Dear future me
My piece is a letter to my future self. I chose this prompt to self reflect.
May
Be Just
I chose this category because I felt that there was so much injustice in our world. I decided to make a social media post, sharing a few bullet points on how to be just in our lives.
I know
“‘I Know’ is a personal poem about what I know my future self will do eventually, because my present and future self are both trying to be the best version of ourselves. I want my future self to have hope in themselves, to have goals, ambitions, to continue doing or strive for the things I enjoy or make me happy. As a result of writing this poem, I’m again reminded of who I want to become, and I feel more at peace with self-reassurance.”
A Cup of Tea
A Cup of Tea’ depicts how one can carry the weight of being cast out in society. However, sometimes all you need is a little push from yourself to realize that society does not define who you are, and the first step to being accepted in society is to accept yourself. Incorporating the past, present, and future in this work is meant to show people that who you were before and who you are now do not define the good you will give and receive in the future.
The Sake of Strangers
“I am a first-generation Latino who will be attending The University of Irvine this fall. It’s cool to say that I will be the first in my family to attend a four-year university, but it comes with a lot of pressure. In this poem, I wrote about my struggles with being a first-generation student and my battle with imposter syndrome. Acknowledging these emotions on paper is good and art is my therapy. I hope my poem makes people feel seen and gives others an insight into what it feels like to be a first-generation student.”
The Light
People who really know me know just how hopeful I am about everything. From having hope that I will do a good job on the test to believing I can learn a new language at 5 years old (I moved to the US during that time). I always believe good will come no matter what. There is always something, even the tiniest detail, to have hope for.
Swimming Pool
“My entry is about the generational trauma black kids inherit and how the struggles of their ancestors affect them today. My painting depicts a black woman on the water which is a reference to the fact that most black people don’t know how to swim because their parents didn’t know how, as their ancestors were banned from public swimming pools because slave owners were afraid, they’d swim to escape slavery. Acknowledging the trauma inflicted onto black people because of how their ancestors were oppressed as well as attempting to provide hope and comfort in the message we shouldn’t let that define us is the main focus of my painting, and I hope it’s understood.”
More Than One
I feel like society has changed a lot of time. Many don’t feel comfortable in their own skin and they don’t express themselves. I hope this project helps others understand that it is ok to be who you are and feel comfortable for what they stand for.