Miranda Talavera Béjar, Grade 12
UWCRBC
My parents call all three siblings to the living room. They sit us down across from them and look deep into our eyes. I like to believe that they look into our souls and know exactly what we need to hear in that moment.
My dad starts the conversation by saying: “My children, as long as I’m alive, there is nothing you should be afraid of.”, a phrase his father would always repeat to him. He carries it in his heart next to his family, as do we.
My mother takes over and says: “Not of the dark, not of experiences, and certainly not of defeat. We will be here no matter what.”, and we believe them. We trust them with the most fragile bits of our souls. This is a scenario I know by heart, and it never fails to make me cry. We are vulnerable together, in the most tender way that reminds us of how grateful we are for each other.
One look into Jenny’s eyes and she understands. She makes me believe in myself again and not give up. She makes me excited for the future and to know what is waiting for us.
A single look from across the mensa table is enough for Alvisa to know every single thought that is going through my mind. I go into autopilot and trust her to take the wheel. One word comes out of my mouth and Monse already knows the full story. Her advice is always on point. One call and Mariam and she says it all. She grounds me and calms me down like no one can, with care and empathy. I am forever grateful to have them in my life.
Finding feminism and immersing myself into feminist spaces allowed me to become a full version of myself. Feminism allowed me to embrace the parts of myself I used to hide and brake the mold I would desperately try to fit into. I do not need to comply to whatever standards are imposed onto me in order to be worthy of respect. Through feminism, I learned to understand myself and embrace my sexuality. I am eternally grateful for all the women who introduced me to feminism and are going through the deconstruction process with me.
Poetry outside of the academic world hits different. It provides a space and a stage for people to express themselves through words and tools of language that emphasize feelings and unites the poet with the audience. Anything can be poetry. Headphones and speakers, the polar opposites of sound. Headphones provide intimacy and privacy, while speakers accentuate voices. I see myself in this duality, how I value my own company and time to myself, but also take over the streets with my people to fight for our lives. My headphones are always around my neck for when I need a break, and I always carry my speaker in case I need to fight so survive.
My dad starts the conversation by saying: “My children, as long as I’m alive, there is nothing you should be afraid of.”, a phrase his father would always repeat to him. He carries it in his heart next to his family, as do we.
My mother takes over and says: “Not of the dark, not of experiences, and certainly not of defeat. We will be here no matter what.”, and we believe them. We trust them with the most fragile bits of our souls. This is a scenario I know by heart, and it never fails to make me cry. We are vulnerable together, in the most tender way that reminds us of how grateful we are for each other.
One look into Jenny’s eyes and she understands. She makes me believe in myself again and not give up. She makes me excited for the future and to know what is waiting for us.
A single look from across the mensa table is enough for Alvisa to know every single thought that is going through my mind. I go into autopilot and trust her to take the wheel. One word comes out of my mouth and Monse already knows the full story. Her advice is always on point. One call and Mariam and she says it all. She grounds me and calms me down like no one can, with care and empathy. I am forever grateful to have them in my life.
Finding feminism and immersing myself into feminist spaces allowed me to become a full version of myself. Feminism allowed me to embrace the parts of myself I used to hide and brake the mold I would desperately try to fit into. I do not need to comply to whatever standards are imposed onto me in order to be worthy of respect. Through feminism, I learned to understand myself and embrace my sexuality. I am eternally grateful for all the women who introduced me to feminism and are going through the deconstruction process with me.
Poetry outside of the academic world hits different. It provides a space and a stage for people to express themselves through words and tools of language that emphasize feelings and unites the poet with the audience. Anything can be poetry. Headphones and speakers, the polar opposites of sound. Headphones provide intimacy and privacy, while speakers accentuate voices. I see myself in this duality, how I value my own company and time to myself, but also take over the streets with my people to fight for our lives. My headphones are always around my neck for when I need a break, and I always carry my speaker in case I need to fight so survive.
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