Category: Piece of the Week

by AS, Sacramento “My mama always used to tell me, ‘if you can’t find something to live for, you best find something to die for.’” -Tupac Shakur What I think of this week’s quote is I believe in what he says. My mom always told me, “Boy, you got to go find a job.” I never wanted to get a job. I wanted to be out, smoking with my friends, going to parties, trynna look for something to do.  Even hang out with girls. I never wanted to take responsibility with my life. I just wanted to have fun. I

by KH, Sacramento My temper is like no other because I never could be able to control myself at the right time. I would never be able to speak on my feelings, and when I could, or did, I would still shut down, because I also had a busy mother.  I would make it harder on myself by not telling her how I really felt, and that’s a somewhat start as in why. My friends at school were the two girls I grew up with and always felt insecure about myself, because I would play “boy games” as in soccer,

by Cecilia, San Mateo I have three inspiring people in my life, my mom, my aunt, and my grandma. My grandma has always been inspiring to me. When I was little she would tell me all kinds of stories about when she was little. My grandma was raised in Campeche, Mexico. When she was young her mom never allowed her to go to school. She would tell my grandma “la escuela para los ricos” (school is for the rich). My grandma’s older sister was my mom’s biological mother. My grandma had three sisters and a brother. Two of her sisters

by JO, Yolo They calling me a monster I know I needa changeAin’t lookin’ for a good job ain’t lookin’ for yo’ praiseNeed to stop doing what I’m doing and start thinkin’ like a manTime to grow up the life I’m living ain’t no gameYou don’t know how much I struggle with thinking different everydayAll this anger, pain, regret, inside me it’s so hard to tameWaking up thinking I’m home but I’m still inside this cageHaving dreams I’m on the outs waking up still in these chainsOnly time I’m happy when I’m sleep in different realities‘Cause I’m in my real

by P, San Mateo  If I could get rid of any rule or law I would ban life sentences and get rid of the death row. Why? Incarceration is already too hard on a person and the government would rather have convicts rot in prison than rehabilitate individuals. I personally have not been affected by this law, nor do I know someone serving a life sentence. But if this consequence was to be banned, I think many families would be more complete. Just maybe the nepotism of incarceration would cease to exist.  I currently reside in Daly City. As you

by A, Sacramento You will face a lot of challenges in your life and let me be the first to tell you that life is not easy. So many unfair and things no human deserves will happen to you but I promise you will get through it. You are resilient and you are beautiful inside and out. You are worthy of love and don’t let anyone tell you different. Your journey is going to have a lot of obstacles but you cannot give up, giving up is the easy way out. God gave you this life because he knew you

 Hopeful, San Mateo  There’re different types of laws. Not all of them are physical. Mental laws can be broken. One’s mind is capable of achieving impossible feats. Physicals laws are not something I want to write about. It kills someone who deserves to die. Prison shouldn’t be within arm’s reach since the founding fathers made sure cracks can be manipulated. This issue does not excite me. I would change everything. I’ll let kids run around with plasma rifles if it was possible. Just change all the laws I ain’t really got a favorite.  Redwood City is where I’m from. It’s

by JC My point of view on life is that whatever you give into this world, comes full circle, right back to you. Now, it may not come directly to you, it may come to a loved one or someone around you. Think about it. I’ll give you some examples.  Let’s say you’re in the store and the lady in front of you is short on cash and you step up and pay for her. It’ll probably make you feel good and probably make her day. Now, in some point in time in your life, it could be you or

by Your Inner Self, AH Dear Adrian,  It’s me, your inner thoughts. I know you got some time, some time that you were not expecting. But you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and make the most out of the time you are given.  I know that is easier said than done, but it’s something you got to do. Right now, there is a battle of positive and negative going on in your head, both sides of you are going at it. Adrian vs. Rico. Good vs. Bad. You can’t let Rico win.  I know that things seem bad

by AGee It’s pride month, so let’s let ‘em know what it isGay love, man that’s the best love there isFemale and female, male and maleI don’t care what you are, we’re all human, can’t you tell?I don’t get why people hateLove is effing loveLGBTQ we’re all humans, no one’s aboveWe can’t change who we areWe won’t change just for you‘Cause everyone is differentMan, it’s nothing newIt’s like the color of your skinAin’t nothin’ you can do about itBut you can change your mindsetChange how you think about itGay, straight, bi, trans, and everything elseI love you for who you