Grades 11–12
MemoirWritingVirginia, she/her, 18, loves sports and singing. She was born in Boston, but is from Puerto Rico. She would love to visit Australia one day. Virginia hopes to leave a message for young people to not allow others to define them, and to love themselves no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, and etc.
Dear Abuelito,
I hope you’re doing okay up there. You’ve been gone for a while now. I didn’t get to meet you, but you still have a special place in my heart.
Dear Abuelito,
I hope you have been watching over me. Watching me grow into this young woman that you could have shown off if you were still here.
Dear Abuelito,
Te extraño mucho. Without even meeting you, I feel this hole in my heart. I feel like if you were here things could have been different.
Dear Abuelito,
You are everything to me. I think about you very often and I know mami does too. You taught her well, you know. She’s done everything to make sure I get the best of the best. Even when she’s struggling, she’s still doing everything in her power to make me and Carlito happy.
Dear Abuelito,
I wish you didn’t leave me so soon. I wish you could have stayed a little bit longer, so I could meet you. I could really use some great talks at the moment.
Abuelito,
I would kill for a hug and kiss from you right now, or even just a phone call, since we couldn’t even get that when you were alive.
But I hope heaven has been great for you and you’re just watching me make these great achievements from up in the sky, because the main person on my mind when all these great things happen is you. I know you would have loved to see your nieta do so amazing.
Gracias por todo aunque usted no esté aquí. Mami aprendió mucho de ti. Y yo se que si estaría aquí, le dará mucho orgullo a ver tu hija con una familia tan hermosa.
Thank you for everything even though you aren’t here. Mami learned a lot from you. And I know if you were still here, you would be so proud of seeing your daughter with such a beautiful family.
Espero hablar con usted pronto abuelito. Te amo con todo.
Te veo ahorita,
Tu Nieta
Virginia
I hope to talk to you soon abuelito. I love you with everything.
I’ll see you later.
Your granddaughter,
Virginia
Annasian Walters, Grade 11-12, 826NYC
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by Michaiah Anderson, The 826 Dallas Project
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by Izzy T., 826 Valencia
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A story about how Marcus becomes Marcela.
by Augustus Griffith Jr., 826 National
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by Melody Marcano, 826 Boston
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by Isaiah, 826 New Orleans
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by Kayla, 826 Boston
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by Jonas K., 826 National
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by Jizelle Villegas, Grade 12, 826 Dallas Project
The stunning and vulnerable poem processes feelings of loss, grief, and hope for the future.
by Sylvia C., 826 Valencia
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by Julianna Cruz, 826 Dallas Project
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by Brandon R., 826LA
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by Abby S., Grade 11, 826 Boston
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by Raheem, 826 New Orleans
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by Helen, Grade 12, 826 MSP
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by Rockelle Rodd, Grade 11, 826NYC
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A writer implores people to get outside and touch grass because you never know what you might find!
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