NEW BEGINNINGS
September 2019
***Insert*** Description or the theme? Meaning behind it? How all can relate to it? Advice?
NEW BEGINNINGS
September 2019
***Insert*** Description or the theme? Meaning behind it? How all can relate to it? Advice?
NEW BEGINNINGS
September 2019
***Insert*** Description or the theme? Meaning behind it? How all can relate to it? Advice?
NEW BEGINNINGS
September 2019
***Insert*** Description or the theme? Meaning behind it? How all can relate to it? Advice?
NEW BEGINNINGS
Alchemy Volume I
What constitutes a new beginning? Is it a specific time, an event, or a realization?
For our first issue, we urge you to come up with a unique and personal definition of the phrase. Explore the meaning of what it is to be reimagined, redefined, and reborn. Remember that even as trees molt and creatures retire for the coming cold, there are critters that arise and thrive in the icy air. Highlight the phoenix that is born from the ashes of regret and past experiences.
Join us in the quest to define what it means to start anew without a dictionary.
Make It Last
Jenna Saporito
I never saw myself falling for somebody else. I truly did believe love was dead after the final petal of what I once believed to be love had shriveled up and fallen to the ground. That I would never feel the same warmth that I once did again. That was only half true. The moment I heard your voice and the day that I got the chance to gaze into those ocean eyes of yours, love blossomed like a patch of tulips in May. She bloomed as if it were the first time she had seen the sunlight in years. When I first held your hand I felt as if a flock of birds were returning from their annual migration, back to the warmth of their home. And the moment that my lips met yours, spring had sprung and I realized that after every exhausting winter there is a warm and welcoming spring to come. I guess I really never did feel the same as I once did, only better.
Step To It
Ashley Upeslacis
Everyone has a second chance
Starting ever so often
It's not just moving forward
It’s moving forward with stipulations
Moving with your best judgment
Moving with a new mindset
Move yourself forward
You're next in line
Start over every year
Every season
Every week
Try something new today, will you,
Change up the routine, will you,
Putting your best foot forward, will you?
Everything changes
Animals, seasons, coffee trends
Move yourself forward
Change is good. Change is normal.
Embrace it
Hug it
Order it in a Grande
No, Venti
Your PSL is sitting there on the counter
I'll get a hot chocolate
No drizzle or whip this time
Change is good. change is normal. keep the change.
Maral Baroutjian
Start New
Dakota Caiafa
For some people, the words “new beginnings”
Make them think of starting over
Forgetting the pasta
Being in the present
“New beginnings” for me is
Coming into high school
Achieving a goal
Coming into my first year of high school was my chance
A chance to change some things
Getting better grades
Appealing to my standards
High school is my chance
To put my foot forward
To be the best I can ever be
Even though college is three years away
It rears its ugly head
Every time any student gets a bad grade
Yes, I do get bad grades
Every once in a while
I was never one of those —
Those people who got good grades
Without studying
I always had to work
So hard
For everything in my life
Although I can’t let things
Like bad grades define me
When bad things happen
You can’t do anything about it, right?
WRONG.
Yesterday is history
You may not be able to change it
But you can learn from it
So next time you encounter something
Something bad you learn from it
And start anew
Marcello Laudato
Man of Main
Jay Burgos
A boy enters a room, but he doesn't know where he is
The room has four wall four windows four seats and four people within and one of the people was him.
Puzzled of course the boy had now acquired many a question to give
Who were these people? Why don't they speak? And why was there still a seat open to sit? Had they expected him what to do now? And how in the world in this place did I get?
Spinning his head,
His name he forgets,
he looked to his left the man in the seat started to tense.
His feet tapped and clicked as he tilted his chin up to the boy cocked his head to the left, his lips bore his teeth as they ushered a grin.
Tall and thin the build of the man that now would look so down on the boy.
Troubled, still, and now fearful as well the boy still troubled was somewhat intrigued,
That the man had bore a familiar face but
Why was his face so familiar to me?
Thought the boy as he noticed a frame of a figure emerge to his right
Calm and reserved and similar in height
He did neither laugh nor grin or cause fright.
Stout in his stature and stone in his face simply he peered at the two unamused with disdain.
The boy now felt safe in the watch of the other,
whose face was to the left so similar but
not the same, was different in many ways.
The left and the right so strikingly alike that they may be brothers the boy amazed some sense was finally made though at the moment the boy was strained as he still could not have figured his name.
The left though not ashamed
receded between his window and seat the only one to be seated now stood in the center thick now was the state of the air as he shared with the boy a gaze not a stare. Not like the shuddered surprise of the left or the right
The boy felt somewhat admired, like a mirror with eyes.
the man had drawn in closer he was somewhat endearing with his expression. His clothing was light and his face to
The boy was like a photo connected to the fondest remembrance,
He wished to teach the boy but could only spare him a sentence
The room was now disappearing along with those that were in it
Had the two now left through the window and brought the seats with them?
The scene was fading like a dream, the boy gave the man his attention.
The main orated as though the boy was now his apprentice
He said, “ never be so contented as to stand in one section as though your feet have cemented, iIf you decide to be happy
Then you will never regret it
though love has no condition and so as such is a given
if you don’t act for yourself you’ll be forever conflicted.”.
Just then as the man of main finished
the boy blinked and now stood in the room as the only one in it.
He had still not answered his prior collection of questions
but had answered ones that he didn't know how to ask yet.
At least he knew he wanted to be stronger and wiser. At the moment his eyes hurt
he felt the potential to cry one thing that now surfaced from the back of his mind was his name and the time
He blinked again he was home in his bed
tears rolled to his chin. He hoped and prayed now, that he would never forget the words of the man of main for the rest of his lives.
Laine Blatt
Ode to Positivity
Michael McGoldrick
You can only truly experience a fresh start when you are called to adventure. Whether it is through discovering your desired purpose or wanting to redeem yourself for your past regrets, once you find this calling, you are on the path to a better future. You’ve reached the next chapter in the book we call life. It is extremely common to have negative thoughts during this period in time. The world is very unpredictable and obstacles will be hurled at you when you least expect it. Setting new goals to achieve is no easy task, especially when you lack the persistence and motivation to do so. It might be because you lack self-confidence, it could be because you don’t have an exact plan yet, and there is a high chance that it is because you let your fears of failure or toxic memories loom your mind and let it chew it away your self-esteem. Here’s the thing, though — all of those negative thoughts polluting your mind should not matter. They serve no purpose other than to mess with your head and hold you back from success. If you actually want to exceed the expectations of yourself, you must support yourself, put an end to any self-destructing thoughts, seize all opportunities, and remember that we all believe in you.
Same Difference
Joe Whittle
Why do you care about a certain color
It’s just a reflection of light.
If it were different, could we like each other
Instead of a constant fight?
Black, white, blue or green
Really, what does it matter.
We’re all on the same team
Why must these bonds be shattered?
Don’t you dare suppress my emotions
Who are you to judge?
It is this that spawns mass commotion
Release that lonesome grudge!
Don’t trap me in a box
I have so much to show.
We all offer building blocks
That encourage the world to grow!
Grow in a way that promotes change
In a world where we unite
Grow in a way recently thought strange
In a place without a constant fight.
Joe Whittle
Pretty Dresses
Shavonne Chin
At some point in early September every year, we as students receive a clean slate to write on as we wish. We can make anything of it we want. For some, this new chance is used to improve grades. For others, it's to gain more confidence and a better social life. For me, it’s to accept that I hate dressing up. There! I said it! I don’t want any comments from the peanut gallery. Frankly, it’s embarrassing to admit. However, I do have my reasons for this. First, getting dressed up means I have to be more careful than usual to not ruin the outfit with food and drinks. I can’t count how many times I have destroyed my clothes this way. People forget that they can stain clothes and it’s a lot of work to get it out without completely wearing down the fabric. Another reason is dressing up requires me to wear heels. Now, people will say, “Just don’t wear heels!” However, because I am shorter than most of my friends, I want to feel taller. This means I must pay the price of foot pain in exchange for a few more inches. Finally, I want to be comfortable. Indeed, there are dressy clothes that I can achieve this in, but if I want to sit on the floor, I can do so in comfy clothes, where I can’t in nice clothes. These are simple reasons, though it’s still embarrassing. The reason I never told many about this is the judgement. I don’t want to hear the comments such as, “There’s something wrong with you,” or, “You’re such a boy!” I’m just different. If people disagree with that and can’t withstand this idea, well, too bad! Everyone has different opinions and people need to be respectful. That’s my resolve. I am giving myself a fresh start in finally finding acceptance in myself and how I hate to dress up.
35000 Hours
Shavier Small
I was sure as the rising sun
But suddenly, when it set
It all changed so quickly
I wouldn’t take this bet
I want to chase my dreams
With a touch of lime
But I can’t rewind or shake the feeling
That I’m running out of time
It’s all passion, no direction
It’s flame and it’s fire
And I’m burning up and burning out
But that feeling is what I think I most desire
I can see the finish line
It’s not so far away from here
Never did I think I’d be so unsure
Not in the start of senior year
And I know we’re not there yet
I know I’m not fenced in
But in my heart and in my head
My anxiety has already had its commencement
I will say what I do know:
I’m still scared shitless; however,
My slate can be wiped clean
With New Years’ in September.
Life In A Cage
Bailee Perez
Staring at bars all day was hard for me. I was no longer young, and I knew I was nearing the end of my life. A life that had, for the majority of it, been spent in a cell. It wasn’t all that bad, seeing how others had it worse than me. Take, for example, Steve in the cell right next to me. Steve was born missing an eye and, now that he was older, was nearly deaf. Steve managed to leave once when he was younger, but within a few years, he was back in his cell. The one right next to me. I feel bad for Steve. I cannot remember the last time I had a home or spent time with family. I’ve been stuck in here too long.
But wait…What’s that noise? This might be my chance. After all these years, though? I doubt it.
The doors opened and in walked a woman. She looked around with interest, talking to the warden intently. She passed the first few cells, coming closer to me. Time seemed to slow down as she came to a stop in front of me. I sniffed the air, sensing a strange but somehow familiar smell coming from her. It took me a second, but I would recognize that perfume anywhere.
It was Melodie! Wow! I haven’t seen her since she was a kid, but now she was all grown up, without me. I have such fond memories of Melodie — going on walks, playing on the trampoline outside, spending every single day together. She was my absolute favorite person, and now she was here. She stared at me in wonder and whispered my name, “Robert?”, almost like she couldn’t believe it.
“Robert, is that really you?” At this I couldn’t help but jump up and cry,
“Yes, Melodie! It’s me! It’s me!”
She looked at the warden and demanded that he unlock the door. He glanced at me but deemed me harmless and took his keys out. The second my door was opened I ran into Melodie’s arms, happy to finally see her again. Melodie grabbed me and picked me up holding me in her arms. Looking at the warden she said,
“I’m taking him home. This is my dog from when I was a little girl, he’s the one.” With that, she left the room, still holding me. After all this time, even at this age, I had been given a new opportunity with an old, friendly face.
The Space Between
David Dankwah
The world expands as a chance to choose exchanges hands. What is sight but light we understand? What causes a person to move besides the rhythm of life itself? And so, the blank page and painting are alike.