I am a half-bred being a shattered spine mixture between my father Lucifer
mixture between my father Lucifer
mixture between my father Lucifer himself and my mother his very own
himself and my mother his very own
himself and my mother his very own fallen angel my blood is a concoction of
fallen angel my blood is a concoction of
fallen angel my blood is a concoction of his Morningstar redemption and her
his Morningstar redemption and her
his Morningstar redemption and her hurtling regret my skin stretched like
hurtling regret my skin stretched like
hurtling regret my skin stretched like his holiest hubris my eyes the
his holiest hubris my eyes the
his holiest hubris my eyes the enchanting spark she won’t saw in him my
enchanting spark she won’t saw in him my
enchanting spark she won’t saw in him my father wanted to play God and my mother
father wanted to play God and my mother
father wanted to play God and my mother was just along for the ride though it
was just along for the ride though it
was just along for the ride though it was a little more like frightening the
was a little more like frightening the
was a little more like frightening the same she wanted to see the beauty of
same she wanted to see the beauty of
same she wanted to see the beauty of Earth a little more clearly from where
Earth a little more clearly from where
Earth a little more clearly from where she was sitting even though the heavens
she was sitting even though the heavens
she was sitting even though the heavens had the best seat in the house earth was
had the best seat in the house earth was
had the best seat in the house earth was nothing like she imagined more
nothing like she imagined more
nothing like she imagined more tumbleweeds than garden southern sun
tumbleweeds than garden southern sun
tumbleweeds than garden southern sun rays slit my mother’s skin and this was
rays slit my mother’s skin and this was
rays slit my mother’s skin and this was hell enough for her but she like my
hell enough for her but she like my
hell enough for her but she like my father was now more demon than angel
father was now more demon than angel
father was now more demon than angel so she settled and decided to rename her
so she settled and decided to rename her
so she settled and decided to rename her home
home
home the depiction of lucifer is all a
the depiction of lucifer is all a
the depiction of lucifer is all a figment of the imagination
figment of the imagination
figment of the imagination my father was once an angel who just
my father was once an angel who just
my father was once an angel who just wanted to be a savior were dressed in
wanted to be a savior were dressed in
wanted to be a savior were dressed in his Sunday best suits tie Gator shoes
his Sunday best suits tie Gator shoes
his Sunday best suits tie Gator shoes and all just to play ding-dong-ditch at
and all just to play ding-dong-ditch at
and all just to play ding-dong-ditch at God’s door my father never had a chance
God’s door my father never had a chance
God’s door my father never had a chance for downfall my mother was always there
for downfall my mother was always there
for downfall my mother was always there to be his back spring he gave her fans
to be his back spring he gave her fans
to be his back spring he gave her fans and wings just to paint a false picture
and wings just to paint a false picture
and wings just to paint a false picture of freedom stuff the jewels down her
of freedom stuff the jewels down her
of freedom stuff the jewels down her throat the best the silence and
throat the best the silence and
throat the best the silence and Submission could buy in return my mother
Submission could buy in return my mother
Submission could buy in return my mother tried to give my father a child that he
tried to give my father a child that he
tried to give my father a child that he could be proud of
could be proud of
could be proud of already the father of four failed demons
already the father of four failed demons
already the father of four failed demons he wanted an angel to raise as his own
he wanted an angel to raise as his own
he wanted an angel to raise as his own my brother was perfect for my father and
my brother was perfect for my father and
my brother was perfect for my father and it was all that he wanted
it was all that he wanted
it was all that he wanted when my brother was born dead
when my brother was born dead
when my brother was born dead it became the coldest winter ever hell’s
it became the coldest winter ever hell’s
it became the coldest winter ever hell’s flames froze along with my father’s
flames froze along with my father’s
flames froze along with my father’s dreams I guess it’s true when they say
dreams I guess it’s true when they say
dreams I guess it’s true when they say Satan’s spawn will never get the chance
Satan’s spawn will never get the chance
Satan’s spawn will never get the chance to live when my mother birthed me pure
to live when my mother birthed me pure
to live when my mother birthed me pure and healthy my father decided to give me
and healthy my father decided to give me
and healthy my father decided to give me to God I was the repentance for his sins
to God I was the repentance for his sins
to God I was the repentance for his sins I was too much of an angel to be raised
I was too much of an angel to be raised
I was too much of an angel to be raised by demons my parents gave up their
by demons my parents gave up their
by demons my parents gave up their mortal games wrote their apology letter
mortal games wrote their apology letter
mortal games wrote their apology letter on my tongue force-fed scripture down my
on my tongue force-fed scripture down my
on my tongue force-fed scripture down my throat stuck a halo in my mouth as
throat stuck a halo in my mouth as
throat stuck a halo in my mouth as teething ring my father placed my mother
teething ring my father placed my mother
teething ring my father placed my mother and I upon God’s doorstep and rung the
and I upon God’s doorstep and rung the
and I upon God’s doorstep and rung the doorbell one last time left us as a
doorbell one last time left us as a
doorbell one last time left us as a gifts in exchange for forgiveness but I
gifts in exchange for forgiveness but I
gifts in exchange for forgiveness but I was always daddy’s little girl I could
was always daddy’s little girl I could
was always daddy’s little girl I could never be too much like an angel
never be too much like an angel
never be too much like an angel I used scriptures as a toothpick after
I used scriptures as a toothpick after
I used scriptures as a toothpick after every meal of sins sometimes when I
every meal of sins sometimes when I
every meal of sins sometimes when I looked towards my mother
looked towards my mother
looked towards my mother I see the shadow my father has left
I see the shadow my father has left
I see the shadow my father has left behind how she is so lost without
behind how she is so lost without
behind how she is so lost without someone to follow and in these moments I
someone to follow and in these moments I
someone to follow and in these moments I let job and Genesis slip between my
let job and Genesis slip between my
let job and Genesis slip between my teeth like a second language I preached
teeth like a second language I preached
teeth like a second language I preached the Lord’s gospel
the Lord’s gospel
the Lord’s gospel just to see her smile regurgitate words
just to see her smile regurgitate words
just to see her smile regurgitate words as the last supper and leave a 15% tip
as the last supper and leave a 15% tip
as the last supper and leave a 15% tip of praise at God’s feet as a silent
of praise at God’s feet as a silent
of praise at God’s feet as a silent thank you hi my name is Victoria Lee
thank you hi my name is Victoria Lee
thank you hi my name is Victoria Lee Smith I am 16 years old and I currently
Smith I am 16 years old and I currently
Smith I am 16 years old and I currently attend Lakeside High School I am a
attend Lakeside High School I am a
attend Lakeside High School I am a junior who took upon the often insane
junior who took upon the often insane
junior who took upon the often insane workload of not just four or five but
workload of not just four or five but
workload of not just four or five but seven core based classes I hopefully one
seven core based classes I hopefully one
seven core based classes I hopefully one day would like to attend Stanford
day would like to attend Stanford
day would like to attend Stanford University upon a full-ride scholarship
University upon a full-ride scholarship
University upon a full-ride scholarship and double major in biochemistry and
and double major in biochemistry and
and double major in biochemistry and psychology to eventually become a
psychology to eventually become a
psychology to eventually become a psychologist and medical scientists who
psychologist and medical scientists who
psychologist and medical scientists who reach out whose research focuses on the
reach out whose research focuses on the
reach out whose research focuses on the neurological treatment of eating
neurological treatment of eating
neurological treatment of eating disorders I one day hope to be
disorders I one day hope to be
disorders I one day hope to be financially stable and help people and
financially stable and help people and
financially stable and help people and have a family
have a family
have a family yeah that’s me I’m Victoria most of my
yeah that’s me I’m Victoria most of my
yeah that’s me I’m Victoria most of my peers and the adults in this community
peers and the adults in this community
peers and the adults in this community know me just as that the one smart black
know me just as that the one smart black
know me just as that the one smart black girl in the back of class who’s kind of
girl in the back of class who’s kind of
girl in the back of class who’s kind of quiet and kind of loud at the exact same
quiet and kind of loud at the exact same
quiet and kind of loud at the exact same time so you don’t really know if you
time so you don’t really know if you
time so you don’t really know if you like me come to think of it you don’t
like me come to think of it you don’t
like me come to think of it you don’t really know me at all except for the
really know me at all except for the
really know me at all except for the fact that I write a lot and that’s kind
fact that I write a lot and that’s kind
fact that I write a lot and that’s kind of my fault so let me reintroduce myself
of my fault so let me reintroduce myself
of my fault so let me reintroduce myself the real way hi I’m Victoria
the real way hi I’m Victoria
the real way hi I’m Victoria but most people well my family and for
but most people well my family and for
but most people well my family and for the remaining time that I graced the
the remaining time that I graced the
the remaining time that I graced the stage I’d like to consider you all in
stage I’d like to consider you all in
stage I’d like to consider you all in the audience my family as well
the audience my family as well
the audience my family as well they called me vu ku vo o ke o lo I’m a
they called me vu ku vo o ke o lo I’m a
they called me vu ku vo o ke o lo I’m a 16 year old junior who attends assists
16 year old junior who attends assists
16 year old junior who attends assists white dominant public high school when
white dominant public high school when
white dominant public high school when I’m in this space I often feel lost and
I’m in this space I often feel lost and
I’m in this space I often feel lost and alone and insecure and not always safe
alone and insecure and not always safe
alone and insecure and not always safe I’m battling and recovering from more
I’m battling and recovering from more
I’m battling and recovering from more than one mental illness and I’m a little
than one mental illness and I’m a little
than one mental illness and I’m a little broken around the edges having come to
broken around the edges having come to
broken around the edges having come to terms with severe physical and mental
terms with severe physical and mental
terms with severe physical and mental trauma at the age of 13 and a little
trauma at the age of 13 and a little
trauma at the age of 13 and a little more than six months later the passing
more than six months later the passing
more than six months later the passing of my father I am one third poet
of my father I am one third poet
of my father I am one third poet one third fairy and one third siren I
one third fairy and one third siren I
one third fairy and one third siren I truly aspired to become an English
truly aspired to become an English
truly aspired to become an English professor at an Ivy League who
professor at an Ivy League who
professor at an Ivy League who emphasizes the powerful roots of healing
emphasizes the powerful roots of healing
emphasizes the powerful roots of healing and social change within writing and
and social change within writing and
and social change within writing and despite the fact that I’m giving a
despite the fact that I’m giving a
despite the fact that I’m giving a highly professional TED talk upon a
highly professional TED talk upon a
highly professional TED talk upon a highly professional platform and that I
highly professional platform and that I
highly professional platform and that I should be an expert in my field I’m
should be an expert in my field I’m
should be an expert in my field I’m still revealing my scars and healing oh
still revealing my scars and healing oh
still revealing my scars and healing oh yeah
yeah
yeah and like I said I’m a poet the poem that
and like I said I’m a poet the poem that
and like I said I’m a poet the poem that I performed at the beginning of this
I performed at the beginning of this
I performed at the beginning of this speech is actually called the book of
speech is actually called the book of
speech is actually called the book of redemption it’s the family story of my
redemption it’s the family story of my
redemption it’s the family story of my father my mother and I spun in the
father my mother and I spun in the
father my mother and I spun in the extended metaphor and retelling of
extended metaphor and retelling of
extended metaphor and retelling of Lucifer’s fall from heaven I choose to
Lucifer’s fall from heaven I choose to
Lucifer’s fall from heaven I choose to take this piece to most of my
take this piece to most of my
take this piece to most of my performances not because it is my best
performances not because it is my best
performances not because it is my best piece but because it’s a piece of me and
piece but because it’s a piece of me and
piece but because it’s a piece of me and I get to carry my father with me
I get to carry my father with me
I get to carry my father with me wherever I go and just like that my
wherever I go and just like that my
wherever I go and just like that my secrets not really a secret anymore see
secrets not really a secret anymore see
secrets not really a secret anymore see I’ve come to see secrets as these ideas
I’ve come to see secrets as these ideas
I’ve come to see secrets as these ideas of truth that we decide to share amongst
of truth that we decide to share amongst
of truth that we decide to share amongst our most sacred and respected and the
our most sacred and respected and the
our most sacred and respected and the only reason we as a society think that
only reason we as a society think that
only reason we as a society think that way is because it reveals vulnerability
way is because it reveals vulnerability
way is because it reveals vulnerability something that we fear most about
something that we fear most about
something that we fear most about individualism especially as teams okay
individualism especially as teams okay
individualism especially as teams okay so this wouldn’t be a family meeting
so this wouldn’t be a family meeting
so this wouldn’t be a family meeting without a family go around first so my
without a family go around first so my
without a family go around first so my fellow teens in the room think of your
fellow teens in the room think of your
fellow teens in the room think of your deepest darkest most personal truth
three-two-one okay now look towards the
three-two-one okay now look towards the person to your left and then look
person to your left and then look
person to your left and then look towards the person to your right
towards the person to your right
towards the person to your right eenie meenie miney moe okay look towards
eenie meenie miney moe okay look towards
eenie meenie miney moe okay look towards the person to your right and tell them
the person to your right and tell them
the person to your right and tell them your truth 3 2 1 now I’m willing to bet
your truth 3 2 1 now I’m willing to bet
your truth 3 2 1 now I’m willing to bet that most of you did not actually tell
that most of you did not actually tell
that most of you did not actually tell the truth and most of you didn’t even do
the truth and most of you didn’t even do
the truth and most of you didn’t even do this exercise at all why not it’s not
this exercise at all why not it’s not
this exercise at all why not it’s not because you physically couldn’t or
because you physically couldn’t or
because you physically couldn’t or necessarily shouldn’t or you’re sworn to
necessarily shouldn’t or you’re sworn to
necessarily shouldn’t or you’re sworn to some oath of secrecy with some unknown
some oath of secrecy with some unknown
some oath of secrecy with some unknown deity no it’s probably because you felt
deity no it’s probably because you felt
deity no it’s probably because you felt uncomfortable or unsafe especially
uncomfortable or unsafe especially
uncomfortable or unsafe especially because this
because this
because this it’s high school where everybody tells
it’s high school where everybody tells
it’s high school where everybody tells everybody everything where kids will
everybody everything where kids will
everybody everything where kids will never begin to understand adults and
never begin to understand adults and
never begin to understand adults and adults will definitely never begin to
adults will definitely never begin to
adults will definitely never begin to understand kids high school is not meant
understand kids high school is not meant
understand kids high school is not meant to be a safe space where you can be
to be a safe space where you can be
to be a safe space where you can be yourself right and yeah a year and a
yourself right and yeah a year and a
yourself right and yeah a year and a half ago I would completely 100% agree
half ago I would completely 100% agree
half ago I would completely 100% agree with you or not your thoughts no space
with you or not your thoughts no space
with you or not your thoughts no space is meant to be safe but lo and behold
is meant to be safe but lo and behold
is meant to be safe but lo and behold three months later after writing page
three months later after writing page
three months later after writing page after page and bottled up feelings and
after page and bottled up feelings and
after page and bottled up feelings and thoughts and sometimes unpopular
thoughts and sometimes unpopular
thoughts and sometimes unpopular opinions I stood upon the Kennedy Center
opinions I stood upon the Kennedy Center
opinions I stood upon the Kennedy Center stage which ones held legends of the
stage which ones held legends of the
stage which ones held legends of the performing arts such as Cicely Tyson and
performing arts such as Cicely Tyson and
performing arts such as Cicely Tyson and yo-yo ma Paul McCartney Duke Ellington
yo-yo ma Paul McCartney Duke Ellington
yo-yo ma Paul McCartney Duke Ellington Tony Bennett the list goes on and on
Tony Bennett the list goes on and on
Tony Bennett the list goes on and on yeah me fuku oh five foot one and a half
yeah me fuku oh five foot one and a half
yeah me fuku oh five foot one and a half inches of me stood upon a stage and
inches of me stood upon a stage and
inches of me stood upon a stage and spoke my truth into a mic in front of
spoke my truth into a mic in front of
spoke my truth into a mic in front of thousands of who I now consider family
thousands of who I now consider family
thousands of who I now consider family and everyone listened including the
and everyone listened including the
and everyone listened including the adults now as I deem this space a safe
adults now as I deem this space a safe
adults now as I deem this space a safe space for not just me but every other
space for not just me but every other
space for not just me but every other teen in the room
teen in the room
teen in the room adults this talk is not for you to judge
adults this talk is not for you to judge
adults this talk is not for you to judge nor critically analyze this talk is for
nor critically analyze this talk is for
nor critically analyze this talk is for you to listen and when I say listen I
you to listen and when I say listen I
you to listen and when I say listen I mean actually listen now let’s talk
mean actually listen now let’s talk
mean actually listen now let’s talk about some ways in which you don’t
about some ways in which you don’t
about some ways in which you don’t sometimes listen and this is this is
sometimes listen and this is this is
sometimes listen and this is this is revealed through the adult unconscious
revealed through the adult unconscious
revealed through the adult unconscious belief of these teenage archetypes which
belief of these teenage archetypes which
belief of these teenage archetypes which fall into two main categories the first
fall into two main categories the first
fall into two main categories the first is the angsty teen in which adults
is the angsty teen in which adults
is the angsty teen in which adults perceive that teens are mad at the world
perceive that teens are mad at the world
perceive that teens are mad at the world and have all these things they need to
and have all these things they need to
and have all these things they need to grow but continue to have these
grow but continue to have these
grow but continue to have these relentless issues with everyone else as
relentless issues with everyone else as
relentless issues with everyone else as if the world is all their own and these
if the world is all their own and these
if the world is all their own and these issues that they fight for are worthless
issues that they fight for are worthless
issues that they fight for are worthless to the value of their growth and
to the value of their growth and
to the value of their growth and evolution the second is the manic teen
evolution the second is the manic teen
evolution the second is the manic teen or what I like to call the Manic Pixie
or what I like to call the Manic Pixie
or what I like to call the Manic Pixie dream team yeah like the term Manic
dream team yeah like the term Manic
dream team yeah like the term Manic Pixie dream girl coined by film critic
Pixie dream girl coined by film critic
Pixie dream girl coined by film critic Nathan Robin but I don’t necessarily
Nathan Robin but I don’t necessarily
Nathan Robin but I don’t necessarily believe this term is gender biased and
believe this term is gender biased and
believe this term is gender biased and this is where adults see teens is these
this is where adults see teens is these
this is where adults see teens is these molds and models for other teens to base
molds and models for other teens to base
molds and models for other teens to base themselves
themselves
themselves like that one popular kid in class that
like that one popular kid in class that
like that one popular kid in class that everybody follows around or that ever
everybody follows around or that ever
everybody follows around or that ever relentless annoying question of if this
relentless annoying question of if this
relentless annoying question of if this person jumped off a bridge would you do
person jumped off a bridge would you do
person jumped off a bridge would you do it too and the and the problem with
it too and the and the problem with
it too and the and the problem with these archetypes is not that they
these archetypes is not that they
these archetypes is not that they themselves aren’t accurate but the way
themselves aren’t accurate but the way
themselves aren’t accurate but the way that people perceive and comprehend them
that people perceive and comprehend them
that people perceive and comprehend them aren’t accurate yes
aren’t accurate yes
aren’t accurate yes teens are mad at the world and yes
teens are mad at the world and yes
teens are mad at the world and yes sometimes we do blindly follow other
sometimes we do blindly follow other
sometimes we do blindly follow other teens around who know even who know just
teens around who know even who know just
teens around who know even who know just as little or even less than we do but us
as little or even less than we do but us
as little or even less than we do but us teens hate to admit it but we’re kind of
teens hate to admit it but we’re kind of
teens hate to admit it but we’re kind of lost here the terms of finding one’s
lost here the terms of finding one’s
lost here the terms of finding one’s self and frankly figuring it out are
self and frankly figuring it out are
self and frankly figuring it out are things that are seen that can be
things that are seen that can be
things that are seen that can be something that can be eliminated from
something that can be eliminated from
something that can be eliminated from the growing up equation and not
the growing up equation and not
the growing up equation and not something that we can work through and
something that we can work through and
something that we can work through and this is where the communication between
this is where the communication between
this is where the communication between teens and adults break at the seams and
teens and adults break at the seams and
teens and adults break at the seams and teens feel like they have no voice and
teens feel like they have no voice and
teens feel like they have no voice and this is where spoken where it comes in
this is where spoken where it comes in
this is where spoken where it comes in now I know most people especially teens
now I know most people especially teens
now I know most people especially teens feel like poetry is this thing where you
feel like poetry is this thing where you
feel like poetry is this thing where you have to be a first year graduate student
have to be a first year graduate student
have to be a first year graduate student with the focus and grammatical errors to
with the focus and grammatical errors to
with the focus and grammatical errors to understand right no surprisingly we all
understand right no surprisingly we all
understand right no surprisingly we all have something in common with Ernest and
have something in common with Ernest and
have something in common with Ernest and Hemingway and Dickinson and Shakespeare
Hemingway and Dickinson and Shakespeare
Hemingway and Dickinson and Shakespeare and frost and Baldwin and Hurston and
and frost and Baldwin and Hurston and
and frost and Baldwin and Hurston and Hughes we all have names just like them
Hughes we all have names just like them
Hughes we all have names just like them and we all have the exact same abilities
and we all have the exact same abilities
and we all have the exact same abilities that they had when taking the
that they had when taking the
that they had when taking the opportunity to write we all have
opportunity to write we all have
opportunity to write we all have opinions and thoughts and feelings that
opinions and thoughts and feelings that
opinions and thoughts and feelings that we feel needs to be heard that haven’t
we feel needs to be heard that haven’t
we feel needs to be heard that haven’t been heard before
been heard before
been heard before poetry is literally about any and
poetry is literally about any and
poetry is literally about any and everything it can be a piece that
everything it can be a piece that
everything it can be a piece that everyone can empathize with or the most
everyone can empathize with or the most
everyone can empathize with or the most ambiguous piece ever written and what
ambiguous piece ever written and what
ambiguous piece ever written and what matters is that it’s all your own poetry
matters is that it’s all your own poetry
matters is that it’s all your own poetry is a piece of you your piece is your own
is a piece of you your piece is your own
is a piece of you your piece is your own piece your own soapbox to stand upon now
piece your own soapbox to stand upon now
piece your own soapbox to stand upon now I know this sounds like a lot but what
I know this sounds like a lot but what
I know this sounds like a lot but what how you start off with it first is
how you start off with it first is
how you start off with it first is making a safe space like the makeshift
making a safe space like the makeshift
making a safe space like the makeshift one I’ve made here and a safe space is
one I’ve made here and a safe space is
one I’ve made here and a safe space is where teens can come in and freely
where teens can come in and freely
where teens can come in and freely express themselves knowing that what
express themselves knowing that what
express themselves knowing that what they say and do here stays here and this
they say and do here stays here and this
they say and do here stays here and this involves creating rules and
involves creating rules and
involves creating rules and boundaries for that space including the
boundaries for that space including the
boundaries for that space including the Vegas rule what’s said and done here
Vegas rule what’s said and done here
Vegas rule what’s said and done here stays here
stays here
stays here the don’t yell my young if I like it
the don’t yell my young if I like it
the don’t yell my young if I like it love something and if you don’t that
love something and if you don’t that
love something and if you don’t that doesn’t mean that you have to demean and
doesn’t mean that you have to demean and
doesn’t mean that you have to demean and invalidate it just because you don’t the
invalidate it just because you don’t the
invalidate it just because you don’t the ouch oops our own version of I’m hurt
ouch oops our own version of I’m hurt
ouch oops our own version of I’m hurt and I’m sorry
and I’m sorry
and I’m sorry and honesty these rules and boundaries
and honesty these rules and boundaries
and honesty these rules and boundaries are not here to restrict any of the
are not here to restrict any of the
are not here to restrict any of the voices in the room including the adults
voices in the room including the adults
voices in the room including the adults these rules are here to create a
these rules are here to create a
these rules are here to create a foundation for open dialogue between
foundation for open dialogue between
foundation for open dialogue between teens and adults open open honest
teens and adults open open honest
teens and adults open open honest dialogue and this dialogue can be about
dialogue and this dialogue can be about
dialogue and this dialogue can be about anything from how their day went to how
anything from how their day went to how
anything from how their day went to how they feel the current economic policies
they feel the current economic policies
they feel the current economic policies could affect their growth in place in
could affect their growth in place in
could affect their growth in place in this country’s future and as this
this country’s future and as this
this country’s future and as this discussion continues this evolves into
discussion continues this evolves into
discussion continues this evolves into their own self validation through these
their own self validation through these
their own self validation through these things called free rights and they’re
things called free rights and they’re
things called free rights and they’re exactly what they sound like kids use
exactly what they sound like kids use
exactly what they sound like kids use points taken from these discussions and
points taken from these discussions and
points taken from these discussions and write them into their own thoughts of
write them into their own thoughts of
write them into their own thoughts of streams in consciousness now there’s no
streams in consciousness now there’s no
streams in consciousness now there’s no judgment so everyone speaks positively
judgment so everyone speaks positively
judgment so everyone speaks positively about one’s piece and validates them but
about one’s piece and validates them but
about one’s piece and validates them but there’s no push or shove to share now I
there’s no push or shove to share now I
there’s no push or shove to share now I know this seems like a lot to dive
know this seems like a lot to dive
know this seems like a lot to dive headfirst into but you don’t have to be
headfirst into but you don’t have to be
headfirst into but you don’t have to be your professional healer to know how to
your professional healer to know how to
your professional healer to know how to create these spaces but if you’re still
create these spaces but if you’re still
create these spaces but if you’re still a little nervous about it there are
a little nervous about it there are
a little nervous about it there are plenty of spaces especially across this
plenty of spaces especially across this
plenty of spaces especially across this country where you can go in and
country where you can go in and
country where you can go in and experience firsthand the open
experience firsthand the open
experience firsthand the open communication between teens and adults
communication between teens and adults
communication between teens and adults these include spaces such as you speaks
these include spaces such as you speaks
these include spaces such as you speaks residing in the Bay Area
residing in the Bay Area
residing in the Bay Area DCU slam of course from Washington DC
DCU slam of course from Washington DC
DCU slam of course from Washington DC urban word NYC residing in the ever
urban word NYC residing in the ever
urban word NYC residing in the ever beautiful New York City and my home and
beautiful New York City and my home and
beautiful New York City and my home and safe space Vox teen communications in
safe space Vox teen communications in
safe space Vox teen communications in Atlanta where it works where I can go in
Atlanta where it works where I can go in
Atlanta where it works where I can go in grab a snack receive some love and get
grab a snack receive some love and get
grab a snack receive some love and get to writing about my thoughts and
to writing about my thoughts and
to writing about my thoughts and feelings now at this point in my talk I
feelings now at this point in my talk I
feelings now at this point in my talk I can feel every adult staring I mean the
can feel every adult staring I mean the
can feel every adult staring I mean the craziest way possible saying hi I know
craziest way possible saying hi I know
craziest way possible saying hi I know sharing feelings and communicating is
sharing feelings and communicating is
sharing feelings and communicating is great and all but how do I give
great and all but how do I give
great and all but how do I give I know sharing feelings and
I know sharing feelings and
I know sharing feelings and communicating is great and all but what
communicating is great and all but what
communicating is great and all but what about the grades and we have these
about the grades and we have these
about the grades and we have these sayings in the poetry community and they
sayings in the poetry community and they
sayings in the poetry community and they go like it’s not about the points it’s
go like it’s not about the points it’s
go like it’s not about the points it’s about the poem
about the poem
about the poem and listen to the poet and this means
and listen to the poet and this means
and listen to the poet and this means that I know that there’s that one kid
that I know that there’s that one kid
that I know that there’s that one kid that’s always that always doesn’t want
that’s always that always doesn’t want
that’s always that always doesn’t want to do the assignment or doesn’t really
to do the assignment or doesn’t really
to do the assignment or doesn’t really try but if you can see that kids are
try but if you can see that kids are
try but if you can see that kids are honestly trying to communicate with you
honestly trying to communicate with you
honestly trying to communicate with you and share their feelings there’s no
and share their feelings there’s no
and share their feelings there’s no reason to grade their work on misspelled
reason to grade their work on misspelled
reason to grade their work on misspelled words or grammatical errors and that
words or grammatical errors and that
words or grammatical errors and that brings me to my last point empathy is
brings me to my last point empathy is
brings me to my last point empathy is not required for compassion or
not required for compassion or
not required for compassion or comprehension and teens and adults for
comprehension and teens and adults for
comprehension and teens and adults for both of you just because you haven’t
both of you just because you haven’t
both of you just because you haven’t gone through a similar situation doesn’t
gone through a similar situation doesn’t
gone through a similar situation doesn’t mean that you can’t come to terms with
mean that you can’t come to terms with
mean that you can’t come to terms with having comprehend comprehension and
having comprehend comprehension and
having comprehend comprehension and compassion for somebody teens not all
compassion for somebody teens not all
compassion for somebody teens not all adults are unwilling to listen or help
adults are unwilling to listen or help
adults are unwilling to listen or help you work things out but you have to be
you work things out but you have to be
you work things out but you have to be open to the idea of being open and
open to the idea of being open and
open to the idea of being open and adults just because you think you can’t
adults just because you think you can’t
adults just because you think you can’t empathize with teens you can just think
empathize with teens you can just think
empathize with teens you can just think you were once a teen too with all the
you were once a teen too with all the
you were once a teen too with all the power and fights and ideas and opinions
power and fights and ideas and opinions
power and fights and ideas and opinions and confusion that this little time on
and confusion that this little time on
and confusion that this little time on earth could buy you and don’t you wish
earth could buy you and don’t you wish
earth could buy you and don’t you wish that there was someone there to listen
that there was someone there to listen
that there was someone there to listen don’t you wish that someone was there to
don’t you wish that someone was there to
don’t you wish that someone was there to map out and work through your journey
map out and work through your journey
map out and work through your journey mistakes and all we don’t necessarily
mistakes and all we don’t necessarily
mistakes and all we don’t necessarily wish to ask for much we just want to
wish to ask for much we just want to
wish to ask for much we just want to know if you can hear us and if you can
know if you can hear us and if you can
know if you can hear us and if you can are you listening and thank you for
are you listening and thank you for
are you listening and thank you for being here and listening today
”
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