Grades 11–12
NarrativeWritingMy home, these dirty projects. I remember being young and playing outside, constant water fights, and flashlight tag. It often smells like lighter fluid when it first starts burning. It smells like whatever your neighbor is cooking, and if it’s love, they’ll bring you a plate.
When you pull in, people stare if you’re not recognizable. But if they recognize you, they welcome you before you even get to your house door by making sure you’re straight. It’s different from what it used to look like. There’s hella people now. It’s crowded and there’s no parking. These buildings used to be brown and beige. Now they’re painted ugly blues and grays. I guess they were going for depression modern, but at least we got to keep the murals. Murals of kids playing outside and Black activists to remind them of their innocence and the powerful people they aspire to be. People of all ages fighting to keep what’s left of our home. Now we’re always being questioned about who is coming in and out of our home.
With the remodeling changes came more rules and restrictions on what you can do. I feel like they do it on purpose to evict us. Kicking out the communities that were there so white people can move in and make more money. It’s home and it’s a place that other people dread to live in. To me, it’s the most comfortable place. I can’t go anywhere else and feel this safe. It’s all I’ve known. The memories make it special, people that I’ve met, sisters, brothers, and aunties not by blood, but by love.
by Kailyn Espinosa, 826NYC
In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student shares how essential workers’ courage and compassion center her during these hectic times.
by Kayla, 826 Boston
This poem offers a very-real answer to "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
by Vanessa Ramon-Ibarra, 826DC
Living in the digital world can create unwanted attachments, as one student laments.
by Riti Shrestha, 826NYC
In this poem, metaphor is used to describe who the narrator is.
by Tina N., Grade 12, 826 Boston
A student describes their shark like imaginary friend.
by Earl Williams Jr., The 826 Dallas Project
A powerful poetic piece about the experience of being Black in America.
by Steysi Hailee, 826LA
A student reflects on a small moment and single sacrifice that transformed her outlook on giving.
by Jazlyn Moses, 826 National
One student explores their online persona and the lasting importance of conscientious social media practices.
by Jizelle Villegas, Grade 12, 826 Dallas Project
The stunning and vulnerable poem processes feelings of loss, grief, and hope for the future.
by Raheem, 826 New Orleans
A student compares themself to the place they live, New Orleans, as both evolve through great obstacles.
by George S., Grade 11, 826 Boston
A writer implores people to get outside and touch grass because you never know what you might find!
by Elsy M.E., Grade 11, 826 Valencia
A poet imagines a better and more harmonious world.
by Sarah X. Age 18, 826Boston
A rousing public narrative from an author coming to terms with their identity as a young Chinese American woman and what they represent: the community of Boston's Chinatown.
by Helen, Grade 12, 826 MSP
In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a senior at South High School in Minneapolis offers words of support to healthcare workers across the country, including her own mom.
by Samuel Wang, Grade 10, 826NYC
A poem about the complexity of love exchanged during the holidays.
by Camille, 826LA
A student finds her wings in unexpected places in this piece about the transition to college.
by Henry F., Grade 12, 826CHI
In this poem, a student reflects on identity.
by Kayla Wayne, Grade 11, 826NYC
In this poem, a student reflects on their first encounter with forced assimilation.
by Matthew Inoa, 826 NYC
In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student describes how essential workers are the pulse of New York, fueling the city’s hope.
by Sharoya Bracey, 826NYC
In this memoir, the narrator recounts the struggle of being the bigger person in a very small space.
by Jordan, 826 New Orleans
Crawfish, crayfish, or mudbugs. Whatever you call them, the writer of this poem doesn't like them.
by Lukoiy V.R.G., Grade 12, Woodburn, OR
A poet speaks out as a voice for change and all those who cannot speak.
by Keyshana, Grade 11, 826CHI
Black strength, beauty, and pride soar in this poem as a student discusses overcoming brutality and discrimination.
by Jesus Sanchez, The 826 Dallas Project
This creative short horror piece explores the mysteries and danger of a night in the woods.
by Jeremy Hsiao, 826 National
From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem reminds activists that "to change everything, we need everyone."
by Shayne Williams
Discover what one student experiences when they tuck their phone away for a whole day.
by Ryan, Grade 12, 826 Boston
In this public narrative, a student illustrates the hardships his uncle has faced to argue for a path to citizenship.
by Karina Centeno, Grade 12, 826 Dallas Project
This poem takes an honest look at two sides of the writer's culture.
Cate H, Grade 12, 826CHI
A poet sets the stage to showcase her reflections on being trans.
by Jahruwach Hamilton, 826NYC
In this rousing poem, a student asserts her strength and worth as a woman.
by Numan Khan, age 16, 826 Boston
A bilingual "I am" poem filled with conviction and courage.
by Tammy Fong, 826NYC
A soccer-filled, feud-fueled memoir.
by Johnny Vasquez, 826 MSP
A family interview reveals a mother's painful past and shines a light on her persistence.
by Leydi Di Villanueva, The 826 Dallas Project
This creative narrative imagines how the coronavirus views humanity during the pandemic.
by Corazón, 826 New Orleans
In this essay, a student threads their identity across cultures, histories, and places, engaging with legacies of violence and the movement of people.
by Franny, 826CHI
A student spins through space and a treasure trove of memories in this poem.
by Soraya, 826NYC
This student’s powerful piece reveals the essence of racial injustice.
by Jennifer Alcocer, The 826 Dallas Project
This personal narrative addresses the struggles of students graduating high school during the pandemic.
by Maria, Grade 12, 826 Boston
In this public narrative, a student makes the case for creating community change by building youth centers in her neighborhood.
by Quardasha Mitchell, The 826 Dallas Project
In this compelling poem, the author navigates her relationship with America as a young African-American woman.
by Salma Khalif, 826 MSP
A powerful poem that lifts up Black women.
by Sian Laing
When Instagram becomes an unsightly battlefield.
Henry F., Grade 12, 826CHI
A trans student reflects on their desire to be male.
Kenya G., 17, 826LA
A poet relates her experience as a queer woman in the closet to a peacock in the zoo.
by Sally Phan, 826 Boston
A memoir that questions the idea of home and how it changes with time.
by Maya M., Grade 11, Newburg, OR
A student reflects on the memories they made while backpacking.
by Isaiah, 826 New Orleans
This student reveals the mysterious origin story of the king cake. Hint: it includes Big Freedia, DJ Chicken Wing, and a massive party.
by Terra C., Grades 10-11, 826NYC
A student recalls their journey on how they discovered their LGBTQIA+ identity.
by Terry Velasquez, Grade 12, The Bronx, NY
In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student shares gratitude for the dedication of nurses and gives “credit where credit is due.”
by Alexis G., Grade 11
In this narrative, the author uses vibrant language to explore their identity, in all its complexity, through different landscapes.
by Katya Torres, The 826 Dallas Project
This bilingual poem explores the harrowing story of a boy working while in school to save his mother.
by Junaynah R., Grade 11, 826NYC
Full of exquisite imagery, this poem explores the idea of second chances.
by Bianca Morcho, 826 MSP
A personal essay that explores the different shades of the Black Lives Matter movement.
by Sergio M, 826 Valencia
This piece reminds us that a smile is not always what it seems.
by Rockelle Rodd, Grade 11, 826NYC
This poem uses analogies to describe all of the pieces of the writer's personal history.
by Oriel, 826NYC
In this poem, an echoing question strikes a chord and reveals the tragic loss held within systemic injustice.
by Jonas K., 826 National
A student explores the paradox of how technology is used amongst teenagers.
by Cristina, 826CHI
A student recounts separation with a beloved friend through a nostalgic lens.
by Melody Marcano, 826 Boston
In this poem, a student reflects on their roots and their desire to grow.
by Ryker, 826michigan
Liner notes that showcase the meaning and musicality of the Jimmy Ruffin song “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.”
by Lucas Hu, 826 Boston
A poem about staying true to yourself during a challenging transition
by Joanne H, 826 Valencia
In this poem, a student’s experiences in two countries meld together as she seeks out her true home.
by Julianna Cruz, 826 Dallas Project
This narrative piece contemplates the struggle of immigrants during the pandemic.
by Michaiah Anderson, The 826 Dallas Project
In this poem, a student describes their family origins with an intimate point of view
by Justis Porter, age 16, 826 Boston
A neighborhood ode filled with sights and sounds of the poet's street.
by Augustus Griffith Jr., 826 National
From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem explores the aftermath and lasting impacts of school shootings.
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