If I Should Have a Daughter

By Zara Quiter, TIWP Student Inspired by Sarah Kay’s Ted Talk If I should have a daughter, I would take her skipping through the trees, racing through the daisies, just to hear her laugh. I’d take her every year until she was sick of me just to catch a glance of her being young once […]

Eighth Grade

By Zara Quiter, TIWP Student I’m sorry. Yes, I agree. It is my fault that I didn’t feel like trying today. That I woke up and wore a mirror image of yesterday’s outfit. That I spent no time fixing my hair. Or trying to smile. Or trying to coexist. And it’s also my bad for […]

If Women Ran The World

By O. Deng, TIWP StudentI wonder what would happen if women ran the world. I would probably feel safer knowing that the place I lived in was run by people similar to me. Instead of feeling unsafe and unheard, maybe I would feel included and valued. I’m so tired of hearing men saying they are […]

The Lockdown

By Zara Quiter, TIWP Student On November 12, at 11:46AM, my friend and I left our class at Piedmont High School, and walked down the street into the office at the middle school, like we always do. We checked in at 11:50, and then walked to our English class. As always, we’re slightly late, due […]

For the Girls

By Lina Norris-Raman, TIWP Student For the girl who smokes outside the school, we all know she’s struggling.For the girls who judge her, they deceive themselves into believing they’re okay. They criticize her to avoid confronting their own issues. They belittle her to gain acceptance, to fit in. Perhaps it’s all they’ve ever sought.For the […]

Smile

By O. Deng, TIWP Student“I have been woman / for a long time / beware my smile.” —Audre Lorde Beware of my smile. Just because I smile at you in the hallways doesn’t mean I like you, and just because I don’t, doesn’t mean I hate you. I smile at you when I feel like […]

Realizations

By O. Deng, TIWP Student “I sleep. I dream. I make up things that I would never say.” — Richard Siken I sleep. I dream. I make up things that I would never say. I do things I would never do. Like giving that boy way more attention than I should. Like giving up on school […]

Reflection Time

By Annabelle Kennedy, TIWP Student I wonder what it would be like, to meet my old self.Little girl with her pigtails and glasses and cheese crumbs on her sleeves. What would I say to her? You’ve changed a lot, over the years. You don’t lose your creativity, I can tell you that much. Do you know that you’ll miss […]

Freedom

By Lila Weis, TIWP Student Freedom. It’s like feeling a cool breezy wind blowing on your face.It’s like straightlining your favorite run.It’s like riding the chairlift with all of your friends.It’s like racing them to the bottom. Freedom.It’s like eating lunch at the lodge with your teammates.It’s like getting advice from your coaches after each run.It’s […]

Frenemy

By Katelyn Forschler, TIWP Student You are a horrible person. Okay okay…maybe that is a little bit harsh. You are a guy whose ego is larger than their personality. You are a smart guy who says all the wrong things. You are the most caring narcissist I have ever met. Notice how confusing your traits […]