The contents of this literary magazine were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. No official endorsement by the Department of Education in this publication is intended or should be inferred. Inclusion of these materials does not constitute the Department’s endorsement.
W
e are pleased to showcase the writing of students who have participated in the Pathway to Academic Success Project during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Investment in Innovation (i3) program, the Pathway Project is a partnership between the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine and Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. The goal of the partnership is to enhance the academic literacy of students in grades 7 – 12 to help them become strategic readers and analytical writers who can meet the California Common Core Standards in English/Language Arts, succeed in secondary school, and become college bound. This literary magazine celebrates the writing of students in the Pathway Project and includes a wide array of texts, from poems to analytical essays, written by students in both middle and high school. We hope you enjoy their thoughtful and creative work!
Dr. Carol Booth Olson, Principal Investigator University of California, Irvine
2
Pathway to Academic Success
Contents Introduction
2
Narratives
4
Poetry
28
Essays
36
Index
52
Narratives
Quinceañera Quinceañera
For
a Latina, a quinceañera is a celebration as well as a rite of passage. It is a Mexican cultural tradition that marks a girl’s passage into womanhood. A young Latina girl is considered a woman and is expected to accept the responsibilities and take on the behaviors of a woman. Every Latina’s dream is to have a quinceañera, and my dream had just come true. It was a Friday morning. The sun rose over the top of my roof with the lights striking through 6
Pathway to Academic Success
my window. The birds were chirping. It was my big day. My quinceañera was finally here. I had waited for so long for this day to come. I jumped out of my bed, excited and nervous. My mom and cousins were waiting for me in the living room to start doing my makeup and hair. As I walked out of my room, I felt something special inside of me. It was a feeling that I couldn’t describe. I sat down and my cousin started doing my makeup. She used really shiny shades to make a bright smoky eye with silver grey on the crease
of my eye, black on the outer corner of my eye, and a shiny nude lipstick on my lips. Once she started doing my hair, my curls looked just like curly fries. I finally got the chance to put on my bright, shiny, gorgeous red dress. I couldn’t believe myself when I saw myself in the mir-
ror. I looked just like a princess from the Disney movies. The clock hit 10 a.m.; it was time for us to leave to the church. As I walked out of my house, my main chambelán [escort of honor] held my hand as we went down the steps. We got on the limo and we took off. •
“I LOOKED JUST LIKE A PRINCESS”
Katherine Maldonado John Glenn High School Grade 12 2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
7
Be Proud
Be Proud of Being Different
They say that life’s an open book. Turn the page and take another look. You can’t judge me by my cover. It’s not what you see, but what you discover. -from Blood on the Dance Floor’s “Don’t Want to be Like You”
As
I walked into the library with my family, people stared at me, terrified and in shock. As I walked near tables to reserve a computer, a mother helping her daughter with homework stared at me. I’m not sure if I surprised her 8
Pathway to Academic Success
with my next move, but I smiled sweetly at her. She politely smiled back. I guess I surprised her. Once my computer was open I walked towards it and sat in between an older woman and a pair of young children. The woman grabbed her purse from on top of the desk and placed it in her lap. Did she think I would steal it? A woman appeared and grabbed the two kids, frantically repeating, “Come along, come along!” The kids refused, but once the mother and I made eye contact, she pulled at their arms with even more force. I was both-
ered, so I grabbed my ear buds, plugged them into my phone, and put my music on shuffle mode. The first song, Blood on the Dance Floor’s “Don’t Want to be Like You,” almost made me cry. When my favorite lines began to play, I accepted being someone others are afraid of. I accepted being me. I’ll never be just like all the others. Now open your mind, I’ll prove you wrong . . . I’ll always be an outcast. I’ll never get in line. You keep living your
“I ACCEPTED BEING ME” life, and I’ll live mine. I am an emo. I am different. But why am I
judged? Just because I dress differently and because I listen to rock, not Nikki Minaj or Ariana Grande? I’ll walk into public places, feel all eyes on me, and hear whispers. I’m proud of being different, even though at times it’s still bothersome ... Blood on the Dance Floor inspires me to not care about what others think, and they motivate me. I love being myself. I’m not scared of being laughed at or mocked... If you don’t like me, it’s your loss, not mine. Even if society judges me, I’ll still stand tall and proud. They can’t bring me down. People fear what they don’t understand. • From “Be Proud of Being Different” Hannah J. Erazo Los Alisos Middle School Grade 8
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
9
This is for You This is for You, Mom
My
mother came into this world on December 30th 1980, and it’s been a wild ride for her. There are a lot of words to describe my mom. Kind, hardworking, intelligent... She has been working since the age of 16, and is still working today. If I had to pick one word to describe my mom she’s a gogetter. My mom doesn’t settle on her first offer. If she did, she wouldn’t be where she is now... 10 Pathway to Academic Success
My mom and I are very similar, in a lot of ways. She believes school is very important, and her pushing and determination have helped me discover the abilities I didn’t know I had... “What’s wrong?,” she asked. “Nothing” I replied. “There is something wrong with you,” she answered back. Finally her daughter replies and starts crying. While her mother comforts her,
she keeps talking. Now my mom is not just my advisor, she’s my friend that I can talk to with any problem I’m having. I can express my feelings to my mom without being judged. My mom is my best friend!
“MY MOM IS MY BEST FRIEND” My mom isn’t the most patient woman, but she’s patient with me. No matter how much I irritate her, she still loves me. No matter how old I am, I’m still her baby. I am lucky I have a counselor, a friend, a teacher, a mentor, a hero, a mom. This is for you, Mom. • Selected Passages From “This is For You Mom”
Dominique Guerrero Los Alisos Middle School Grade 8
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
11
Sand Dollars Sand Dollars
“Since
it’s our last day here, why don’t we take one last swim in the ocean before we pack up? It won’t hurt,” my sister said. I wasn’t really in the mood to unpack my bag and grab my suit, but I thought I might as well take one last dip before we left. Jessica quickly ran over to our bags and grabbed the swimsuits before I changed my mind about going. “Hurry up!,” she said with a gigantic smile on her face. Due to the one hundred degree weather, her heart was set on diving into the ocean, 12 Pathway to Academic Success
no matter what. After five minutes of walking towards the beach, I was fully drenched with sweat. This made me even more eager to jump into the water. Before taking off my sandals, ready to run in, my sister stopped me. “Look at this, just look at it for a moment. You will never see this in California,” she whispered in a soft tone. I slowly glanced around. The ocean was so blue; it looked like something that could never exist on earth. “It’s beautiful!,” I replied with a grin.
I placed one foot in and felt the cool touch of the water. It felt like the ocean had strong hands and was pulling me in slowly. “Make the swim last!,” Jessica hollered from the side. I placed my hand in the sand and let it glide through my fingers. The first thing I thought while I was swaying in the water was the amount of shells I could find. Big, small, soft, and colorful. This was the perfect place to search.
sand before I ran out of breath. I didn’t see anything. I was already losing hope . . . .
“3, 2, 1!,” I shouted. I put my head under water and opened my eyes wide. The water was crystal clear. My hands quickly went through the
“Come on, Priscilla! I think it’s time to go!,” my sister shouted.
I plugged my nose and took one last look underwater. “1-2-3!” I grabbed another handful of sand and swam back up. Something was tickling my hand. I glanced down and saw a baby sand crab crawling in a circle. I knew I couldn’t take him home, so I slowly put him back.
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
13
and put my sandals on. The view was astonishing. The waves rolled back and forth so peacefully. I glanced down and spotted something white and petite poking out of the sand. At first, I thought it was a piece of trash, but I was still curious to know what it was. I placed my hand on its surface and was amazed. It was a sand dollar! The shell
“Hold on and give me a minute!,” I said, upset that I wasn’t going to find my own mini souvenir to take home. I knew we wouldn’t be here again any time soon, so I was desperate to find something unique. As I walked out of the ocean and onto the sand, I could feel the scorching sun hitting my back. I took a seat on the sand 14 Pathway to Academic Success
“THIS WAS AN UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT” was fully white and had a pretty design of a mini flower in the center. Now I knew I could go home with my own souvenir! “Let’s go, Priscilla! Mom and dad are calling us!,” my sister hollered. I took one last breath, inhaling the smell of sunscreen and salt water.
“I’m coming!,” I replied with a smile. I knew that this was an unforgettable moment. I now had my own mini souvenir to keep for the rest of my life. The sand dollar not only symbolized the amazing trip I spent with my family, but it also symbolized the quality time that was spent with my family. Trips like the one I experienced in Mexico are ones I will always remember because, in the end, family is what will always be most important to me. • From “Sand Dollars”
Priscilla Ayala Los Alisos Middle School Grade 8
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
15
in this book. It made me even more interested in the book since it added a new conflict in Tally’s
Uglies, A Review
“In
the old days it was all random- some people kind of pretty, most people ugly all their lives. Now everyone’s ugly . . . until they’re pretty. No losers.” These are the words that Tally and every other person in this society are taught ever since they could talk. Tally grew up in a world in which no matter how you looked when you were born, you still weren’t good enough. This book shows how different this world would be if we weren’t so diverse and had so many differences between us. The author made me 16 Pathway to Academic Success
mind that needed to be resolved. After reading Uglies I can conclude that it was a very captivating and entertaining read! •
think about the future and how what we do every day is affecting what could end up happening to our society... This book showed how even in a world full of judgment, self-hate, and inequality, that you can do your best to get through it, and that you can’t let anyone have such a poor impact on how you think... Shay says, “We don’t have to look like everyone else, Tally, and act like everyone else. We’ve got a choice. We can grow up any way we want.” This line is what creates one of the main messages
Sophia Garcia Los Alisos Middle School Grade 8
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
17
Our Moment Our Moment Together “I finally brought my girl.”
“You
look different,” he says, while examining every part of my body, as if I wasn’t nervous enough. I stuttered, saying, “Is it a good different? I mean, I don’t wear dresses much; you know I can go back and change it.” He stops me and looks me in the eyes. “Savannah Ramirez, you look beautiful.” He made me feel calm and brought ease to how nervous I was to meet his family. Not knowing what to expect, we walk 18 Pathway to Academic Success
in the front door, and Gabriel introduces me to his family.
Each and every one of his family fell in love with me in an instant and so did I... The sweet aroma of carnitas and meat on the grill filled my nostrils. Gabriel served me and we ate and conversed about life and joked here and there. I loved talking to him. Towards the end of the day, we talked endlessly with so much love in our eyes. As cheesy as what we did sounds, we tried counting stars until we got dizzy. As we headed over to the house to be around his family, he looks at me, puts his fingers through my hair,
and gazes into my eyes for a moment. “Savannah Ramirez, you are my family. You belong here. I love you.” We end the night with talks of the future. So far, we have a long way ahead of us, whether it was meant to be or not, but this day was meant for me and to be a part of my life. •
Savannah Ramirez John Glenn High School Grade 12
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
19
Drill Team Drill Team
“Oh
no, I forgot the routine!” shouted Jessica. “Can we run it through one last time before we go on?” I suggested. Julia began to go through the routine before competition. The smell of hair spray filled the room as Miracle, our drill instructor, sprayed down our buns and tightened up our bows. “Hurry up girls, only two more minutes until it’s your turn!” exclaimed Miracle. At that moment, the whole team 20 Pathway to Academic Success
rushed to the gym next to the worker who asked if we were ready. We all got into a circle and tightly grabbed each other’s hands. The moistness of our sweat spoke for itself; we were all nervously anxious. As Julia began her pep talk, my eyes started getting watery. With all the different emotions going on at once, it was hard not to cry a few happy tears.
Glenn High School, when you hear your music you are now in competition,” explained the host. Suddenly, my vision became black and white as my body began to move carelessly, and before I knew it the song was over. A dance that was three minutes somehow felt like a second. With all the adrenaline left in our bodies, we screamed with joy as we walked out of the gym. “Oh my god, I think that I did really bad!” Emily yelled out.
“It’s okay guys. We did what we could and gave it our all; that’s all we need.”
“WE ALL FROZE ... BEFORE WE JUMPED WITH HAPPINESS” Watching the other teams compete only made us more neurotic. Finally, it was time for the Military Drill Team awards. We quickly stopped what we were
“It’s time, ladies,” informed the worker. We all got in one straight line and marched in. The only sound I heard was Julia’s whistle. “John 2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
21
doing and gave our full attention to the host. The only thought in my mind was that we were nowhere near second place, let alone first. Everything negative I shouldn’t have been thinking at that moment, I was. The drum roll made me too impatient. I wanted to know who the winner was. The host finally spoke and said, “In first place Military Drill coming in with 97.4 points—John Glenn High School.”
'
The shock was way too big for us. We all froze for a second before we jumped with happiness. That is when I knew that all the hard work we put in and all the practice we did was all worth it at the end. •
Yajaira Rodriguez Glenn High School Grade 12
22 Pathway to Academic Success
Megan Meiecio La Mirada High School Grade 11
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
23
True Colors
celebration. The young lady wears a traditional quinceañera dress and celebrates with her family her coming of age. Both my
Showing Others Your True Colors
Have
you ever wanted to show others who you truly are and how you feel in a form of expression or in a poster or artwork form? Based on the “Wall of Respect” poster you can show others who you really are, whether it’s family, culture, historical figures, types of careers you want to pursue, etc. All these types of things can communicate who you are as a person. I did this by using images in the form of a picture collage. In my collage, I included several different images that show others what 24 Pathway to Academic Success
I’ve done in the past and hope to do in the future, as well as how all of what I’ve done has impacted me as a person. For example, the picture of a folklorico dancer, which is my mother, symbolizes my Mexican American culture. In our culture, the performer performs various regional dances of Mexico. Not only does a form of dancing represent a form, but my traditions as well. Also, in my Mexican American culture, it’s known that when a girl turns 15 years old she is considered to be a young lady who is presented to the community with a big birthday
culture and its traditions impact me in a good way because it shows others and lets them have an idea of how proud I am to be who I am in the United States.
Ever heard of the saying, friends come and go but family stays together? Inside of the collage are several pictures of my family and friends. At first, family may seem more important than your friends because they’ve been there for you thick and thin. But actually, both seem to be similar because depending on the types of friends you have and the impact you have on them, they can be similar to how your family may be. I have included a photo of my friend, Tanlynn. Both of us are really good friends and are actively participating in extra-curricular activities at Los 2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
25
Alisos Middle School, such as a program in our school known as WEB,
which stands for “Where Everybody Belongs.” It is a group of teacher selected students who help beginning sixth graders adjust to a new school. We also guide them through their sixth grade year. Participating in several activities inside of your community may seem boring at first, but in the future it benefits you in a good way because it shows others that you are a good Samaritan. Whether it’s working 26 Pathway to Academic Success
inside of a camp with children who are younger than you or working as a life guard at a community pool, community service can be a good reflection on your college transcripts and says the type of person you are. Doing things just to give a helping hand is a good thing to do because you can meet new people and do things that you may not be used to doing. For example, when I was about nine years old, I joined Camp Savio, a camp at my church. At first, I was shy because I didn’t know anybody there, but after a certain point I met new friends that were like my second family, and they helped me overcome my shyness. Throughout the years there have been important figures in society
who have impacted our nation, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez. Both men fought for different things, like Civil Rights and the conditions of famers working on the fields. Having the courage to speak out in front of the public may have been a huge risk because at the time, racism against other cultures was occurring where certain races weren’t allowed to have the same rights as others. But just because certain people were mistreating and trying to stop their peaceful protests, they didn’t stop trying to achieve their goals. No matter how difficult the situation may
have been at the time, they continued speaking and didn’t care of the opinions others had of them. That didn’t stop them because they continued moving forward, hoping one day that their impact on society would benefit others. •
Zaira Carrera Los Alisos Middle School Grade 8 2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
27
Poetry
Dear Boxing Dear Boxing
You pushed my limits. That made me stronger. My deepest, saddest thoughts were lost. All because of you. I ran, jumped, punched until my lungs were on fire. You were intense, but I didn’t stop. Doing mitts was the best.
Dear
Boxing,
You wear me down, But build me up. I broke a sweat, But you kept me going. You freed me from stress, When nothing else could. My family hated you. I didn’t understand, How they could hate something I loved so much. How could they hate something I loved so much? I let my anger out on you, But you didn’t mind. You made me feel alive. That’s something I haven’t felt in a long time. 30 Pathway to Academic Success
When the coach wouldn’t let me give up, and the fifteen minutes of constant blocking, dodging, and punching were over, I felt like anything was possible. I didn’t give up, even when my arms were burning or my lungs were fighting for air. In fact I felt more alive than I ever have. The stairs were the hardest, But it was the thing I was most determined to complete. I realized that you were kind of like life. The stronger you are The better chance you have of surviving it. You made me strong and I thank you for that. Love, Viviana Chavando • Viviana Chavando Norwalk High School Grade 10
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
31
Hazel Hazel
Strong,
young girl, brave and fearless Who feels scared, insecure, and broken But puts others’ needs first Who needs love, attention, and knowledge Daughter of Mrs. Lancaster Lover of Augustus Waters Who would like to not be afraid of death, loss, and sorrow Who fears meeting others and speaking her mind Who said, “The world wasn’t made for us, we were made for the world” Lancaster •
My Dreams Making My Dreams Happen
Happy
and nervous All day long at a soccer stadium Where the soccer players play and they make their money The cheering of a crowd excites Like some people cheering for you In your soccer shoes and your uniform Playing soccer the dream that I’m chasing •
Character Bio Poem, John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars
Halle Vaca Norwalk High School Grade 10 32 Pathway to Academic Success
Alejandro Amador Norwalk High School Grade 10 2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
33
Wi nte r Winter
Dear
Winter, I’ve been waiting all year long for you to come. Finally, you’ve arrived slowly but surely, with nothing holding you back.
I smell, the fog in the air. I feel, coldness hugging our bodies. I hear, wind blowing trees and running through everything in contact. Oh how I’ve missed you, and all you come with. Hot chocolate in the mornings, heavy coats on all throughout the day, even sleeping with socks. I’d hate to say goodbye, yet time keeps changing from day to night.
Savanna Villa Norwalk High School Grade 10 34 Pathway to Academic Success
We all know it’s coming… Goodbye, for now. •
The Drum The Drum Poem
Dear
Drums,
I love it when I play you and you pull your perfect tones from your buddy Remo drumheads. You’re so sensitive to the smallest touch and you always respond to any type of hit. You shine bright when the concert lights hit you or when the studio lights hit you as well. You never disappoint me when we play together and you are able to let me play any genre of music too. You always make me smile when I show off and people start to applaud and cheer. Sometimes you were a pain to carry around or to pack up and tear down, but it was always worth it. You may break down, but you never would be down forever. •
Paul Rinson Norwalk High School Grade 10 2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
35
Essays
Haiti
Haiti: Sometimes, the Earth is Cruel, Response
Essay Response to “Haiti: Sometimes, the Earth is Cruel”
“Children
wail, families sleep out of doors, and the dead lie unclaimed in the rubble that once was Port-auPrince.” In the article, “HAITI: Sometimes, the Earth is Cruel,” Leonard Pitts explains the devastating and murderous tragedy that smashed Haiti and the Haitian people. The award winning journalist also explains the reactions of the dumbfounded people and how it affected their daily lives. A major les38 Pathway to Academic Success
son that the author states is that even though it might always be “your turn” you still need to have faith that something will come out of it all. The Haitian people have gone through a lot of hard times as an island. For example Pitts says, “You have no choice but to accept that as a part of the bargain called life. And when it’s your turn to deal with it, you do.” This is significant because it means that whenever a disaster or anything out of the ordinary happens to you, you must deal with it and move on. Furthermore, this shows that bad things are just
an inevitable part of life. Overall, the people who live in Haiti have had to pull through a lot of different disasters. Leonard Pitts uses figurative language to thoroughly explain the events that took place. To demonstrate, he says, “Sometimes the seas rise and smack the shore line like a fist. Sometimes the wind bullies the land.” This shows that the author used figurative language such as personification to explain exactly how the earth hit Haiti with more emphasis. Also, Pitts displayed the use of simile to compare things like the wind to
a bully. All together, Leonard Pitts portrays different forms of figurative language to help the reader understand the key concepts better and show nature as an enemy. Pitts believes that the Haitian people dealt with tragedy by using the same sequence of events every time a disaster occurs. “ We dig ourselves out. We weep and mourn, we recover and memorialized the dead, and we rebuild our homes. And we go on.” The significance in this part is that no matter what happens to them, they will have the same reaction. In addition, the
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
39
author knows that after all of the grief and time of mourning, the Haitian people will come out of it the same each time; they will move on. Overall, Leonard Pitts thinks that the people of Haiti will never stay in grief for a long period of time. Like all of us, they learn to move on.
Leonard Pitts has one reason for writing this article. That is to fly a flag. A flag of hope and bravery. A flag to resemble the incredible courage that the Haitian people had to overcome. Those people do not have any luxuries; they do not have any un-necessary things. Yet they still manage to fight the fight and fly the flag. •
Man in the Man in the Water, Response
Essay Response to “The Man in the Water”
Man
Julian Mancia Hutchinson Middle School Grade 7 40 Pathway to Academic Success
versus nature, an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. We see this often on television as hundreds of lives are being lost. Rarely is it that a man fighting back is found. On January 13, 1982, a plane crashed into the Potomac River and killed 78 people. In the article, “The Man in the Water,” by Roger Rosenblatt, mankind’s fight against nature is depicted wonderfully. Rosenblatt focuses on the struggle of one man as he loses his
life to save others. He also uses specific language to describe what happened and gives his own response to the occurrence. Every man has the ability to save a life and fight for any cause they deem worthy. The man in the water saved five lives in exchange for his own. After the plane went down, he was said to be alert and in control. As lifelines were passed to him, he selflessly passed them on to the five others around him. As the last would-be survivor was carried away, the “classic circumstance” began. 2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
41
to a stranger is his own “power of nature.” Humans all have this power to be as brave as he was, and that bravery can be displayed when needed.
The freezing waters and no doubt emotional turmoil were probably the leading causes to the man simply letting go of the fight. Five lives were saved due to this man’s bravery, but they did not come freely. In addition to the facts of the tragedy, Rosenblatt also includes figurative language to help us picture this dramatic scene. “So the timeless battle commenced in the Potomac” is how Rosenblatt chooses to describe the man’s fight against nature. He also goes on to say that the man in the water was the one who ended up losing this particular battle. While 42 Pathway to Academic Success
this may seem like just a way to describe it, for this man it was fairly literal. It was a battle of will versus force. Nature was relentless and eventually won out, but not the full prize of six lives. The man in the water made sure of that as he sacrificed himself to the icy waters. What would one feel should they watch this happen? Tragedy? Bravery? Strength? For Rosenblatt, it was more of a doorway into the will of humanity. He believes that every human knows they have the potential to do the same as the man in the water. He believes that the man giving life
In conclusion, Rosenblatt wrote this piece to explain to mankind that humans all possess the power to save a life and
possibly lose our own in the process. He wants the reader to take away that the man in the water was a symbol of humanity, and he represents all men willing to do the same. This is significant because all mankind is powerful in their own right. •
Bailey Martinez Norwalk High School Grade 9
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
43
Martin
Martin, Response
Essay Response to "Martin"
There
is much to be taken from the story of Nick Vaca’s “Martin,” as he recounts an experience from his childhood. It is during the years of one’s youth that people are considered the most impressionable. This can be supported by the story of “Martin.” The important take away from Vaca’s experience is to not judge people for how they appear because everyone has their own story that you know nothing about.
44 Pathway to Academic Success
In the beginning Vaca describes the dynamic of his relationship with his brother and cousin and their interaction with people of the neighborhood. Vaca’s brief background knowledge provides readers with a sense of knowing how he was brought up and the situations he constantly faced. Provided with the vivid imagery of Vaca, amidst the “brown sheets of dust” and “crimson red sky,” the audience can truly understand his mindset for the actions that take place. To Vaca and his playmates, a “fat belly” is a symbol of being well fed or that
they “ate too well.” Due to this standard when Martin first appeared, he appeared to have much more than Vaca’s family did which made the boys feel inferior and that it was necessary to protect themselves. The fact that Martin appeared to be fed well caused the other boys to have a distaste for Martin and, so, when war was declared, the boys had to assert their position in society.
kerosene, before leaving Vaca sees the “big supper” that Martin had which consisted of “a small stack of corn tortillas and a glass of water,” thus portraying the misconception that Vaca had about Martin and his lifestyle. Vaca’s intense use of imagery illustrates the dull and damaged home of Martin, which represents Martin, for he has lived a rough life and is damaged by it. Not only did Martin’s fat belly symbolize the luxury that others had, it also really symbolized the mistake Vaca made by jumping
After the so called “battle,” Vaca returns a cap gun to Martin at his home and sees the truth behind the implication Vaca had created. As he recounts the incident, the author recalls the scent of kerosene, which takes him back to when his family lived at a labor camp. In addition to the 2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
45
to conclusions. Martin is clearly no better off than Vaca. There are endless possibilities as to why this memory stuck with Vaca, the most important of which was his misjudgment. The memory of Vaca’s encounters with Martin is a constant reminder of how poorly he treated Martin based on his looks. The fact that they harmed Martin because they assumed he had more than them showed Vaca that you can’t know someone’s story just by looking at them. This lesson that he learned when he walked
46 Pathway to Academic Success
into the “dark, windowless wooden trailer” and saw the sort of life Martin lived is particularly significant because it is something that must be taught to future generations in their youth. Children must grow up practicing kindness and compassion to avoid misjudgment like that of Martin. Vaca learned that you can’t know what happens behind closed doors and, with that knowledge, he tells his story in hopes of preventing similar cases of Martin. •
Marissa Young La Mirada High School Grade 11
Horned Toad The Horned Toad, Response
Essay Response to "The Horned Toad"
“When
you’re family, you take care of your own.” In his memoir “The Horned Toad,” Gerald Haslam talked about the relationship he and his grandma had. Although they were quite different, they still bonded together. Later on their bond was good, but Grams had died. He was left alone. He did whatever he could to get her what she
deserved. Just know that no matter how different they were, or how little they knew each other, they still found a way to be happy together. Haslam and his grandmother had very different impressions of each other. When his grandma arrived to his house,
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
47
calf?’ " Both impressions were bad due to the negative evidence.
Haslam didn’t really get her or know much about her. All he knew was that she spoke Spanish, and that she was a stubborn person. Haslam stated in the text the evidence why she was stubborn. “She refused to accompany my mom on shopping trips . . . she refused to climb into the car.” Likewise, grandma also had a negative impression about Gerald. She referred to him as a cry baby when she said, “ ‘Why does he bawl like a motherless 48 Pathway to Academic Success
Little things can bring people closer. After being teased with a piece of candy, he found out his Grandma spoke English. “ ‘Oh, so you want some candy? Go to the store and buy some candy.’ “He was very shocked that she spoke English because all along he thought she only spoke Spanish. After all that, they realized they can have a bond together. “I showed her the horned toad when I captured it again.” Later when the toad died, Haslam was upset and Grandma was there for him. “Grandma joined me and stroked my back.” But sadly, after that, death came for a visit again, but took Grandma this time. Haslam remembered that when the toad died, Grandma insisted he take him back to where he belongs. So Haslam did
everything he could to take grandma to where she belongs and give her what she deserves. The toad really symbolized family and how family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.
important becasue not accepting differences can interfere with your family and the way you see them. •
In conclusion, Haslam teaches us that differences are okay because by the end of the day, they make people themselves and other people happy. This is especially
Ashley Ramirez Los Alisos School Middle School Grade 8
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
49
Index
Index Essays Mancia, Julian. “Sometimes the Earth is Cruel, A Review.” Hutchinson Middle School, Grade 7. Pg 38. Martinez, Bailey. “The Man in the Water, A Review.” Norwalk High School, Grade 9. Pg 41. Ramirez, Ashley. “The Horned Toad, A Review.” Los Alisos Middle School, Grade 8. Pg 47. Young, Marissa. “Martin, A Review.” La Mirada High School, Grade 11. Pg 44. Narratives Ayala, Priscilla. ‘Sand Dollars.” Los Alisos Middle School, Grade 8. Pg 12. Carrera, Zaira. “Showing Others Your True Colors.” Los Alisos Middle School, Grade 8. Pg 24. Erazo, Hannah. “Be Proud of Being Different.” Los Alisos Middle School, Grade 8. Pg 8. Garcia, Sophia. “Uglies, A Review.” Los Alisos Middle School, Grade 8. Pg 16. Guerrero, Dominique. “This is For You, Mom.” Los Alisos Middle School, Grade 8. Pg 10. Maldonado, Katheryne. “Quinceañera.” John Glenn High School, Grade 12. Pg 6. Melecio, Meghan. “Daisy Gatsby Poster.” La Mirada High School, Grade 11. Pg 23. Ramirez, Savannah. “Our Moment Together.” John Glenn High School, Grade 12. Pg 18. 52 Pathway to Academic Success
Rodriguez, Yajaira. “Drill Team.” John Glenn High School, Grade 12. Pg 20. Poems Amador, Alejandro. “Making my Dreams Happen.” Norwalk High School, Grade 10. Pg 33. Chavando, Viviana. “Dear Boxing.” Norwalk High School, Grade 10. Pg 30. Vaca, Halle. “Hazel.” Norwalk High School, Grade 10. Pg 32. Villa, Savanna. “Winter.” Norwalk High School, Grade 10. Pg 35. Rincon, Paul. “Drum Poem.” Norwalk High School, Grade 10. Pg 35.
Acknowledgments University of California, Irvine Carol Booth Olson, Ph.D. Tina Matuchniak, Ph.D.
University of California, Santa Barbara Tim Dewar, Ph.D.
California State University, Los Angeles
Robert Land, Ph.D. California State University, San Marcos Laurie Stowell Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Shannon Baker Monica Luther Lynn Schaulis
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
53
i3 year 2 Research Participants John Alvarez, La Mirada High School Annette Aragon, Norwalk High School Ileana Cintron-Istamboulian, Hutchinson Middle School Marisol Correa-Diaz, Norwalk High School Danica Coryell, Waite Middle School Ruth Covington, Los Alisos Middle School Suzanne Edwards, Norwalk High School Greg Davis, La Mirada High School Carla Debarros, Corvallis Middle School Bev Duffee, John Glenn High School Nicole Fredenburg, Los Alisos Middle School Carolyn Grayson, La Mirada High School Ramon Gutierrez, Los Alisos Middle School Mark Hilliard, John Glenn High School Sean Jasso, La Mirada High School Cindy Johnson, John Glenn High School Kristina Juan, Norwalk High School Janice Kroupa, Norwalk High School Kaari Kuns, Norwalk High School Sargon Maradkel, Benton Middle School Lorie Marshall, La Mirada High School Marla McDonough, Waite Middle School Daniel Meyers, Los Coyotes Middle School Angelica Mercado, Waite Middle School Leya Naulls, Los Alisos Middle School Melissa Naudin, La Mirada High School Jennifer Naumann, John Glenn High School Camden Oden, Hutchinson Middle School Jaime Ortega, Corvallis Middle School Mitra Patterson, La Mirada High School Barbara Petersen, Los Coyotes Middle School Natalie Reynoso, Corvallis Middle School Geri Rodriguez, La Mirada High School 54 Pathway to Academic Success
Mark Roper, Corvallis Middle School Marissa Rumbo, Norwalk High School Carlos Santana, John Glenn High School Rebecca Schuler, Norwalk High School Minu Singh, Benton Middle School Linda Summers, Los Coyotes Middle School Mary Tandy-McGlasson, La Mirada High School Pat Tathum, Norwalk High School Cara Vorhies, Norwalk High School Dean Westerfield, Norwalk High School Amber Weston, Los Alisos Middle School Catherine White, La Mirada High School Mark Williams, La Mirada High School Un-Soo Wong, Norwalk High School Andrea Wood, La Mirada High School Melissa Woodring, John Glenn High School Marcus Woodworth, Norwalk High School Stefanie Zerbe, Los Alisos Middle School Sarah Zurn, La Mirada High School
Special thanks to Megan Schleh for creating this Literary Magazine and to Dr. Huy Chung for overseeing the production.
2015 - 2016 Literary Magazine
55
