The poem I wrote is about human nature on and in the internet, through bees and the setting as an extended metaphor. The first stanza is about the immortalizing effect of a photograph, likened to a pinned bug(bee) in a collection, and how it can be seen and twisted and paraded about for anyone’s gain. One could also infer extortion from the paragraph, and obsession with gratification that could come from attention. The second stanza is more about the overwhelming and infinitely sized forums of mass social media platforms, where it’s hard to find “water,” as in genuine and kind places. There’s an almost cursed nostalgia for the water, the past, which may or may not have existed. I’m a huge fan of open interpretation, though. What I wrote doesn’t have to be set in stone, and that’s something that I love about poetry - the fluidity. Please infer anything.

I had a particularly awful week leading to finals week, and realised that there is something incredibly wrong, when I can't feel for a fellow student, but cry over a moth.

As I crafted the story of Soc Trang, my aim was to unravel the intricacies of a city where cultures converge, creating a vibrant tapestry that transcends time. Through vivid descriptions and immersive storytelling, I aimed to transport readers into the heart of Soc Trang, allowing them to experience its rich heritage, festivals, and the warmth of its people.By intertwining historical landmarks, cultural practices, and modern developments, I endeavored to capture the essence of a city that cherishes its traditions while embracing progress. My narrative seeks to celebrate the beauty of diversity, inviting readers to explore Soc Trang's unique charm and the stories embedded within its streets.Through this piece, I aspire to evoke a sense of wonder and appreciation for the cultural mosaic that defines Soc Trang, inviting readers to embark on a journey that transcends geographical boundaries and spans across generations.

Three poems are included, with the first poem "WHEN I AM DEAD" dedicated to my immigrant mother who always read me bedtime stories in her broken English growing up. I wanted to highlight the irony of how I have become a poet, whose world revolves around language and my only way of conveying my sincerity can not be understood by my own mother. I also wanted to highlight the seemingly never-ending barriers that come in between the mother and daughter relationships. "WITH THE LOVERS" speaks to the idea of wanting to be desired to be seen as a "proper woman" and going by all means to achieve that. The last poem, "YOU ARE GOOD CHILD" illustrates how young women and daughters of traditional households are expected to assume maternal roles, excel at everything, and work tirelessly for the benefit of the family without complaining. The poems dance around the topic of conformity in traditional households and the societal expectations on women.

Black Ghost is a piece I wrote mainly aiming to allow myself to come to terms with my experiences thus far as a young black girl in a Eurocentric world. I wrote it as a 15-minute free-write, which had the potential to be used in a production. It was not chosen, but I held onto it and added tweaks as I saw fit. The East Rises is a poem that I wrote for a commission during the summer of 2023. I was asked alongside two peers to write a piece about the sides of East Oakland and how the Black community has been impacted by its realities. This piece itself was written over the course of around two weeks, with suggestions from our creative director. The final product was never used in its entirety, but I wrote it with the energy of East Oakland in mind and for that reason, it is close to my heart.

This is a piece I wrote dedicated to my Oma (grandma) to celebrate her beautiful life and our loving connection. I wrote this poem right after making one of my weekly visits to my Oma's apartment in Oakland, and was inspired to compose an ode to her. My Oma was one of the main people who raised me, and is my biggest inspiration. She is currently in hospice for stage 4 cancer and dementia, and it has been incredibly painful to watch such a brilliant, bubbly person decline over the last few years. Even despite all she is going through, my Oma continues to inspire me and bring joy and laughter to every moment.

I wanted to convey how life is like in Myanmar for many of those serving the Junta. With the villainization of the military, many people forget most of the soldiers do not wish to serve under Min Aung Hlaing (the dictator). I also wished to tell people about what is happening to my country. Although the character I wrote about was fictional, I based it off real accounts of real PDF soldiers who deserted the Junta.

I wrote this screenplay about a pregnant woman and an eighteen year old boy who get stuck in an elevator, where she unexpectedly goes into labor. Sam, the boy, has to act quickly and figure out what to do. This screenplay is comedic and fast paced with lots of unexpected twists.

This piece is based on the most vivid memories I have as a child. Growing up, every Christmas and New Year satsuma mandarins were plentiful in both of my households. For both my family in Japan and Italy, it was tradition to put an orange in the toe of a child’s stocking, a treat as they were expensive and seasonal. This poem is about a parent unable to express their love for their child in a conventional way, so instead they show it in tasks. The pain of raising a child as a single parent, and the fear that they will turn out the same as you. It represents the struggle that parents- especially immigrant parents- have surrounding vulnerability and showing their love. This piece is inspired by a mix of how my mother raised me and how my grandfather raised my father. My grandfather was abusive as a result of culture, racism, and addiction, and it is clear in how my father was raised. Parents like this want their child to be happy and successful, but they show it harmfully. The end lines are based on how this parent sacrificed so much for their child that they have become jaded, yet still bleed for them.

I drafted my poem, "It is written," following an episode of lightheadedness during mass one Sunday. Rising from my knees, an immediate sensation of impending faintness enveloped me. The room blurred as I clutched the wooden pew in front of me. I had not eaten for nearly forty-eight hours by then, the memory of that moment now lingers in my recovery. Reflecting on that experience, I recall the intense fear I had to conceal to maintain calm among the crowd. This piece aims to unveil the toxic inner workings of one's mind while struggling with an eating disorder. Infused with heavy religious themes inspired by my ordeal, the poem centers on how I justified and explained my actions through distorted Catholic beliefs.

I decided to write about my childhood home, and my perspective of it looking back years from when we moved. It is a place I associate with childlike joy and innocence, which is something so special to me as I face the challenges and struggles of life as I get older. Though so small to some people and an arguably insignificant chapter of my life, this experience of just being able to be a kid means everything to me looking back.

"Fifteen" is a look into a girl's experience growing up. I wanted to explore a different style and format of writing that wasn't poetry. I thought it would be cool to do a diary entry style piece with one from each year of my life. I wanted a child-like voice to shine through in the earlier entries and be able to see the growth the narrator goes through throughout the story. "Fifteen" shows the hopes that girls have for their teenage years and how they aren't all they are made up to be. This is definitely a very personal piece for me and going through several rounds of peer feedback allowed me to see just how relatable this feeling is to teenage girls.

This poem was written when I was sitting after a hike on a large hill in Point Reyes. I began thinking about if the beautiful coastal oaks surrounding me could feel like I did. I wrote the poem about a tree being attached to its leaves as if they were her daughters. It came to symbolize the relationship I held with my mother as I began to get ready to leave for college next year.

This piece’s original topic was about my family, but I soon realized that I didn’t know much about them. In contrast to the close familial bonds Chinese families are expected to have, me and my immigrant parents are cut off from my extended family. Separated by more than 5000 miles and a time zone, I felt like an acquaintance more than kin. Thus, this piece was born from my honest personal experiences and emotions. I hope that it reflects the difficulties an immigrant child undergoes, and that it touches the hearts of others who may be in a similar position.

My script depicts the feelings of being unable to love yourself and admitting defeat to your internal thoughts. Based slightly on conflicts I have faced, my piece dives into the struggles someone can face and that it’s ok to succumb to your feelings. At first, I wanted to create a simple horror script. I had the idea for it a few months before after reminiscing on how empty and never-ending the bleachers felt. Then there came Jonas. He started one dimensional, just a bully, someone to be thrown away for the sake of the story. The more I wrote, the more his character began to blossom into one of incredible complexity. There are many pieces of media out there that tackle mental health, usually the message being that things can get better. While that is a good message, I aimed to portray a story where that does not happen. I want people to see that it’s ok to feel that things might not get better and you shouldn’t feel guilty for thoughts you wish you didn’t have. Though this is my message, I do believe that you should keep trying to fight against these feelings and find healthy ways to deal with them instead of just giving in to them. At the end of the day, everything does eventually get better, and it’s ok if it takes a long awhile to get to that point in your life.

I wrote these poems to explore loneliness and the idea of being remembered. How will I be remembered? How do I want to be remembered? All poems are based on actual events, although the death of my Great Uncle Anthony was a far more recent occurrence. I wanted to write poetry about something I believe to be a universal struggle, which is why I chose the fear of being alone along with the idea of being forgotten. I’m not sure if these things haunt others as much as they haunt me, but if they do, I hope these poems can show those people they are not alone in their fears.

My mom told me a story about her experience as one of the "boat people" from Vietnam a while back when I was younger. I decided to turn her inspiring story into poetry, despite having no prior experience. As I wrote each line, I let my thoughts flow, eventually creating this poem that I can share with everyone.