Category: Junior Literary

Howdy folks, we all have some type of dream for our future. Some may want to be famous, while others may want to farm. It is quite diverse. Today, I would love to share what I would like to be doing in the near future. Perhaps, this will allow you to think about your future.

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When I was in preschool, my dream was to be a cheerleader. Later on, it was to be a veterinarian, then a writer, a makeup artist, then back to being a writer. It’s funny how dreams change/ how people think of their dreams for the future. I might ask someone what their dreams are for the future, and they might mention a place they want to live. Others, might mention a college in mind. I suppose I think of all of those things when someone asks me.

Lately, I have been seriously thinking about what colleges I want to apply to. After all, I am in my junior year. After this year, I have one more year in high school-that’s literally it. I know I want to go to college out of state, but it is way too expensive. Hopefully I’ll be able to pull my ACT score up. I’m either thinking about majoring in English or Creative Writing (most likely creative writing). Then after four years of college, I will try to have a book done. After that, I don’t think I will move back to Mississippi. I think I could find some great opportunities in the world. 

Speaking of the world, I think it would be amazing to study abroad. I was thinking like Europe, or Japan- I don’t know. I just want to be able to live a full life filled with adventure. Who knows? I might even get into journalism while traveling. I am just so excited, yet nervous to see where the world takes me. I can’t imagine just staying in one place for my whole life. Although, I know some people are happy with staying right where they are, and I think that’s great. You should do what makes you happy. Life is full of choices, and that’s the beauty of it.

So yeah, I am looking for the most out of life.Ii know it won’t be easy to get there, but I am going to work my hardest to be not only successful, but happy. 

The question is, what are your dreams for the future? I would love to know, and discuss the matter. I am always thinking about the future, and how I can achieve my goals- maybe that’s just the Capricorn in me 🙂

 

I’m sure we all have had our fair share with toxic relationships whether it’s  platonic or romantic. And we of course all had the desperate feeling of wanting to remove our self from the situation, but for some odd reason that I can’t make of- we stay.

We continue to re-enter ourselves in toxic relationships and the only thing that you are doing is deteriorating your own energy. I know it might feel that the person or even people love us and want the best for us. So we stay in the relationship despite all the signs that your body is telling you to get away.

  I’m going to say this and I want you to really take this to heart: Stop ignoring you body, stop ignoring you soul, stop ignoring your mental health, and cut them off.

  If they’re  not doing anything in your life to help your grow into the person you want to be. Cut them off. If every time you talk to them and their energy does not match the energy they are giving them. Cut them off.  If they make you feel bad about how you look or yourself. Cut them off.  If they continue to say harsh things to you after you told them you don’t approve. Sweetie, please cut them off.

I know it might seem harsh and you probably don’t want people to see you as a mean person, but in all honestly stop caring about what people think about you. Start putting yourself first. Learn your self worth and begin putting your self up on pedestal so high that you can’t even see the top of your head. I know that might seem dramatic or extra but I promise you it is. However, it is needed. You deserve friends that appreciate what you have to say. You deserve a significant other that listens to you when you talk and wants to hear more. You deserve people in your life to know your self worth and to respect you.

If you are now thinking about the people in your life and trying to decide if they are right for you. Here are some signs of toxic people.

• If they are manipulative.
• Judgmental about everything you do.
• They give backhanded compliments.
• They have no respect for boundaries.
• If they make you feel guilty.
• If you feel overlooked in their presence.

I know this may all sound like too much, and you maybe feel like you will be alone if you do cut off all your toxic relationships. However, believe me when I say this it is better to be alone than feel alone in a group of people that are supposed to be your friends.

She stares blankly at me as I assess her.
There is a white glow behind her. She resembles an angel. 
Parted down the middle, the shiny, black smudge of hair atop her head
Glistens with the thoughts she hides behind her monolid,
 ash colored eyes. She resembles Hades.
Her eyelashes are short, visible, and powerful.
Without blinking, she bats away all competitors. 
She challenges me. She stares at me with clean contempt. 
Her eyebrows arch oddly, the proportions off
But still beautifully assymetrical. 
Her nose runs down her face in a short, bulbous fashion.
She resembles her mother. 
Her high cheekbones, swaddled in skin of blacks, whites, and greys, fade away from her nostrils is a smooth
Almost flawless motion. 
Her lips are small, but not pursed. 
They are as blank as her stare.
She resembles her father. 
Her face goes downwards into a soft roll,
The sides of her face gently curving into the formation of a chin.
Her hair reaches down her back. It’s cascades down in long, acrylic strands. 
Her neck is partially covered by her hair. 
The part that does show is fair,
Pale even,
And it resembles the complexion of her people. 
The farther you go, the fairer she gets until you hit the 
Collar.
It’s a folded collar, like the one I wore in
Elementary School. 
The shirt itself is a mirage of greys, each one slightly different. 
She stared blankly at me as I assess her. 
She is hoisted onto paper and cardboard,
Frozen in time, sentenced to never
Speak a word again. 
Yet, she seems to speak to me,
As clear as black and white. 

 

This piece was required for a Intro to Poetry, but I really like it. I don’t know. It’s pretty messy right now but I have to clean it up anyways sooooooo, might as well kill 2 birds with one stone.

If you see me now it may be hard for you to believe that I was ever self conscious about my hair, oh but believe me I was indeed.  I did my big chop¹ in the summer of June 2017 after ten months of transitioning². I felt like this was a fitting time because this was the summer before high school, it was time for a fresh start. So, I told my mother that I was ready. She got the scissors and she got-to-cutting. I looked in the mirror when she was finished and my first reaction was ‘What the heck?’ I mean I could not believe what I had done, it was so much shorter than I though it would be. My mother left some of my straight ends in the front of my hair because she said it needed balance. That didn’t make sense to me, but hey, she is the professional hairstylist so I just went with it.

Here are some pictures of my hair when I was transitioning to my big chop.

 

 

    That whole summer I was really dedicated to my natural hair and focus on how I it could grow and prosper. I went through numerous natural hair products, and when I say numerous I mean TOO  MANY and lord when I tell you it broke my bank ( really my mothers bank). See this is what they don’t tell you about being natural in all the you tube videos that you binge watch as you contemplate about cutting your hair. They don’t tell you how expensive all the good products are. I mean sure it’s some five dollars and below products that you can buy, however if you want that good-good, so good that you will see growth in under the month. All them products are expensive as heck. But of course I gave in, I wanted the luxurious all natural hair.  It took me a while to find my hair texture which mainly 4B with some 4C mixed within. Which the hardest to maintain and on top of most natural products don’t cater to thick and coiled hair. I was very overwhelmed with the different types and styles. It was so much information that I could learn about my hair. I guess you can say that’s the beauty of black hair.

    After I cut my hair, I saw growth in almost on two months! My hair was doing great! With the help of protective styles³ and Jamaican black castor oil my hair was out of the TWA stage quick.

Here are some pictures within the first year of cutting my hair. You can see the protective styles I experimented with.

I remember the first time I ever wore my natural fro out to school. I was still in the TWA ( teeny weeny fro) stage. The time prior all I ever did was stretch my hair into a high puff which I didn’t have enough hair to do. I was feeling so anxious about what people would say. I felt secured with my high puff, wearing my hair down exposed my insecurities. On the contrary on that school day the responses I got were unexpected. Everyone seem to love my hair, so why couldn’t I? It was then when I realize that I focus too much on what people cared about. My natural hair is something that I should be proud of. Instead of using it to hide my features I should use to embrace my beauty.

It has been two years since I big chopped and my hair has been doing tremendously well. It surpass all my expectations for it to be only a couple of years. Although I continue to get compliments about my hair that is not the reason I love it so much.  My hair is representation on how I developed over these years. For all my natural girls,  who either just cut their hair or have had natural all their lives… I know it can be too much work and sometimes you feel like you want to cut it all off. (Trust me, I’ve been there.) I just want you know that your beauty extends outside of your hair and even though it might be tough now, keep going and see how it turns out. And if you still want to cut all your hair… “Britney Spears- style”… go for it!

Below are some recent pictures of my hair from this year.

 

 

 

Glossary

Big Chop¹- The act of taking your natural hair journey from transitioning to officially  natural in a matter of minutes. Usually by cutting off large sections.

Transitioning²- The process of growing out your natural hair before cutting of damage or chemical ends.

Protective Styles³-  A style that protects your ends and your hair overall by protecting it from sun exposure, heat and constant manipulation. Most common protective style are braids.

In case you are not aware, I spent all my school years going to Oak Grove. If you don’t know what school that is, it’s the most popular school in Hattiesburg and is the biggest school in Lamar County district with the student count of roughly around 2,000. Because my siblings and I grew up going there, It will always hold a place somewhere in my heart- even though my 8th grade and high school years there were the hardest years of my life. When you go through something traumatic though, you associate it with the school you go to because that’s the place you have to spend most of your time while experiencing it. I always said how much I hated it there while I went, but looking back, I’ve come to realize that it’s not the school, but the things I went through while I was there.

Sure, there were definitely things there that didn’t help, but everything has its downsides. The people could’ve been kinder and less fake… or just not have been there period. But disregarding this, they’ve taught me how to have patience and find love for my self somehow. After moving from one friend group to another,  I found that I have to love myself if I want others to have respect for me- because you can’t expect others to respect you if you don’t respect yourself. I often think about all the friends I’ve lost while going there, whether it was because of a fight we had or we just went our separate ways. It makes me sad to think about how quickly we quit talking and moved on… but do we really ever move on from the people we once loved? I don’t hate them for not being there for me anymore though, In fact- I hope they are doing the best they ever have. I don’t need them to be happy, I have friends now that have helped me more than they ever have. And some of them I’ve only known for a little over a month. That’s a good thing about this school. Because it is so small, it’s easy to get close to everyone. The people here and the people there are so different in that aspect. Everyone is so friendly, out going, accepting of who you are, and they just have so much love to give. I find it hard to comprehend that there are so many people like that in one setting. There are a couple people like that at my old school, but the count is very small.

I never disliked my teachers there either. I could always find something I was fond of them for, as I can do here too. But I distinctly remember loving all my teachers in my high school years. As I come to think about it, the main people I considered my friends were, in fact, teachers. As sad as that may sound, I’m not ashamed of it because they helped me through so much- in ways no student could. I basically had my own room at Oak Grove on F hall with all my favorite teachers in, beside, or across it. That class room was the room I spent most of my time in, and I always made sure I went in it at least once a day.  I will never forget all the memories created in that room and with those teachers. The best times at Oak Grove High School for sure. I remember for power hour (a daily hour break) every day last year I went to that room and played Uno with all my friends for the whole hour and we developed many different ways to break the rules and play more fun, but It would often end in results of getting upset.

Sometimes I think I miss it there, but then I realize how much more I like it here lol. Although, I do miss the people…(well, some of them :). Okay. That’s all I have to say for now. Thanks for reading, I love you guys.

 

Ugh! The title is so good right? My mind! To the people who understand this joke, you are forever in my heart. The reason I picked this title is because of its relation to the video I’m going to share with you all today. I stumbled across this video a while back when I was trying to find a cello version of “Do I wanna Know?” by Arctic Monkeys (If you don’t know this band, I highly suggest giving them a listen.) After my long quest of trying to find the music for it, and eventually about to give up, I came across this video. I’d never heard of Rachel Lander prior to this video but I’m so glad I found her when did. I’ve played the cello since my 4th grade year in school. I played the viola for one year but ended up despising the instrument (no hate to the viola players here.) Since coming to MSA, I haven’t touched my instrument. Lately, I’ve been feeling a sense of longing to play my cello but I’m not confident in my skills anymore. I played the instrument for roughly 7 or 8 years, even going to an arts school for it, but even then I didn’t feel confident in my playing. I played some hard pieces, even being 2nd principle in the cello section of the school orchestra but I never felt my potential. Don’t get me wrong, I knew how to switch positions, switch clefs, even played some of the hardest pieces, but I never felt I filled the “advanced” position I was told I was in. My fear of sounding terrible while playing my cello now is the only thing keeping me from picking it up. I used to love playing the cello in my beginner years. It was so satisfying telling people that I played the cello. I even considered it my party trick. I used to be ask to perform in different ensembles and play in different places but I was so scared of sounding bad, I would always decline. Looking back on it, it’s one of my biggest regrets in life. I never wanted to take cello playing into my adult life. I wanted it to be apart of my childhood only. I never really saw myself playing professionally so I never took it seriously. Even now, I can’t see myself playing professionally nor teaching it. I just like to do it, you know? I’ve never actually told anybody this but I felt a need to get it off my chest. Typing this now, I feel a weight has been lifted off me. So after my little spill, here is the video that I mentioned in the beginning of this post. Enjoy! (Don’t mind the color of the text. I’m trying to learn my way around the website and see what I can do and what I can’t. If it is distracting, please let me know!) Now you can really enjoy! *Listen with headphones*

The lyrics will be in yellow and my thoughts will be in white.

I don’t want a friend (just me)

I want my life in two (my life in two)

Just one more night

Waiting to get there

Waiting for you (all night)

I’m done fighting all night (waiting for you)

-To me, this whole stanza is about how he just wants to be left alone– which I completely relate to. When a relationship has gone wrong, for a while you just want everyone to leave you alone. And this is basically what Joji is saying here.

When I’m around slow dancing in the dark

Don’t follow me, you’ll end up in my arms

You have made up your mind

I don’t need no more signs

Can you?

Can you?

-First of all. The pure beauty in the line “slow dancing in the dark” is just phenomenal. This whole stanza is saying that he doesn’t want her to try to heal him because they’ll just end up back together, which is probably something that shouldn’t happen. It is very heartbreaking when you have to tell the one person you want to help you, that they can’t help you  because it’ll only hurt you more.

Give me reasons we should be complete

You should be with him, I can’t compete

You looked at me like I was someone else, oh well

Can’t you see? (Can’t you see?)

I don’t wanna slow dance (I don’t want to slow dance)

In the dark

Dark

-Wow. “You should be with him, I can’t compete” and “You looked at me like I was someone else” are possibly the most sad lyrics I have ever heard. From personal experience, I can tell you how bad it hurts to be looked at like you were someone else. You know that someone’s heart isn’t with you but you stick around anyway. It’s also a very sad feeling when you feel like someone else would be better for them.

When you gotta run

Just hear my voice in you (my voice in you)

Shutting me out of you (shutting me out of you)

Doing so great (so great, so great)

You

 

Used to be the one (used to be the one)

To hold you when you fall

Yeah, yeah, yeah (when you fall, when you fall)

I don’t **** with your tone (I don’t **** with your tone)

I don’t wanna go home (I don’t wanna go home) 

Can it be one night?

Can you?

Can you? 

-“Used to be the one to hold you when you fall” is such a powerful lyric! And it is so accurate. It’s crazy how you will literally hold someone when they were at their lowest point, then when they get out of that rut, they act like they’re better than you. “Can it be one night?” is honestly a pretty sad lyric. He knows he can’t have her permanently so he just wants one more night to love her.

 

-Overall, this song really resonates with me. I’ve written a blog that included it before and I think it was pretty obvious how much I loved this song. 1934592347859/10 recommend. (Especially if you’re depressed, lol)

 

Okay, so I really need some inspiration for my next blog. Pls send help 🙂

Before I begin, I want to say something demanding of your attention. This blog post may come as a shock to you, but please tolerate such a sensitive topic. Every once in awhile a journalist has to take a step across the line, and this is that moment in my career. I have, in fact, just crossed the line.

Inspired by Maleigh’s journey through the controversial shadows of our world, I have decided to discuss controversial material of my own. So I traveled the world, digging deep into different cultures and jotting down information about what makes people tick. And after a heap of years I spent wandering, I found it; I found the line.

At first, the line terrified me. What would the public think? What would the critics say? Paparazzi chased me around with their blinding cameras, so I retreated into isolation along with my concerning revelation. But as the years steadily fell from my fingers, my strength grew. Now I could handle the public, the critics. I could finally cross the line.

So I decided to make my comeback with the most controversial topic of all time: why tacos are better than pizza. The years I spent scrounging for evidence had prepared me for this moment, and my confidence burned brightly as I strung each weighted word onto their particular paragraph. To experience the horror firsthand, continue reading, as I have displayed the results of my finds below.

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Why Tacos Are Better Than Pizza

They just are.

The end.

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Well, as you can see, my article proved to be quite a devastation. In fact, it even tore apart our very universe. If you want to view the population I surveyed, please continue reading.

Tacos: 4

Pizza: 6

Enchiladas: 2

Again, as you can see, a vast group of people had differing opinions about this weighted topic, and the opinions definitely proved themselves to be intense. Numerous arguments broke out, even, and two rebels strayed from the criteria. Basically, this entire debate caused quite an uproar, and life will never resume as usual.

So I must leave controversial topics to rest, mulling over topics of lesser substance instead. I have already crossed the line, so now I must fade into the safety of the mundane. But I appreciate those that participated in the survey, providing crucial feedback that confirmed my suspicions. If you are one of the participants reading this, thank you so much (unless you chose the unpopular choice of pizza, that is).

Until we meet again.

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Wednesday’s Fun Fact:

Undeniably so, tacos are better than pizza.

For information supporting this conclusion, please seek the above for reference.

Howdy folks (that’s going to be my new intro). I cannot express how many times this question has been asked to me- “So what do ya’ll do at that school (MSA) anyway?” Here’s the thing, for some reason MSA is not really talked about in Mississippi. So I have received  all types of questions when I told people that I got accepted. I would love to address the questions I have heard, and also the general thoughts of MSA.

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#1 “Wow, you must be a great drawer!”

To that I answer: No, I am most certainly not. If anything I am just okay at it. In fact we have several disciplines to choose from: media, literary, theater, vocal, dancers, and yes, visuals. This allows for many people of many talents to come.

#2 “So is this a college/ do you guys just do arts?”

Okay, so this is just like public school, except that it is more like a boarding school. We have dorms that we stay in, or you could commute too (if you are within the mile radius). We have normal subjects, and art subjects as well. We also go to Brookhaven High if we need to. Overall, it is just like any 11th-12th year (besides the discipline part).

#3 “Oh, MSMS, you must be so smart!”

If you didn’t know (which you most likely do because everyone knows), MSMS stands for Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. Okay, so that is not us. Although, you do have to have a 2.5 gpa to at least get in here. Personally, I don’t feel like a genius, and my math scores know I’m not a genius. So yeah, we work more with our right brain over here.

#4 “So, what do you guys do for fun?”

I actually like this question. Although, I can only talk from my friends and my own experiences. There are some pretty good thrift shops down here. At Yard Sale you can get good prices (I love you student discount), but The Honey Pot has to be my favorite. They play music from Elvis, sell local items, and have real vintage stuff. Occasionally, we will go to Fox’s Pizza to hang out, and eat (it’s kinda pricey though). The main thing we do is just socialize, watch Netflix, and visit each others dorms. There’s also tons of clubs, and events-so you’re never really bored.

#5 “So you’re gonna live with someone…in a dorm?”

Um, yes. The rooms can have three people max in them. It is usually just two people in a room. There are two bunk beds; one has a desk under it. Living with someone is not as scary as you think. You actually fill out a form of your preferences/ interests, and you will be paired up with someone who has commonalities. I find it nicer than living by myself.

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Yes, these questions have been asked to me in real life. I’m sure there is many more questions that people have, but these are from my personal experience. I hope this answered your questions on MSA, and feel free to comment further questions that you may of heard. I think it is beneficial to ask questions to be further informed. Anyway, have a lovely week everyone 🙂

Your caramel-colored skin glistens in the sunlight and the dark tendrils that hang from your head are beautiful—as I am sure you are reminded of often. Do not take these things for granted. But remember, these are not all that you are. You are more than your silky smooth skin and kinky curls. You, my dear, are gifted beyond measure. And though it may feel like a constant battle within yourself, this fight has given you a mighty power: the propensity to bridge the gap between cultures. Two worlds completely at your dispense. You have tried for so long to keep these worlds apart, but you have come to realize that they are better together. You have seen the beauty in the culmination of these two worlds. That culmination is you. Two greats came before you and made it all possible, but now it is your turn. 

 

Go forth into this world. Use your gift; use it to create unity and peace, but be vigilant, because there are people who do not want these worlds colliding. They will stop at nothing to tear you down; demean your entire existence through vile name-calling and empty threats. You will not understand why, but it is not you, so don’t take it personally. They simply cannot understand who you are. Their ignorance is their fatal flaw, so they will try to convince you that you are no good so that you will lose all faith in yourself, so that you are broken down and weary, but you mustn’t listen. You are too powerful. You contain a strength to carry a nation. You are a bridge.

 

A bridge between the oppressed and the oppressor. Between victim and victimizer. You have gifts like no other. You have your mother’s soft smile and your father’s wild temper. The blood that runs through your veins has withstood many trials and tribulations of this Earth. It has made you malleable. It has made you golden— lustrous and precious. And you must remember this; it is crucial that you know how much you are worth. You are worth more than gold, more than the stereotypical features that people love about you, more than the checkmark in the “other” column, more than you can possibly understand. 

 

In time, you will come to know. It will be a moment, a movement, but you will know. You will feel it inside of your heart and it will no longer feel like a war zone inside your soul. The intricate pieces of yourself will fit together perfectly. 

 

Until then, continue to bridge the gap, to break down the barriers of humanity. You are a small part of something much larger than yourself. It is hard to see the bigger picture when you are so close, but soon, you will travel the distance and you will see. But do not give up; do not give in. Hold your head up, sweet child. Your time is coming. 

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The next blog post topic is:

Are Beauty Pageants Objectifying Women?

😉

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Poll Time!

The next topic choices are:

• White Privilege
• Feminism & Equality of the Sexes
• The Arts: Should Students Go for Something More Practical
• Pineapple on Pizza
  • Comment below what topic you think I should do for my next blog post!