By Genet Dutto, TIWP Student Life is like a game… an orchestrated symphony of levels and anchors to boost you to the next level. It’s a program in which to discover who belongs here and who doesn’t. Like a game, you are praised and honored for getting to the next level. But when you don’t, […]

By Cameron Drue, TIWP Student I wish I could say I wasn’t a follower of the beauty standards created by men, or that I never let the patriarchy influence me, but I do. To fit a man’s view of beauty, I put pounds of bleach in my hair every two months, straighten my wavy hair every […]

By Aly Kirke, TIWP Student I feel the moss beneath my feet. Between my toes. It’s squishy. Soft. Cool like the pillow I turn over as I fall asleep. I’m alone, but I’m not lonely. The trees whisper me secrets in the wind. I feel like I belong, like the trees and the stars are […]

By Caroline Hesby, TIWP Student Once in a while you slip across the screen of my eyes, a quiet figure, your glasses still resting—slightly fallen—on the bridge of your nose, and a toothy smile that little me always sensed something more behind but wasn’t quite sure what. You left quickly, predictably, yet suddenly, before I […]

By Maya Petzoldt, TIWP Student “Who do you have a crush on?”No one. I don’t have a crush on anyone. I promise.“Who do you like, Maya?”You, platonically.Are you asking if I love someone? You of course, like a friend, a sibling.“Will you go out with me?”Of course, what’s better than a day with friends? I’d […]

By Ayumi Nagayama, TIWP Student 1. Oh my gosh, why can’t I draw hands? 2. Why is life so expensive? 3. How do you draw a perfect circle freehand? 4. Why is life so hard? 5. I’m hungry. 6. What if my family dies? 7. Awwww my dogs are cute! 8. Why does my favorite […]

By Kayli Harley, TIWP Student I was water then, eroding the skin of my face each night and waking up swollen and healed. But I could feel the salt beneath the layers, stinging and humming to be touched by air, to dissolve. I was water then, and I didn’t want to be. My room became […]

By Tate Johnson, TIWP Student If your gut says something is wrong, it probably is, and even if it’s not, you won’t regret removing yourself from the situation. Don’t talk shit about people. Remember your relationships change and the girl you and your friends hate right now could be one of your new BFFs in […]

By Katerina Bonderud, TIWP Student I am a student. It seems like school is what makes up my life. And sadly, it really does. I like to think people are doing what their heart desires, and that on weekends they deep dive into their crazy endeavors. But for me, most of the time, I’m doing […]

By Maxine Pollock, TIWP Student My dress swished against the tall grass as I ran. The white linen brushed the feathery reeds, each speaking in a brief moment of connection before I was gone. The ground was damp underfoot, my bare feet propelled by the bounce of the earth. My long dress swished over the […]