or even start babysitting again, which she loved to do. But all those things just started to become blanks in her mind. That wasn’t what I ever wanted, so I changed them fast. I started slowly hanging out at home with friends. I went to school a little bit more. I started forgiving myself and felt the forgiveness in my family. I even owned up to babysitting again. Time passed and I still thought about what happened but I didn’t let that stop me from achieving the things I knew needed to be done. My two little cousins will always know they are in my heart, so I don’t have to express that to anyone. Ziara Mckenzie Sweet Sweet words are easy to say, Sweet things are easy to buy, But sweet people like you are difficult to find… Life ends when you stop dreaming… Hope ends when you stop believing… Love ends when you stop caring… Friendship ends when you stop sharing… Forgive the heart that hurts you And don’t hurt the heart that loves you… Don’t cry over anyone who won’t cry over you! Maydelee Marino

John H. Reagan Early College High School

All over the world many girls and boys under 18 have been sexually harassed, beaten, and murdered. Many times it is because parents don’t take care of their children, don’t protect them, and even sometimes don’t care at all. But you can also say that it’s the child’s fault because they should know what’s right and the difference of what’s wrong. They make their decisions, and some take the good path while others take the wrong path. Many kids are all around doing crimes, from using drugs like drinking beer, smoking blacks, smoking weed, injecting heroin, sniffing cocaine, and drinking tequila. Some parents know what they do and don’t even care, and many other parents don’t even know a single thing their kids are doing on their free time or when they aren’t home. Another problem is teen pregnancy; it looks as if every year teen pregnancy increases. In every high school I see many female teens that are walking around with their big belly ready to give birth, that are just half way, or even that just got pregnant. Many parents that have a daughter pregnant, help them and cheer for them for giving birth to a baby. Yea sure it’s something cheerful and exiting to see a baby being born and growing, but is it really necessary to give birth at a very young age? Many of them didn’t probably even plan it; most of the times it’s because they don’t use protection, which makes it their fault, but also the parents’ fault for not talking to them about the good things and the bad things, safety, and consequences. There are many problems with the teens in the decisions they make, and their parents too, for not caring for their kids’ safety. Diana Hernandez

A Smile to Remember A smile to remember Is like the shining moon at night. With just a small light of sun it can Brighten the whole night. But if the sun is not there The moon don’t shine And it is just a big sad Cold place to be in. You can smile With anything or anyone Or even something Just to hide what you are really feeling. A smile is the only gift That you have left After everyone is gone. This smile is the only thing You remember if someone dies Or just leave when you alone On the corner crying for that memory. This smile is the only Thing that will fill up The blank in your heart.

automotive shop major performance upgrades the street to the strip Xavian Clayborne

Meliza Medrano La Revolución 2013

Writing Is Like A Red Rose

The frustration of being put out Anger inside Crying tears of hurt

Writing is like a red rose, When I’m sad I smell them.

Doors slamming The vibration of the slam The shaking of one’s hand

And they make me smile. When I’m crying, I smell them And I talk to them,

Sweat and tears No control over emotions Can barely breathe

And I feel that all my past Is gone and that problems Never come back.

Disbelief of what just happened I can’t deal with this anymore All because of that… teacher

And they give me reasons To love them more and Express my feelings and To know that someone Listens to my problems.

Derionna Nicholson

When I smell the petals I feel relaxed and they give Me peace. When I touch the thorns And they hurt me, they Make me remember all The problems and things That I passed through. Maydelee Marino

Myself Myself can be trusted. Myself can love you, if you love me back. Myself can be one on one with you. Myself can be stupid a lot of times but also myself can be very smart and clever. Myself can really get under your skin but myself try not too. Myself can be honest and loyal if you do the same back. Myself hate being attracted to someone that’s not attracted to me back. Myself never felt real love. Myself never had a one true Friend. Myself hate being hated Myself sometimes hates myself. Trevon Gray

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Bruno Estrada My Only Love There is a boy I love, he’s so sweet He makes me laugh even though My parents are against my feelings. I love him that’s my secret even though He belongs to another heart, How can I let him go if in my dreams He belongs to me? How can I tell my heart that he is not for us? How can I tell my mind to forget him? Maydelee Marino

There is love growing for you in my heart When I see you passing, it skips a beat Today I believe we both must depart Because one day I’m afraid you will cheat For the past months I’ve dreamt of being with you Your arms around me makes me feel at rest For I know my dreams will not come true Because in my heart you are just a guest Our times together have been a wild ride When my eyes first saw you it was pure bliss Hopefully one day I can be your bride Your lips leave mine with a genuine kiss But my heart has never been so confused Not knowing if my heart is being used Aaliyah Clarkson La Revolución 2013

I am going to talk about a new feeling/emotion that I grew for this one very special person. Never have I experienced this emotion with anyone else but my family. But this emotion is different, because it wasn’t something that I expected. I can say that the new emotion is very beautiful, but at the same time it can really hurt you. I really don’t know how to describe this emotion; all I know is that this very special person makes me really happy and proud. She brings a smile to my face, heart, and soul every time I’m with her, and even when I talk to her. I don’t know what I would do without her, I’m really glad I got a chance to be with her, and that she showed up in my life. I don’t ever want to lose this person in my life. This person means a lot to me, and I’m happy for that. For this very special person I would give my life to save her life. I know many people think different and have different opinions over that. But I know what I’m doing, and this special person really means a lot to me, so I would do anything to help her out. I would do anything to keep her happy, and I would save her any time. I never like to see her depressed or sad. It always makes my body feel numb. It feels numb because I really care for her, and seeing her depressed makes me feel bad within. I will never lie to this person. I will never talk behind her back, and I will never do anything bad to hurt her or her feelings. All that I tell her will be nothing but the truth only. She has made me really happy, she’s gotten me out of bad thoughts and bad ideas. I care for this person very much. Every song I listen to about caring and love, I show her and sometimes sing along with her. But there’s one special song that really means a lot, and I dedicated it to her for special reasons. By now this special person knows that it’s for her, and she knows who wrote it…

That Little Old Lady

Victor Coronado

Man, I hate people. Everywhere I go, it’s always crowded. H-E-B is one of the worst places on earth; kids will be crying, adults screaming and sounding like cats dying all at once. Everyone looking like scavengers searching for food. The parking lot is full of deranged drivers who shouldn’t even be allowed to have their driver’s license, old trucks polluting the environment, the fumes so strong that it makes everyone choke. GARBAGE, that’s what it smells like, ugly garbage. It was the day of all days; we had to go shopping. It could have been worst, but when my mother and I were standing in line I sat my eyes on this tiny little old lady. She looked about 60 or 70. Her hair was all greyish and she looked like a small-size raisin. She stumbled as she carried her bags out the door. It took me awhile to actually notice she was having trouble, so I went along to help her. Her bags weren’t that heavy, she had about six, enough for me and her to handle. As we were walking to her car, she began talking about how rude people are, and how they just tend to walk on by hopeless people. I laughed, but it was true. When we got to the car she popped her trunk to put in the bags. After that she gave me a hug and said, “Thank you for your help. Not many do the things you do. Keep it up.” Throughout the months I could think of nothing else but her: how was she doing? What was she up to? Helping her put thoughts in my mind. Maybe it would be kind of nice helping others out there, maybe it wouldn’t. Who knows for sure. Amanda Garza 68

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Family Love Your family loves you whatever you do, They love you when you’re sad and they also love you When you hate them. Your family is gold; Nothing can buy them and nothing can buy you away from your family. Your family will love you even when you do stupid things such as, Breaking you bones, doing drugs, or nearly killing yourself. Your family won’t care they will let it go and love you more and more. Maydelee Marino My love for you is like no other I think about it every day Scared of what the future holds one another But just know I’m here to stay Please , tell me it’s just me plus two And no one else at all Because as you know already a baby is with us too Don’t let us go down and fall My love for you is way too strong I know together we’ll stay forever and together long Anonymous

What a love… Why you cry for her? Because I love her. Why you lie to her? Because I love her. And why you promise that you will never leave her? Because I love her… Why? Because I’m a lover not a liar… Elizabeth Vargas A need A need to stride to success A need to do your best A need to get back up and keep going A need A need to never quit A need to do it for family A need to go hard A need A need to go off A need to be a boss A need to never take a loss A need Anfernee Caro La Revolución 2013

The more I think about it, the more it frightens me, just the thought of being in a different country by myself not knowing what to do or where to go. I was born in Mexico but brought to the U.S when I was about 10 months old, I was raised here pretty much my whole life. I’ve only been to Mexico once and that was when I was like 5 years old. I used to go out and party a lot with my friends. Everything they would do, I would do, too, until one day I got caught up with the wrong people, which got me into some serious trouble. I was still under-age so they couldn’t really do anything to me besides give me a warning and let me go. One day while hanging out with my uncle he started telling me about his experience; he told me I was lucky that I was still young, if not it would have led to some worse consequences, like being locked up or deported. Hearing him say that made me think about how all the dumb stuff I have done and gotten away with, which will someday catch up to me. Then he went off telling me how dangerous it is in Mexico right now, and it would be worse for me since I don’t know anywhere or anyone over there. Thinking about it, he was right. What would I do over there? Where would I go? All these questions started popping up in my mind; so many questions but no answers. After talking with him, I realized I have to be more careful of what I do. Stupid things could lead me into some serious trouble. As an adult, you don’t get the same benefits that younger kids get. Now when I go do something I think twice about it, like what’s right from wrong, and try to make the best choices for myself. Anonymous A Smile to Remember I feel your love naturally It seems like you are the only I have ever had It makes me smile when I think of all the times we spend together Your smile is something that I will always remember. Erika Derramona

My dream girl… The way you run… Makes me feel so numb… I scream your name… To give you all the fame… We both smile at each other… Makes me feel there’s no other… You light up my whole world… It feels like you’re my dream girl. Celso Sanchez 70

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Poem There is a spark in my heart A spark that will never die A spark that keeps me moving A spark that keeps me motivated A spark that keeps me alive A spark that gives me a sense of life A spark that teaches me the right from wrong There is a spark in my heart Yosef Habtegiorgis I wear my heart on my sleeve Always let love love take the lead. I feel like a romantic Like people on the ‘’Titanic.’’ I’m so intoxicated But my love was rebated. I really fein’ for that love Like I’m on crack for that buzz Myron Jefferson (Time is something special Time is more than something you keep track of Time has true meaning to it Time waits for no man) Marqual Reyes It’s been five years Away from my country Where I planted my heart so firmly It’s not hard to remember the sweet memories As if they were just yesterday I can see my mom smiling, my friend eating, and my small brother playing And I can see myself making the happiest face I don’t ever remember crying or being sad For me, my haven is in the past I am traveling away from it The only thing giving me strength is my mom smile I didn’t come here on a one-way street I am going back to my heaven on a One-day stream Lily Par La Revolución 2013

Trevon Gray 72

John H. Reagan Early College High School

The Big Issue We have money for war, but not for our nation’s poor. I feel that every day. When I see people hurting and we can’t feed our nation’s youth, that’s what kills me. One out of three go without something to eat and starve at night. But we are the wealthiest nation in the world today. Many politicians dodge this issue by saying, “These days are hard times for everyone.” That’s just saying, “Sorry we don’t take care of you. We take care of ourselves.” That is a horrible fact. That is like a nightmare, but it is very real. This country’s government has used its own people just to get personal gain. They are not there for the people anymore. We are fighting a war in our nation, but not with guns, tanks, and airplanes. It’s a war of words and actions. This is a war for the future of our county. Back in the old days when someone was in trouble, everyone helped as much as they could. That does not happen anymore in this county. Our values went from being awesome and great to being awful. If we don’t change we will lose this war that we are fighting for our future, as a nation. Our future will be very dark and gloomy. We will be doomed to fail and we won’t be the home of the free anymore. We can’t say we are something that we are not, so our country is no longer the same country I see when I think of the words “brave” and “freedom.” Now when I think of our nation I think of the words “scared” and “enslaved,” because we can’t see our own flaws. Michael Teague

Eduardo Cervantes La Revolución 2013

Juan Mendieta 74

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Have you ever thought about someone that impacted your life? Well, for me, my father has been my inspiration to work hard in life. He would tell me, “In order to be successful in life you need to work hard.” Ever since, this quote has stayed in my head like gum got stuck to my shoe. I am proud of my dad for everything. He has never given up, even if he is afraid that something could not be fixed, he still tries his best and succeeds. My dad is not the best dad in the world; obviously no dad can be perfect, but one thing that I can say is that he works hard to get us through and not let us suffer. When my parents came to the United States from Mexico, I was still in my mother’s stomach. Before I was born my parents had four children to take care of, so that’s why my dad decided to bring all my family to the U. S. to make our life easier and get a higher education. Whether you are wealthy or poor, everyone has problems but the way of getting through is the way someone fixes them. When you have a family, it’s different. The parents are not going to let their kids know what they are going through, all they do is fix everything and keep making us happy like we are babies again. My parents always protect us, as a lion protects her cubs. I remember when I was twelve years old, my parents were having financial problems. They didn’t know what to do, so my dad decided to quit his job and work with my older brother. He overheard that their boss was going to fire some of the workers. Then my dad got scared and thought that they were going to fire him. He decided to quit and work on his first job, again. After working at his first job again, they paid him only seven dollars an hour. He had to start at the beginning after fifteen years. This inspires me because even though he had changed jobs twice, he didn’t give up. Also, I remember that I would ask him for five dollars that the school asked me to give, so we had to complete the money with coins. Some people think it’s embarrassing. For me, all that mattered was having a roof on top of my family’s head and running water to survive. When I was in ninth grade I told my parents to let me drop out of high school, to let me work, so I can help my dad with the house bills. But my dad told me that he preferred for me to get an education. I take advantage for what they didn’t have and to work hard because one day, when they get old, they are going to need my help by being there for them as they are here for me. They were disappointed when the school called and said that I was caught skipping. I felt I let them down, and since then, my relationship with my father changed. Now I’m trying my best to have good grades and make him proud of me. Little by little our relationship is getting better, but I want it to be how it used to be. Remembering when I used to skip made me realize how dumb I was, but now I’m focused more on my education. After getting my high school diploma, my goal is to graduate from college and be successful in my career. I want to achieve my goal of becoming a registered nurse and help others. I hope to impact at least one patient like my father impacted me. One thing is true though: I still have those words my dad told me one day, “In order to be successful in life you need to work hard.” I am going to work hard to make him proud. Graciela Sierra

Have you ever felt so tired you just want to give up and forget the outcome of your actions? I have been feeling like that for the past week. I haven’t really talked to my friends about it though. I usually keep to myself and don’t complain to anybody, but lately I’m overwhelmed with everything that has been going on. I’m so stressed I can’t even think straight. I pause throughout the process of thinking or even trying to do something. I’m confused from time to time and don’t really have anybody to confide in anymore. I feel like my family has abandoned me, and I have no one to turn to. I wear a smile on my face everyday, but it doesn’t mean anything to me. I appear to be happy, but in reality, I’m the opposite. I feel as lonely as I ever have been; there’s nothing anybody can do except them. I come to school and try my best to put all my issues behind me and appear as a happier me. Anonymous La Revolución 2013

A Smile to Remember… A smile to remember is a smile that has been struggling. Lost in this world, and doesn’t know where she’s heading. She needs another smile that will make her forget. Make forget all the pain that’s behind her. One day that fake smile will disappear. No more sadness, only happiness. When that day gets here, just pretend nothing is wrong and fake that smile again. Someone will remember your smile; at least, I know I will.

Carvin Davidson

Maritza Garcia

John H. Reagan Early College High School

I Will Lend You A Hand It was a sunny morning with a nice breeze. In the summer of 2012, at a summer camp in Georgia, on the fifth day. It was a day like no other; it was the day I met her. The beautiful blue sky with nice breeze and beautiful white clouds hovering over my head made me feel welcome; I felt like I was in Eden. It felt incredible. Our activity of the day was to hike Shark Top Mountain. As I was walking up the mountain at a fast pace, I saw this Hispanic girl I had never talked to before sitting down on a log; she had beautiful brown eyes. She was wearing a blue shirt and black shorts. She was too tired to finish hiking up the mountain. I could smell the muddy odor that was coming from the ground because it was raining all night. I walked towards her. “Are you okay?” I asked with a sincere voice. “Yeah I’m fine. I’m just tired,” she replied with an angel-like voice; she has the kind of voice that would fill your heart with joy just by speaking. “Do you need help?” I replied. “Nah, I think I’m just going to sit here and go back down when I feel better,” she replied. “You can’t go back now, you’re almost there,” I replied. “I’m just too tired to finish it,” she replied. “I will help you. We can take breaks on the way if you feel tired,” I replied. “Okay!!” she replied. “I’m Yosef by the way. You are…?” I replied while pointing at her with my index finger. “Evelin, Evelin Real,” she replied. She put her right hand on my left hand. Her hand felt cold because she was holding a water bottle that was filled with cold water. As we were going up the mountain, I would tell her where to stand so she won’t slip and fall on her face and take a bite out of the brown muddy walkway filled with ant and ground worms. When we were about twenty feet away from the top, Evelin had a leg cramp. Then we sat on a brown tree branch and drank the Ozarka water that was in the blue water bottle. I could hear the birds sing from the top of the oak trees while we were sitting down to rest. The whole setting was relaxing and enjoyable; it made you never want to leave from that spot. After 5 to 10 minutes, we started moving again, but this time I pretty much had to carry her whole weight up the rest mountain. We were surrounded with big and tall trees, small wild animals, as we were hiking on a brown pathway to the top. When we got to the top, it was worthwhile. It astonished my eyes with a glare of beauty. I saw an endless green plain bursting with nothing but the beauty of nature. It made me feel like I had the whole world on the tip of my fingers. I took a sip of the water she was holding in her hand once again, and it tasted like accomplishment. I felt accomplished because I helped her overcome her own doubts about going all the way to the top, but I helped her to keep on going even though it seemed hard both physically and mentally. As time went by, we became good friends. Now we hang out almost every lunch, and we would walk together to our classes. I guess it was my destiny to meet her and help her that day. I am very glad I met her. Yosef Habtegiorgis La Revolución 2013

There is happiness in my heart That it wants to be free And sing like a bird

There’s a blank in my heart like air in a balloon My shoes are tied and ready to vroom vroom Don’t say you ain’t ready then you’ll be sweeping me like a broom I always told myself I wanted to be your groom But you never gave me a chance There’s a blank in my heart like air in a balloon I never was so excited to be next to you I say you only live once, so stop dreaming You’re caught in a glaze you just don’t know That your life just blew up in a blaze There’s a blank in my heart like air in a balloon Stop and look in the mirror, see what you change in to There’s no turning back, like a thief on the run You left me blank and hung me out to dry I’m lost, outta my mind, killing time. There’s a blank in my heart Neiwah Borders, Jr.

There is happiness in my heart That it would smile Even though it gets hurt There is happiness in my heart That every pump of blood It takes it has power There is happiness in my heart That it works like a phone Have a lot of apps like it does For love There is happiness in my heart That everybody sees me Come they move aside and Tell me hi There is happiness in my heart That it wants to walk out And show her style

You’re You’re not just my love, You’re my everything, My one and only. You’re the one that changes The way I see love. I love you. I love how we met, How we had our first kiss. I love everything, I love being with you. You’re just perfect to be around. Kimberly Romero

There is happiness in my heart That when it hears music It just wants to dance and Never stop There is happiness in my heart That when it drinks it Wants to be strong And doesn’t want to sleep Naomi Castelan A Smile to Remember A smile to remember is the one that makes You forget. The one that keeps you smiling no Matter how you feel. A smile to remember is The one that brightens your day Just by looking at that beautiful smile. Nexli Benitez

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Prospero H. La Revoluci贸n 2013

Why am I such a fool? I can’t stop myself from loving you. And countless nights I’ve cried for you, Just because my feelings are true. You’re up and down; Your feelings are all around. Don’t lie to me, You don’t love me. I’ve spent so long waiting for you. Looking for you, going crazy over you No there’s nothing I can do, I can’t stop myself from loving you. Even though I want to mentally I can’t emotionally But I can’t pass it off as nonchalant. My feelings can’t just fly away, They are here to stay. And what sucks the most, They just won’t fade away Piss me off and make me cry. Please just lie. Make me hate you, Maybe I’ll forget you, Last thing I want is to love you. I want to move on and have a life, Would’ve been better if you were my wife, But forget that just tell me a lie, So I can move on with my life, Oh, Why’d you have to be so fine?

The big smile is always in my mind. Let me tell you when I was Nine a girl was in my Way in a green sweater. Listening to my love Song, “I Would be a Hero” How can I say… I love the song that could happen Here I’m where you came from. I came downstairs, I love that song too, I say to her… I love it too, she says, but I hate some words I learned something she said. I learned how to dance This song with a big smile. Let me show you, let’s go upstairs… She shows me how to dance that song with a pretty smile so I never Forget. Naomi Castelan

Anonymous

Growing up in a low income house always ends up bad, no matter where it’s at. Its usually where the most crimes are committed and is known for drug trafficking. Some places are so bad the police don’t come near, better known as the projects. Sometimes doing the right thing is hard when the ends don’t meet it causes good people to do wrong, on the side, just to get by. Minimum wage jobs don’t always add up. I can tell you from first hand because I lived it. When your momma is a single parent with four kids, trying to provide for the family and take care of a felon that’s locked up for taking chances with his life everyday, trying to survivebecause of a messed up past no one will give him a job, I can say it’s not easy. Sometimes we go without food because bills need to get paid; but everybody knows crack pays. If you in a low income house 9 times out of 10 you not waking up for work in the morning. To go to work you normally go to the block and see what’s going on. James Chapman 80

John H. Reagan Early College High School

The End of Four Years

do. I always put myself in real-life positions that I’ve been through and going through so that other people can understand how I feel, making all the people fit in my shoes as they listen.

Have you ever had that moment when you’re walking but your mind is somewhere else? I know a lot of seniors are going through this. Teachers probably think it’s “senioritis,” but the fact is that we get lost in our thoughts trying to figure out what we want to do or what we are going to do after we get out of school. We get lost thinking about how the last four years have changed our lives, how we have changed since freshman year. At first you love high school, then your sophomore and junior year you kinda get lazy.

A lot of people don’t really understand what I’m doing in life but they’ll get the point once the whole dream is all put together and has manifested. With that being said, I always stay on point and pursue my happiness while I’m still going through hard times. One day, that day, will come as I keep on working on what I’m trying to reach for. When the time is right, everything good comes. Jorge Ubaldo

Senior year you’re waiting to get out, but what you don’t expect is that the last couple of months you start to remember all of your years in high school. When you start thinking about it, freshman year doesn’t seem that long ago, not 4 years or 5 depending if you dropped out a year or failed. Time has flown by. It’s funny how fast you have gone and everything is a memory. Some things you cant forget, especially those special moments flashing through your mind like a dream. At the end of your four years you will learn that high school wasn’t all that bad. Guadalupe Guzman

They say dreams don’t come true when you’re just sitting down and waiting for it to come to you. They become true when you put all your effort into it and strive for it. Dreams don’t just happen right away when you work on them; it takes time for them to manifest and for you to do the real deal. There are two different types of dreams if you really think about it. One of them is whenever you sleep and that’s when you just dream about weird, crazy stuff. The other one is a dream you’re trying to chase and make happen. It’s easy to dream a dream, but it’s harder to live it while you’re awake and trying to make it happen. Nobody can tell you that you can’t be this or be that or tell that you can’t make it in life. As a dream chaser, I make my dreams true by doing what I’ve got to do and being about it. Being in front of people while performing and making them feel what I’m doing is the thing I love to

The other day I had a hard time thinking about what to write. And then my brother goes in to the living room and says, “Mom, Sienna’s dad just died.” Everyone’s face just dropped, and it was really sad. Then about 10 minutes later, my brother gets another call and his girlfriend tells him that they were able to bring him back to life. I choose to write about this because it made me thankful that I’m still living and that I still have the people I love here with me. It showed me how short life can be and how at any moment your life could be taken from you. After that phone call, I got up and told my mom and dad that I love them and gave them a kiss. Just because I don’t know what I would do without them. We spend all this time talking about, “Life sucks,” this and that, how you wish you were dead. But when you come across it, it makes you grateful to be still living. I know it might not make sense because I’m up at 4:30 in the morning writing this. But I hope y’all understand what I’m trying to say. And I hope that no one says anything wrong about this because for once I’m being open with people that I don’t even really talk to. When something like this happens in your life, you begin to take it seriously. I know from this day forward I will look at life a little differently. I will look at it like a person and treat it with respect. I will forever have it engraved in my head that, “At any moment your life can be taken away from you.” Amanda Martinez

La Revolución 2013

My Love for God Your love is within me (I carry it in my spirit) I am lost in this world without your love (everywhere I am you are doing your will always) I know There is no life without you (you are my life and my heartbeat) I want Nothing to do with this world if you are not in it (for you are the one who reigns on the throne) And it is you who made the moon for the night and sun for the day And the plants and trees will praise you You give me a revelation that is unknown (you are the love of all loves and the joy of all joy And the spirit of the spirit of the holy trinity, who goes Above and beyond what our minds can think of) And the devil tries to keep us apart Your love is within me (I carry it in my spirit) Since emotions is not worn I pay attention to heaven Not the worldly things This will never mean anything without you I am to never be a fool As the seasons go on in this world No blood thicker than Christ blood shed for me And just a touch from you is a healing Which comes with wisdom and knowledge I will tell you are miraculous worker better than any witchcraft My thoughts could never be your thoughts You know what I need and I know what I want You and me can make one; while I am having everlasting life For your holy spirit is very powerful Life is not just an exclamation mark

Karina Reyes

Markeisha Cavanaugh

John H. Reagan Early College High School

A Feeling in my Heart When I miss you, I feel lost That’s the feeling in my heart. I try to be strong but it never works Because I break. That’s A feeling in my heart. I want to talk to you, But you don’t even care. I tried to catch your attention But it never seems to work. Amanda Martinez

To My Princess To the owner of my heart The person that makes me feel alive That feeling created like a piece of art I thank God for putting her on my life I thank you for always being there for me For loving me without any question For letting me be part of your life For not giving up after so many failures You the light after the tunnel My double rainbow after the storm The person that warms me on the cold night I just want to tell you that I love you with all my heart Walter Santos Reality I dreamed of night Of the stars falling off the clouds I dreamed of water Of a sea of tears I dreamed of light Of the sun shining in the sky I dreamed of you When you lied When you hurt me When I realized you weren’t worth it It was the real world mixed with fantasy It was imagination blended with reality

It was a newborn baby, It was an old man with learned lessons It was me, leaving the past, in the back Stepping in a new stream of life Doing changes I couldn’t do with you An object that stood in the door A needle that hurt if touched But once it was replaced I was free, open to all the possibilities I walked away from the image carved of us I broke apart, from your lies. Brenda Moran

La Revolución 2013

Young Adult A kid’s job in life is to play around, to get in trouble, to have fun. Sadly, this privilege was just not made for me. When I was five years old, I remember riding my bike every day when school was over to go help my dad work the lands we own in Mexico. I come from a family of workers, people that work in order to survive. This type of life was normal in my old town back in Mexico. So, when my family decided to move to the United States for a better quality of life and job opportunities, I thought I would be normal, like the kids in the U.S. But, I guess life is just not fair with everyone, and I wasn’t an exception. We moved in, right in time for summer break. My dad got a job the first day we arrived, and soon enough, he became well known. He created a group of workers that worked for him in construction. However, he was not making enough cash to buy me and my brother things like toys or fancy clothes. So, he decided to teach us the profession of working on drywall. My brother and I weren’t very good at it because we were just ten and eleven years old, but we helped him where we could. We would throw out the trash for him and that saved him about fifty dollars, which he gave all to us. Five years later, I graduated from middle school. Summer was here again and summer meant work. I was a professional now, and my dad had raised my salary to $100 per day. This was good for both of us, mostly because I could buy whatever I liked without anyone telling me anything. I had earned that money with my own sweat, and it benefited my dad because I could take care of myself without asking him for money. His only responsibility was to provide me a place to live. Until then, I worked only on school breaks. But, after my dad’s incident, everything changed. My dad was deported back to Mexico, and everything after that was total chaos. My mom was unable to pay everything by herself. Even with the help of my other family members, things were not the same. I decided to work after school taking out the trash from offices, thinking it would be temporary until my dad returned. But, when dad finally came back, things had changed in this country. The economic crisis had just begun and my dad was just not making enough money to pay for everything like he used to. As a result, my temporary job became part of my routine for the next three years until we settled and my dad balanced his income to pay the bills. This type of life ruined my high school reputation, mostly because I had no time to join any extracurricular activities. More importantly, it also killed my GPA because the first year was just so hard to adapt to this change that I failed some of my classes. I had to work from 6:00 PM until 10:00 PM every day. I was taking Pre-AP classes and I had lots of homework, so finding time to finish every day’s assignments was impossible. This inability to complete homework made me vulnerable to tests and quizzes. At the end of my first two semesters, my grades dropped tremendously compared to my middle school grades. In the end, I think everything was worth it because I learned something more powerful: how to work hard in order to sustain, no matter what life decides to throw in your path. I’ve learned how to manage my time in order to find space to do all kinds of things. But, most importantly, I have earned experience. It is this experience that I will use now as I commit myself to college in order to have a better life. Many years from now, in the future, I hope that I can let my children be what I always wanted to be: a kid! Walter Santos

John H. Reagan Early College High School

My Revolution

Follow Your Heart

We are the future We are the chosen Everyday a child dies Every day we wake up to a new day The lucky ones live They are the ones meant to be Lawyers, teachers, doctors, singers Few choose the path of success Few get to be great Work hard, get paid That’s what life offers Show your strength Defeat your mistakes Life’s short One day you’re eight The other you’re over-age Worry little, live a lot Make peace so your nights Aren’t filled with fights Show respect, get respected.

In life, learn to follow your heart. Sometimes we wanna skip that part, But it’s real important not to. A strong heart helps us continue. Without a warm heart we go cold, And we become easily sold. To follow selfishness instead. This is then how we get misled. Because without our hearts we’re lost. Do you know how much that will cost? We’ll spend time on hopeless projects, And on some meaningless objects. But with hearts full of love and care, A selfish life can’t compare. The now doesn’t even matter. It’s the long run that gains chatter. So to ourselves we must stay true, Then there’s nothing we can’t get through.

Brenda Moran

Edward Estrada

Bruno Estrada

I took a step towards the light, With the faith that things will be alright, But each step leads to a crack, A mistake I made in life, I almost fell deep inside, the cold ice, This is the process of growing up I think I slipped once or twice, Bruises and blood down my spine, I reached the end of the line, Then realized, there were Different paths right and left, A choice had to be made, But now I leave that for you to choose. Brenda Moran La Revolución 2013

Mixed Feelings They come back and forth. They never leave me alone. They are everywhere. I can’t handle them anymore. They are always causing me to overthink. They are always looking for me. They don’t leave me alone, how can I get rid of them, all? Today’s one of those days I can’t even concentrate, one of those days where my words flow out of my heart like if I had to think them a lot. One of those days where I just keep my hands on my keyboard and automatically they make sense and my heart is able to breath one more time. One of those days where I don’t know what I’m saying, just how I’m feeling. One of those days where I just want to let my heart cry and scream to the world how he feels, how nobody cares, how nobody knows, how much he wants someone to see the deep wounds that with the slightest touch come alive one more time, hitting this time more than the first time. Yes, today is a normal day for more than half of the world, but for me it is not. For me it is another day where all I want to do or can do is think and write, which is always my passion, but today is my life. Today is the oxygen to my heart. Today is my necessity. Today I can’t live if I don’t write and express all this mess that I have in my life. Today the weather matches my feelings; it’s rainy like my eyes, it’s dark like my life, it’s quiet all around me, but my head won’t stop yelling billions of memories. Yelling so hard and loud as if it didn’t wanted me to concentrate on something else or forget how sometimes is just hard to erase those memories in your past. Reminding me how most of the times people come and go, but memories will persist intact in our hearts. Reminding me how mistakes are always seen by people and never forgotten. Reminding me how good actions are rarely recognized and how it’s so easy to forget. Reminding me how hard life is, how easily humans give up, and reminding me that those that survive are those that every time they fall they stand up, pick their tears up, blow the dirt out, and put them back to where they were nothing more, nothing less than a big smile. Today is one of those days I have so many memories going all around my head and so many feelings mixing up, deep in my heart. Today I only want to be able to close my eyes without watching pass by; sadness, happiness, madness, and other feelings as if their bed was my head and their blanket my heart. Today I just want to stop thinking and for a moment and organize my mixed feelings. Today I just want to stop for a moment and ask myself if it’s worth the thinking, the pain, and the time. Today I just want to say, “Goodbye my love, it was nice meeting you, and if we were meant for each other one day we will be together, if not then the goodbye will do.” Esperanza Martinez

Blue Women No matter how many times I fall, I will get back up, regardless. People may have harmed me, may have torn me apart like a piece of paper, may have broken me as if I were glass. But I will get back up. Why? Because I am tired of people manipulating me, tired of the harm that has been done to me. That hate that has filled my soul; that hate that has broken my heart. That same hate that has filled me with pain, with sadness. For so long I have lived in fear. With wounds that run through my body, that refuse to let me live in peace. I run my fingers through my hair. I sit and wonder when would be the day that I break out of this pain. These barriers that are holding me down to the ground, and slowly eating me alive and leaving me empty. But I then think to myself, I deserve happiness. I deserve for these wounds to heal, for the pain to fade. Now it’s me standing up for myself. Letting everyone around me know that I will fight back; I will stand up for myself because no one will ever put me down. All the harm, all the sadness will no longer exist in my life. Hellen Mendoza 86

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Eyes that can bloom a flower. Smile so bright it can light up a dark room. Voice so sweet is music to my ears. You who gave me strength and hope when I most need it, when I felt alone and sad when I felt like I have no one, you who took the place of many in that chapter of my life, none could ever take your place. My life has not been the best or the worst, I understand. But, it is the little things that can crush someone entirely. Having a mother who is always at work with no time to share, a stepfather who constantly rubs in my face that you’re no good. In his eyes, you’re the evil one, the one who never does anything right. It is you who never gave up. Regardless of what life brought, you helped me take that step I had to take, to lean in to a place where life can be enjoyed. I hated having to go, to hear that you’re no good. To be pushed away because something has not been done right. To be pulled away because what you just cooked does not taste how it’s supposed. But you helped me to tough it out because things like that just make a person become stronger. You know sometimes I sit and wonder. Why would someone treat a person in such a way? Do they not know they have feelings? When is the pain going to go away? When is the wound going to heal? All of those questions that ran through my head have faded, because I know I’m stronger than the I have ever been. For so long, I have felt as if chains were holding me back into a place of sadness and fear, a place where I could not be myself because regardless of anything I did, I’d be the failure. A place, where I could not break down barriers because I had a limit. You who came into my life as if an angel were sent down from above. You who are only 17 years old understand me like no one ever has. You took me in; you embraced me. You make me feel like someone actually cares about what I have to say. It is you who broke down the chains that bound me; it is you who helped me leave the past behind me because life can be filled with joy. “Just like all the seasons never stay the same,” is what you said to me. It means life won’t always stay the same. That pain is only temporary and things always get better with time. Remember? I didn’t quite understand at first, but you gave me something to smile about, whether life was good or bad. When I had no strength to keep going you gave me that boost of strength to get back up. I had let my stepdad brainwash me for so long that I didn’t know who I was. I believed that I was a failure and that I would never do anything right. I was wrong for ever doubting I could win. Hellen Mendoza

Hustler no need to change my route DK rep my crew hit me up i recruit #1 Hustler and you know we shoot Walking can imagine a day or step in our shoe i bet that have your heart on pause i can cause that i contribute blood loss And have you missing hair loss also fly like an old BB air soft running for that money halfback HB toss run like a cheetah leap like a leopard y’all are apparently identical to a feather OK yes fast money is my addiction well at least i admit it

try to stay strong put in work 24 hour fitness rite back in a cell if i fail to diminish a witness not coming home to no misses Im steady trying to get it on my foot with a shot but still on my pivot want that green no frog ribbit on the money train i aint trying to miss it survive and get it the sky’s the limit on my mind racing at about a mile a minute Genuine no gimmick success is in my arm reach i just gotta grab it but I’m stuck in traffic Jarell Nesbitt

La Revolución 2013

To the Dead, Parents, And Cuffed Shooter Of Sandy Hook Elementary Today we heard some awful news, Twenty kids this world had to lose. To make things worse some teachers too, With such a loss, what shall we do? There will be many tears to shed Which makes it hard to go to bed. I feel so bad for the parents. How’d this man not have common sense? These were sweet innocent people, I pray to God there’s no sequel. My life I would easily give, If it allowed them to still live. Why, lost man, why’d you go and shoot? What, did you think it would be cute? Well, my lost brother, you are sick, I’ll pray to God to heal you quick. ‘Cause you may not last long in jail, Men would kill to send you to hell. Your victims now look down at you. They all stand huddled like a crew. But don’t worry they’re full of love, They’re still Innocent like a dove. Hoping one day you too will fly, As an angel high in the sky. Edward Estrada

There’s a Sound in my Heart There’s a sound in my heart, No certain note, but more like music itself, Continuing to change rhythm and tempo, Depending on how I’m feeling, And how my heart is being treated. Emotions cause that sound to become a song. No matter the mask of face expression, The song is blasting the drums of my core, So loud at times that others can pick up. It’s on when it’s on, and done when it’s done. Not only music itself, but the color of my life, My spirit, the drummer of my heart, Decides the tempo and emotion. I, an audience member of the show of life, Retain things that are sweet, And block out the things that are bitter. There are parts you want to get up and dance, But the main question of it all is, Will I clap? Did I get my money’s worth? Edwin Lundy 88

John H. Reagan Early College High School

There’s a song, I enjoy listening to over and over again, but besides the music and instruments in the background, what really catches my attention are the lyrics sung by Gotye. The name of the song? “Somebody That I Used to Know.” I understand that the song is dedicated to a girl who cut her boyfriend out of her life and moved on. One of my favorites phrases is, “And I don’t even need your love/ you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough.” Oddly this always reminds me of my father. Interesting fact is that I never used to know my father or had even met him. Bizarrely it connects so perfectly with my thoughts, I may have never met him and that makes him a stranger to me, but I did need his love and that feels rough. His past decisions have now affected my present. Throughout my growth, I have seen the missing spaces and links where they had been cut off because of his disappearance. For example my environment and education would had been different and so would my whole future. Sergio Galindez. I was told that was his name at age 13. My mother finally confessed to me that he lives somewhere in Mexico, filthy rich. I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for my mother who did some research where she searched her for old friends’ phone numbers from Mexico and asked about him for me. It fits perfectly with another section of the song, “Have your friends collect your records and then change your number/Guess that I don’t need that, though.” I believe it’s because that may have been exactly what he did: changed everything, including my life and his. I may not have seen it when I was younger because I was too innocent and too young to be able to understand my surroundings and the reason behind many things. I think children accept almost every situation that’s put in front of them without any argument because they think that’s how life works. It’s not until later that people are able to understand and question why things happen, or if it could have been different. Now that I’m a young adult I have open my eyes to reality and realize that his absence has actually impacted me because the role of a father wasn’t played in my life correctly, to the point where I was able to grow up depending on two parents that I could count on or just simply have a father that would read to me or what a regular father would do with his daughter. Instead he cut me off and acted like he had left no responsibilities behind him, “But you didn’t have cut me off/ Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing.” I have no hard feeling against him; I still hope to see him one day help me out in the important things that I will face in the future and in my hopes and dreams that have built throughout my growth and the time of his absence. But while he is not in my life and time passes on, my life goes on without him, but his absence still impacts my future. Brenda Moran There’s a hole in my heart That is slowly eating me alive, is a hole so deep that I can’t breath Can’t even feel anymore That hole that lies in my heart has left me in darkness Loneliness, sadness I want to see the light aging I want to feel, breath, live aging I wonder if I am alive at this moment of my life What’s the point of living without a heart? A heart that can’t feel What’s the point of living if you can’t breathe? Can’t see I close my eyes and all I see is you I wish you could be here to save me from this pain this

darkness I open my eyes and you are not there I no longer see anything just darkness I know I am fading Fading into another world Another life So I close my eyes to see you Until I cannot see anymore There is a hole in my heart A hole so deep that has left me behind fill with emptiness I no longer see, breath, or feel I no longer live but I can at least see from here Hellen Mendoza

La Revolución 2013

My BFF Poem

The Wall

The day I met you, a friendship will never end. Your smile is so sweet and so bright. when day was as dark or as a night. You never ever judged me, you were always there for me. You gave me advice and encouragement Whenever I didn’t know what to do. You help me every step of my life. When we separate sometime I just remember your smile. Our friendship is really good and I hope that will never end. I always you and miss you. Meena Rai

To make it, climb over the wall. You must be unafraid to fall. It’s not certain that you’ll make it. You’ll have to take risks and stay fit. One big slip and it’s all over, So watch your step and take cover. For endless obstacles ahead. It’s best to keep doubts out your head. Often you’ll gain thoughts of quitting, But stay positive and scheming. ’Cause even if you don’t fall off, That doesn’t mean you’ll reach the roof. Which is even worse than falling, Since you will hear regret calling. You’ll live in the state of “what if.” “What if i made it to the cliff?” Then you’ll die in a life of grief. Which will be full of disbelief. So never stop taking new steps. Keep moving to avoid those debts. Edward Estrada

To Whom I Wish I Could Openly Say, “I love you…” Sir, I don’t know you, but I see you as a model. You’ve always cared for my mom, my siblings, and I. Sir, we seem as strangers but I know your name and you know mine. You seem mean but I know deep inside you are a piece of sweet candy. Sir, I have always wanted to tell so much, but your time is gold and gold is unreachable for me. Sir, I wish you could spend more time with my family so we could get to know you more. Sir, why you never home? Why can’t you hug me tight at least once and tell me you love me? Sir, you mean a lot me, do I mean a lot you? Sir, when you scream without even trying to hear my words, you stabbed hard and deep in my heart. Why can’t you just stop and hear the beat, the same beat that speaks a language that you don’t want or your screams won’t let you understand and hear. Sir, why are we so similar, yet we can’t get along? Sir, why were you never by my side in my childhood? Why bringing the whole family here with you exactly when I felt happy in my place. Why couldn’t you just leave us in our place, in our home? Why making me feel like a cat in a house of dogs? Sir, why I feel pain? Sir, why do I get so excited when I hear you once or twice a year saying that you love me? Sir, why can’t I tell you in person what I’m writing on a keyboard? Why can’t you just stay quiet like the computer and hear my words, those words that I’ve always wanted to tell you, yet you haven’t even heard one. Sir, why do I call you like this, when I am supposed to call you “Daddy”? Sir, I’m in much pain. I wish you could help. I promise it’s not hard, you just have to say you love, just once. Sir, you are my FATHER, not “SIR.” Esperanza Martinez 90

John H. Reagan Early College High School

My Chest You hear that. That beating or whipping. The pounding that pours from my firm underlying body. The feeling that you can feel through every single pore or cell in your body. It’s my chest. A broad, strong, standing site. You see or have you have forsaken a commonly taken-for-granted soul. So many fears, so many tears. Kill me like the uncertainty that fills my soul, as tragedy takes its toll. Yes, I’m aware of the glass that seems to follow my cluttered mind. Here I am thinking I’m a failure to my past and years beyond me. It’s just that I keep sensing that whipping sound through my vest. But what vest? The vest I’ve worn every day I was born. I said so much pain and this sound just keeps pouring, ringing from ear to ear. Load, cock, aim, and shoot. Those would I fear. So wear this shield to protect me. I’ll just wait till life says, Next. Until then I’ll wear this vest. The vest that protects a strong chest. Tamera “Teeni” Akins

Dream of You I think of you every day (your face is always in my heart) every second of my hours (your voice is my light) even when night comes and everything goes dark, I still see your smile (bright as the moon and stars), You become my lullaby and I can rest at peace, because I know that while I sleep you’re next to me (I can dream of you as if it was real) dreaming of your heart beat (I can dream of your love and hugs) I don’t want to dream (I also want to experience it in real life) I want to feel it, (feel your hugs and the great person that you are) I know there’s more in you than a sweet smile or pretty face, let me talk to you, let me in,(so open your heart and make space for an secret admirer)maybe over time you will be able to describe all the things I feel for you the same way I did to you today,(I know you won’t regret meeting me, I promise you). Brenda Moran A Smile to Remember Soft as velvet, smile so bright it shines Sweet and kind, brave, strong he is always there Beyond compare I’m so lucky he’s mine His shine so bright, hard to stare and not glare There’s none like him anywhere that i love He stole my heart unaware with kindness I learned to love with grace from up above For you have taken away my blindness For you I love and want to give my all When life brings me down you bring me around Each day that passes by I just still fall You gave me hope and made me safe and sound I love you ’cause you are thoughtful, so kind I love you, ’cause you are caring, pleasant Hellen Mendoza

The last smile I remember When I thought everything was going good When I thought I had everything under control Now the only smiles I have are fake Like a forged smile Until all my worries are gone I will have the opportunity to smile again The smile that I remember I once had I have faith Faith I will never lose In that one day I will have that smile Once again The smile I remember Ashley Duran

La Revolución 2013

Dealing with Anger and Depression There are sunny days, and there are rainy days. Some days are more exciting than others. We are all aware of the different mood phases we have been through and will go through. However, the question is… can we handle it? How will your emotions and environment affect you? Your answer should be something around this, “Well it depends” because the truth is it affects everyone differently. I feel as if I should address how emotions have harmed each and every one of us in some sort of way. To start with, anger is important to understand because it can trigger into something ugly such as violence. Be careful because anger can be brutal physically and inwardly, if you intend to share it with someone else. This is how bullying starts. This is how people get their feelings hurt and much more. People have lost their lives because of too much unnecessary and overtaking anger. Depression I would say is like a bond between anger and sadness. This is a very dangerous emotion for many. It’s true that it can cause physical changes in and outside of the body. Have you ever heard someone say, “You gave me grey hair?” Well, they might say it in a joking manner, but depression can do a lot of things to people. Some people may deal with depression better than others, but some people may not have enough positive info or influences to help them sustain through the challenges of life. Sadly, many of the people who have taken their lives were in tough circumstances that seemed to be unbearable. No one should take their own life, and it touches me to know that it happens. Anger and depression are definitely issues that I think are important to talk about. My advice to you if you are dealing with either of these emotions is to just hang in there and talk to someone you can trust about it. You should know that whatever you are going through, you are not alone and there is help near. I would also advise you to be kind and courteous towards others. A smile can make the difference in someone’s life. Psalm Williams

Impacting Blessings I have been given two of the greatest gifts since birth. Every day I am reminded of just how blessed I am to have both of my parents around and still together. Over the years they have taught me many useful and valuable things. Their number one goal is to help steer my brothers and I in the right direction and they have done an exceptional job of it. I have five brothers and two sisters. I admit we can be a handful, but that just shows the strength and commitment of my parents to endure through it all. I have to be completely honest, there are some decisions that my parents come up with that I don’t like, but they know it’s for my good even when I don’t see it for myself. As a kid, I couldn’t go over to my friends’ houses. I thought my parents were trying to be mean, but no, they were just trying to protect me. You can choose to believe me or not, but this kept me out of a lot of trouble and I was able to make more intelligent decisions because of it. My parents didn’t even let me date until high school. Even though this may seem cruel or weird to some, 92

John H. Reagan Early College High School

now I see that this has helped me so much because it helped me to be humble and taught me how to treat and cherish a girl. They have helped me in more ways than just teaching me how to tie my shoes or brushing my teeth. They care enough to teach me about God and what it takes to be a true servant and friend of God. I understand that God has blessed me with my parents and has been using them to teach me right from wrong, how to be a respectful and wellmannered individual. The point that is clear to me now is that my parents have given so much for me that it would be wrong for me not to do the same in a positive way. So I try to help and please my parents in any way that I can. My parents make it easy for my family and I to understand how to live because they are such a good example. The most appreciated thing that my parents have shown me on a daily basis is love. I’m not talking about hugging, kissing and saying “I love you” anytime you are in the mood kind of love. I’m talking about the kind of love that shows respect, loyalty, courage, kindness, and a caring kind of attitude. These are the characteristics that I notice about my parents and what makes them so much of a positive impact in my life. Psalm Williams Remember to Live Today’s generation worries too much About all the wrong things, even about lunch. The smallest things are made hard When it’s as simple as a thank you card. Remember to worry about your own life. Don’t be sad and dull like a rusty knife Remember to live life to the fullest If not you’ll be seen at your dullest. Remember to have a huge smile, Making your life and everything worthwhile. Remember to be happy in and external Because no matter what, no one is eternal Don’t worry or stress a lot. Being worried and sad is a definite NOT. Remember to not let things get to you. When there are millions of positive things to do Most of all Remember to not fall Live your life Be happy all the time. Karina Vences

I believe in love at first sight It’s true love It’s like a fantasy Loving someone is wonderful And being loved is amazing I believe in love at first sight It opens your heart to reality It lets you breathe, think & dream A dream you never want to wake up from Edith Tavera La Revolución 2013

I Believe That UFOs Are Abducting Humans Li’l by Li’l My story is about a late, cold winter. It was 12 pm. I had gottan out of work late. I was driving down a dark, cold road where you can only with the headlights. I was listening to some rap when, out of nowhere, I heard a really loud noise. I looked outside and saw a very large aircraft on top of me. I pulled over and stepped outside and I stared at the weird thing landing in farm land. When I got closer, the door dropped down. When a very bright light came down, I almost went blind for like a minute. When I looked back up I saw two human bodies coming towards me. They grabbed and pulled me toward the aircraft and trapped me onto a chair. They put me to sleep and did a lot of tests on me. When I woke back up they had gotten up and pushed me out. When I got up from the ground, they were going up and had gotten about 100 feet off the ground. They just sped away really fast. When I was back in the car, I felt lightheaded, like I was going to pass out. I drove home and laid down and didn’t feel good at all. And that’s why I belive in aliens and UFOs. Jose D. Aviles

Demond Stovall 94

John H. Reagan Early College High School

My Name… “Change” Here I am, once again. My name, who knows? My name, who cares? My name only one meaning. For whom? For my parents. Who am I? People know me, but they just watch me pass by as another common human. How come? Don’t know! What’s my point? Make a difference, a thought, or maybe make everyone, just for a second, realize or think how we hurt each other even when we don’t mean it. Who am I to tell you, or give you advice? Nobody, or at least not someone you will listen or pay attention to, if you knew my name. One of those common people who have gotten hurt in many ways, and nobody knows! Why tell everyone my story? Why choose today as a way to forget a yesterday and dream for a tomorrow? All of those questions will be answered, just pay close attention. Maybe then you will know how easy it is to hurt or get hurt. Maybe then you will know, you aren’t the only one, or maybe then you will realize you have been hurting someone and will want to stop. But only maybe then and if you pay close attention to my words. Who am I? I’m a girl, yes a simple girl. One of those who are asked by society so much, and receive so little. I’m a girl who is NOT pictured as perfect or beautiful by society. A girl who often hears from people, that the main key is to love myself. Love myself? How? How, can I love myself if every time I try to, people stop me. How can I learn to see myself as people want me to be, when I’m not? How can I do that? People often tell you much in just a word. Those who do that are the ones who do not know how much a word can mean, or actually how many meanings a word can have. If someone were to ask a girl if she loves herself the way she is, most of us will say “yes.” But only few of us really mean it! So, maybe before calling or judging someone by the way we look, we could put ourselves in their position. Maybe then, we will learn that no one is perfect, no you are not perfect, she is not perfect, he is not perfect, they are not perfect, I’m not perfect, we all are not perfect. Then why judge or make someone feel bad when you know you aren’t perfect either? Those who make you raise a step to perfection? Those who help you look better? Or those who make you happy because you aren’t the only one who isn’t perfect? Maybe the last question applies to you, me, or anybody else. Maybe we feel better, making other people feel less. Then after watching someone feeling less than us, we feel more. But is it true? Or is it just another way to escape to our reality? There are billions, over billions of ways to hurt a human, or animal. We as humans hurt animals by abusing them, but we as humans hurt ourselves or each other with words. The same words that can hurt more than a slap, a punch, a kick or any other type of violent abuse. I’m not perfect, I know that and I’m not trying, so say that. But I also know that there isn’t, won’t, or has ever existed a human who has been perfect in all aspects. Then I asked myself why “love” a person from outside, when we can learn how to love them from their inside? That should be what matters since that will stay intact and unchangeable overtime. Now ask yourself if you have gotten my point. Ask yourself if you are hurting someone or making them feel less, so you can feel more is worth it. Now ask yourself if my point of view is wrong. Then if you answer with a yes, maybe then you are part of those that had hurt me or others, just to make yourself believe and think you are worth more than others; when you actually are not. Esperanza Martinez

La Revolución 2013

Lacking Real Poetry and Positivity I understand that music is a part of our everyday lives, and a part of us. However, music should not infiltrate our minds while injecting poison that causes us to think a certain way unconsciously. Music tells a story, but when you find that drugs, sex, money, and violence is becoming a trend in these catchy songs of gangsta rap, it doesn’t take much to realize that the intentions are evil. I feel gangsta rap is modern day slavery to the minds of individuals, and record companies have much control over what is placed in the CDs, knowing how it influences the mind. So why do so many ignore the facts? Gangsta rap can be harmful not just for the listeners, but to the artist as themselves. There have been many cases of rappers dying, being shot, or beaten. A big example of this is the case of B. I. G. and Tupac. “Rappers slandered one another with increasing viciousness and frequency. An East Coast–West Coast feud developed, pitting Death Row Records, which is based in southern California, against New York’s Bad Boy Entertainment. The feud eventually escalated from a battle of words to a bloody war. It’s two most prominent casualties were the rival rappers, Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.” I pulled that quote from an article called “Hip Hop Homicide” by an author named Anthony Bruno. According to Kate Howard (Staff Writer) in the article, “Spike Lee urges a smarter and smarter kind of cool.” Howard uses quotes from Lee, saying, “Young black kids didn’t grow up wanting to be a pimp or stripper like they do now.” Lee said of his own youth, “You might think I’m making generalizations, but I don’t think I am. That’s how serious this stuff is.” These are quotes and examples of people who feel as if gangsta rap is harmful to minds. Some people would disagree with my opinion on gangsta rap. They would argue and say things like, “You don’t have to go out and kill people.” Yes, this is true, you don’t, but people have done it. Why? Because killing can actually be considered cool, for once, in gangsta rap. When songs talk about guns and kids start rapping the verses, talking about brutal subjects, then they are already being influenced. Maybe not to kill, but to think guns and killing are cool to talk about. Some people try hard to act like it’s impossible to blame gangsta rap. They say that we, as humans, have to make our own choices, so how can you blame the music? Well maybe you are strongerminded, but some aren’t. According to the author of Hate, Rape and Rap, “Words like “b----” and “n-----” are dangerous. Racial and sexual epithets, whether screamed across a street or camouflaged by the rhythms of a song, turn people into objects, less than human: easier to degrade, easier to violate, easier to destroy. These words and epithets are becoming an accepted part of our lexicon.” It’s sad because the very thing we try to escape from like low self-esteem and slavery is finding its way right back into the lives of people. It has been proven that media has a huge effect on society. Why do people sag? Could it be that it started in prison or could it be that their idols or role models do it, so they picked up on it? A lot of times we get our style, the way of thinking, and trends from music. The way many Americans are now shameful and disrespectful to the older generation of people. We should all really think about what we allow to enter our ears because, believe it or not, it has an effect on our lives in some way. Make the right decision and substitute positivity for negativity. Get rid of the Gangsta Rap!

Psalm Williams

My heart’s harder going through a brick wall when I saw you with her. You pretended that the sky was blue but in my eyes it was fading to black with the sun busting into flames. My smile fell into a trap, a frown was all I had. My love for you is like a river and for what happened today I wanted to pray to God and ask for a little more time with you. I gave my heart and soul just like the stars and the moon to you. I guess my love wasn’t enough. I love you and always will. Best believe that I will never leave your side. I am crazy for you, Austin Wayne Miles. Deborah Rucker 96

John H. Reagan Early College High School

My Sweet Babies My sweet babies are like hell Like their diapers with their stinky smell My sweet babies are so cute They also like to play the flute. My kids are so adorable But sometimes they act horrible I love my kids a lot But sometimes I wish I’d get shot. Karla Urbina Guzman

What Happens! What happens to love when you hold it in your hands? What happens to relationships that you hold onto and they just burn away with the sun? What happens when the sun goes down and the heart you hold turns cold and dies like a cat getting run over except your scream fades quicker than your eyes expected? What happens when I say I’m sorry and I love you, will you take that and run with it or will you say I love you back? What happens when you hold out hands? Will you know who I am and stay with me or just say Hey? What happens to me and you at the end of this poem…….. ?? Deborah Rucker

Unexplained Keep crying, keep pushing the soul within sighs. Too many remidies, too many lies. Picked up my pen on this 15th day in April ’cause the mind dies. Slowly shifting gears, but how? When dreams are feared and the love of a heartbroken clock ticks with tears. Hurting when my heart is smiling with cheers, but how? Superficially moving toward a rarely taken-on, back and forth, up and down world, but how? People said the world spins, but I think it melts. Unexplained deaths. Waters and lands with tragic, strucken welts. Broken families, broken states, broken life. But I thought hearts felt. Twenty-thirteen or two thousand thirteen, just shattered visions, head collisions. Two thousand thirteen, more ways to try or die, but how? I have no answers. I just insist. One mile to zero, ten to twenty, it’s all just distance. Reach out and touch life even when it’s unexplained. Tamera “Teeni” Akins La Revolución 2013

Exploring the world dont just let it go to waste make something of it

I hope to have time To make this haiku better, But somehow I can’t.

Mateo L.

Meliza Medrano

LOVE MEANS TO RESPECT. LOVE IS A STRONG WORD. LOVE IS LOVE YOU.

Electricity is awesome with conductors and insulators

Delvi Santana

Tiara Beam

Love is hard, not easy Don’t let anybody take your dream away No dream No future life

Dreams are what we need Love is a beautiful thing Hope is what we need

Desere Williams

Jalen Reasonover

John H. Reagan Early College High School

They Move And Stop Things One Allows To Flow Other Stops Both Are Related

insulators can’t conduct electricity conductors can do

Anonymous

Margarita Alvarez

Dreams are our target The sunlight represents our Lord Our hopes are our goals

A leaf is simple Also it is small and green yet it helps us breathe

Dominique Taylor

Graciela S.

TIME There is not enough time I wish I had more of it To do what I want

Conductors are not like insulators but they are still awesome... BOOM

Rodolfo Sanchez

Iris Aguilar Escobedo

La Revolución 2013

Animals In my head... A soldier is dead I stay and pray I seen a lot of blood, but it hides in the mud A battlefield, a battle between bugs BUGS TO US In every war, there’s an enemy I swore to kill But each time I see another dead, it stays in my head, Each time I see another, I feel more ill as I lay in slumber As a kid I would dream about this Dreams deceive Nothing Is real Would God Visit Us? Do you think God would visit us, If men and women didn’t lust? Just for one moment of our day, Get on our hands and knees and pray. Do you think God would visit us, If everyone was filled with trust? I mean all that is in the world, Pause and unite to praise the Lord.

I can’t wait to leave this place Because everyday is like a poker game, And the enemy seems to have all the aces Trying to think here is like running in a maze, you can run all you want but, you’ll never get anywhere. Oh, LITTLE BROWN BEAR, why so scared? I mean, all we’re trying to do is make everything fair, little bear. Communist is nothing but s--All the rules you have, Will make your people fools. I know we soldiers are tools to use...

Do you think God would visit, If not one of us cared to cuss? We could lay out a red carpet, So our Father could walk on it.

We stand We take matters at hand We fight toward the light We will kick and bite because we are MAN

Do you think God would visit us, If differences burned to rust? That way we’d love all and not hate, Would that open the Golden Gates?

Edward Estrada Sugey Zavala

We would do everything right, Which to Satan is way too bright. We’d change a minus to a plus, Would it make You come visit us? Edward Estrada 100

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Sunflowers Days pass and we’re still here Some of us Are strong, some Are weak Me? I’m still standing Up high, Trying to be strong For the rest of us. Seen my friends from all the way up here Makes me see how they look And feel. Some look dead, but alive; Some look thirsty And some look old And dry. Some of our petals are gone. We’re getting weaker each day. We miss the outdoor field, The wind blowing On our petals; We need Water Just like everyone else. We need water Or we will die. We shouldn’t have left the fields In the first place. You’re not just my love, You’re my everything, My one and only. You’re the one that changes The way I see love. I love you. I love how we met, How we had our first kiss. I love everything; I love being with you. You’re just perfect to be around.

Eduardo Cervantes

Kimberly Romero

I Love So many questions not enough answers When will this planet die? Better question, will it ever die? Do we really die or is it just in our imagination along with everyone’s? What if this whole idea of life was all a part of someone’s dream? Does that mean that god doesn’t exist? Do we exist? What if we were not the only human thing in this universe? What is beyond our galaxy? Is there really nine planets? Are there really more galaxies besides ours? Do aliens really exist? So many questions not enough answers. Dalia Esparza-Zapata La Revolución 2013

101

Summer

Karma

The smell of freedom Feeling the relaxation Running to the wind

Is painful If you laugh It comes back at you So remember knock on wood

Gustavo Vazquez

Lorena Estrada

Falling

102

Depression is hard to think of Redraw what you did And after you try it, come out like the World so big and awesome

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m falling from my skateboard It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a big surprise Learning to skateboard is very Difficult. Keep trying.

Eduardo Castelan

Jason Dominguez

His eyes Are big and brown His smile shines like the sun He makes me feel butterflies Day Dream

Met with ye I hast In dreams of reality yet how is it true?

Yaritza Quezada

Michael Salazar

John H. Reagan Early College High School

As I hear the sound It makes me want to get up And dance till I die

Jason is stupid No surprise His dimples are deeper than a 10ft manhole You wouldn’t resist the feeling of slapping Jason If only you knew him

Gustavo Vazquez

Lorena Estrada

Sun Soccer is my passion I sweat, I run a lot And we all play together

Hot Sunny days It’s so hot Makes me feel sticky Sunny

Eduardo Castelan

Yaritza Quezada

His eyes Are Loveable Ordinary Respectful Energetic Nice Awesome

Once I smell, I run Then I’m begging to slobber I want more and more!

Jason Dominguez

Gustavo Vazquez

La Revolución 2013

103

Sky Above The Clouds Freedom! “WOOOOH!” Holy crap this is amazing! There’s all this space. “YEEEEEEEAH!“ I can walk on clouds. The sky is so blue. Oh wow! Some are like buildings! I wonder what they feel like? The breeze is really hard to fly against. But it’s warm like a fresh spring day. It feels like sky kisses. These clouds are really soft like memory foam for a bed. I guess when you get passed their scary appearance they are actually really nice. I could lay up here all day. I wonder what the world looks like from up here? It looks like its dying. It’s just blue with brown patches. Wait I think I see green. Not much but it is there. Hm, it’s like its people. Many are snide and rude. So much hate and incrimination, but there are some that aren’t. They are the green patches. Those with kind hearts, gentle touches, and beautiful personalities. Don’t get me wrong some of mother nature’s most beautiful plants have flaws. I wonder if this is God’s middle ground? Like this is where he filters out all the hate that comes from his precious creations. Would this be his place to just lay and silently laugh and judge us? Here must be where his hope lies, where his faith is placed, where his love falls down to us like rain. Wait. Speaking of rain. The breeze went from warm and happy to cold and scary. I think that’s lightening. I wonder what it looks like from above? It’s dark, loud, and scary. I feel like a lost soul up here. If I look down I see terrifying darkness, but I look up I see a blue, warm, and inviting sky and I’m torn between. Maybe the end of the storm isn’t as scary looking. What’s this? It’s an impression. Like a worn bed dent heavily laid in. It dips big in the middle with an edge just as far down like someone has been reaching toward the ground. Maybe if I lay next to it I’ll understand. Nothing. Can I lay in it? What if someone’s been up here before me and this is where they fell off? No, don’t be silly. Kylie is fine. Zulma Sanchez It’s moving to fit my shape. Why’s my back warm all of a sudden? Something’s touching me! My arm! Wait it’s blurry! I’m scared! There’s people, they just lost their house. They’re searching for something. There‘s children. The little girl ran to find her teddy bear. Poor baby. Wait, it’s blurry again! Now I’m in a bedroom. There’s a young man sitting on his bed with an envelope. I think he just got accepted into college. He’s so happy. The blur’s back. I’m not scared anymore. Now I’m on a street corner. There’s a girl my age sitting on a curb. Her hair is matted and her clothes are tight and dingy. Her skin is yellow and her eyes are blood shot. She’s holding a small syringe. Now there’s man. He pulls her to her feet while ripping the syringe out of her hand. Her cries are hysteric, but his love is stronger. He carries her down the street to a small clinic with a sign reading “Here For You Rehabilitation Center.” My vision blurs and I’m back in the clouds with tears slowing dripping down my face. Did I really just? No. That’s impossible. “Thank You.” My voice startles me. There’s a high cloud. Leave now! There’s my warm breeze. It’s calming now. Like a blanket fresh from the dryer. On my stomach I see my dying world, where I know God graces us with his love, but on my back I see space, where I am nothing. But up here I feel like nothing matters. Kylie Garrett 104

John H. Reagan Early College High School

I Want to Be Someone I want to be someone in life I want to reach the stars and watch the earth under me I want to hear the word proud, I want to demonstrate my potential I want my future children to grow comfortably Live a life, like a graphic designer I wish it more than water I wish it more than food It’s deep inside me, that desire to reach my goals I hear a voice constantly in the back of my mind Telling me time is running out Telling me it’s now or never Telling me that the time to behave Like a child has already passed me Time to mature; it’s not a game One mistake, one thoughtless decision could be the end of me. There’s another side of me, in my heart Tells me that I should enjoy life while I’m still alive While I’m still in school, while I’m still 17 No job, no responsibilities……. Should I get serious or should I enjoy my last year in high school? Brenda Moran

It was raining and I was ready, I felt the words very heavy You stumbled towards me as I struggled in concentrating You stood in my face, staring intense While I said the unexpected phrase, Agony spread from your soles to your face, A tear escaped your wary glance I tried to explain, but instead you ran and left.

Kenia Rodriguez

Rainy Night

Brenda Moran La Revolución 2013

105

My Shadowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Here to Stay

106

Hiding my shadow A dark outline of my life Sadly stuck with me

Time is passing by Wish i could stay seventeen Time waits for noone

Psalm Williams

Estefani Ontiveros

I think dreams are what Your heart wants and not what your Mind make you think of.

Time Is Unexplained Extremely Mysterious Continue Breathing

Pamela Aguilar

Mario Uribe

the devil inside fears me to death inside me I die in no time

Make your dreams come true Stay focused on your own goals Let your dreams lead you

Horacio Pacheco

Omar Sanchez

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Time is passing by Wish I could stay seventeen Time waits for no one

June 5th is the day Walking the stage is the dream Real world here we come

Lety Montes

Maritza Garcia

To believe in faith You must believe in yourself Faith is in your heart

I hope to have time Hope is everything for me But time goes by fast

Nexli Benitez

Alejandra Coronilla

Haikus are simple, But sometimes they don’t make sense. Refrigerator. Pedro Bautista

Love is felt, not seen Feelings are shown, not hidden Express what you feel. Samanta Barreto

La Revolución 2013

107

108

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Selfishness Selfishness. Everyone has a certain amount of it. Some more than others but, we all have it. Everyone is obviously concerned with one’s own pleasure. Most people will stop at nothing to get what they want, and most of them don’t care about someone else’s feelings or words. Selfishness; It is a powerful conflict in our world today. As America’s economy goes down, more and more people are getting a bit obsessed with keeping money safe. How many people sell their children just to get a bit of money? Many. How many people steal from wealthy homes? Many. And how many people need money to survive? Everyone. Technically, these days, the world seems to revolve around money. If you don’t have it, you find a way to get it. It’s instinct whether you like it or not. Although these things are heard of everywhere, it’s the amount of selfishness that impacts not only me, but everyone in my community and even the world. My generation is learning how to save money maybe for college and a better life than our parents had. Jobs are being created especially for teenagers and things are getting more expensive. More expensive things will equal more selfish people. People who are homeless sometimes stand on the corner of streets and ask for money. In some ways, they are selfish not working for whatever reason (injury, immigration etc.) and asking for people to give them money for free. People pass by in their car going to work or coming from it ignoring the fact that maybe that person without an arm needs money, but thinking that that person is healthy and strong should work like they do. In this world, everyone, even the government, seeks their own benefits. The things people do are always for one’s own good. If this is a free country, people take advantage of that and do what they love even if it means going to jail for life. People work to live in a nice decent home, to be happy, to be healthy, and because it’s what they want, but most don’t help others to reach that goal to be also happy and healthy. In the end, selfishness, in my opinion is a worldwide problem. Most don’t notice it. Most don’t even realize it’s there in their own heart. Without selfishness, problems that are making people suffer would disappear and maybe those problems would never come back.

Right: Kika Left: Yesina Diaz

Vanessa Carreon

La Revolución 2013

109

Time Love A Powerful Word It Gets Thrown Around Non-Stop Love Is This To Me Christopher Mewborn

Time, time, time, and time My life takes a gold of time Time is everything Tania Rodriguez

My Haiku

110

Dreams Intangible Lies From Devils Mandible Cries From Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mantle

Love is a strong word It will take over your mind Love easy not hard

Isaiah Wilson

Angel Waldon

im gonna love you like its the last time before its to late

Time is running out Dream of love or love a dream Love is forever

Erika Maldonado

Erik Ramos

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Dream

Senior

Dreaming is pretend dreams are not reality you are in my dreams

There’s more time than life. I hope that time heals my heart. One can only wish.

Ceci Lopez

Nancy Villarruel

Keep it up for real, Not an empty cruelness soul, Cheerful heart clean mind.

Dreams lead us forward They can show us the future No Dreams no Future

Gabriela Garcia

Carlos E. Lopez

Time where did it go? Time is forever passing Time seems to fly by.

I was eve, you were Adam, But my dream ended with the apple tree

Stephanie Orteg

Andromeda Vega

La Revolución 2013

111

Broken Hopes

How easy is to judge. How hard is to be the one judged, but is even harder to put yourself in their position for a while and understand what that person is going through or why that person acted the way s/he did. Let me tell you a story about how the only way you can understand that person is getting in her shoes, as they say. Once upon a time—to be exact October 30, 1994—a girl was born. She was named after an aunt whom the family was really proud of. This girl, since she can remember, has never had a reason not to be happy, or at least until she started realizing their friends had something she didn’t. For years she had a big house, all the toys she could ask; she was a lucky girl, her friends told her. As she grew older, she started realizing that she never had her father by her side. Once every year or two she got to see that man, and when that happened her friends and cousins used to tell her to ask for things, but all she wanted to ask from him was to stay by her side like the fathers of her friends. One day she received some important news from her mother: they were going to Juarez, a city in Mexico, to try to get legalized. Thanks to their good, or maybe bad, luck, they were eligible to enter United States the legal way. For almost a month she was depressed knowing she was leaving everything behind and starting a new life, a life she was going to be able to visit, but never to stay. Days passed, and the day where she had to say goodbye to her loved ones arrived. For her, saying goodbye wasn’t easy at all, but she received all the love she never expected. They left around 4 am, when nobody but them was awake: her with tears in her eyes, looking back as the car drove off, holding tight the gifts she received. With immense pain in her heart, she closed her eyes and tried to forget everything besides the fact that now she was going to have a dad. She opened her eyes realized she was in her new place. A pretty house, pretty new things, cars driving everywhere, big stores, people speaking different languages, or at least they were speaking something she couldn’t understand. She felt like she was in a TV program, with the difference being that she felt so lost and not welcomed at all. For weeks she was sick, for months she cried and begged her mom no to send her to school. School, the place where she felt lost, where she felt the worst. She didn’t cry in school because she was embarrassed, even though it was all she wanted to do. For months after school, she sat in front of the TV watching videos that helped her learn English. For months, all she could think of was learning how to speak and

Gustavo Vasquez 112

John H. Reagan Early College High School

understand what other were saying. For months, she didn’t smile, not even once. For months, she prayed to God to take her back to her place—Mexico. Time went by and she learned basic English and after two years she often received recognition for her achievement at school. But she was always missing something. She had a dad, or at least his figure. But things were not as she had pictured. They were always arguing. She once said she hated him. Hate, what a big word, a word that her dad made her feel. She now was missing her dad, her hometown and part of her family. She continued with her life always, missing something but hoping one day she would have everything.

Juan Mend-

Years passed by, and now she is about to graduate, or at least, once again, she hopes she does. She, always hoping for things and it’s so weird because her name is “Hope”! Now she is scared of losing everything she fought for. Now she regrets the days she let pass by, thinking she had everything in her hands. Now she is too scared to tell her parents she is in danger of not graduating. Now she is too scared to tell them it was more her fault, but it was theirs too. Now she is too scared to speak up for once and tell them how she has always gone thru life by herself. Now she is too scared and too disappointed with herself. All she wants is to give up. Now all she can ask is to get in her position for a couple of minutes and feel and see all the things she has in her head. Now she for once in her life wants help, but like always she is going through everything by herself. Now she wants to speak up so everyone can hear her, but once again her hopes are broken and she decides to stay quiet. Now she is just a girl with broken hopes. Esperanza Martinez La Revolución 2013

113

114

Some are positive Also some are negative Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in everything

Oh, you guys just stop. You are both important to Complete a circuit.

Josh Shahhosseini

Calixto Robledo

Sorry, Comic Sans I am going to leave you for Lucida Console.

Me-tal is the best for con-duct-ing en-er-gy Al-so wa-ter can

Joseph Dunlap

Jamie Sorrells

It was all a dream. Blinded by the bright light of the present. Fear fades.

Flashlight Beams Brighter High Beams on the Street at Night Flashlight Beams Brighter

Angela Buckingham

David Delgado

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Supercolliding. Has five syllables, don’t it? Superconductor.

The Generator I am in love with it The Generator

Joseph Dunlap

Joseph Pulido

The small light is bright Brighter than a new diamond It is my flashlight

I did not know the Flashlight had a clutch, which is Pretty cool and neat.

Omar Sanchez

Nestor Govea

Test test test test test. What will we do with the rest? Good luck kids. God bless.

Flashlights light up night night has no light in the sky so we use flashlights

Joseph Dunlap

Paul Mannie

La Revolución 2013

115

Something Needs to Change At night, I stay up thinking about what is the world coming to. Like why are there people still being sent out to war and why are there like 10 people every week dying . It seems like the people who commit crimes do not receive any consequences. When it comes to war, I feel like it’s pointless like they tell you in school: fighting is never the answer. It seems like in this specific situation, fighting is not the answer because if it was it wouldn’t still be a major problem. As you see, years later it’s still going on. People are still dying. Then on the subject of people constantly being killed , it’s all a big question of who can you trust. It used to be you could always trust the people who work to keep you safe, but now you have to watch out for the ones you once thought were the good ones.

Every second is a victory, for I am; Death is always near. Michael Salazar

Lately there has been several incidents to where police officers have murdered individuals from one ethnic group. They always claim it to be an accident, but I know otherwise. I know it’s not just a coincidence that the same police officer that murdered a young black man and was suspended with pay, murdered another young black man some months later and was also suspended with pay. I feel like he was let off the hook, and they made it seem as if it was an accident, but it wasn’t. Since he didn’t get caught the first time, he did it again. Of course the thought went through everybody’s head that this couldn’t be an accident, but if they would have looked into the second case they would have had to look back into the first case. Then you have the recent shooting at Wal-Mart, where an officer was murdered, exactly the night before another black man was killed. A socalled accident by an officer. When this officer was pronounced dead, to them it was the end of the world. It’s like in a whole year several black people had been shot by officers, but the one time an officer is shot and killed it’s the end of the world. They feel as if we should all pay our respects, but I feel like they think just because he was an officer he deserves all the respect anyone could ever give. The whole weekend they kept showing his picture on the news and all the officers crying. They talked about what a good man he was and all the good things he ever did. When the young black man died the night before, the first thing they discussed is his criminal record. I understand he does not have a great background, but that does not mean bring out the bad view to the public now that he is dead. That’s just disrespectful because I’m pretty sure the officer who was shot has a past also. What though is this love? That is all good, but as you see they did not bring those things up If love hath no boundaries, when they talked about him because that would be disrespectful. Love hath no failure. Then a dog was killed weeks later by another officer and once again they talked about it like it was the end of the world. Saragail Ledgister Like somehow this dog is above all human species, but they didn’t feel like the young black man deserved the same respect. But in the end the world is the way it is. I feel like one day we can change what’s going on in our community, but it will take some time. But if we work hard enough, it can happen.

Dawndreia Mays 116

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Rita Mendez La Revoluci贸n 2013

117

Dreamland

118

love lives and holds on if you forgive and move on love will come to you

My dreams keep me sane In my dreamland there’s no pain it’s where I am safe.

Maria Meza

Sara Garcia

We don’t wish we dream because our dreams do come true there is truly hope

Energy transfers Transfer by a conductor Thank you for so much

Dalia Esparza

Eduardo Jaimes

My silver conduct My glass is very jealous Conduction is cool

Mott Insulator Electromagnetic Field Electric charges

April Marshall

Mauro Mota

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Electricity Electrical Conduction Electric Currents

Its a Conductor Controls Electricity Its an Insulator

Adrian Alvare

Jermaun DeFreeze

Live life full of time Live full of memories Full of love and dreams

My Charger Conducts Insulators Don’t Conduct Plastic Insulates

Erika Derramona

Carmen Garcia

Accomplish My Goal New Friends, Good Life And Working Hard 5 Years Architect

Popcorn insulates My phone conducts when charging My eyes don’t conduct

Enereida Barcenas

Michael Majano

La Revolución 2013

119

A Child to Remember Remember the first baby steps you took as your life was going to start being an adventure. Exploring the unknown, as a crawler you would have never known of. Remember the first words that came out of your mouth, the words that could mean power depending on how you use them. The words that express your emotions as you talk even if your tone is being changed your emotion will be seen. The words beyond the first ones will determine many things in your life. As where life is going to take you, even how the people will see you as! Remember the first day of school, learning things for the very first time. That’s where life was going to start changing routes for you; deciding to like school or not would make the change of life for someone. Someone who loves learning and being in school is someone sure to be a well-known person in later life and life will take them to the easy life with no struggle or walls in their path. Christian Albiter

Love Can Be Good, Love Can Be Complicated, Love Can Be Whack, Love Can Be Awesome

I hope you are doing great because that is all I ever wanted. At times I feel like I hate you, but honestly I don’t. How could I possibly hate someone who made me really happy at some point in my life? I am not going to lie you made me really happy, but you also broke my heart with all of your lies. You promised me you would never let me go, but I guess I was just another promise you couldn’t keep.

What hurt the most was the fact that you knew how I felt but you didn’t care about me the way that you cared about yourself. It hurt me to have to accept the fact that you were not going to be part of my life anymore, and that you had lied to me all along. I had to accept it even if I didn’t want to. I never saw it coming. I still remember when I told you I wanted you to be happy even if it wasn’t with me and I meant it. You were the best thing that had ever been mine when we were in the relationship and I am thankful for your actions. I don’t regret anything because I learned from it all. Jamal Robinson

Sometimes I really miss you and I really want you back, but what is done is done. We both took our separate ways, and I have to move on just like you did. I am glad I was part of your life as your girlfriend at some point in your life, and, well, I wish you the best. Anonymous

Questions How can you move when everything is weighing you down? What can you do when you’re tied to the crowd? Why are there so many choices? How do you know the right from wrong? How can I get the will to be strong? Where can I find the strength to hold on? Yosef Habtegiorgis 120

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Time is so endless A friend or an enemy Time is wonderful Desiree Bonner

What Doesn’t Kill You, Helps You It was a cloudy day. It was 12pm, but it seemed like 9pm. I got out of the car, started running to get away from the rain. When I got to the curve, the one with the “No parking zone” sign, I tried jumping over it. Somehow, I didn’t make it over; I landed right foot forward. When I tried to bring my foot back, my left knee hit the wet, rough, bumpy road. You could hear a crunch sound when it hit. I was in so much pain, it felt like I had broken a bone. For ten seconds all you could hear was “ahhhhhhh” from the bottom of my lungs. Out of nowhere a deep voice asked, “Are you okay, Son?” I turned around and saw an old guy standing there. He had a long beard; it was a dirty gray color, seemed like years since he last shaved, with some old, beat up clothes. “I’m fine.” I stood up and walked inside. As I looked for the items I needed, I glanced out the window. I saw the old man sitting there with a backpack on hand. He looked sad; his sadness was a kind of sadness you get when you have no one left. I felt bad for him. All of a sudden a rich smell hit me. I walked towards the smell. The closer I got, the better it smelled. When I reached the smell, it was fried chicken. There was a little stand with all kinds of chicken I went up to the employee and asked her for six pieces of chicken breast. I walked out of of the store. I went straight to the old man and sat next to the old man. I got the bag with the chicken. I unwrapped it and gave him a piece of chicken. “Thank you,” was all you heard. I grabbed a piece as well. It was delicious, one of the best pieces of chicken I ever tasted. I decided to ask him what he was doing out here. “This is my home, I go where ever life takes me.” After a few minutes, all the chicken was gone, and I had only eaten one. I gave him the bag with the last piece. I got up and walked towards the car, sat in the car for a couple of minutes, thinking. In those couple of minutes, I kept saying to myself how lucky I was. I had never appreciated food as I did that one day. Me crying over not having the food I wanted, and some people for not having food at all. Love tends to fade when You are let down again and again After that day I looked at life with a whole different perspective. I But life still goes on was grateful for all the little things in life. Looking back on that day I really don’t regret falling and busting my knee that day. It Anonymous actually helped me. It helped me become a better person. Mario Uribe

There’s a constant battle between love & life. Love, we only use our hearts. We put our all into it and sometimes get let down. And after that the pain remains. While life, we use our heads. When we are let down, no pain is left, only a lesson learned. As we first start off into the world, we use our hearts. Then, as we grow, use our heads. We learn that love isn’t what we need in order to succeed, it’s life and all it’s lessons. Angelic Casarez

La Revolución 2013

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Insulators stop. Conductors let it flow, bro. Shocking, is it not?

Insulators and Conductors are both needed in a circuit.

Pedro Bautista

Julissa Gonzalez

Conductors and Insulators Conductors lug it, Insulators stop it, damn! These are circuits. Ricardo Diaz

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Reagan Robotics Innovate, creative, fun, so join Robotics now. Francisco Flores

Flashlight Beams Brighter High Beams on the Street at Night Flashlight Beams Brighter

programming is lame I would rather build something wrenches are really fun

David Delgado

Nestor Govea

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Blinding From The Start, Love. The Escape From Reality Dream Is Love And Life.

girls dreams 2 little boys attitude living ghetto, good eating

Francisca Sanchez

Maribel Lopez

Many cars go fast is your car as fast as mine? because mine is fast

Love can be dazzling Love can be dark and intense Experience love

Raulito Arteaga

Jesse Esparza

Love is beautiful Love can be complicated But love gives you hope

Love is a need. Why? because love is peace Love is her sweet smile.

Jesse Esparza

Josue Rios

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124

John H. Reagan Early College High School

La Revoluci贸n 2013

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Left: Carvin Davidson Right: Peyton Murphy

Who invented this This programming shit is dumb I prefer to build

I am now so scared Is that thing actually real? What should I do? Run?

Lizbeth Cortes

Vanessa Castillo

Shadow

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He keeps on calling Won’t take no for an answer Call the cops before

Shadow lets me know If I am dreaming or not It’s simply shadow

Ismael Cornejo

Yosef Habtegiorgis

Haikus are simple, But sometimes they don’t make sense. Refrigerator.

People look at me Not noticing the inside They think I am glad.

Pedro Bautista

Carlos Romero

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Dreams are the escape Love fills the heart of many And hope is not lost

Dreams are like the moon Like its shadows that will be Illuminated.

Aaliyah Clarkson

Vanessa Carreon

He keeps on calling Won’t take no for an answer Call the cops before

He can’t remember. He has forgotten one year. Remember. It helps.

Ismael Cornejo

Angel Martinez

I want to kiss you Why i dont want yo give up Baby please just stay

I hate programming Programming is hard for me Building is more fun

Tamayra Davis

Lizbeth Cortes

La Revolución 2013

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128

John H. Reagan Early College High School

hard worker college supposed a beautiful life celebrate college Carina Leonides

Left: Gustavo Vazquez Top: Angelica Carbajal Right: Gaby Reveles

Dreams are the escape Love fills the heart of many And hope is not lost

Dreams are like the moon Like its shadows that will be Illuminated.

Aaliyah Clarkson

Vanessa Carreon

Love is beautiful Creates and destroys people Comes out of nowhere

130

I want to kiss you Why I dont want you give up Baby, please just stay

I hate programming Programming is hard for me Building is more fun

Tamayra Davis

Lizbeth Cortes

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Above: Elizabeth Torres Right: Vanessa O.

Kimberly Romero

Ruth Mend ez 132

John H. Reagan Early College High School

I never imagined myself having a family of my own at the age of seventeen. I always pictured myself living with my parents waiting for high school to be over so I could go to college. But no! Instead I live three hours and a half away from my parents; I have a lovely son and a baby daddy who decided to stick with me through thick and thin. Even though sometimes I feel like giving up on him, and I bet he does too. I never knew living on your own was so complicated. I only pictured me having to cook, do chores, and take care of my child and just be there for my boyfriend/husband when he needed me. But it’s way more than that. There are times when just one little mistake turns into a big hurricane. When I feel like giving up, I just think of my son’s happiness, because I don’t want him to grow up without a father. He’s the only reason why I have taken so much from my boyfriend and also the reason why I accepted the ACC classes; and I know that it’s not going to be easy, but I’m going to sacrifice myself and do anything I can for him to be proud of me and see that even though there were rough times, I still manage to stay in school. I also know that I can change the problems I have with my boyfriend, because they’re just little problems that can be fixed by talking and getting into an agreement. We just need to understand that it’s not just all about me or him; it’s about us three, because “WE” are a family now and we need to be there for each other in the good times and the bad times. He needs to forget about hanging out with his friends every weekend and understand that I still go to school and that I really need him to support me in the house and in school as well, and I need to get used to the fact that now I have a big responsibility in my life. I don’t regret anything that’s happening to me right now, because I know that it’s just a test that God is putting us through and I know we can make it! I’ve gotten more mature because I think and act differently and not only have I noticed, but the people around me have. Some people, like my parents for example, think it’s a good thing, but to my friends it’s not. Because when we go out to eat during lunch they just talk about how they had so much fun at the club and stuff. Then they’re like, “You should have gone or you should go, you need to tell your boyfriend to let you go out,” and I’m like, “No, thanks. I’m good. I don’t have time for that anymore. I have a son to take care of and a husband I need to attend.” Sometimes I feel bad, though, because they say that I sound like an adult and that I make decisions like them. But then I start to think, and I feel proud of myself because I’ve matured and I finally understand why my parents did the stuff that they did when I wanted to do something that was bad for me. And now they tell me their problems they had with their parents because they didn’t let them go out. I’m just like, “You shouldn’t be mad at them because they are actually doing you a favor, and trust me you’re not going to understand till you have your own kids and you feel how your parents feel. Then you’re going to remember and say, “My parents were right” and regret everything you did to them. Now that I finally live on my own and feel what my parents went through, I wish that I would have behaved differently and not done the things I did. But stuff happens for a reason and my reason was for me to be more mature and become a better person, someone who my parents wished or pictured me to be. I know that even though I’ve made mistakes my parents are still proud of me. They would have liked for it to happen a different way, but, no, instead I decided to learn the hard way. Well, that’s what they say. And I’m going to graduate, and go to college, and get a career, and become someone in life, not only to show my parents but to show all those haters out there that just because I had a son at a young age doesn’t mean I wasn’t going to be able to become someone in life. Estefani Ontiveros

La Revolución 2013

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Norberto Quiroz 134

John H. Reagan Early College High School

Nice Guys Finish Last

Longest Dance

They say nice guys finish last. I guess the selfish finish first. Being first means you’ll finish fast, And that you’ll also finish the worst.

Sunny Nice Guy I want to see how deep we could go Deeper until there’s no more weeps No more harm for us Now we could focus on our discussion I’ll be your cushion when you feel pain

While you’re trying to finish quick, The nice guy is taking his time. Being patient is how he gets his kicks. Enjoying every minute of his climb.

Let’s dance in the rain Waltz until we fall in each other’s arms I’ll hold you close never letting go I see in your eyes You wonder if this love would ever die...

So be selfish if you dare. In the moment is where you’ll live. Living wrong and without a care. A helping hand is what you’ll never give.

You been on the tip of my tongue like taste buds Since the first day I saw you You’ve inspired my awes

You’ll move too fast for anyone to follow. Throwing off anyone who grabs on. The nice guy sets out a pillow. Comforting anyone who tags along.

When we touch everything is intense I forget about the world Lose my sense This love is great You make my heart rate beat too fast

You’ll finish feeling exhausted and aged. Being cold with no one around. Watching as the nice guy takes the stage. Full of warmth and friends, with a strong foundation of ground.

I promise you’ll look back to the past And remember the best times you’ve ever had Oh yes, I’ll make this last

So yeah, the nice guy finishes last. But from the start it wasn’t a race. Keep this in mind before you dash. And only move at your own pace!

A hundred years has passed us And I remember everyday as a blast I can still hear your laugh... As I lay on that bed I hold your hand I still see the girl I fell in love with You still leave me breathless So breathless I think I see death... Well it’s time for me to go So please do me a favor Be happy

Edward Estrada

Dream about moon light Find what you love about sun In time all things shine Keyera Turner

Sincerely yours, And yours alone Edwin your fool to hold Edwin Zepeda La Revolución 2013

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Artists and Authors Artists Angelica Carbajal 129 Bruno Estrada 14, 67, 85 Carvin Davidson 76, 125 Cierra Hurrell 32 Demond Stovall 94 Eduardo Cervantes 73, 101 Elizabeth Torres 130 Gaby Reveles 129 Gustavo Vasquez 112, 129 Israel Jimenez 42 Jordan Blake 49 Juan Mendieta 74, 113 Kenia Rodriguez 105 Kika 109

Lucio Jaimez

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Norberto Quiroz Peyton Murphy Prospero H. Rita Mendez Ruth Mendez Sugey Zavala Trevon Gray Trevon Gray Vanessa O. Yesina Diaz Zulma Sanchez

134 125 79 117 132 53, 100 19, 72 72 130 109 104

Aaliyah Clarkson Adrian Alvare Aimee Hernandez Alejandra Coronilla Amanda Garza Amanda Martinez Amberly Pina Andromeda Vega Anfernee Caro Angela Buckingham Angelica Carbajal Angelic Casarez Angel Martinez Angel Waldon April Marshall Arturo Garcia Ashley Duran Aya Noor Ali Brenda Moran Brenda Nieto

Authors 67, 127, 130 119 30 107 60, 68 81, 83 49 111 69 114 22 121 127 61, 110 118 30 55, 91 17 83, 85, 89, 91, 105 21

Calixto Robledo Carina Leonides Carlos E. Lopez Carlos Plasen Cia Carlos Romero Carlos Sanchez Carmen Garcia Casandra Del Castillo Ceci Lopez Celso Sanchez Chris Fresch Christian Albiter Christopher Mewborn Cierra Hurrell Cintia Vilchis Dalia Esparza Dalia Esparza-Zapata David Delgado Dawndreia Mays Deborahlynn Rucker Dejone Wright Delvi Santana Demetria Harris Derionna Nicholson Desere Williams Desiree Bonner Diana Hernandez Dominique Taylor Edith Tavera Eduardo Castelan Eduardo Jaimes Eduardo Martinez Edward Estrada Edwin Lundy Edwin Zepeda Elizabeth Vargas Enereida Barcenas Erika Derramona Erika Maldonado Erik Ramos Esperanza Martinez Estefani Ontiveros Evelin Real Francisca Sanchez Francisco Flores Gabriela Garcia Gairo Rodrigues Graciela Sierra Guadalupe Guzman Gustavo Vazquez Hellen Mendoza

114 37, 129 111 29 126 36 119 37, 38 51, 111 70 44 120 52, 110 32 48 118 39, 40, 101 114, 122 116 9, 16, 61, 96, 97 34 98 17, 22 66 59, 98 120 65 99 93 46, 102, 103 118 59 85, 88, 90, 100, 135 88 135 69 119 70, 119 60, 110 110 86, 95, 113 133 19, 24 44, 123 122 62, 111 40 75, 99 81 102, 103 86, 87, 89, 91

Horacio Pacheco 13, 20, 106 Hugo A. Lopez 12, 16, 21, 22 Iris Aguilar Escobedo 99 Isaiah Wilson 110 Ismael Cornejo 126, 127 Jacquez Price 9 Jaime Olea 57 Jalen Reasonover 62, 98 Jamal Robinson 120 James Chapman 80 Jamie Sorrells 114 Jarell Nesbitt 87 Jason Dominguez 46, 102, 103 Jennifer Ponce 11 Jermaun DeFreeze 119 Jesse Esparza 123 Jordan Blake 49 Jordan Vasquez 63 Jorge Ubaldo 81 Jose D. Aviles 94 Joseph Dunlap 114, 115 Joseph Pulido 115 Josh Shahhosseini 114 Josue Rios 123 Juan Jaramillo 24 Julissa Gonzalez 122 Karina Vences 93 Karla U. Guzman 97 Keiko Harris 31, 41, 43, 46 Kelin Cisneros 28 Keyera Turner 135 Kiana Jones 56 Kimberly Romero 39, 40, 41, 78, 101, 130 Kylie Garrett 26, 35, 40, 41, 45, 104 Laura Sanchez 51 Lety Montes 107 Lily Par 71 Lizbeth Cortes 126, 127, 130 Lorena Estrad 28, 102, 103 Makayla Wright 23 Marcos Flores 29 Margarita Alvarez 99 Maria G. Meza 15 Maria Meza 55, 118 Maribel Lopez 123 Mario Uribe 106, 121 Maritza Garcia 76, 107 Markeisha Cavanaugh 82 Marqual Reyes 71

Mateo L. Mauro Mota Maydelee Marino Meena Rai Meliza Medrano Michael Majano Michael Salazar Michael Teague Miriam Ontiveros Mona Jeizan Myron Jefferson Nancy Villarruel Naomi Castelan Neiwah Borders, Jr. Nestor Govea Nexli Benitez Nick Sylvain Omar Sanchez Pamela Aguilar Paula Serrano Paul Mannie Pedro Bautista Psalm Williams Raulito Arteaga Ricardo Diaz Rodolfo Sanchez Samanta Barreto Sandra Nyamuhebe Saragail Ledgister Sara Garcia Sara Garcia Catalan Selena G. Sergio Hernandez Stephanie Orteg Tamayra Davis Tamera Akins Tania Rodriguez Tiara Beam Tomas Soto Travis Scott Trevon Gray Vanessa Carreon Vanessa Castillo Victor Coronado Walter Santos Xavian Clayborne Yaritza Quezada Yosef Habtegiorgis Ziara Mckenzie

98 118 64, 66, 67, 69 90 58, 65, 98 119 47, 48, 102, 116 73 56, 59 63 71 15, 45, 111, 47 78, 80 78 115, 122 78, 107 59 106, 115 106 27 115 107, 122, 126 92, 93, 96, 106 123 122 50, 99 107 15 38, 48, 50, 116 118 34, 35, 37, 39, 47 51 62 111 9, 13, 25, 28, 127, 130 12, 13, 33, 91, 97 110 98 33 32 66 33, 44, 46, 109, 127, 130 126 68 83, 84 65 102, 103 58, 61, 71, 77, 120, 126 52, 55, 64