Melissa '04
MY ODYSSEY CLASS
My Odyssey class is small but fun,
I get to feel free from what’s going on outside.
The chaos and stressful things stay out of my sight
While I’m sitting in my odyssey class.
I like to stay quiet and listen to everything,
See the good and the bad bouncing from wall to wall.
Sometimes I speak but that’s so rare.
I like philosophy and literature,
And writing makes me express what I feel and think about life. . . .
I like to feel educated, ‘yeah, that’s my thing.’
Makes me feel there’s somewhere I belong.
The voices of my teachers make me feel I can do better.
But sometimes I fall in the maze of ‘yeah, whatever.’
Sometimes I do my best and some my very best.
But I know that if I try harder that I’ll be the best.
I get to meet people that I would never have met even if I tried.
We go to plays and speak out our minds.
Some classmates even share their tears and say what they feel down deep inside.
My Odyssey class is small but fun with different kinds
of people who come to make a difference in their lives.
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 lot
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.
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.
Kia '05
I 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!"
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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