My name is Brianna Perrin and I am a senior at Science Leadership Academy. For my capstone I decided to create a PSA and documentary about teenage issues. Topics that I went over were depression, self-harm, suicide, homosexuality, sexual harassment, etc. How my capstone addresses the SLA core values is by learning how to test them in different areas to see the outcome. Of course the outcome wasn't always positive but I was able to understand people's views and opinions by using them. Another thing that I did for my capstone was have mini projects throughout the year. Some mini projects were the NOH8 Photo shoot, Teens For Jeans Drive, Blood Drive, etc. Having these mini projects helped address SLA core values while also having the school be involved in different things and be more aware of topics that are heavily discussed in the world.

2:37. Dir. Murali K. Thalluri. Perf. Teresa Palmer and Frank Sweet. 2006. DVD.

This film has multiple features - lighting, acting, film angles, etc. that I find helpful for my project. This is another teen movie but it still allows myself and other people to see what it is like for a teenager put into situations and how they deal with them.

ABC Family. Dir. Charles Binamé. Perf. Emily Osment and Kay Panabaker. ABC Family. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2013.

This is another film has helped with different film aspects that I might want to use. Also this movie can give ideas and more insight to how I want to portray my movie.

Crook, Marion. Please, Listen to Me!: Your Guide to Understanding Teenagers & Suicide. North Vancouver, B.C.: Self-Counsel, 1992. Print.

This book is helpful because it allows me to get from personal teenagers how they got help from someone from either telling them or someone found them. Having this aspect will allow me to get across in my movie that getting help is hard for teenagers especially if people don’t see the red flags from the beginning.

"Cutting - From the Teenager's Perspective _____________________________________________________*." Cutting - From the Teenager's Perspective _____________________________________________________*. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.

This book is helpful because it again allows me to get insight from different teenagers about what cutting is, what it does to them and how it started. Having more stories to be able to tell helps it be more relatable instead of just using my story.

Danquah, Meri Nana-Ama. Shaking the Tree: A Collection of New Fiction and Memoir by Black Women. New York: W.W. Norton, 2003. Print.

This book is helpful because it is a book of monologues by African American women who have gone through depression and other areas. The monologues talk about their problems, how they get help, having someone try to give them an intervention, etc. This helps with writing my own monologues for when I talk about myself.

Hayman, James. The Cutting. New York: Minotaur, 2009. Print.

This source is useful because it is focused on different characters dealing with different things in their lives. This focuses on a few characters that deal with cutting which is a form of self mutilation/self harm.

Levenkron, Steven. Cutting: Understanding and Overcoming Self-mutilation. New York: W.W. Norton, 1998. Print.

This source I found useful because it is giving people a further insight into what self-mutilation it and how to overcome it. This is helpful to people who are actually self-mutilating but I found it also useful for people who found out that someone they care about self-mutilates. It helps them understand what it is, why someone might do it and resources that they can use or get to help that person.

Marcovitz, Hal. Teens and Suicide. Philadelphia: Mason Crest, 2004. Print.

This source is useful because it talks about teens and suicide rates that continue to rise. It has statistics, stories and more resources to further understand and learn why the rates are increasing.

Marone, Nicky. How to Mother a Successful Daughter: A Practical Guide to Empowering Girls from Birth to Eighteen. New York: Harmony, 1998. Print.

I chose this source because I found self help books interesting but particularly this one. A majority of teenagers get depressed because of the high standards and the pressure that they feel their parents put on them. Have this as a source gives me insight to how a mother wants to raise their daughter and the expectations they have for them.

Martin, Michael. Teen Depression. Detroit: Thomson/Gale, 2005. Print.

This source is basically self explanatory. This goes more into the topic of teenage depression and still having good statistics. It also explains the different stages of depression and how if the teenager does not get help for their depression how it can further to worse stuff. This includes an eating disorder, suicidal thoughts and self mutilation.

"National Self Harm Network - Home." National Self Harm Network - Home. National Self Harm Network, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.

This source is good because this is a national website that many people might turn to for multiple things. They can help people in how to get to help to clinics to how to help someone who does self harm themselves. It is also a great source for statistics.

"Replace The Blade." Webs. Connie, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.

This source is important because it goes into different support systems for people who self-harm. It is not specified for a specific age group but just overall talking and explaining the cons of self-harming and why it is better to get help and put the blade down.

Roleff, Tamara L. Teen Suicide. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 2000. Print.

This source is important because it is a book focused on teen suicide. It also does into depth about the different ways teens commit suicide and the objectives that might lead them to consider or commit suicide.

Sheahan, Gwenneth, and Soren Dayton. "Secret Shame (self-injury Information and Support)."

Secret Shame (self-injury Information and Support). N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.

This source is helpful because it goes more into depth about different types of self-injury and how people resort to the different types. It also gives insight to the support that each of the different types has.

"To Write Love on Her Arms Vision." To Write Love on Her Arms Vision. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cook sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, gently  swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture turns golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Immediately, pour the caramel carefully into a 9-inch round metal cake pan. If it stiffens before it completely covers the bottom of the pan, warm the pan in the oven, then swirl to cover the bottom.
3. Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer at medium-high speed until soft. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides. Add condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla; mix until combined. Carefully pour into the prepared pan. (You may hear some cracking; the pan will be very full.)
4. Place the cake pan in a larger pan and pour enough hot water around it to come 1 inch up the sides. Bake until golden and set at the edges but still wobbly at the center, about 1 hour. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean. Transfer the cake pan to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. To serve, run a knife around the edge of the pan and invert the flan onto a plate.
   

The creative piece that I decided to create was a rap/poem. The rap/poem has three parts. Basically they are describing the theme public versus private self and judgement put onto people from society. The first rap/poem it is describing the three most common things that African American males are known for or judged on. In the second rap/poem it is describing the three most common things that African American females are known for or judged on. In the beginning of each poem the male/female is describing how society views them negatively. Than later on in the poems it shows how they person actually is and the dreams or missions that they want to accomplish in the future. In the third poem, it is relating more to me and what I choose to show publicly and keep in privately. Another theme that ties into the third poem is secrets and how they can have consequences to them. The third poem is describing the struggles that I had to go through with my depression and self-harming. The reason I chose to write this poem besides the theme was because it made me relate to Hester and Juno. They both wore their “sins” on the outside (Hester – scarlet letter/ Juno – pregnant) and so did I (scars). All three of the raps/poems is meant to show the stereotypes that are put on people by society even though society does not know us individually.

My process for creating this creative piece was difficult. At first I wanted to do a dance than I switched into doing visual art and settled for a written piece. I wanted to being more of me into the project while still working around The Scarlet Letter and Juno. I am not the best writer so to want to do this type of project I know from the beginning would be difficult. Than I started playing around with the words and people that I know. Another issue that came up a lot was deciding whether or not to talk about my depression and self-harming. Most people see me as the happy, outgoing and helpful girl that is always there for her friends. Topics like this and others I don't really talk much about unless there is someone that can relate to me and they need advice. I do SAT for health but even when we discuss issues like these I still feel uncomfortable because I feel I am letter my guard down which I don't like to. It just came down to whether or not I wanted to put my personal life online for people all over the world to see.

Overall I am proud of my project because of the amount of detail that I put into the rap/poem. I personally am not a strong creative writer. I do write poems, stories and essays and when I can relate to the prompt or my beliefs agree with it than I can write a stronger writing piece. For this creative project, I was able to be creative with people that I know on a daily basis. There are people in my life who are womanizers or flirts or they are just another statistic so it was just easier to things to come to me. I am also proud of how I decided to put myself and the issues that I have gone through on paper and online. This is not just a poem that relates to the themes of the two literacy but it is also me being comfortable enough to share and allow other people to know me who haven't met me.

Even though there are a number of things I liked about my project there are also things that I could have done better on. Those things personally is the detail of the rap/poem for the female. Even though I am a female and issues surrounding females should come easy to me, it was difficult with putting that into a poem. Throughout the male rap/poem you see transition when the person switched, rhymes, more flow/beat with the words and more detail overall. For the female I feel as though that I hit the surface or picked stereotypes that are hard to describe.

If I could do this all over again what I would do different is the way I present the project. The first and second rap/poem is meant to be a bounce off of three different people. The first paragraph is one person, the second another person, the third another person and the fourth paragraph back to the first person. Basically a flow of different voices so you can recognize the voices differently and actually see the progress they made or showing you how the way society views them doesn't matter as long as they succeed. The format I would do differently is maybe an audio, video going between three people or having it down in person by doing a group project.

1. ​What went well was the amount of information we were able to get about our topic. We were able to split up the work but still were able to understand all of the topic and information that we gathered/
2. What did not went well was being able to put all of the information of the poster without overwhelming everyone.
3. What I would do differently next time is be a way to find a way to obtain and put the information on the poster in a better way.
4. Specifically comment on the 10 tips for effective infographics - 

Be Concise - each number of objects represent a number

Be Visual - things were colorful

Be Smarter -

Be Transparent

Be Different - used cartoons

Be Accurate - same amount of cartoons stood for something

Be Attractive - it was colorful and looked entertaining

Be Varied

Be Gracious

Be Creative - cartoon animals

The areas that we excelled in for different and creative because we used animated objects that people wouldn't usually use. Areas that were not so well represented I think some elements of design were easier or harder because it just depends on the amount of information that you have. It's hard to condense so much information on a poster board without doing too much.

“What causes systematic and individual change”?

-      What causes systematic and individual change is depending on how passionate someone is about a certain topic or idea. Systematic change comes from a group that can agree on something that will either be better or worsen the community. Individual change comes from a person that is willing to take that extra step to change something about them that will help their community.

 What questions do you still have about “Business in America”?

 - How can the value of money in America be compared throughout history?

 - During different time period, how have the lower class adapted to different changes?

1. ​Cuando empezamos la unidad, pensé que Hugo Chávez era una buena persona. Él ayudó a dar a los EE.UU. con el petróleo, que ayudó a su pueblo, y fue elegido presidente de trece años, por lo que debe ser la mejora de la comunidad y la economía. Después de oír esto, las palabras que vinieron a la mente era el líder, el ayudante, el cuidador, y flexible, con lo que todo el mundo estaba feliz.
2. Lo que aprendí de él fue todo lo contrario. Sí, sí ayuda a su pueblo, sino que también manipula y miente a la gente para conseguir lo que quiere. Él se preocupa más por los ricos que los pobres. Es aún peor cuando la educación y la velocidad de lectura es menor que cuando Fidel Castro era el líder de Cuba.
3. Ahora soy la oposición. Yo no votaría por él con el I Were a Venezuela por la forma en que realmente actúa. Por supuesto que no saber lo que realmente sucede en Venezuela desde que yo no vivo allí, pero desde los medios de comunicación y parece diferente. Admito que es el líder y quiere lo mejor para qué está la gente, pero tal vez lo que es mejor para el pueblo no es lo que piensa Cuál es el mejor para los personas en Venezuela.
   
4. Lo que más me gustó de esta unidad estaba recibiendo nuestras opiniones por ahí y realmente tener más debates. Por lo general, en la clase tenemos un hecho y que es lo que es, pero ahora es mejor para debatir, para que podamos conseguir que ambos lados del argumento.

Me llamo Machuca y tengo diez años. Soy de Santiago, Chile, y yo había vivo aquí todo mi vida.  Mi religión es Cristianismo y mi clase economica es la clase obrera. Mi familia no tienen mucho dinero. Mi madre es un trabajadora en mi barrio y ella toma cuida de mi. Mi papa es un alcohólico y utiliza todo su dinero a por el licor. Mis amigos son Gonzalo y Silvanah. La clase economica y social de Gonzalo son, la clase media, pero Silvanah es en la clase obrera con mi. Yo fueron a una escuela para niños en la clase alta. El sacerdote, Father McEnroe quise nos caen bien juntos pero la mayoría de los padres de los niños no quieren sus niños ser en el mismo escuela tan los chicos pobres. En mi país, el comunismo y socialismo son los cosas que son cambian pronto. El EEUU y la clase alta tuvieron el golpe estado en contra el presidente Salvador Allende. La tensión entre de el EEUU y Russia desbordado en la patría de Chile. La minoría de la gente quiere Allende rendirse poder o por lo menos quiere derrocar él porque la gente no piensa que él puede lleva al país. Por lo que sé, el Presidente Allende se suicidó. Y con eso, se desató el infierno y terminó la presidencia de Allende. La amistad de nosotros es muy especial por què el es muy differente, el es de la clase alta obvio què yo no soy de su misma clase. Despuès què paso la accion de el 11 de septiembre en el año 1973 la amistad de nosotros se destruyo por el golpe de estado llamado la guerra fria.

Este mural se llama “Muchacha Ante El Espejo” y fue pintado por Pablo Picasso. En este mural hay una mujer que está mirándose en el espejo. Para mi, ella no puede ver lo mismo. Su visual es un color más claro naranja y amarillo, mientras que el reflejo es de color rojo y oscuro. Esto simboliza para mí que la gente puede parecer / aparecer de una manera / o te miran de una manera, pero la forma en que ve a sí mismo podría ser todo lo contrario y diferente a lo que la gente podría haber pensado.

Los Estados Unidos no le gusta Allende porque el era esta aliado con URSS y Los Estados Unidos no le gusta URSS, porque la pais apoyaba comunismo. Allende apoyaba socialismo, pero Los Estados Unidos todavía no le gusta y quería un presidente nueva. Entonces, en Septiembre 11 de 1973, Allende suicidarse y después, General Augusto Pinochet era presidente. Cuando el tomar poder, el no usaba socialismo, pero el usaba capitalismo y era muy estricto con tortura y otras cosas mal.

Day 34. I’m already starting to notice the changes in my self and others. We can’t believe this is happening. We have wings. It’s like we’re angels. But angels know where they came from and who they are. I can’t remember anything after escaping the school and people in white cloaks. I see my little sister Angel playing with Harmony. They are so young and naïve. They just are as confused as we are. Red is getting firewood for the night. He is so strong and is there for us even though we barely know him. The only person I know is my sister. Red and Harmony we found while trying to escape the school. Are there others out there like us? Are they different? Why did they want to experiment on kids? Those questions won’t be answered any time soon. Maybe when we do find them, than they can become apart of our family. Or flock.

Melody’s’ eyes started to flutter as she fell asleep. The next morning the shine was shining brightly over the ocean. She stretched and tried to feel for her sister that always slept with her, even when they were younger. Once she didn’t feel her sisters’ body she jolted up. No one was there. Not Red nor Harmony, not even Angel. The only thing next to her was a note. It said:

I have you sister and the rest of your friends too. If you know what’s good for you and them, you better come home now. Your decision between whether they die or not. Your choice.

With anger, she screamed at the top of her lungs as her wings came out of her back. Slow and steady and white as snowflakes, they picked her up from the ground and she flew back to the school.

Finally she got there within the hour. She realized that they were closer than she thought. But when you’re trying to run, or rather fly, home is always closer than you think. This isn’t home to her. This is prison, where they prick needles in her skin and watch her like a lab rat.

“Melody!”

            She heard a scream. It sounded like Angel. She started running as fast as she can, into a battle scene room. Big as a gymnasium with padding, almost like a training center. Suddenly, three men in white cloaks grabbed her. They help her hands behind her back and she had no have of escaping without hurting herself.

 “No! Let go of me! Where is Angel? Angel! Harmony! Red!" she started.

 “Angel!” she cried out as she saw her little sister being held at gunpoint by a man in all black. She noticed it said FBI on his badge, was he a detective.

Scared and afraid, her wings glided open as white as pigment but smooth as the wind. Her wings flutter, babies eyes when they start to first open. She stares down her enemy showing that she is not afraid.

"Let her go!” she demanded.

"Now why would I do that? She is too precious and we might use her for more experiments and possibly other things. " he replied while a sinister grin spread across his face. “Try to fight them than I’ll kill her just liked I killed your friends.” He says as he points across the room.

She swayed her head to the other side of the room and sees Harmony and Reds’ lifeless body lying on the floor. Blood is oozing out from the gunshots that are placed in their heads. Red’s eyes stare blankly at her almost have if they’re saying why did you have him kill me? She quickly turned away and repeated with anger “Let her go!”

The sinister grin was still on his face and his lips slowly said, “Come. Get. Her.”

Her wings started to swing and sweep in more wind with every push. The look in her eyes was pain and anger that could pierce through any soul. She dove in the crowd of people with white cloaks. Fast moving bullets shot out of the guns trying to shoot her down. But she was determined. Fast and quick she glided over the enemies trying to safely get Angel. But she wasn’t quick enough; the FBI agent pointed his gun in the air and shot her point blank in the stomach. As if in slow motion, she fell to the ground.

“Melody!” her sister screamed and she ran to her sister’s side.

            As soon as she got to her sister’s side, the FBI agent shot Angel right in her chest. Her sister watched and screamed out in pain as her sister collapsed to the ground. Melody reached out for her dying sister and pulled her close.

“It hurts.” Angel started to whimper.

“I know it does.” Melody replied. “Just relax and the pain will go away.” She said with tears slowly going down her face. “I love you Angel so much. Now we can be together forever in peace.”

“I love you too.” As she said those four words, Angels’ body went lifeless as her eyes started to close.

            The FBI agent looked into Melody’s eyes and she thought This is it. All this and I was going to get killed anyway. I’m sorry Angel I couldn’t save you. He shot her in the head. Once her head dropped to the floor in defeat, he turned around to look at the men in cloak and said, “Next time try using younger kids. They don’t talk back as much and they cooperate. If another experiment tries to escape or leave the school…Get. Rid. Of. Them. By any costs. There is no contemplating. We invested to much money into this avian project. Now clean this up and get back to work.” He looked back at the work that he has done. As he walked away he thought It would be cool to have wings.

Mi nombre es Brianna Perrin y la pieza que me decidí a crear fue "Puertas a la Paz" por Joe Brenman, ubicado en 1501 Calle Germantown. . Yo vivo en el suroeste de Filadelfia, que es considerado el "ghetto". Mi comunidad no tiene mucha historia que era importante o significativa a nadie fuera de mi barrio. La mayoría de las personas en nuestra comunidad son ancianos o niños pequeños. No hay una gran cantidad de personas de mediana edad. Mi comunidad nunca es tranquilo y que no siempre es una buena cosa. En los parques que tienen un montón de fiestas o eventos sociales. A veces, los acontecimientos pueden terminar duradera durante toda la noche sobre todo con la música a todo volumen. Puede haber momentos en los que no se llevan bien, pero en general estamos ahí el uno al otro, especialmente durante los malos tiempos.

Para mi mural que recrea "Puertas a la Paz" por Joe Brenman. El diseño en mi mural es que la palabra paz se escribe hacia abajo y cada letra representa una palabra. Así que en general cada letra representa una palabra y cada vez que dicen que la palabra paz que en realidad significa lo que cada letra se presenta. La razón por la que eligieron las flores para el fondo es porque las flores son la naturaleza y el color de cada uno de una flor significa cosas diferentes. Morado es sinónimo de encanto. Cuando yo era decorar y pegar palabras, yo no tenía un patrón determinado color, o una fuente que tenía la intención de usar. Las cartas fueron al azar. Pero yo quería que las palabras fluyan juntos. Paz significa "la paz y la educación abre el éxito de la Comunidad". Sine este mural se está creando en la comunidad un poco mal, pensé que tenía que significar algo importante. Tener la paz y la educación en una comunidad puede ayudar a abrir más la participación, el amor y cuidado por los demás.

En mi opinión, el papel del arte público es mostrar a la comunidad que a pesar de que es posible vivir en una comunidad mal, la gente de que todavía pueden unirse para crear algo hermoso. Mi obra es arte porque es demostrando buenas intenciones y el mural tiene un mensaje detrás de ella. Mi opinión de mi pieza es que me gusta la forma en que tomó el mural original y lo convirtió en el mío, sin cambiar mucho. En el mural original se puede ver sólo una puerta y la palabra paz en diferentes idiomas. Circundante que es diferentes símbolos que representan la paz. En mi arte, me hizo lo mismo pero más colores y traté de hacerlo más moderno.

 Para mi, la eutanasia no es un crimen. Como yo lo entiendo, en España, la eutanasia no es legal o es legal pero necesito los jueces a aprobar. Es ridículo que los jueces creen que los personas que están sufrieran necesitan a vivir. No es justo por los jueces a imponer sus creencias a Ramón Sampedro. Ramón esta lucido y el entiendo que para quitarse la vida, es necesario por otros personas a ayudar Ramón. Ramón tiene el derecho a tomar la decisión y es los mas importante a respetar el deseo de Ramón.   

Yo estoy de acuerdo con Ramón, pienso que una persona tiene el derecho a escoger que pasa con su vida, y cuando piensa que no es digna, puede quitarse la vida. Yo pienso que sí fuera un tetrapléjico, me quitaría mi vida también, porque no pienso que es una vida digna, porque no puedes hacer nada. Yo pienso que la muerte es una cosa que la persona puede escoger, es la vida de la persona, y no de los otros.

En mi opinion, Mar Adentro era una película buena. Era marvilloso, deprimente, y controvertido. El reparto son muy bueno, ellos tienen mucho emoción todo la pelicula. Mi mejor actor lation era, Alejandro Amenábar y el es fantástico en la película. El no están un tetrapléjico pero el jugar el parte de un tetrapléjico muy bueno. Los actiones de al y el tono de la voz de el son muy emotionale. La actuación del reparto para mi, era muy bueno porque los personas tienen mucho emotionales en los actiones y las palabras ellos dicen. Me convencieron de los emotionales y yo llorar un poquito.

La guítara y un edificio.

La communidad le gustan música y querar personas que tocaba música.

Q:Do you know why they vote on Tuesday?

A: Truthfully no. And honesty it's a waste, time off from work that I don't need.

Q:Do you think it's important that young people vote?

A: I do believe that young people should vote. But I don't think they should vote until they are in their 20's. They are just beginning to vote and don't know how to works and their vote might not even count until a more important and memorable election.

Q:How long have you been voting?

A: For 10 > years

Q: How far do you live from the polls?

A: I live just around the corner

Q: Do you think it's hard for other people to come and vote?

A: Yes I do. Like I said earlier it cuts time out of work.

Q: Have you voted everywhere?

A: No I have not.

Q: If voting were online, would you consider it voting every year?

A: No, because I'm not into technology since I'm older. But yes because it would be more convenient to other people.

Q: Do you have any comments for people who aren't voting?

A: Just go out and vote. It might be hard but in the end your point will get across and your voice will be heard.

(Interviewed 5 people with similar responses. Some were one worded answers due to rushed time while others were more elaborate)

Yo soy especial y individeal. Tengo diecisiete años. Tengo dos hermanos y dos hermanas, que me convierte en un hijo del medio. Soy puertorriqueño y afro-americana. Abrazo tanto mi cultura hispánica y africana y el patrimonio. Para mi la cultura africana, que la investigación de la cultura y aprender más acerca de mi gente y de dónde vengo. Con mi lado hispano que hablan español en casa, comer comida española, bailar salsa y aprender más sobre él. Mi comida favorita es español arroz y frijoles, patelillos, y tostones. También me gusta el flan, ya que es muy dulce. Mis amigos pueden decir que soy español, con mi acento. Cuando hablo con gente de mi r y de s ir de mi boca que me hace tener un acento. De mi pueblo outter aspecto no creo que estoy mezclado con Puerto Rico, sólo afroamericanos.

Mi apariencia externa le puede decir que sonreír, reír, y me gusta hablar con mucha gente. Tener estas cosas hace que sea más fácil hacer nuevos amigos. Mis amigos me dicen que estoy siempre feliz, sonriendo, riendo y actuar como un loco. Mi mejor amigo, Meca está en todas mis clases. Incluso se dice que soy raro, pero me gusta ser extraño. Cuando estoy en un entorno que no sé yo soy bonita, pero tímida y callada. Estoy corto y curvas con los ojos marrones y cabello castaño oscuro. Mi tono de piel es caramelo, como los dulces. Mi forma de vestir también expresa mis sentimientos y lo que soy. Me gusta usar pantalones y zapatillas de deporte en lugar de faldas y vestidos. Me gustan los colores sólidos en lugar de una camiseta con varios colores o un ramo de flores, corazones y estrellas en ella. Mis colores favoritos son el azul, negro y rojo.

Yo soy diferente, divertida, inteligente y feliz. Yo soy amable y alegre con mis buenos amigos. Me importa mucho la autoestima de la familia y la educación. Yo hablo con mis amigos todos los días y puedo hablar con ellos acerca de todo. Diferentes personas hablar conmigo de todo tipo de grupos, como inteligente, gracioso, geeks, los deportistas, los puertorriqueños, afroamericanos, asiáticos, etc Me gusta escuchar música, escribir poemas, cantar y bailar a la música clásica. Mis intereses incluyen lectura, escritura, libros, arte, animales, y las matemáticas. Mi clase favorita es matemáticas porque me gusta pensar. Tengo dos perros, Miley y Koda. Yo también tengo un gatito llamado Mikko. Puedo jugar con mis animales todos los días. Cuando tengo frío por la noche, dormía conmigo. Pero también me despierto temprano en la mañana.

Lo que la gente no se puede decir de mi apariencia outter es que yo respeto y cuidado de mis amigos mucho. Dios quiere que yo haría cualquier cosa por ellos sólo para asegurarse de que son seguros. Esto influye en mi vida porque yo hago cosas para mis amigos cuando tienen un vínculo con ellos como la confianza y podemos ser honestos conmigo. Si no son honestos que ¿por qué debería confiar en ellos cuando me piden algo. Me dan el respeto que desea y obtendrá el mismo respeto a cambio. Si usted no hace nada para ganarse mi respeto, no le dan el respeto. Algunas personas no me quieren porque soy honesto acerca de mi opinión y porque no hago lo que ellos hacen. No salir de fiesta cada fin de semana o tener relaciones sexuales. Prefiero quedarme en casa cuidando de mis hermanos y la familia y ver películas de Disney. Mi película favorita de Disney es el Rey León.

the wave less curves and
movement on the paper from the pencil
the smooth combination of words
moving to their own beat
the poetic lyrics
moving through the endless
and limitless mind
I’m from the
"Be as free as a stallion
running through the fields"
Type of poetry thang

I’m from
the consequences
of being sulked and submerged
in the devil’s taste
seeing the movement of objects
that aren’t really there
From the let’s go have fun

From girls night out

Or guys free night
Type of one night stand thang

I’m from
some ignorant
and multied emotional eyes
From the side snickers and comments
that always revolve in a circular motion around
but never towards me
From the rolling of eyes
but inspired action
the "She'll never be good enough,
she's nothing."
Type of girl jealousy thang

I’m from
some moving as freely
as a ballet dancer
the not holding back,
breaking out
the crazy and fun rapid movement
of the frame and physic
the "Go on girl, do your thang"
Type of dancer thang

I’m from
I’ve been to more funerals than close friends
lonely nights laying
looking at the ceiling
wondering why not me?
From the that’s a cat scratch and I fell down
the steps marks
the long nights yelling and debating with
my authorities that have yet to realize
my full potential
From lost childhood and lost innocence
A gift that was taken by force and can never be given
Type of abusive thang

I’m from
some repeated beats
with the words changing
until it gets to the chorus
the precussion mixing slowly
with the classical music
the voice and tone escaping my mouth
to create a sympathy
that moves the crowd
the multi racial and artists
creating the change of people
to create a better world and society
Type of singer thang

I’m from
some dark, colored,
and faded skinny jeans
the Converse and All Stars'
swiftly moving across the solid
and unbreakable pavement
the plain but colored
sequenced t-shirts
the "I"m kinda a tomboy
and it's comfortable"
Type of skater girl thang
I’m from
just being beautiful me

            I slowly strolled down the vacant and wide hallway, carefully making my way down the small steep, still no one in sight. ‘I must be a few minutes early’, I thought to myself.  I then sit down, pull out my laptop, and opened Microsoft word. I hit the play button not sure what song will play, then I hear the instrumental of the song “Got Your Back” by T.I. featuring Keri Hilson. The smooth repeating beats started to play. As I hear the beats I started to write, not stopping to think but off the top of my head. I then felt a soft motion on my back. I pause the music and turn around to see one of my friends.

“Hey”

‘’Hey”

“What’s up?”

“Nothing much. Just listening to music.” My friend then looked over my head at my paper. She’s picked it up and started to read it.

“You writing a rap?”

“Yeah, why?”
“Nothin’, I just didn’t knew you rapped.”

“Not really. It’s just poetry I write and if I find a beat to match it then I rearrange the words.”

“Yo Bre.”
“Yea”

“Why you write so proper?”

“What do you mean?”
“Like you write the whole word out. Going, it’s ‘pose to be gonna, trying to be is ‘pose to be trynna be. If you supposed to be rapping you gotta rap like you black. Can’t use all these full and proper words. It don’t sound right. You sound so white.”

As she said those words, I thought about how I wrote and tried to relate it to how I talk. If I was doing the same thing but saying it out, the lyrics would have sounded a lot differently than how I would have written on paper.

In the words of James Baldwin, “It goes without saying, then, that language is also a political instrument, means, and proof or power. It is the most vivid and crucial key to identity: It reveals the private identity, and connects one with, or divorces one from, the larger, public, or communal identity.” What he’s saying is that people use different languages or dialogues in their multiple environments. This can also be known as code switching.

Growing up, my primary language was English, but since I am also Hispanic I also heard Spanish all around me. When I first started school, I was put into a Spanish Immersion Program where all my classes were taught in Spanish. When I was little I began to say small words like hola = hello, agua = water, and padre = father. I had taken the Spanish immersion classes until 5^th grade. I felt as though I had an advantage of everybody because I grew up hearing and beginning to speak Spanish.

A time when there was conflict dealing with my language was when I was in Spanish class in 7^th grade. No one was paying attention in class except for a few classmates and I. The next class period people who I haven’t even met before started to come and ask me to help with the Spanish homework. I asked them why me? They replied “because you’re Spanish you’re supposed to know this stuff.” Hearing that comment made me say no and continue to say no to anyone who asks me in the future. Not only are you stereotyping because of my race but you’re also assuming that since I talk Spanish in class, I talk it every single second of the day.

Another time there was a conflict with my language was when my friends and I were hanging out. There were a few business people walking around our school, and I was talking I guess you can say “ghetto”.

“Yo brov” said Person 1.

“What’s up man? Yo Bre” replied Person 2.

“Hey” I said.

“Whatsup witchu? Person 1 said.

“Nothin’ much, just chillin. Haven’t seen you in a minute.”

“Yeah I know. Been getting that bread.”

“O ok. You better be.”

From just hearing my voice and looking at me they assumed that I was unintelligent, loud, and unproper. But what they didn’t know what that I had to perform a welcome speech in front of them.

Once they saw me again about to perform my speech, I saw this look on their face. It looked as if their face was saying, 'she's going to act the same way she had before" But once I started speaking with a lot of new vocabulary that isn't on my grade level, my grammar, and the way my voice echoed throughout the auditorium, they looked and seemed shocked. As if they didn't think I could talk and act just like them. Caucasian, businessmen and businesswoman who has excellent vocabulary, speech, dialect, and can persuade an entire audience. I was just like them, the only different is my skin tone, race, and I'm a whole lot younger.

According to James Bolding, “language, also, far more dubiously, is meant to define the other—and, in this case, the other is refusing to be defined by a language that has never been able to recognize him” 

Language is a helpful way to see the personality or intelligence of the person speaking. It cannot completely define a person but it can show you where someone came from and the way they carry yourself.

How I wish I could look back to understand
Back to when lives were taken
Back to when families were separated
Back to when children were murdered
I wish I could have helped to same them
I wish I could have tried to understand this senseless taking of human life, they were no different than you or I
They did not deserve this pain, this torture
I wish I could look back to understand, to set lives free to learn their pain and frustration
Trying to understand;
I can hear their screams, I can hear their pain, I can hear their fear
I can hear a mother’s cry when children are shot down
Oh, that pain so great, so terrible
I can smell the odor, the odor of burning human life
I can smell the sweat, the sweat of hard labor
I can smell the fear, such an atrocity
I can see footage today, trying to learn what had happened to them
I watch the films today, trying to comprehend the pain they went through
We all see the pictures, watch the torture just trying to imagine this tragedy
But the fact is we can’t, unless our human life undergoes this
These poor people, my heart cries out but there is nothing I can do
Oh, please hear me. I am so sorry this had to happen to you
You time is, now, it is here, time o treat, time to be reunited and live everlasting in that great kingdom called HEAVEN

       My heart burns for your love

My lips burn for your kiss

My body burns for your touch

I wish I could love you

I wish I could kiss you

I wish I could touch you

There aren’t enough emotions in the world to express my love for you

But you don’t know how I feel

Not once have I felt your love

Not once have I felt your kiss

Not once have I felt your loving touch

If only I could

My world would be complete

If only you were in it

If only you could love me

Even if it’s only for a day

If I could love you, kiss you, and touch you

It will heal my burning desire

Blood slowly dripping down the wall and face

Bruises all over my body

What did I do to deserve this?

The only thing I did was love you and try to support you

You were supposed to love me not hurt me

Day after day, night after night

My body can’t take a lot of pain

My heart is about to burst

From all the anger, torture, and love you give me

I try my hardest to ignore it

But me trying doesn’t do anything

You still continue to do whatever you want to do to me

Why I let you do it

I don’t know

I don’t want to lose you, I love you too much

I want you to change for the better

I know what happened

We went through the same pain

We both saw the same things

Why do you have to do this?

You could express your pain in some other way

Don’t express your pain on me

I’m slowly falling, breaking, breaking falling

I can’t get up or get away

Your cries of hate always seem to find me

Hurt, crying, pain yelling

I’ll feel this pain until there’s nothing left of me

Just my cries of yelling “STOP” blowing in the wind

When you look at me

What do you see?

A copper colored girl

Soft and smooth like Barbie

The girl has hazel eyes

And long soft hair

Full bare lips

Boys can’t help but stare

A nice wide smile

And small chucky eyes

When wind is blown through her hair

It looks like it flies

She seems almost perfect

Always happy and smiling

But she’s hurting inside

So her true feelings stay hiding

When you look at me

What do you see

You can' always judge

People by how they loook

Get to know them

And read the pages of their storybook

They might surprise you

When starting this project I didn’t have a set idea on what I wanted to do. I never had a solid idea on how I wanted to make a project out of recycled material. At first I thought, wow a project made of recycled material this is a good idea. But I didn’t want to add none recycled material to it, I wanted to be made out of all recycled material. After thinking about a few ideas and sketching some ideas out I started coming up with some projects. I didn’t want the projects of projects just to do. I wanted them to be connected to me or relate to me somehow. What I had decided to do was paint over used cardboard boxes and cut and past letters and words from recycled magazines. After cutting out the letters and words I planned on making a poem about our environment and how recycling is a good idea. At first I didn’t have a poem on how to write it so I found a recycling poem that a 4^th grader had made, cited it and used it as part of my project. The world’s greatest artwork wasn’t finished in a day, and neither was mine. But I plan to finish the poem idea and place it on the school wall so that every one can see it.

Another idea I had was similar to the artist we saw at the exhibit. Her name was Aurora Robson. She took her nightmares and made them into her own creations. She took plastic caps, bottles, and string. She cut them and made them look like jellyfish and flowers hanging from the ceiling. My idea was to make the bottle caps and bottles into a collected of flowers. In my head I thought of paining them a light color so the glossy effect from the bottle still showed. I just started this project a few weeks ago and it’s taking me some time to do this project. I hope to also complete this project for the second quarter benchmark as well.

These projects that we are doing is tying into a quote that we are all probably know. Someone else’s trash is another person treasure. The students of advanced art took this quote into consideration without even realizing it. We’re helping our community and giving the thrash/ recycled material a voice. A voice that hopefully will be heard.