2 - Em Lin - I am from

 The New and Old

I am from the odor of the dirty pigs

But also the serene sounds of the ocean waves

I am from the somber ambiance of the countryside

But also from the glistening morning dew atop of mountains

I am from the rush of the night market

The hustle and bustle of silly little humans

I am from the young impressionable children

They ran and ran all night

They played and talked with an innocence only a child could have

And I, right alongside them

I am from the excitement of music

That nostalgic sound that I’ve forgotten

I am from the fun of dancing

Of which, that too, I have forgotten

I am from the reassuring smile of my grandpa

And the soft warm hand of my grandma

That was all I ever knew

I am from the confusion of new sounds and people

From a language I couldn’t understand

And people who couldn’t understand me

I am from the tears of frustration 

And a smile of adventure

I didn't know what was happening

But I held onto my mother’s hand

Because I am from her loving presence 

And my father’s protective back

I am from the new tastes of a new place

The people of all different shapes and sizes

The hands that reached out to me 

They introduced me to a new world

One that seems so small now 

I will forever be from the mixture of different cultures

The ever changing scenery that shaped me

The nostalgia of going back and forth

Always reminiscing for something

Word count: 259

1- Genecis Zelaya: TW Inside Out

TW - Inside Out

Link for Reference:  https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8K3xMAG/

JOY- Harry Styles 

I see my joy portrayed by Harry styles because he is just full of positivity. I see Harry as warmth and familiarity which is what I feel when I’m experiencing joy. His brand is TPKW which means treating people with kindness which I feel goes with what joy is supposed to feel like. A moment filled with positivity and warmth where the only thing you think about is the happiness and peace you’re feeling. Joy is a kind emotion one you share with others and Harry Styles really embodies that meaning for me, his entire being is pure kindness even to those who show him envy or negative emotions. He radiates positivity and his smile is always wholehearted to me not only does he represent my joy, but he is my joy. In fact, just writing this now about him fills me with that familiar warmth of joy. 

SADNESS- Timothee Chalamet in Beautiful Boy

I see my sadness portrayed by Timothee Chalamet in the film Beautiful Boy. In this film, Timothee plays a character named Nic Sheff and when I watched it I instantly connected with this character. In this movie, Timothee really expresses the way I feel when I’m sad, I become self-destructive and isolated from the rest. One line from the movie that I really resonate with is, “This isn’t like f****** cancer, this was my f****** choice, I put myself here.” In this scene, he is explaining how his depression isn’t an illness that happened to strike him but a choice he made, which is how I feel about mine. My actions are what cause me to feel sad and tired. 

FEAR- Sarah Paulson in American Horror Story

My fear would be portrayed by Sarah Paulson in American Horror Story because her acting in that show struck me through the screen. Fear was a hard emotion to choose because I’m not really sure how I express my own fear. Sarah Paulson plays fear in a hysterical manner where she screams and cries and you can see her fear swimming through every inch of her body, and when I imagine feeling fear she is who I envision. 

ANGER- Lip Gallagher from Shameless 

My anger would be portrayed by Lip Gallagher from Shameless. Lip has obvious anger issues so when he gets angry he becomes destructive to anything or anyone around him. I feel like I do when I get angry like I can’t control what I say or do because I am just that angry. Which Lip embodies perfectly, when he is angry he gets mean and nasty he says words that he doesn’t mean but he lets them out unconsciously. He hurts people around him and it leads to self-hatred and guilt. 

DISGUST- Aubrey Plaza 

My disgust would definitely be portrayed by Aubrey Plaza. Personally, I think disgusts is sarcastic and just unironically funny which is Aubrey I mean she is the legit embodiment of sarcasm. All the characters she plays are the same in which they are just sarcastic as hell. She says things that sound mean but she is just blunt in that way which I can relate to entirely. She is relatable in every sense and it’s not like she’s disgusted by everything but she is just simply honest whether it’s mean or not.

2- Mel B. : I am from poem

I am from the womb of a woman who carried me at an old age

I am from the soft arms of my mother 

I am from the opening up socks on Christmas morning

I am from the living room where my sister and i would play on our wii

I am from the words of my mother “si no lo usas se lo doy a alguien que si”

I am from the hot summer days in yuba city and the 8 hour pool days 

I am from the home where Luis Miguel songs were blasted early Sunday mornings 

I am from the elementary school where everyone looked like me

I am from the culture where I saw no one on tv that looks like me

I am from the place in my childhood brain that would scream whenever I would see a brown Barbie or a Bratz doll looking at me from the toy aisle 

I am from the late night Walmart runs to get beans or cream for tomorrow's lunch

I am from the two different homes of parents that fell out of love with each other

But I am also the girl who has so much darkness in her life

I am from the dark hole that I can't seem to get out of

I am from the deep depressive state that I always feel whenever I’m overwhelmed 

I am from the orange tree I see in my dreams and I am from the tree I can't seem to get down from no matter how hard I try 

My tears are from the waters that took my brother 

The smile that I have today is from his, a smile that will never be seen again

The gleams in my eyes shine like the steel he would tag “STEP” on

I am from the place in my heart that tells me to move on

I am from the place that doesn't understand what is going on with me

But I am also from the strong words of my therapist. “You can't ever move on you have to learn to go on” 

I am from the part in my brain that thinks of my ED from time to time

I am from the place in my heart that grows with my grief

I am from the Hispanic household that my niece was raised in

I am from her beautiful innocent soul and feisty personality 

I am from the place I spend the most time, I am from the cemetery

I am from the cocoon that butterflies emerge from when it’s their time 

I am from the flowers that bumble bees suck the pollen from during the spring

I am from the grass that we use to connect with our mother earth

And I am from the reflection I see of myself in my brothers headstone

I am from the house where arguing is completely normal the “no eres buena” or the “no vas hacer nada bueno” are words of encouragement 

I am from the culture that loves to brings down women

I am from the world that has so much darkness

I am from the parents who came here to give my siblings and I a better life 

But I am also from the guilt that doesn't believe that I have a good life

I am from the beautiful sandy beaches of Ecuador and the tropical rainforests of Guatemala 

I am from the very few brave indigenous people who survived the Spanish 

I am from the countries where the church “hermanas” and “hermanos” are from 

I am from El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil and Italy

I am from the culture of beautiful mestizo people, beautiful noses, hair, and facial features

I am from the heart that has overcome all of my struggles 

I am from the soul that learns to go on

I am a girl who has suffered but i am from a place where we grow and learn everyday 

I am from a happy place 

And I am from a place in my heart that is still learning how to heal.

Word Count 735

1- Aby L: Inside Out Voices

JOY- Jeremy Shada

• Voice of Finn from adventure time, Reggie in JATP Both happy positivity upbeat characters

Jeremy Shada, the voice actor of Finn From Adventure Time, would easily be able to capture what happens in my head when I go through any feeling of joy, happiness or excitement. With the ability to give so much information with a simple face and or the tone of his voice, he would be able to master what my brain thinks joy is like. From being able to be overly excited and have an outrageous laugh to only having to smile to show the pure joy I feel. Jeremy Shada would be perfect to play my Joy.  Not too theatrical but just enough to do my over the top personality and thought process justice. 

SADNESS- Conan Gray 

Singer songwriter 

Conan Gray, a rising pop artist has released highly popular absolutely heart wrenching songs that i'll be honest maily my generation of girls play repeatedly. Whether it's for a late night shower or a mid day scream Conan Gray would perfectly inbody the many phases i go through when i'm sad, heartbroken or down in the dumps. Being able to act on stage while performing hit singles about breakups, teen angst, highschool, and betrayal would give Gray the strong ability to create an amazing character for my brain's sadness. 

FEAR- Sarah Paulson 

• From AHS

My “fear” ranging from pure anxiety to shock would have to be played by the one an donly Sarah Paulson. Just from American Horror Story alone you can see the range of emotions and acting she can do. From blood curdling screams to heartbreaking sobs. The woman can do it all, her facial expressions, ability to act with just her voice, and her body language would create the best possible option for my fear. Being able to capture a state of crippling anxiety one second and a ramble of over thinking nonsense the next to make an audience truly feel and experience the inner workings of my brain and its intense fear. 

ANGER- Red Forman 

• That 70s show Eric Forman’s father 

I don't tend to get angry often, but when it happens it's bad. Being the over dramatic tense teenage girl I happen to have emotions flowing a lot and the one I am able to control the most is my anger, until it's way too late to stop it. Red Forman, the father of Eric Forman in the 90s sitcom That 70’s show would be able to pop on screen with random bursts of pure rage. From the talents of facial expression to tone shown by him on That 70’s Show, he could outdo any idea of anger imaginable. The idea of having an older big man playing the small emotion that is anger in my 17 year old girl brain is the biggest part of it. Even though it only comes out from time to time when it does, it's not something anybody is expecting, and Red Forman sure isn't the voice of anger you are expecting in a young girl's head. 

DISGUST- Schmidt 

• New girls character Schmidt

As the dramatic teen girl I am, I'm pretty much disgusted by everything and not only is it obvious but it's kind of comedic at times. Someone who can perfectly portray those emotions and actions would be Schmidt from New Girl. His character is all about being theatrical and over the top and funny when he's not meant to be. All of which inbodys my perfect character of disgust. A theatrical man playing the teen girl's disgust almost fits perfectly in my brain, an unexpected range from him that will blow my own actions of disgust straight out of the water. 

Word count: 621

2- Aby L: I Am From Poem

I am From Abygail Lubinger

I am from the smell of cigarette smoke,

From hot coffee and early morning fog.

I am from trips to Chicago with thunderstorms

And snow.

From reading Anne of green gables instead of sleeping,

I am From family poker nights

With mini fights.

From learning lessons and crossing the line.

I am from the green telephone,

And making fake calls.

From playing dress up in the halls.

I am from slamming doors

When I get too angry. 

From making up and laughing it off.

I am from fast drives,

On Tuesday nights.

From “Journey's greatest hits” at the top of my lungs.

I am from rosemary and lavender 

In the air.

Wishing on stars 

Hopeful dreaming and praying.

From hospital visits, 

And long nights.

I am from old songs and country roads.

From Halloween parties,

And First Street parades.

From hiding in plain sight.

I am from short lived friendships,

And long sad nights.

From heartbreak and “love” at first sight.

I am from dirty dancing and grease.

Singing Hamilton till my parents can't take it. 

From building myself up,

Making myself strong.

I am from the strength from my mother,

The thoughtfulness of my father,

From the love all around.

Word count: 206