Hello. It's Us.

Our unannounced, year-long break has finally come to an end. In other words, we're back and starting fresh. It's good to be back. Change is a constant in life; it's unavoidable, so it is best to realize that sometimes it's good to refresh ourselves.

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Time to rewind a bit. 2014: a year of great change for us both. We were in the middle of everything. The middle year of middle school, standing in the middle of two crowds, torn between paths - in the middle of yes and no. 

Melissa: I didn't exactly fit in everywhere. Yet, it wasn't like I didn't exactly not fit in everywhere. Stereotypes and "groups" are common in most middle schools. And I guess, I had just enough of each in me so that I could be approached by everyone. But yet, I couldn't find a place that truly felt like home. I might have talked to everyone, but I talked very little. I only felt comfortable in my own company.

Ally:  I found this year start to rapidly pick up it's pace. It seemed sixth grade had lasted a lifetime and seventh grade was a race that I kept missing because of a blink. But despite that, I had so many memorable moments that year. As for groups, I came to a realization. It doesn't matter who you talk to. It doesn't matter where you sit at lunch. What matters truly is that if the friends you have are true friends. Crowds aside, I realized the friends I had, the close ones, the old ones, and the new ones all made me who I was.

Then, it was evolution. A level up. A "breaking out of our shell" time. Eighth Grade. This year. It was time. Time to choose ourselves. 

Melissa: We both knew that things would change this year. I finally found people whom I could call my "friends." I know it sounds cheesy and sappy, but it honestly made me happy. Humans...we weren't meant to live alone. Desperately wanting to fit in, to share our feelings with people, to share a kinship, a bond, with others - that's what makes us human. I'm kind of hard to "get to know." Like I said, I don't talk much. But I found people who understand me without me speaking, people willing to help me without me asking. And I took their outstretched hands, and I let them guide me to a path filled with confident sunlight.

Ally: Some of the many words I tend to live by are, "The two constants in life are change and growth". And I know that even as hard it is to accept it, things will inevitably change. I know this like the back of my hand and yet it's still difficult to feel okay with change. And that's alright. My friends have stuck by my side, and through trial and error I have made more friends, strengthened old friendships, and peacefully parted ways with some friends. However, I still feel like I could be more socially skilled, It's crucial to realize you are who you are and even though some people may not be pleased by the charisma techniques you have, it's important to be okay with them yourself.

So, you see, we changed. But it wasn't the end.

Friendship is an everlasting bond; it isn't a string - like some say - that can be tugged, broken, or retied. The connection between two friends isn't as pathetic or as weak as a piece of string. Friendship is like a gold rod. To have a friend is to exchange hearts - you exchange a piece of your heart for a piece of theirs under an oath that you'd guard and protect their heart with everything you have. Unless one fails to guard the other's heart or if the heart is thrown away or betrayed, the friendship between the two companions will last until death.

So, the overall meaning of this post is even as we drift in and out of different groups, our kinship as fellow writers, as fellow students, as fellow humans, and as friends will not vanish. Undoubtedly, our paths will always cross. Because we have exchanged a piece of our hearts. Because we have sworn an oath to support each other and to stand by each other until the end of time.

Make Your Own Footsteps

Society influences people. We all know it. It influences people a lot whether in a good way or a bad way. We've noticed a lot of people trying to be like everyone else while their real self slowly erodes away. Society killed the teenager - but in some ways, it could help us.

They get confused on who they really are. It’s usually more common with teenagers and young children probably because they don’t know how to act yet. They just want to be accepted into the crowd. The want to be involved and part of the group. But does being accepted really matter all that much?

There’s this one quote that we've heard. It was said by Bernard M. Baruch (picture of him above). This is what he said. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Be yourself because you are irreplaceable. Not a single soul on Earth can take your place and you should take pride in it, don’t hide it. Even if others may seem like they have it all, you are you, and that is special. Living a life that isn't yours isn't living a life - it’s living a lie. You can certainly look up to someone like your parents or your favorite celebrities but come up with your own designer fashion. Come up with your own thing. Your own style.

And don’t worry about liking someone else’s ideas but not being able to use them, because you must be original. Everything you present to the world has your own special touch to it. If you like it, but you don’t want to copy, make it yours.

It’s okay not to like yourself sometimes and it’s okay to have your doubts - it’s good to have confidence but no one likes a conceited jerk. But when you have your doubts, let them go quickly because you are you and you are imperfectly perfect. And that is what really matters. That you are okay with yourself.

The Gifts of Giving

"Being rich isn't about how much you have, it's about how much you give. And when you give, you'll be happier."


Hot Soup One Nation

My mother smiles I dream of a day

Her eyes smile That the world will remember

as if to encourage her mouth It is not several

a little more Independent nations

But several nations

Joined together

She wants to To form

Encourage me One Nation

You are doing good It needs hands

She says, Hands that will give

We are doing good, Hands that will share

good that others will greatly appreciate But what the world really needs

Is a heart

I force a smile A heart that will love

The park is waiting…. And love will bind us together

No matter what color

waiting for what? What religion or race, we shall

for me to do what? Become friends.

good?

If only the world

Could open its eyes

I don't care And look to see

for helping others

I want to play, play, play This totally imperfect world

Could be imperfectly perfect

By my mother says If people are willing to

giving is a good quality Give love freely and join hands

To not be afraid of

Some change

So here I am Maybe then

outside the homeless shelter This dream of mine

                                                                                              Will cease to only be a dream                                                                                              Of some naive, little girl  

My greedy breath

fogging in front of me

staining the air And so I hold my heart out to you

                                                                                                In these hands of mine

the cold winter clouds My heart that yearns for unity

roll into the sky And the first step to it

as if a wave was dawning to Accept it and try to understand it

crash When the world understands

                                                                                             Each other's hearts will connect

The hot soup

in my hand Let's shake this world

reminding me

that this bowl

one of many

will serve a purpose

as will I

in helping people.