Student Works

Shirley ’04

I’M GOING TO SUCCEED: A POEM OF SUCCESS

Success is being happy

Or overcoming something

Success

Success is finishing something that may have been hard

Success, success, success

Success is something that at the end of that day, night, month, semester, year

You have succeeded at

Success is something that I cry and strive for

Success is what we all need in life to overcome lies, doubt, obstacles, and the street life

Success

Is an option to those who open the door and let their greatness out

Success is life

Success is the future

I hope my success with the Odyssey Project leads to a beginning with new things.

Teresa ’04

MY LIFE

My life was easy when I was young

My Mom and Dad were very nice

I was able to have a lot of fun

I was so happy to grow up like that

My sister and brother are part of my life

I was so lucky to have them in my house

We were always having fun

I love my brother and sister with all my heart

Now that we are older life has changed

Now we have children that jump up and down

We still love each other and have lots of fun

Now that we are older we party a lotTeresa ’04

Aaron ’05

Swords and Weapons

Swords and weapons just for display

To be viewed not used in a dangerous way

A weapons specialist is the title I earned

Through years of practice expertise was learned

Collection of these tools is more than a hobby

But a desire for gratification embedded in me

Swords and weapons, yeah!

That does it for me

Just like martial arts ties in with Bruce Lee

Kia ’05

used to be oppressed as if in the grips of a mountain lion’s

mouth

But now I am like a fountain springing forth like an Olympian

gymnast.

I used to be battered as if the prey of the gray fox, awaiting to

be shredded like a mouse pounced upon

But now I am bold and able to hold my own in spite of what I

am told.

I used to be shattered like broken stained glass

But now I work diligently to mend that which is tattered.

I used to be subjugated and afraid to challenge tyranny and

oppression

But now I stand tall and fearless unlike the gutless who flexes

his muscle in the sight of his selected target.

I used to be victimized but finally I have been delivered from

Satan’s demise.

Now I pledge to use my pain to help those who are void of a

vision of freedom and equality and I am thankful that my plight

was not in vain.

Aziel ’05

Black Man

I am the confused black man

With nothing to lose black man

With no direction but sense of hope black man

With one ticket to a journey of odyssey black man

There’s a plan black man. Where do I stand as a black man

Swallow my pride take a chance black man

Theres nothing to hide. The past put aside black man.

It’s all on me. I hold the key black man

My sons look up to me so what’s it going to be black man

Will it be death for a black man

Or jail for a black man can’t blame the white man

When the choice is in the palm of a black hand.

Socrates didn’t care if I was a black man.

He just wanted everyone to understand.

My views in life have changed since I’ve been in this class.

I’m glad that I got off my ass.

I wasn’t lazy physically it was mentally.

I’ve been places and read things that I thought never could be.

Denise ’05

I have a dream that one day my children will be free from racism.

I have a dream that one day I will wake up and not be afraid.

I have a dream that one day there will be great health care for all people.

I have a dream that one day all people will have work.

I have a dream that one day we will end homelessness.

I have a dream that one day we all will be free.

I have a dream that one day the schools will be equal.

Silvia ’05

I used to be as gray

as a stormy day.

But now I am as bright

as a rainbow

after a rainy day.

I used to be as afraid to fly

to a new horizon

as a locked bird might be.

But now I am able

to fly with my wings wide open

like a determined eagle on

a journey.

Enjoyli ’05

Now and then, then and now

I’m not what I want 2b, but thank

God I’m not what I used 2b.

I went through a break up

break down

to realize that my destiny lies in me.

Truth to be told I have a fear of the unknown

So if I didn’t plan 4 2morrow, then I

Have caused my own sorrow.

I cannot and will not blame myself

I will just pick up the pieces of what’s left

And keep moving

keep moving

keep moving.

No, I will not stop until my casket drops.

Who will stop me?

You can’t stop me. I’m 2 wide

2 fast

2 smooth

2 lose.

If life is a highway

I’m gonna ride it.

Naw better yet I’m gonna lean back and cruise it

Cause see

This here is my life

And if I don’t enjoy it

explore it and

sow it

Then it wasn’t worth it

I’ll be damned if I went through all

That I been through

To have it mean nothin’ 2 nobody.

U ain’t got to tell me how I got life

The Lord gave me life

And it’s not in vain

I live my life so that when I get

2 heaven’s doors

I will have pain no more.

And the Lord will say, “Come in,

This is your home. Job well done!”

James ’05

The Unknown Road

A road not traveled is an unknown road,

It seems so lonely and it feels so cold,

But if it is not traveled it remains unknown.

I once traveled on an unknown road,

It was dark and I felt like I was wearing a blindfold,

I had no light so I could not see the holes,

Or the bumps or the stumps or the snakes in the grass,

Or the pigs that I had chasing my ass,

Or the trolls at the tolls that I had to pay in order to pass.

I made it out of the dark without drugs or guns,

With one set of footprints for me to speak on,

When I asked God why, he replied, “This is when I carried you, my son.”

Then he sent me an angel to guide me one day,

Along with twenty-six strangers to travel with me,

A voice and a word for our Odyssey.

With a pen as our sword and a pad as our shield,

Each week we all traveled to a different battlefield,

Now we’ve reached OUR final victory, conquered the world, but not appeased.

Now that OUR journey is over, MINE has just begun,

The road now splits to twenty-six different ways instead of one,

Do not be afraid, just pray, and say, “Thy will be done.”

But if you should slip and bruise your knee or there’s a burden too heavy to bear,

Or you’re feeling alone, your neck’s in a noose,

Or someone’s being a pain in the, you know where.

If you need someone just to listen, or to say those words that make you smile,

Or a joke to overwhelm you with laughter,

Parental advice or advice from someone’s child,

If you simply haven’t heard that voice in a while,

Or need encouragement to walk that extra mile,

Just remember these next words and smile:

We are only a phone call away,

No one will ever deny us the bonds that we’ve made,

So continue to travel that unknown road,

And I assure you,

Our paths will cross again someday.

Corina ’05

One Unique Queen

I used to be a housecat,

but now I am much more,

my shade is theon red

with garnet eyes,

Standing out from the pride

can be seen from far away

only one king strong enough

to handle me and only me,

while others growl and roar,

craving for attention.

My cubs are born with one red eye,

exploring the world around them,

can’t wait to eat the food

I gathered with my paws.

The land I see, the prides around me,

admire my beauty and wonder what’s inside.

They’ll never know…

They’ll never know…

I used to be a housecat,

but now I am soooo much more.

Abby ’05

I’m blessed

I was blessed from the first time I opened my eyes to this world.

I was blessed when my mother and father told me about God and educated me when I was little.

I was blessed when my brothers and sisters supported me in my younger ages and told me the wrong things I did.

I was blessed when I had my first job.

I was blessed the day I filled out an application for Odyssey class and when Emily called me at home to start my new challenge.

I’m blessed because Odyssey class helped me to struggle with some problems in my life and improve my knowledge. Before, I did not know what to do with my own life, my future, but now I feel strong, with more ideas and ready for my next step.

I know I’m blessed for a lot of things. Some times are difficult, but I know I’m not alone, and I will never give up until my dream will turn into reality.

I used to be

innocent like a little child

in love with this creation

celebrating my birthday everyday

living in Paradise

without knowledge of the world outside

delicate as a glass

protective like a mother

but now I am

empty because my heart has been stolen

the sunbeam doesn’t shine bright anymore

I ate the fruit prohibited

I’m a blind and deaf person

looking for the exit to this labyrinth

walking through the thorns

letting books be the ones to guide me.

Angelica ’04

Knowledge: familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study. Knowledge is the key to power. A leader should always be knowledgeable and aware about what is happening in his surrounding. His familiarity with the community and surrounding communities should allow him to make educated decisions and therefore allow him to better serve and protect the people.

LaToya ’05

Life is full of choices, Some are good and some are bad. Being in the Odyssey Project has been one of the best choices I could have made. When I first came to class I was very excited to have been back in school. As time passed I thought I wasn’t going to finish because I lost focus. I had to make a choice whether I wanted to finish or not. I also had to think about the consequences if I didn’t. I learned that if I do my work, come on time, stay focused, I can do whatever I put my mind to. It doesn’t stop here. I plan to continue going to school after the Odyssey Project. I have to whether I like it or not, not just for me but I have to think about my 4-year-old son. My life has been all about the choices I have to make. Some will be good and then some will be bad.

Quintella ’04

MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE ODYSSEY PROGRAM

My journey through the Odyssey Program has been . . .

Encouraging

Informative

Empowering

Educational

Creative

Tedious

Intellectual

Expedient

Applicable

Worthwhile

Controversial

Advancing

Enlightening

Optimistic

Modest

Cultured

Sufficient

Uplifting

Restless

Challenging

Practical

Extraordinary

Irregular

Virtuous

Beneficial

Organized

Favorable

Well-defined

Promising

Pure

Remarkable

Enthusiastic

Penetrating

Revealing

Wonderful

Fair and just

The Odyssey Program has become a part of me.

Sherreallyum ’05

The Gift

One fall day I woke to a surprise

A little boy staring

With innocent eyes

I looked and I wondered

How could this be?

Why was this little boy

Entrusted to me?

I was very young

Naïve and filled with dreams

But when I woke that morning

I really wanted to scream

I was filled with doubt

But ready to face the world

To tell the truth

I really wanted a girl

I said to myself wake up, you see,

Because this little boy

Was entrusted to me

When I looked in his face

He was beautiful and fine

The I thought to myself

That he was all mine

Just in a flash, there were

A bunch of white coats

They looked at me and said

“Miss, just give up hope.”

With fright on my face

I asked, “What’s wrong?”

They said, “Miss, we don’t know,

Please go home.”

“Go home!” I say

“This must be a joke

Aren’t you a doctor?

Didn’t you take an oath?”

He looked at me and smiled.

“You’re young and naïve.

You still have to fulfill

Your dreams.

Just leave him here and no one

Will know

Turn around and walk out

There’s the door!”

Now I was mad

Insulted, you see,

Because this little boy

Was entrusted to me

I may have been young

But no dummy by far

Because I picked up my son

And headed straight for the car.

I went from doctor to doctor

All around town

They would look at me and say

With that sarcastic frown

“Miss, give up hope

he’s not going to do much

not walk, not talk,

nor see, nor hear

He won’t even be able

to feed himself lunch,

My dear

People do it everyday

It’s not hard

It’s a locked facility

But they don’t have any guards

See look! Children

Playing in the yard.”

Enraged by now

I turned and walked away

Because they won’t get

My son Oh no! not today

More determined than ever

To prove them all wrong

I awoke every day

Just to teach him songs

People would look at me

And stare

How dare she bring him

Out to play

He looks funny

You should take him away!

I would shout it from the

Rooftops every time

Isn’t he beautiful?

Yes! He is mine.

With my family’s support we

made

It a long way

I took him outside

Everyday to play

Many people would

Be ashamed

But Oh! No

Not me!

Because this little boy

Is a gift from God

Entrusted directly to me.