mindfullness

[digital art by grace comstock ‘24]

“who i used to be”

[poem by lilly mcandrews ‘24] am i pretty yet

I miss the little girl who spend hours with her barbies then went outside in those little pink rain boots splashed in the puddles and mud the girl who wasn’t worried about her future I miss the little girl who would speed around on her bike then went inside in the childhood kitchen watched mom make mac & cheese I miss the little girl who played just dance on her brother’s wii then went to her room in the pink and green bed sheets smiled as her dad tucked her for bed the girl who wasn’t thinking about college I miss the little girl who smiled all the time in the photos hung on the walls the girl who was just growing up I miss the little girl who I used to be.

“i’m the girl who”

[poem by coventry thompson ‘25]

I’m the girl who walks with pride I’m the girl who speaks her mind

I’m the girl who wants to win I’m the girl who “never shuts up”

What is wrong with me?

You say I need to shut up and sit down

You say I need to stick to my place I don’t understand why I am so wrong

I’m the girl who is passive

I’m the girl who puts others before herself I’m the girl who prefers to listen I’m the girl who finds strength in kindness

Am I not enough?

You say I don’t “break glass ceilings”

You say I am a doormat

I don’t understand why I am not enough I am just being me

I’m the girl who can never escape the bind Of what a woman is “supposed to be”

“distance”

[poem by lilly mcandrews ’24] there is such a big difference between a man and a woman it is not one’s appearance but rather it’s the experience that we women have ones that men could never understand our accomplishments are seen as simple something that a man could earn millions for so we tell our daughters work really hard never give up while our sons hear go have fun as if we must work our 9 to 5 before our 9th birthday get up wake up no matter your age you must play catch up because the big difference is the big distance

Away From Here

[digital art by yena kelly ’25]

Growth

[pen drawing by lucy mendenhall ’26]

“the barnacle”

[poem by abby mcguire ’25]

You latched on and you wouldn’t let go

But I, chained in empathy, trapped providing for you Helping you, answering your every command.

Life was hard on you.

Locked in the deepest oceans, you craved connections

But you were lazy, you waited until you drifted to higher waters.

You found me basking in the warm waters of an aquamarine reef

You were small at first, I barely noticed you. But you seemed lonely, so I let you stay along.

Every failure of mine somehow fueled you

So you grew

And I could no longer pry you from my skin

It was too long, too much

So I scraped you off my arm and stared in disgust as you struggled and suffocated

And you begged for my help and my saving grace

But I watched you were caught up in the tide, clothed in muddy waters

You complained and argued, But you quickly found another.

Latching on and on and again and again Forevermore.

My happiness defined as my hair

Sometimes slicked and straight

Sometimes curly and big

But always labeled as untamed my hair

Not like a line uncaged

More like an art form that is based in rage

Raged because the titles it’s been named

A feeling that is most put me to shame

Seeing that my hair can only be seen

As professional and clean when it is deemed to fit beauty standards that were not made to fit me

Although it’s not like me to scream

I seethe at the mockery you have made of me

Using my hair styles as a way to be unique

But when I tell you not to

I am simply not to speak

Yet, I still defined my hair as my happiness

Because it’s worth fighting for to me