Upward Bound Creative Writing @ Columbia

Columbia's Spring Semester Upward Bound Creative Writing students share their work.

[upwardboundcreativewriting-blog]

Is there a limit to human creativity?

By Arturo Guillen

Humans have lived on this planet for thousands of years, about 200,000 years, and have been able to advance themselves in those thousands of years. The one underlying similarity throughout human history has been the creativity that has been shown in the large amount of time. This creativity has been exhibited from early human history to the modern era and the creativity is exhibited through music, art, inventions, and daily innovations. The spark of creativity has lead us to a point in which we can carry most of the information in the world in our pocket, have vehicles that allow us to travel the vast planet in a matter of hours, and even create businesses that profit off of people’s addictions in well produced shows. The human race has come to a point in which it should ask itself, “ Can the human race ever hit a creativity cap?” , “Is there anything else that we can think of that has not been done before?”, and lastly “Is there a limit to human creativity?”

To better understand the vastness of the human mind, all of the human advancements up to this point must be analyzed. The first humans were not much different from the animals that they hunted. All they would do is eat, hunt and sleep, but even at this time there was an elementary level of creativity showing up. Due to their reliance on animals as their primary source of food, the early humans quickly learned new ways to obtain the animals. Early humans were able to distinguish between their strengths and weaknesses: they noticed that they had superior minds but compared to the animals, they lacked physical strength. With this in mind, early humans created simple weapons and tools to improve their ability to capture food. From there the human mind did not stop and would then figure out a way to control fire, to create improved tools, and to create clothing to help with the conditions of the environment.

Humans continued to find creative ways to use everything at their disposal to improve their lives. One result was the start of agricultural societies found in the Fertile Crescent. The humans were able to see the opportunity and used their creativity to figure out a way to create more sustainable sources of food. Jumping ahead to the era of the Romans, the vastness of the human mind lead to the birth of huge cities due to the many advances that they have taken in this time. Aqueducts allowed water from a far off spring to be available to the people of the Roman cities. With the growing comfort of the people came the improvement of leisure activities such as public theater and production of books for more and more. Moving on from that came the large boats used to travel the large bodies of water which lead to the expansion of human dominance over the planet.

This was only propelled further with more advancements which lead to the 20th century, the time in which the human mind flourished and many things came from that. Planes allowed travel across the world but also brought in threats from the sky as they were used in the world wars. Television was created during this time and it completely the way that human creativity was perceived. Now the talents of others were put on a world stage for everyone to be able to see. People became famous for their abilities to stick out from the crowd with their superior acting skills, dangerous stunts, creative minds for production of movies and so much more.

We reach the 21th century, a time in which many begin to question, “Is this it?” What more can humans do to change they way we live? These are very reasonable questions because most of what is needed is at the click of a button. Humans were able to imagine digital places in which all information is reachable, places that with a click of a button, most things are available to be brought to the door. This really seems to be a time in which not much can be improved upon, but that is not true...

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By Karla Delgado

I had a dream where I rode a dragon with some other people I don’t remember who they were they may have been my friends

I had a dream where I visited a family in a castle I don’t remember who they were they may have been my family

I had a dream where this girl accidentally entered the house of a murderer and hid inside the closet of his basement she may have been me

When I go to sleep tonight I want to finish my dream where I was alone with a murderer How am I going to get out of the closet in his basement

I could sneak out through the window but that won’t work because the murderer will hear me, so that plans out the window

I could just stay there quietly, but what if the murderer opens the closet door? then I could just hide in the pile of clothes

But what if the murderer wants something from the big messy pile of clothes? I’ll die for sure

I remember I can control my dream even if it doesn’t work out I make two cops come to his front door and knock knock knock He’s walking back up his stairs and away from the basement

“Good evening sir, we’ve just come to ask you a few questions on x,y,z” “I don’t know anything about that officers, sorry”

“Well if you find out anything on x,y,z, report it to us immediately” I think that’s how their conversation went

But as I’m waiting in his kitchen, that’s cold with white walls and blinding bright lights, I notice the two cops are lying on the floor in his living room, blood spilling from their necks. I don’t know why the obstacle didn’t work

I guess I’ll have to try something else.

But I have moved on to another dream, one where my little brother is crossing a bridge It’s a weak wooden bridge that will break anytime soon

There are crocodiles underneath and we’re suddenly in a jungle

The bridge has gotten longer and higher and now there are waves crashing into sharp rocks while the hungry crocodiles still swim beneath

My brother is holding on to the ropes of the bridge Carefree and relaxed

As if he knows he’s going to get across safe And I’m just watching him, unable to move

But he seems to be getting across just fine, in fact he doesn't even know I’m here

So I leave him alone and turn around, somehow I know he’ll get across the bridge just fine

I’m suddenly in another dream.

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Spring Break

By Tomeka Bien Aime

 I can see the rusting paint that indicates that it’s been here for a while, and the sounds of telephones ringing while people walk in and out. This is going to be a long day. As my stomach grumbles I begin to remember my last home cooked meal. Just a few days ago I was home with my mom around the table as we talked about today's issues. She always told me about the people I should stay clear of but that wasn't enough to make me not want to hang out with them. Looking up at my prison cell a feeling goes through me that tells me that the future is pretty much nonexistent at this point. Who knows that me of all people would be in this situation, the false charges of possession of drugs was against me right now and everything indicated that I was guilty. “How did I get myself in this mess?” I begin to think, and then I remember the words that repeated in my head from the beginning of the week: “There’s a first time for everything.”

24 Hours Ago

I was watching the clock as the seconds went by, waiting as patiently as I could for my Uncle Derek to pick me up. Spring break was officially going to start, a time for fun, parties and no regrets. This would be my first time going to Florida and spending time with my uncle, I was definitely excited. Packing was simple, saying goodbye to my mom was the hard part. This would be my first time being away from her I knew this was going to hard. Spring break was my time to find myself and I was definitely going to take advantage of this. With the strict mother I have, life outside the house was nonexistent. I never had the chance to experience all the things teenagers are supposed to. This was my chance.

“Who am I?” is the question that i’m trying to answer by the end of this trip. Because currently I'm not the person I want to be, I’m the person my mom wants me to be. Here's my day-to-day playbook. Wake up, go to school, and then come home. You'd expect that with this weekday schedule the weekends would be my time to have fun, but nope. Instead of going out with my friends I'm still stuck here. Living like this has changed me as a person into believing that I'm better off staying away from the world, better off alone. But no, I refuse to fully believe in this. I don't want to be the shy girl that doesn't know how to make conversation based on events that happen on social media because I'm not really allowed on the internet.

My mom tries to hide from today's society but what she fails to realize is that the more she keeps it away from me the more I yearn for it, and if the opportunity comes to get away I take it no matter the struggle that might come along with it. I don't want to be the girl that quakes in fear when someone I don't know tries to talk to me. I know there's no point of trying to create a friendship if it won't last. Most friendships are built upon face-to-face contact and connections but that idea is nonexistent to me.

I have great grades and I know what to stay clear of, yet still even when I ask to even go to something as simple as the movies there's hesitation. I fear that even my two best friends from middle school will forget about me. Our current electronic friendship is fine for now but the thought of only being friends through the web is irritating. I don't want to be the person I am now by the time I get back home. Once I get back things will be different, and if my mom believes that I will continue to be the girl that sits at home all day she's wrong. Hopefully by the end of this trip I’ll be able to know who I truly am on my own terms and not based on who my mom wants me to become.

The ride there was awkward at first but one song changed that, “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls. I watched as he said every verse and seeing as most guys would find it girly, I knew there was something different about him. Once the song finished that's when the conversations started. It jumped all over the place from music to books and movies to school. After an hour and a half we arrived at the house and I was finally starting to pay attention to my surroundings. The house was the perfect size: a garage, driveway, and backyard—everything I've ever wanted. Living in a building complex all my life it was a good change of scenery. Once I settled and we ate food I stepped outside for the fresh air and sun. That's when I saw a guy and a girl walking towards me.

Ofe and Bird (Beatrice)

He stood tall, chin up as if he was ready to face anything in life that came his way, while the girl next to him walked as if she was a fashion model making her way down the runway. With confidence in their strides as they made their way towards me, I had no idea what to expect.

“Hi I'm Ofe and this is Beatrice” Ofe laughed as he turned toward his friend.

“Please call me Bird instead. He does that on purpose since he knows how much it irritates me to be called Beatrice. I'm assuming it's his own annoying form of amusement” Bird said rolling her eyes in a playful manner.

“Nice to meet you guys. I'm Francesca, but everyone calls me Frankie,” I said. From then on our conversation continued and everything just seem to flow with them as if we'd known eachother for years. Even Derek jumped into the convo. Who knew he would be up to date with our terminology but then again he's only 24.

“Wait! I just remembered, are you going to NASA tonight” Bird shouted with wide eyes. I gave them a look of confusion because I was totally lost. Maybe they weren’t as normal as I thought. Within seconds everyone was laughing uncontrollably—I'm assuming it had to do with my facial expression—except for me because I was still confused as to why they were going to NASA, a space station that was most likely far away from here.

Five minutes later Ofe, the only one that had gained control, spoke up.

“It's the name of the house where the annual YOLO party takes place,” he said. “Ohh I don't really think that would be the place for me I'm not really a party person but then again how would I know if I've never really been to a true teenage party,” I said slightly embarrassed.

“You should go, it's the party every teen wants to see. Look, I'll go get my wallet. Ofe, Bird, take her to the mall, buy a new outfit, come back here to change so we can take photos, then you could head off to the party. But try and be back around 1:30, 2 at the latest,” Derek said.

Without a moment to react or even decline the offer seeing as this would be my very first actually party, Derek was already inside. The thought of going shopping with strangers that I just met wasn't very tempting, but seeing as how Derek already knew who they were and they seemed like a great bunch, I decided that I might as well make new friends while I was here.

Once we arrived at the mall we did everything from truth or dare to running from security guards. When I say that this was the most eventful and fun day of my life it's no understatement. After a few hours of fun we finally found outfits and were ready to go. As we left the mall my happiness was disturbed by the sound of a group of guys picking on a girl that was probably a few years younger than us. Without thinking I was on my way towards them. My blood was boiling to a point where I couldn’t control it and it was time I gave them a piece of my mind.

“Is this the only thing you could find yourself doing for fun, picking on an innocent person that hasn't even done anything? Why don't you find something useful to do with your life?” I said.

“What an attitude, maybe you're worth keeping. You must be Derek's niece. I heard you'd be around. I'm Rico,” said the stranger with a smirk as he rubbed his hand against my cheek. He was tall with a caramel skin tone and two French braids that reached the middle of his back. He had a sharp jawline and was wearing a sleeveless shirt. He probably would be able to make any girl melt but I wasn't having it at the moment.

“How dare you. What am I, some object you?” my hand was just about to make contract with his face when Ofe caught it.

“Umm she didn't really mean to do that, she's just having a bad day. We should go,” Ofe said. Before I could even respond I was already being pulled away.  “I didn't know you're the type to get into other people's problems. We can't take you anywhere can we.” Ofe laughed but my face still screamed anger.

“Who was that jerk anyway,” I asked.

“That's Rico the trouble maker. All he does is deal drugs and start trouble, it's best to stay away from him,” said Bird as we began walking back to the car. Once we got back we all changed our clothes, took pictures and talked until it was time to go. “Tonight is going to be spectacular,” Bird said as we stepped out the door, ready to face the world.

The party that everyone lives to see

From the end of the block you could feel the bass from the music. It was a surprise that the neighbors hadn’t called and complained. But then again, with a party as active as this who's to say that they’re not in there themselves. We all looked at each other once in front of the door. We said nothing but through the looks in each others’ eyes one message was clear: This would be the night we broke all rules, had no regrets, and lived up to the motto, “There’s a first time for everything.”

After hours of dancing and jumping I needed to use the restroom. Once I finished I was walking towards the stairs to jump back into the party when I was pulled into the bedroom. It was Rico, the jerk. I could smell the alcohol from where I stood.

“Now that we're alone, maybe now you could consider the thought of me and you getting together,” he said with a smile that would usually charm most girls. I tilted my head with a smile most convincing.

“Never in a million years will the thought ever come to me. You see you’re the type of guy that I despise. The one that believes that they're above anything and everything and for that I wish you a long time of loneliness.” I began to walk away when I felt my body slam into the wall. The impact of the wall to my head made everything blurry. I felt Rico’s hands rubbing my lower back and kissing my neck. I tried my hardest to push him off but nothing seemed to work. Tears streamed down my face, a feeling of fire with every tear shed. This was not how I planned to end the night.  “Get off of me, Rico,” I screamed, hoping someone would hear.

Within 5 seconds here comes Ofe, practically kicking down the door and pulling me away. Two punches later we were back into the party.

“We really can’t leave you alone anywhere, huh Frankie,” said Ofe. Once in the center dancing again, getting my blood flowing, here comes a laughing jumpy Bird coming towards us.

“Where did you go, I’ve been looking for you guys everywhere. I hear cops are being called, we should probably leave” Bird said. It was 4 o'clock in the morning. I was drunk, I smelled like alcohol and weed, and to add to it I was definitely way past curfew. I was really gonna dread the next day to come.

The Next Morning

Waking up the next morning, a migraine hit me like a baseball bat to the head. I turned towards the counter in search of my phone but all I saw was some water and some aspirin. My heart was beating rapidly as I made my way to the kitchen. I didn't know what to expect. I would never be able to come home drunk if I was still with my mom but hopefully things were different with my uncle.

Derek sat at the breakfast table.

“I hope you had a good time,” he said with a smile. With anxiety building up I couldn't tell if he was being humorous or if my punishment was already being set up.

“Am I in trouble? I’d rather find out now rather than later. I know you trusted me to go to this party and be responsible enough to come back when you told me to, but I'm sorry. I feel like I broke your trust. I understand if you plan on sending me back home,” I said as uncontrollable tears sprang down my eyes. It all came out so quickly I wouldn’t have been surprised if he hadn’t heard a single word. Within three steps I was embraced in a hug.

“I know what it's like growing up in a place where you have no freedom and the one moment you get a taste of it, of course you wanna savor the moment. That was the life of my sister and I. We grew up being told that if we stayed in then we won't get in touch with the bad people the world has to offer, and seeing as how our future turned out pretty well by listening to these rules I assume your mom is trying to pass that trait onto you. However, what my parents and my sister failed to realize is that staying locked in kept us from reaching our true potential of who we really are. I wanted you to come down here for the break to have the time of your life so you could see what life outside of home is like. Now I'm getting way too emotional. I'm going to the garage, get yourself something to eat then we'll have a day out on the town,” Derek said with an award-winning smile.

“Alrighty I’m gonna go get my phone from the car,” I chuckled. Once I got to the car I reached over to the dashboard for my phone. I had almost a million messages from my mom, Bird, and Ofe, but the one that stood out to me was from Rico. It read, “You sure you don’t wanna go out this is your last chance before your world comes crumbling down before you - Rico.” Without a second thought I close my phone and threw it in my pocket without responding to him. Suddenly out of nowhere I heard police sirens heading my way. Before I had time to react the cops were out their cars running towards me. Within an instant I was pushed out of the way. I stood there confused, not knowing what was going on.

I watched as cops analyzed the drugs planted in the car, drugs that I didn't even know the name of. I turned around slowly, knowing the next few words would go like this: “You're under arrest for the..” In the motion of me turning i saw the shock in Derek’s eyes. If I hadn’t disappointed him before he definitely was now. Who knows what he could be thinking. Then out of the bushes I caught a glimpse of Rico. I watched as amusement ran across his face at the sight of me in cuffs. This was really living up to my spring break mantra of “There's a first time for everything.”

Present

How did I get myself in this mess I begin to think, then remember the words that repeated in my head from the beginning of the week: “There’s a first time for everything.” Who was I before? I was the girl that shakes in fear of the thought of being the center of attention. The one that believed that there no point in starting a conversation with people you know won't stay in your life for long. The one that began to like the idea of staying home and got scared at the thought of going outside. Who am I now? I'm the girl willing to take risks for the good of others. The one that knows that there are moments when I should step out of my comfort zone to get to know others around me. In all honesty it's not that hard. The one that know about consequences because that's all I've been preached to about since I was young. Finally, the one that know it's important to live life to the fullest because you have no idea what tomorrow brings. Through everything I always have to remember, “There's a first time for everything.”

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By Clarck Desiree

We are all born with a family waiting for us. You don’t know anything but you see towering creatures looking at you, smiling and excited. What are you? You are a child. I was born on March 30, 2002 and that makes me an Aries. Me and my mom have asthma, which affected me the most since a baby’s lung is vulnerable to most things. The cool thing was that I was born in Virginia where my dad worked in the Navy, so he was away on a boat. He had to quickly come back to see me.

We traveled to different states during my youth: Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, and finally New York. My family is from Haiti, which is connected to the Dominican Republic. I spent one month there and that is how I met my two uncles, aunt, cousin and my favorite of all, my grandma (all on my mother's side). I had a great time in Haiti and learned my native language. Then I came back home and gave my mom all sorts of problems with what food I wanted to eat since we all loved grandma’s food. The rest of my memories are blurred.

In New York I went to school, my dad went to work in the military and then go work with the NYPD, while my mom went to school and worked at Columbia. So I had a very good life. When I started to become older, when I was in the third grade, I got my first Xbox 360. I didn’t know what it was but I tried to play it. I got Halo Reach which was my favorite game, and Batman Arkham Asylum. So far it seems that I have a good life, which it really is.

Children who live in richer regions always want more than they need, while children in the poorer regions want to have what we want. When I was younger I was OK at school. Then I started to go to school at a Catholic church and my parents had to pay a lot. So I only spent a few years at the school. I went to a school near central park for fourth and fifth grade. I had already started to wear glasses when i was in third grade. At the beginning of fifth grade my eyes started to turn in so only the white part of the eye was showing, so I had to undergo surgery and stay from school for two weeks. I had to wear specialized glasses, which cost a lot of money.

During middle school I went to Haiti for a week, which was bad for me since it was a school week. At first I thought it was a joke but it turns out I had to go. I didn't want to so I told my mom I wanted to live with my dad, but they didn't want me to because of his job. When I went to Haiti I still had a good time meeting my mom's friends and checking out where my mom came from. I had good memories even though I still didn't want to go.

During this time things started to happen between my parents. My dad then left the house, so they were separated for a long time. Now they are going through a divorce, and both my mom and dad wanted me but my dad worked night shifts so there was no one to look after me when he wasn't here. Since this started to happen, me and my father's bonding started to collapse so I hardly talk to him. It's like we are ignoring each other at the same time, but he just doesn't like my mom's family. So my mom started to go hard on me to do better and become something new tomorrow.

What I want to be is an eye surgeon or a medical officer inside the Marines. I thought these types of jobs would be cool since I had my surgery. My mom and my grandma said those jobs were good, but I would have to work hard for it. I am a 90s average student and I have a good reputation. Now my mom met someone who is my step dad and I like him a lot. He is nice and if I do good in school, he buys me stuff. He is a part of the Marines and he works hard. The reason why I’m happy is because my mom is happy. He helps my mom with school and he is there for my mom, so that makes me happy.

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Forever and Always

By Nabiha Mazhar

My luminating sunshine. My vibrant rainbow. I hold your hand and promise you       goodness. For all the times I have kept myself in the corners of my mind, pondering about the very idea of you. I can feel myself falling into an abyss of bewilderment. You have begun to become mine. From the smiles we’ve shared, to the tears we’ve shed upon each other’s shoulders. You have brought forth the idea of loyalty and generosity upon my wounded heart. Let this not be another foolish mistake we make, for life is running out. Hold onto the keys of the past in such a way for you to never return to it again. If at times we grow apart, let it be known that I, the light, belong to you, the ever-forgiving sunshine. Till death divides us for the time being, and the hereafter unites us. We shall never depart our ways, for that would be the greatest sin in this lively world you have created for me. Bestow upon me all that is you. Your carefulness of the very idea of living shall be carried through to me and I shall keep it in my soul, locked up for none to steal. The tone of your voice, the structure of the living, exasperate me into knowing that I have chosen the one for me. Music to my ears as I step out of my house. I now am open to all that is around me that I haven’t had the faintest idea of before. I’ve been so naive, and you, oh greatest spark, have brought me closer to the person I am. So let it be known what it is that I can do to fulfill your wishes as you have done mine. Honey, am I worthy of your love? Creating a distinction between the past and the present has become my ideal concept of everyday life. To improve and to provide for all that I wish upon you. I live in fear that one day we’ll grow apart, and from then on I’ll become a memory that passes through your mind that you long to forget. I don’t want to be the burden that carries your agony. I want to be your peace in chaos, your fight in hardships, your success in pain. I want to become more than just a figment of your imagination. Let me be that for you. Let me be that which breaks you not, but builds you up as an empire. Let me bestow upon you the very idea of you, and show you the person you are in my deep eyes. Let me provide for you and fulfill my promises.

Let me become your forever and always.

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By Nabiha Mazhar

Getting into my red car as vivid as the petals of the roses he once gave me, I pull the door shut, and startle myself at the sudden noise in the quiet, lonely neighborhood. The skies are painted a  masterpiece of lights and darks, gray and gloomy. I look down at my trembling hands and feel them going numb with the coldness of the reality that I am no longer a person of value in his life. I turn up the heat and feel it soak up my sorrows. I adjust the rearview mirrors and I begin to pull out of his driveway.

I push forward into the future, as I drive on and on. And as I peer into the rearview mirror, I realize that I’m looking into the past. We’re never really in the present time. With the acknowledgment of light years, and the movement associated with it, there is no present time. I turn on the radio and listen to the voices, taking in what they mean. I’m flowing down the road now, faster and faster. I tell myself to slow down, but I don’t.

There was a sudden downhill on the road, I believe it was a hole. Must’ve been bigger than the one in my soul. I felt myself hit the top of my car, and shards of glass came down upon me.

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My Destination

By Fatou Kebe

My destination

*stomach grumbling*

Ugh I'm hungry

I put on my shoes

Walk out my house

And lock

The door

The natural light

Of the sun

Beams on my

Skin.

The warmth

Almost

Makes me

Smile.

I get into my car

And drive

I drive

And I drive

Until I reach

My destination.

I get out my car

And press the button

Beep

My car is locked.

Then I walk

A short distance

To

My destination.

I step through

The automatic doors

And I walk to

The bread aisle.

I walk dawn the aisle

And found the thing

I came here for

I drove here for

Bagels.

The bagels

Are what brought me

Here

But little do I know.

Just as my fingertips

Touched the bagels

An alarm went off.

BEEP BEEEP BEEEEP.

I see people running

towards the door

I grab

The bagels

And run

I run

I run

And I run

I stop running

The door is blocked

By Red

Dancing

Flames

I’m gonna die

This thought enters my mind

and bounces around

I Panic

And Panic

Then i stop

What do I need to live for

Anyways

No one would miss me

No one would mourn

I calm myself

I sit on the floor

Eat my bagels

And let the dancing

Flames

Envelope me

I died at

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By Ivania Guerrero

They wanted me to leave but I stayed

I wanted to leave but for some reason I stayed

I don't know why I wanted to leave and I don't know why I wanted to stayed

I lied, well, halfway lied

I know why I wanted to leave

Before I say the reason why I wanted to leave, I want to know why I didn't just

leave

I can easily answer that myself but my ego isn't letting me

My pride is just unmeasurable to the point where if I just forget it even exists, it

makes my life that much more easier

But that's not the way it works

You can't just ignore something thinking that it'll suddenly just go away

I have to face the fact that what I’m doing is wrong

I have to come to terms and accept my flaws and work on becoming a person

Not just for myself

For once

Long story short, I have a big ego and that's why I stayed

Could I have just been less arrogant and leave

Yes I could have

Could I have just go of the rope and move on with my life and just leave

Yes I could have

Could I have just not been an asshole and leave like any other person would

Yes I could have

I could have a done a million other things but I chose to stay

There are thousands of exotic, extravagant and tasteful other flavors in the world

Yet I chose vanilla

Before you judge me on my plain vanilla choice I made, you don't even know the

situation that I was in

It doesn't matter what choice I make whether it's the wrong one or the right one, if

you don’t know what I was going through before I made that choice, I don't want to

hear your comment

Yeah I know I know I know, every adult will tell you there's a wrong and there's a

right in every situation

But let's be honest, have they really been in EVERY situation

I didn't think so

Everyone has a different battle going on in their own world that we, as other people,

have no business in telling them what they should or shouldn't do

Some people’s battles are more

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By Md Nashir Uddin 

          It was the summer time when I went my village to see my grandparents. My grandfather was sick so my other cousins were there. I had a good time with them, but the happiness didn't last for a long time. In two days my grandfather's condition worsened. Everyone lost their hope for him.

        Tomorrow is Eid and my grandfather is fighting with his death. After the morning pray at 5 a.m. me and my cousins were were going to to see the fireworks. I was just passing my grandfather's room and he called my name. I slowly went into his room. He asked me for a glass of water. I brought a glass of water from the kitchen and gave it to him. I was about to leave his room after I gave him water and he called me back.  

                I went to him. He told me to get something from his locker. I ran to the locker and brought it back to him. He opened it and took out a small toy horse covered with a golden armour. Are you going to play with this toy, I asked? He smiled,looking at me. This is for you, he replied. I thought it was a regular toy, but it wasn’t.

I was going to my room to keep it there. On the way to my room I met with my grandmother. Who gave it to you, she asked? Grandpa, I replied. You are so lucky you got it. He never let anyone touch it. And you are the one he gave it to. Your grandfather loves you the most, she said, and kissed me on my forehead. Keep it in a safe place, don't let it get lost from you. I went to my room and put it on my table and went outside to play with my cousin.

            Why you so late, one of my cousins asked. I was with grandpa, I answered. Oh, ok, then it it acceptable, he replied.  We went under the guava tree and I climb the tree to get guava for my cousins.  We washed the guava with the mosque tap water.

[upwardboundcreativewriting-blog]

Untitled

By Miftahol Jannah

Felicity stared at Oliver across the room. They were best friends. He was a soccer player and he sang as well but that was his secret. He was the starter for their school’s soccer team and for another club called the Manhattan Soccer Club. Felicity on the other hand was a normal teenage girl, though some referred to her as a “nerd.” She was pretty but insecure. She was also into music. She’s had a crush on him for four years but never said a word about that.

“Why are you staring at him?” said Bridgit smirking.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I wasn’t staring at anyone,” said Felicity, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Just talk to him” said Bridgit, “you’ve been crushing on him for four years, time to make a move before it’s too late.”

“I can’t. He probably doesn’t like me and I don’t want to ruin our friendship.” Felicity and Oliver were next door neighbors and they had been friends since the first day of pre-K when Oliver threw a soccer ball at her and she started crying. He felt really bad so he went and apologized.

Oliver spotted Felicity and smiled at her. She smiled back. Ding! Ding! Ding! The 8th period bell rang and they left. On her way home all she could think about was Oliver. “Maybe I’ll tell him how I really feel soon,” she thought to herself.

She got home, did her homework and it was 1 a.m. when she heard something on her window, it was Oliver. He threw something at the window to get Felicity’s attention. He picked up his phone and sent her a text. “I can’t sleep.” “Same here,” texted Felicity. They texted until 4 a.m. until she finally passed out.

The Next Morning

Felicity walked into Spanish when her teacher, who wasn’t very fond of her, was suddenly super nice to her. She knew something was wrong, or Ms. Martinez probably wanted something. She went to her seat, which was next to Oliver and whispered,

“Is it just me or is Ms. Martinez acting super nice today?”

“Yeah she complimented me when I walked in! And you know how much she hates me.  She refers to me as a brat.” said Oliver. They continued with class and Ms. Martinez was acting very different with her least favorite students: Felicity, Oliver, Bridgit, Shawn, and Shane. She thought they were spoiled and didn’t care about their education even though they did. They overheard her speaking to another teacher and she told them in class as well. Just before the 1st period bell rang, she asked the five of them to help her with something after school.  

“I knew this was too good to be true,” said Shane.

They went on with their day and decided to meet after 8th period at Ms. Martinez’s room even though staying after school on a Friday was the last thing they wanted.

DING! DING! DING! That was the 8th period bell. The five students walked to their Spanish class. It was snowing outside.

“Looks like a storm might be headed our way, hopefully we don’t have to stay very late” said Shawn.

Bridgit knocked on the door. It was closed. They peeped through the little window on the door. It was empty.

“She’s probably just running late,” said Oliver. They waited 15 minutes outside her class and the halls were starting to become empty.

“I’ll go to the office and see where she is,” said Oliver.

“I’ll come with you” said Felicity.

As they walked down the halls, they saw no one. It looked like a ghost school. They walked to the main office but it was completely empty. Oliver jumped over the desk and tried to use the speaker to tell Ms. Martinez that her students were waiting for her. It didn’t work. They heard something. A trophy that the soccer team won last week, thanks to Oliver because he scored the winning goal, fell and it made a loud noise. Felicity was creeped out.

“We should probably go back to class,” said Felicity, who was a little scared.

Oliver laughed, “Don’t worry, one of the windows are open and if something creepy or dangerous were to happen you know I wouldn't let anything happen to you.” Felicity tried to hold in her smile. Oliver tried to make an announcement again but the microphone wasn’t working. He looked at the wire and noticed that it had been ripped apart. They looked at each other with confusion. They walked back to the others.

“She probably forgot,” said Shawn.

“Why didn’t you make an announcement?” said Bridgit. Felicity explain what had happened in the office.

“It was probably just a rat, you know most schools have rats,” said Shane.

“That’s true but it looked like someone tore the wire. It looked like there were bite marks, but not from an animal” said Oliver.

“Ms..Martinez probably forgot she asked us to stay after school. I’m leaving,” said Bridgit.

They decided to leave. As they were walking to the main exit, they heard something. It was footsteps, and the halls smelled of vanilla and something that they couldn’t quite put their finger on. They looked back but no one was there. The halls were completely empty. They reached the main exit. There were 8 doors. Oliver pushed the one that was right in front of him but it didn’t open. They tried the other doors, they were all locked. It was half past 4 and the storm was coming, it was snowing outside.

“This is weird but let’s check the other exists,” said Shane. They tried opening every exit, they were all locked.

“What do we do now?” asked Bridgit. Felicity took out her phone and tried to call her parents, the others did the same. The calls didn’t go through, there was no service. The only thing they could do was call emergency services, so they tried that. No one picked up. Now they were all staring to get scared.

“Let’s go wait in the office, someone will show up,” said Oliver, “the doors are probably stuck in the snow.”

They heard something again, and the halls started to smell like vanilla again. Felicity stopped and the others stopped when they realized she wasn’t with them. They saw her walking back, trying to figure out who else was with them. Out of curiosity, they joined her. Whoever it was, they were faster. They looked inside the nearest room, the scent was stronger. As they walked in, they said nothing. The room was completely empty and the scent wasn’t as strong anymore.  

[upwardboundcreativewriting-blog]

Untitled

By Abigail Ofori

Dear Admission Officer or to whomever it may concern, I am writing to you to express an event in my life that has changed, influenced, and impacted me all at once to become a better person. It occurred to me at the age of 15 and it is something I will never forget. This life story helped me learn about not only myself but the people around me to whom I give my trust. I decided to write my essay in first-person point of view to allow you to put yourself in my shoes and visualize my life in my perspective:

“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you.” Ugh, by far the most dreadful song I’ve ever had to listen to. My friends at my new school surprised me with a cake and a ticket to the roller skating rink on the upcoming Saturday after my birthday. Mike, Mitchell, and Mason were triplets that became my best friends almost instantly when I arrived at Chester High.

Chester High was a suburban high school in my community that every kid in my neighborhood went to. It was much different from Theodore Roosevelt, where I had once spent three years of my life. I hated my new school in all honesty, from the cliché separation of nerds to jocks, lames to populars, emos to hippies. I was not ecstatic about my birthday, because every single year my mom and I sat at a dinner table with a whole bunch of food that was most likely going to be leftovers for two whole weeks.  But thank God, my friends got me a ticket to the roller skating rink, because boy was I trying to get out that house.

My mom was that type of overprotective guardian that made sure to know everything you were doing every second of the day, and I was tired of being treated like a baby. But aside from that she spoiled me and never failed to show great care towards me in every possible way.

That day of my birthday I walked home from school with the triplets, but we parted our separate ways at the junction between the two streets of Maycomb and Sedwell. Before entering my house I noticed that the lights were off and I obviously assumed my mom wasn’t home from work yet. I opened the front door to see nothing but complete darkness and feel the breeze of emptiness. But, I was wrong.

“Supriseeeeeeeee!!” my mom shouted. I jumped back instantly in a karate stance ready to swing. Oh, I thought it, was my mom. Just my mom…

“Oh! Hey mom!” I said unhappily.

“Aww honey, what’s wrong, did I scare you? I’m sorry.”

“Nah I’m good, but just don’t ever do something like that ever again.” She walked over to the door to turn on the lights and then made her way to the dining room.

When I tell you she really outdid herself… like wow! She was able to pull together a whole dinner with the addition of dessert and appetizers. For dinner she made lobster, with Mexican rice, buttery mashed potatoes, and vegetables. The table itself caught my eyes and was my main interest apart from the food. My mom set up large bouquets and not just any regular bouquets. They were Edible Arrangement Bouquets, full of my favorite fruits covered in chocolate. Don’t get me wrong, I totally appreciated every single thing she was able to put together, but was it really necessary? After all, I’m only turning 15.

Disregarding my feelings towards this birthday surprise, I put on a smile and thanked her. That was one thing I hated, I always hid my emotions from her. I felt like I was never able to speak out or do a simple thing I wanted to do.

“Trevor, how was your day?”

“Good I guess..” is what I replied.

“I guess? Really Trevor? It’s your birthday!! Loosen up.” I wanted to ask her about the roller skating rink, but I had a pretty strong feeling the answer was going to be no. But, out of nowhere a strong voice emerged from my mouth, something like a tiger’s roar and I couldn't do anything to conceal what was being said.

“Mom! I'm tired of being home all the time. I'm tired of having to hear you say no. I'm tired of you treating me like a little kid. I've had enough of your bossiness ma… I've just had it. The triplets invited me to a roller skating rink as a gift for my birthday and I'm going! That's final. I'm 15, in high school, and you don't even allow me to go to the park by myself, even if I'm with friends.”

        She just sat there in complete astonishment as if she wanted to say something so bad but just couldn't say it.

“No Trevor, you're not going!”

“See this is what I mean,” I said back. “Simple things like letting me go out with my friends, you won't allow. It's not like I'm asking you if I could go to a house party where there is gonna be alcohol and drugs. I'm not like that mom, and you've gotta learn how to trust me.” This was a side of me that she had never seen before and I'm sure both her and I didn't know how to react to this situation, but we went along with it.

“Trevor, I said no and my word is final. I'm not going to risk the chance of losing you, Trevor. I'm not going to give anybody the chance of taking you away from me.”

“Mom why are you so paranoid all the time! You won't even let me see my own birth certificate. Like why are you so protective?”

“Trevor, stop talking and eat your food. I'm not discussing this with you anymore.”      

        That was when I got fed up and stormed up to my room. She called for my name but I didn't respond and I just kept running up the steps. When I got into my room I slammed the door and began bawling my eyes out. After crying for a good 30 minutes I decided to sneak out. Yeah, I said it, sneak out. I cranked open my window and climbed onto a tree, crawling down to the ground.

         I got home around 12 in the morning through my bedroom window and realized that my door was open. My mom seriously picked the lock to my door, so she knew that I snuck out. Oh my gosh… what was I gonna do now? How was I going to tell her? I obviously couldn’t lie now.

        Friday, August 9 of 2013 is the day that my life changed, the day that I never expected to come about. That morning I woke up around 10 to no annoying knocks at the door, no smell of bacon and French toast, no sound of clinking and chiming dishes. Why? Why did the house seem awfully quiet? As therapeutic as it was, I felt empty and lost, as if I didn't belong where I was. I got up and got ready for the day and took a slight tour around the house to try to locate my mom. I couldn't find her anywhere in the house, not even in the office where she was almost always consumed with answering e-mails from work. Then finally a thought came to mind; something wicked, something disobedient.

         I, for the first time in 15 years, was going to go inside the basement. A place where I was forbidden from going by my nowhere-to-be-found mother. I hesitantly opened the door that let out a screeching cry in such a way that you thought it was begging for oil between its hinges. I started down the creaking steps surrounded by complete darkness, but I kept going. I kept going because I wanted to see what was down in this basement. I wanted to go see for myself, whatever she was hiding.

         When I got into the basement I turned on my phone flashlight and began moving it around. All I saw was old boxes and antiques. Up until the light flashed on a metal cage about 6 ft tall with a body inside of it. The body was alive, but why was it in the basement.

“Hello? Who are you?” I said.

“Bryant?” Bryant? Why was he calling me Bryant? Wait, was my mom keeping this guy hostage all this time? Is this the reason she didn't want me in the basement?

“My name isn't Bryant. Why are you in my house? Why are you even in a cage?” “Bryant, that women you've been living with for 15 years put me in this cage.”

“My mom? Why would she even do such a thing?” He went on to explaining how my mom put him in the cage all so that he would keep his mouth shut. Keep his mouth shut about what, you may ask? My so-called mother kidnapped me at birth and she took me into her care without the knowledge of my birth parents. But when they eventually found her, she posed a threat to them and it led to the capture of my father. My mom, my birth mom, was out of the picture because she passed away due to liver disease. So my father took it into his own hands to find me and take me back where I belonged, but I guess my mom—I mean that woman—got the best of him and locked him in this cage.

         I stood there in complete awe and just thought of all the times that she acted overprotective. It was all because she didn't want to risk her chance of losing me. I couldn't believe it. How could she betray my trust like that? I took the keys opposite from the cage on the side table and let my father out. When he got out of the cage, he gave me a huge hug. One that I had never felt before.

         The rest of that day, I'd rather not say how it ended. But let's just say I got the chance to live my happily ever after with my father and my life has changed since then, for the better of course.

[upwardboundcreativewriting-blog]

Poem #2

By Ashley Issak

Looking Outside,

Bristling Trees

You come near me

And I can Barely Speak

I hate you

Those words are like music to my ears

But Even then

I swear I can’t hear

One hand Raises

The Other One grabs

I’m supposed to spend eternity with you

But you treat me like nothing

Why? I’ve always been there

But at night

I’m still aching

My love for you has kept me blindsided

And NOW you take me for granted

“BOOM”

Your hand connects with my face

I wince

And ever since

I’ve never loved you

But how can I leave

Knowing you might take my life

I gave you all of me

And still all our nights end in strife

But now you’re gone

And I can finally see

You’ve never showed

Me anything but fear

Your last words

“Burn in hell”

Rang in my ear

[upwardboundcreativewriting-blog]

Poem #1

By Ashley Issak

Life is NOT a bowl of cherries

Its not that simple

Life is not like rides on ferries

It’s more like popping a pimple

Life has its ups and downs

It’s never in between

It’s okay to have a few frowns

Just don’t make it a daily routine

Try to always keep a smile

Make sure it’s real

Even if it takes a while

Control how you feel

Never let how you feel take over

Make sure to shine

Stop looking down at your shoe

In due time and trust me, you’ll be fine

Life is NOT a bowl of cherries

Its not that simple

Life is not like rides of ferries

It’s more like popping a pimple

[upwardboundcreativewriting-blog]

The sad child

By Bintou Kane

The sad child

He wakes up every day with his two sisters and “parents” as the sad child

The child that bothers and hates his life

The child who hates his mother his father and sisters

The child who hates himself

Hates himself because he feels as though he is not worthy to be liked

Or to like anyone

The child that goes to school and walks down the hallways with nothing in mind

Feeling as though someone is watching

But they are usually blind

Blind to who he really is or what he can do

But only see the bad in him

Wouldn’t you?

But who would be watching him

There is nothing special about him

But when he looks in the mirror he sees someone else

Someone that he doesn't want to be

Someone that he thought that he liked

But does the world see him as likable when they look back at him

Do his family see him as lovable?

Do his peers see him a ghost?

Do strangers see him as a waste of life?

He comes back home after a long day of school

Dealt with so many personalities that he hates

Lied with his face and lips just to pass time

No one knows what he goes through on the day to day

The bullying the fighting the arguing and the fakes

But he has to come back home to his so-called family

Who sees him as the one that bothers and annoys

But he has to wake up every morning and every day

And start the day all over again

With nothing in mind but hate

Hate for what's to come in the day

The people he has to see

And the unknowingness of what they see of him

But he knows one day that he will free

Free from wondering about the ifs in life

He wakes up one morning feeling the wind through his nose

And smells heaven

Heaven Heaven Heaven is the place that he would like be

A place where “people” would see him for who he really is

But did he truly care about himself as he takes his own life just to be seen.

[upwardboundcreativewriting-blog]

“The Life of The Mafia”

By Lamont Hill

Ok let’s just get into it. The names Richard Belfonte. Weird name I know, but I swear to God if you make fun of it my fist to your eye socket will be the last thing you see. If you can’t tell I’m not a nice person. If you even look at me funny, let’s just leave that there. Trust me, you don't wanna know. I run some serious local and private businesses. It ain’t pretty trust me, it’s a lot of hands-on labor work. My old man told me that if you can’t find good goons, just paint the town red yourself.

Now my ma, wonderful lady but very, very naggy. She was very quiet on her last days. She smiled so much when she heard how I scored my first bank heist. My close friend, my amigo, my brother Tony, three words for ya: loyal, quiet, and stupid. Just the way I like ‘em. It ain’t easy being a crime boss unless you’re me. Look, five years ago I was arrested for selling the best stuff. I won’t say what it was because the fuzz is listening.

Ever since the arrest, my life in prison is wonderful. The lunch, if you wanna call it that, tastes like eating slime off a bum’s butt while back at home my poor sweet mama would make the most wonderful lasagna. It was a mixture of love, life, and made you relax. I’d kill to have that back. Probably end up in the joint again. You see, life doesn’t care for the Mafia. The cops don’t understand us, but the people fear us. They know who the best is: Me.

But even I get into a little trouble myself. You ever been jumped by ten people with knuckle dusters? I think I was in that cheap hospital for six months, but hey them’s the breaks. As my grandpappy once said, “Dogs run when you got a bone to pick with them.” Crazy old bastard got shot the next day, but advice is advice. So I call my boys over to get some sweet ol’ revenge, tell me why they were already a step ahead of me. Those inmates were never heard from again, trust me.

My buddy Rico comes by for a visit, the idiot hands me a cake, a freaking cake. Hey don’t judge me, I knew there was a file in there so I took it anyway. Turns out when I’m done finishing the cake, out pops a 9 mm pistol. Wow, security really must suck here. A week later after getting some “equipment,” the ol’ boys and I load a couple of caps into some security around the premises. By midnight the whole prison was ours. Well, until Tony grew a pair and shot me in the back. Big idiot can’t run nothing without me. So as I’m holding on for dear life. Tony had the audacity to even say, “Now I’m on top of the food chain.”

Alright this part of the little episode I don’t know because I passed out, so bear with me. Nine hours later Tony gets shot in the head by Betty, my ex-wife. Good kid but a lousy cook. Now knowing me I woke up like a chicken with his head cut off and a bullet in my shoulder.

“Hey Betty when did you get so pretty.” Oh my God I’m an idiot. Betty picks up the spatula she uses to make the worst burgers ever and smacks me with it. God that hurts. So pissed off I was, I reached for my beautiful glock, but Greg my old running partner stopped me.

“Great I can’t get a fucking break!” So my in-pain self looks at Betty, then Greg, then back at Betty, then at Greg again. I said “To hell with all of you!” and I shot Tony’s dead body. It was to show I wasn’t playing anymore. I’d never felt like this much of bird crap. I stormed out the house, stole a car, went to the liquor store and bought their best Chardonnay. I opened it put cloth in the tip of the bottle and I lit that puppy on fire.

A few minutes later I catch my ex outside, smacking dentures with Greg. I yelled out, “Hey bitch you forgot something!” I tossed that bad boy like I was back in college playing football again, right on her face. All I heard was a dying wail. I looked back and saw Greg was gone. Turns out he was on the bottom of my car. I started to laugh my ass off. I was planning on doing that anyways. Smacking with my ex will teach you a thing or two. Good riddance the both of yous. I went back home to my mom’s. I know it doesn’t belong to her anymore, God bless her soul! I turned on her old TV to find my favorite show. It was cancelled. Damn it. Five hours passed and I already cleared out my old man’s vodka collection. I stared at my gun, the same gun Betty used on my bro. I pointed the gun to my head. I fired a second later. Nothing. It seems Betty was smarter than she looked. Shit, don’t I have kids? Ever since those events, all I say now is “Fuck My Life.”