Category: Piece of the Week

by Faith, San Mateo  Here is a story about real love. My grandma is the only one I feel that shows me real love. She is the one who always brings me up when I am down. She always knows when something is wrong. She always tells me if I ever want to talk or if I just want to cry, she will always be there to hold me. My grandma is the one person that was willing to take me in when my mom and other family didn’t want to take care of me. She is always there for me through all

by Keisean, San Francisco The last photo I took was last month, a few weeks before I came in here. I had taken the picture with my little brother, Craig. What I had on was an all-blue splash hoodie. The splash hoodie had like different colors of paint that looked like somebody just started throwing paint around and I had on these pants that had different things on it like the shark from the BAPE hoodie, two black bullets covered in flames, and other stuff on it. It also had rips on the knees of the pants.  My little brother

by Kenny, San Mateo Grew up in the city, man, that’s where I was born, went to school in the city from K through fifth grade. I went to Longfellow. I don’t really remember much or anyone, yet alone the teachers or anything, like that from back then so it’s hard to tell y’all about it.   But after fifth grade I moved to Daly City. I was mad though because it felt like I was leaving my whole life behind. I moved to a nice little three-bedroom apartment, better than my old house fo’ sure. Back then I was living in

by Alan, Sonoma  A lot of people are scared or afraid to take risks and do things that they think they can’t accomplish. They have a fear pushing them back from being successful and they give up on their dreams.  They don’t realize that in order to be successful and they give up on their dreams. They don’t realize that in order to be successful, you need to take risks to learn something new.  Each day you live is full of risks, whether it’s driving to work, or getting a new job. Or learning a new sport. You just don’t

by T, Sacramento I enjoy being around all my family members – uncles, cousins, grandparents, and all. Even friends ‘cause they all help me when I’m down and boost my spirit up. Even in the situation I’m in right now.  They visit me, write me, send pictures, put money on the phone, and don’t let it run out. Without them, I feel like I would be empty on the inside. I’d have a nasty attitude every day.  But when I was younger, we used to spend every holiday together – Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday parties, and all. Even trick or treating

by B, Sacramento I know what it feels like to be rejected. I feel like I’m nobody. I’m living and alive, but I feel invisible. And when I feel like that, I think why does everybody do that, I never did nothing to them before.  It’s not that it’s that they don’t like you. And they hate on everything you. I been rejected so many time. I stay to myself. Nobody bothers me. I like being that way so I can figure out all my thoughts when they seem like I’m invisible.  I stay that way because every time you

by JO, Yolo You ever turn cold because you only feelin’ hopelessHad so many patnas now I’m wondering where they all wentThey love always counterfeitEverybody said they know me now, they don’t cause I’m callin’ emYou ever looked yo’ mama in the eyes her tears can’t stop fallingSending letters through the mail and none coming back to meMy own family got no loyalty because what I’ve doneThey think they deserve apologiesThey don’t want me in society I’m a monster in the’ eyesI’m gettin’ life and it’s a probabilityMy chance of freedom like a ninja winning lotteriesI’m the ninja who be

by Nescia, Los Angeles I’m Nescia, son!Well known savage!Gangbanging is my passion!I wasn’t always like this,my daddy wasn’t around,he was in and out of prison.My brothers were always stuckin their troublesome ways.My momma was always busy,so I would post up on the block.I wanted to be just as gangster as my brothers,so I started banging.I went through a lot of pain till this day but,the barrio was always there for me somehow.People think we have it good but we don’t,deep down inside we are not okay.Gangbanging is not always the way.Homies aren’t loyal and the hood isn’t royal.Sooner or later

by DS, Missoula, Montana Hey there ten-year-old, I am just going to start this off by saying one thing you should learn right now: you need to stop and think before you do something, and you need to stay out of trouble because where I am is not where you want to be.  I would also like to add that you need to watch who you hang out with and who will and will not be getting in trouble, because all these little bits of trouble that you get into make a tumbleweed effect, and it starts to grow and

by JL, Sacramento Together, I feel we can do a lot of things. I feel if we could come together as one, or as groups who want to do good, we can change the world. I feel that all people could work together and be something great.  We could see what we all have in common to bring us more together. I feel like it’s not a lot of actual racism, but a lot of racially biased people. People believe they are better than a race because the color of their skin, the amount of money they have, their looks,