Category: Staff Perspectives

Lexie Woodall, Junior from Arlington, TX   pinkies interlocked, insecurities intertwined. a point of no return, an oath of allegiance sworn.   two perfectly crooked smiles, four star speckled eyes.  worlds sprout forth from  our fingertips, senseless and  dizzying joy skips! cloaked  in the soft light of the night, secrets splurged in the darkness  and remain there for life.  you… Read more →

Alyssa Gutierrez, Senior from Forth Worth, TX   Dear Dead Cat,    I held you in my arms.     Your eyes were still open; staring at me as the gray started to consume your black, bubbly eyes. Comfort was foreign to you. The only warmth you knew was the tightness of the red, washed-up towel, soaked in your own urine. … Read more →

Elena Butterfield, Junior from Fort Worth, Texas   “Persephone”   i am persephone stolen from the earth hidden away under grass and ground   i am warm i cannot be found                                (i can rest) Read more →

Skylar Mavar, Senior from Biloxi, Mississippi    I watch a lot of movies and, for some reason, they feature Nicolas Cage. So, here are my top 5 movies with Nicolas Cage.      Willy’s Wonderland   Willy’s Wonderland is a “Five Nights at Freddy’s” knockoff–except this time the guy fights back. Nicolas Cage plays an unsuspecting tourist working off debt… Read more →

Sylvia Cheney-Irgens, Junior, Writing and Theatre Major from Fort Worth, TX   Lines and shapes. That’s all there is to it. Sketch, draw, erase. Rinse and repeat. There’s something coming to life under my hand. I can start to see her now – first the jaw, Now the nose, the mouth, the eyes. Add the ears, the neck and shoulders,… Read more →

By Maia Gonye-Senior from Boston, Massachusetts    I fell in-love with myself. Staring at my naked,  goose-bump ridden body in the mirror, every bruise,  scar, patchy and uneven blemish.  Red bumps scattered, little freckles  kissed by angels, lumpy cellulite that flourished in contrast  to the slightest abdominal muscle tonnage.   A body painted with tattoos  Some have meaning and some… Read more →

By Corrigan Smiley, Sophomore, Burleson, TX   We built a beautiful house upon that hill.  We had a beautiful family we started together,  So why did she take that pill?    Once was fine,  She needed it.    Twice was ok,  She was struggling.    Thrice was alarming,  She wanted more.    First came the shame,  “I’m sorry.” Then came… Read more →

By Lonyae Coulter, Senior, Kansas City, MO   i was quiet,  because i thought i had to be, i didn’t want to tell anyone what happened.  it could’ve been done to me another time,  if i told, i thought maybe i’d get hurt again or  wouldn’t be believed.  my mind, my temple, my soul,  all misused and abused,  felt like… Read more →

By Christina Phillips, Junior   I hate the way they call virginity ‘innocence.’  As if sex is the thing that strips a girl of her purity. As if it wasn’t ripped from her shaking hands the first time she was yelled at, either by a woman demanding she wear  more or a man demanding she wear less. As if, when… Read more →

By Adrienne Stallings, Senior, Bedford, TX   We live in a time where it’s almost instinctual to brush off serious issues  as jokes. Don’t be mean to him, I’ll whine to my dog as he bullies my cat, he has anxiety. But really, mental health is no laughing matter. We take our physical health seriously—turning to a hospital or Dr.… Read more →