By O. Deng, TIWP Student I see beauty in imperfection: my uneven brows, the floppy swirls of my frozen yogurt, the flecks of burnt candle wick that fall into my candle wax, the way my sheets fold delicately into random shapes when I don’t make my bed, and the messiness of my room during the […]
Stairs
By Zara Quiter, TIWP Student I’m happyI tell myself as I walk down the stairs.I am happy.I am grateful.I am enough.Ignore the fists pounding that you aren’t,ignore the shrill screams that you’re worthless,ignore it all and listen to the sounds of your own heartbeat.I can’t get the song of this insanity out of my head […]
Apologies
By Nick Brevik, TIWP Student I once witnessed a boy in love get down on his knees and apologize over and over again. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. The words spilling out of his mouth as if they were the only things he knew how to say. I still think about that […]
和 (Wa)
By Katelyn, TIWP Student In Japanese, the word for harmony is “wa,” a belief that is emphasized throughout Tokyo and reaches into Kyoto and across Japan. Experiencing this “wa” offered a refreshing contrast to the chaotic pace of life in America to me. The metro over there was filled with peaceful silence, where the only […]
Nobody’s Darling
By Oriana, TIWP Student “Be nobody’s darling, be an outcast.” — Alice Walker Being “nobody’s darling” means choosing truth over approval. From the time we’re young, we’re taught constantly, to be likable. To not aggravate the other person to attack. To smile politely and nod even when we disagree. To say we agree even though the […]
The Cost of Yes
By Avery C., TIWP Student There is a quiet expectation placed on a girl to be pleasing. Not powerful. Not loud. Pleasing. It begins early. Sit nicely. Don’t interrupt. Don’t be bossy. Smile more. Share. Be kind. The lessons are subtle, but they settle deep. A girl learns that approval comes when she is agreeable, […]
A Girl’s Voice
By Kristen H., TIWP Student I was taughtto shrink my voice,into something polite.To fold my anger like a noteand slide it under the doorinstead of speaking it out loud. I learned earlythat speaking up was “too much.”Don’t want too loudly.Don’t reach too far.Softness was strengthbut only when it stayed useful. They handed us a rulebookwithout […]
Boys Like That/Girls Like Me
By Zara Quiter, TIWP Student Boys liked P.E.,and so we were supposed to hate it.Boys religiously played video games,and so we were supposed to get destroyed by them.Boys messed around in class,and so we were supposed to sit still and listen.We learned. I feel sorry for boys like that,and in vain, I hope they feel […]
Being a Girl Without a Father
By May B, TIWP Student Being a girl without a father means seeing one present from your mom on your birthday. Being a girl without a father makes you wonder if you’ll grow up to be the woman that social media labels “a whore with daddy issues.” Being a girl without a father means never […]
The Children Will Listen
By GG, TIWP Student “Boys will be boys” and just like that all is forgiven. You can’t blame him, he’s just a boy, it’s only natural. If he teases you, he likes you, if he bullies you, he likes you, if he stalks you, it’s okay, it’s just because he likes you. It’s sad how […]
The Intuitive Voice 