Grades 9–10
PoetryWritingSamantha Wint wants to be a doctor and pursue her own hospital. She is the definition of idependent. She is from the hot sandy beaches of Kingston, Jamaica, and the carnivals in Camaguey, Cuba. She is that same girl who grew up in the Bay. All her struggles and accomplishments caused her to be the person she is today. She wants to help people and show them that the world is not just black and white, it can also be filled with color.
I am the definition of self-made. From my open-minded spirit like the valleys in California that go on and on for years to my independence like a lion queen running her pack. I am that same girl who grew up in bipolar weather, with the large buildings that touch the big fluffy clouds filled with so much emotion, to the volleyball court where I find my peace. My smile brings joy and describes me in many wonderful ways, a beautiful represenetation of two completely different cultures. One represents my fierce Spanish when it rolls off my tongue como el polvo picante entakis mezclado con salsa. The way I dance rumba like I’m at a Carnival that gives life to eveyone’s heart. The other represents my kindhearted spirit like red camellias blooming on the first day of spring. My ability to adapt to different situations like I’m in the middle of rain and shine.
I cannot be described as one thing. I am many different things that bring several emotions to others around me because I am the definition of an indescribable place.
This piece was originally published in 826 National’s original publication, A Place Worth Being.
by Jason Reynolds, The New York Times Best-Selling Author & National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
Students will write a personal narrative where they describe themselves as a place. Not a specific place, but all the…
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In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, 10th grader Tala asks essential workers what motivates them to keep going during these difficult times, offering her own views on hope for the future.
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When Instagram becomes an unsightly battlefield.
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A bilingual "I am" poem filled with conviction and courage.
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Liner notes that showcase the meaning and musicality of the Jimmy Ruffin song “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.”
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A bilingual poem that expresses the love of one's culture and people
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A student reflects on her origins to deconstruct social borders and seize her boundless future.
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A poem about the strength and limitations of language and shared culture.
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In an exchange of letters, three students across one city share stories about where they came from and the places that matter most.
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A compilation of letters written by three students across one city filled with thoughts on books, sports, music, family, and musings on Valentine’s Day.
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A soccer-filled, feud-fueled memoir.
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A laugh-out-loud personal narrative about a crush. Has your heart ever beat so fast it might get a speeding ticket and a $500 fine?
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Even though we may look different, we remain united with one another.
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A neighborhood ode filled with sights and sounds of the poet's street.
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Two students across one city bond by writing letters to each other about the people they love most.
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Through this short story, Kalyn explores ideas of home and change in an altered world.
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The written word is a powerful tool, and this poem shares a few reasons why the author continues to write.
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