The Results Are Over

As you know, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory has already sent out their acceptance letters back in March. It was mainly bad news.

Yes, I got into the C/O 2014 at SHCP. No, I didn't get the scholarship. Of course I liked my submission but apparently, SH had higher expectations, beyond of what I came up with. Also, I didn't get enough financial aid either. I only got about 20% off of the annual tuition that doesn't include money for books, trips, club expenses, parent pledges, and others.

So, my parents and I rejected their offer to save me a position for the C/O 2014. Instead, I will be attending Oceana High School in Pacifica. I shadowed there a few weeks ago and found it to my satifaction. The students and teachers there were very friendly and all had school spirit. Wish me luck at Oceana! =)

I, Too, Sing at the Table

My parents were my masters
Giving me commands to follow
I obeyed them whole
All throughout thirteen.

I learned, I played, I ate
All after my parents' will
They nodded, agreed, complied
Before a piece was played.

That was before I met him, the darker brother
Laughing and strong and daring
Full of strength and hope
Led my attention away.

Entering the kitchen
He showed me the big, round table
Everyone is invited
But will all be served?

Today,
We are squared, cramped
Into a tiny kitchen, lacking natural light
Eating bread and butter.

Tomorrow,
There will be open seats
Welcomed by my Asian family
Reserved for everyone, including my darker brother.

And that will be the time
When everyone at the table
Will sing the same song, unashamed —

"We, too, are all Americans."

This poem is in homage to "I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes. The top image is a piece of art that I made. In the photo, I am portraying how not all people are served at dinner the same.

I, Too, Sing America

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed —

I, too, am America.

By Langston Hughes

To read my response to this poem, click here.

Photo from the Wikipedia Photo Commons.

The Life of Langston Hughes

My poem pulls many aspects of the experiences from Langston Hughes' time, such as racism. The following questions are about how he viewed his status in the U.S.

• What inspired Langston Hughes to start writing poetry?
Langston Hughes first started writing poetry when he crossed the Mississippi River to visit his father on a train. Seeing the river, he started composing, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."

• What was he like in his generation?
During his life, Langston Hughes was unashamed to be black. He wrote many poems about himself being black and how he was treated because of it.

You can also read my blog post about Rosa Parks for The Hillwood Herald. It was written as part of the school's news blog in our coverage of Black History Month.

Sacred Heart Cathedral's New Theater

Recently, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory started to build a new theater in their school. It is named after Sister Caroline Collins, DC, a role model for all Sisters to look up to. She joined the Daughters of Charity. Sister Caroline was raised in an Irish Catholic family and her love for God and church runs deep in her blood. She was an outstanding student who learned quick and appreciated Catholic education. Sister Caroline had a affectionate and gentle nature. She motivated people whom she knows and helped many who were in need.

Now, SHCP is going to honor Sister Caroline Margaret Collins, DC, with the theater that will bring back her warm and charming spirit.

I tried to mix aspects of SCHP's new theater into my poem in honor of Sister Caroline Margaret Collins, DC. The light on the stage relates to my photography as a way to bring spirit into my art.

Photo credit: Sacred Heart website

My Poem as a Word Puzzle

What Inspired Me

Since February is Black History Month, my class was introduced to videos of Dr. Martin Luther King being interviewed. When I read the comments below the video, many were so repulsive. They disrespected him, saying Mr. King longed to be white, I was disgusted and horrified — how could anyone say that?

Around the same time, my teacher started reviewing many poems with the class. One the poets she recommended was Langston Hughes. His poem, "I, Too, Sing America" expressed how racism existed back in the 1930's. When I read the poem, I realized that although with different gestures, racism still exists in my generation. Parts of my poem refer back to "I, Too, Sing America" and have the same idea about racism — and how we as a society can work to change things for the better.

Here is a link to the video of Dr. Martin Luther King that I watched. It is from The Hillwood Herald, my school's student news blog.

Lighting the Spirit

In this video, I am talking about how I approach taking photos and how important lighting is to my art. For me, light lets me capture a person's spirit in the image.

I am a photographer for The Hillwood Herald, Hillwood Academic Day School's student blog. You can see my photos on the blog or on the school's website.

My Reading of the Poem

This is a video of me, Irene, reading my poem. Whenever I read this poem, it makes me feel proud because I feel that it is a very nice piece I have composed. It took me several tries to get it to the point that I was happy with both its words and its message.