2022 Winners

Where do I find beauty within Hartford?
What makes Hartford Beautiful

There is a lot of beauty within Hartford. Some people may see it through the eyes of the big buildings, the people within the city, or the cars that pass by, but with me, I see the beauty in the activities that Hartford offers.

The first memory I have within Hartford was going to my very first Yard Goats game. I remember the crowd going wild. I remember seeing people on the jumbotron waving to the crowd. I can remember the smell of popcorn and hot dogs all around me. Overall, I remember the excitement and thrill I got from being at a baseball stadium. There was loud music, and when it got dark, the stadium lights would turn on. I remember laughing at my two older siblings thinking they looked funny when jumping up and down trying to catch a t-shirt from the toss game. The one thing I will take away from this experience is that I was with my family and we were having a great time. And not only that but I remember looking around and seeing other families having just as much fun as we were, and to me, that’s one of the beauties of Hartford. However, there are other fun activities that you can do by yourself or with others in the city.

We live just around the corner from Elizabeth Park and my older sister takes me and my other siblings to the park. The great thing about Elizabeth Park is whenever it’s cold they have this huge hill that we can go sledding on and sometimes there is a huge bump, so when we go down the hill we go flying into the air. When it gets warm out we go and play on the playscape and the best part is meeting new kids our age who we often play with. One thing I get excited about is when it’s a hot summer’s day. I’ll wait and listen for the sound of the ice cream truck to come by. I remember waiting in line with my siblings, trying to figure out when the ice cream truck would come and when we’d get ice cream. One thing you might not know is that Elizabeth Park has a huge field and we often bring a soccer ball or a frisbee to play catch with. Sometimes, depending on the day, we will bring a picnic basket and have a nice little picnic. I love Elizabeth Park for many reasons, the new friendships I get to make with other kids, and the memories that are formed between me and my family. Hartford has so many fun activities that schools are offering to take kids on field trips to exciting new places for fun activities and learning experiences.

When I attended Reggio two years ago in Avon, we went on a school field trip all the way to the Science Center in Hartford. What surprises me is that we went to school in Avon, but we traveled to Hartford to go on a field trip. We went on a lot of school trips, but I have to say that the Science Center was my favorite. It offers so many fun activities. My favorite exhibit was the Kids’ Space. We got to do hands-on activities and learn about certain things such as gravity or tsunamis or learning about wind. I also remember going to watch this 3D movie about climate change and where our Earth stands today. I think what made the Science Center so amazing was that it was a great experience for the students and the best part of it was that we got out of our classes and had some fun.

My mom often likes to do family activities and when I say family activities, I mean a lot of family activities. When it is cold or rainy outside, my mom would take us bowling, which is convenient because it’s right down the street from us and our sister works there. And we would go to the movies, which are one of my favorite activities because of the buttered popcorn they offer. On weekends mostly all of the time, our whole family can hang out, and I love that everything is so close by. I love staying at my Grandma’s in Glastonbury, however, what makes Hartford beautiful is that there are so many fun activities to do right in the area. Most of the time we just walk to the place because it is so close.

When people think of beauty, what comes to mind are art, outdoor spaces, designs, landscapes, and historic neighborhoods. But I think of beauty as the trips that I’ve been on with my friends and family, and the memories that I will have throughout my life. Beauty to me is the fun and excitement I have had throughout my years of living here.

What does Cultural Diversity mean to me?

Every year at my school we hold an event called Cultural Night. Before Cultural Night, each class studies a different place in the world. This year my class studied Haiti, third grade studied Africa, second grade studied the West Indies, and first grade studied Thailand. People in classes would break into groups and study a certain part of the place. Except for second grade, they divided up the West Indian countries. Parents and teachers had the choice to bring in food from their culture or country.

This is just one example of what I experienced with cultural diversity. Let me explain further.

Okay, what does cultural diversity mean to me? Well, I can proudly answer that for you! For me, cultural diversity means that everybody is the same, no matter how they look or where they are from. Everyone of any type can have fun! Because it doesn’t matter to me or you what their traditions are, does it? Cultural diversity also means that we can all get together and play.

People of different cultures can ask each other about their traditions and religions. We can show mutual respect by telling each other about our differences. That’s what cultural diversity means to me.

Now get ready for me to answer another important question. How does cultural diversity feel to me? Believe it or not, it feels pretty casual to me. But it’s great. For me and humanity. Cultural diversity also makes me feel included, a part of everyone, involved, incorporated, embraced, and most importantly, loved. And there’s lots more. It feels great to be noticed, because that’s what I want and maybe you do too. So that’s how cultural diversity feels for me. It makes me feel a part of the community. Does it make you feel the same?

So, what about my experiences with cultural diversity? How does it look from my point of view? Well, I can’t show you, but I can tell you. Seeing people of different colors doesn’t bother me. I see people all the same no matter what their race or skin color is. I, and you, should see people based on their personality. Just like the grown-ups say, it’s not based on the outside that tells who you are, it’s based on the inside. I go to many culturally diverse places. For instance, one big place I’ve been to is the Connecticut Science Center, and oh boy, that place is huge! So many people go there. Also, I go to a school with people of 5 different races. There are Black, Asian, White, African American, Hispanic and Latino, and multi-ethnic students. So pretty much almost everywhere I go, people are of different races.

You’ve heard all about what cultural diversity means to me, feels to me, and how I see cultural diversity. So in simple terms, cultural diversity means everyone of any race can have fun. In simple terms, cultural diversity makes me feel involved because everyone is different. And lastly, in simple terms, in my eyes, cultural diversity is one of the best things ever, because we all get to learn about each other’s traditions, religions, cultures, and races.

Where do I find beauty within Hartford?

I’m going to be telling you about where I find beauty in Hartford, and I’m going to start with the Science Center. You can see the Science Center when you’re downtown. You can even see it from the highway as you’re entering the city. You can find it and go there and have fun. The Science Center is a place where learning cannot just be fun, but it can also be exciting and addicting. At the Science Center you can learn about Animals, Physics, Power, Weather, Vehicles, Cities, Culture, the Ocean and Space. All this learning is making me hungry.

Speaking of food, have you been to Wooster Street Pizza? At Wooster Street Pizza you can order almost any flavor of pizza, like peanut butter and jelly to banana pizza. Wooster Street Pizza doesn’t only have food it also has games, like car racing and Pac-Man. When you order a kids meal, the waiter will give you three cars (like Hot Wheels) and you can pick one out of three cars to keep.

Dillon Stadium also has Wooster Street Pizza. Dillon Stadium is home of the Hartford Athletics, which is Hartford’s soccer team. It is a place where people gather around and watch a big soccer game where you can buy food and drinks and play free soccer. You can also meet the players and buy Hartford Athletics merchandise, like scarfs and T-shirts. When you go there you have to hand the guy a ticket for the stadium to get in, but once you get in, you can take a seat on your side that says, gate A-E or left and right. You can pick any seat you want but it has to be on the side that the ticket says.

And finally, we are going to talk about Trinity Academy, my school. Trinity Academy is a school with kind students and respectful staff/teachers and volunteers. I have a very generous class and a very cool teacher. I love Trinity Academy because we do fun activities and field trips, like walking down to Bushnell Park to ride the carousel and play on the playground. Even though Trinity Academy doesn’t have good lunch, I still like it. At Trinity we are one big family, a family that cares about community, safety, education, students and staff, church and classrooms.

In my city of Hartford, I find beauty in places like the Science Center, Wooster Street Pizza, Dillon Stadium, and Trinity Academy. The Science Center lets me hang out with cool characters from TV. Wooster Street Pizza lets me eat and play. At Dillon Stadium I meet talented soccer players. And at Trinity Academy I am given freedom if I am responsible. All of these places I find beauty in.

What does Cultural Diversity mean to me?
Cultural Diversity can make a Change

Cultural Diversity means a lot to me because everyone should be treated equally. You know back in the day, people were hatin’ and the whole place was segregated. But now we are somewhat united but still kinda divided.

Like back in May two years ago a man was killed. We all knew his name and knew it wasn’t right. So what we did, we got up to fight!

FIGHT FOR EQUAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

No one deserves to be discriminated for any reason. Remember Martin Luther King Jr, he said “I have a dream.” And he wanted everyone to be treated equally instead of unequally. We’re all the same, we’re all human can’t you see? It doesn’t matter your gender, religion, ethnicity.

You don’t have to love each other, just respect each other. Culture is something that should be respected not disrespected. How would you feel if someone told you your culture wasn’t right?

Why are people so mean, we’re all flesh and blood with our own beliefs, why can’t people understand that? Let’s be fair, let’s be diverse and maybe try to converse.

Don’t pressure people to eat something they don’t wanna— you might be offering them something against their culture. Cultures may do things differently than you’re used to. It doesn’t mean that they’re doing it the wrong way, it’s just a different way their culture does it and you don’t have to be rude about it.

Until you know the person’s culture, see them as a person— don’t make stereotypes about them— that’s disrespectful. How would you like it if someone did that to you? To judge your lifestyle and how you were raised, to judge your people and how you spend your days?

There isn’t a lot of diversity in books; like in 2018, 50% of the characters were white while 1% was American Indian. We need things to be more diverse to see other points of view or things will never change.

What does Cultural Diversity mean to me?

At times, I wonder how we come to have
The cultural diversity that is around me
The faces, hair types, cultures, and many more
I see every day
There is so much beauty to share in the world

But I have thoughts about other things How are others treated badly? What gives one person the power to judge someone else? How did this become a thing
To make rude comments against one another?

We are on one planet
Why can’t we show respect to one another?
One compliment makes someone’s day

It’s as simple as that

Where do I find beauty in Hartford?

As I’m waking up in the morning
Sun shining bright
I get ready, pack my stuff, and get in the car
Looking out, the streets of Hartford
The streets are filled with many things

The blue sky filled with birds, chirping loudly With their beautiful white wings
To the trees swaying side to side with its bright green leaves Buildings standing bright and tall shining brighter than ever To the pretty grayish-blue of the Connecticut River

As I’m passing by
Realizing beauty doesn’t just come from people But from the nature in Hartford

The nature is amazing over there

Where do I find beauty in Hartford?
Imagination

I find beauty in Hartford in peoples’ imagination. My creative mode is always on and I am inspired. Other peoples’ imaginative ideas inspire me too.

I find beauty in Hartford in peoples’ imagination. My creative mode is always on and I am inspired. Other peoples’ imaginative ideas inspire me too.

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

If I could go anywhere…

One day I’d love to visit Paris. I want to see the Eiffel Tower. That would be the coolest experience ever! And I would visit one of the biggest art museums, “The Louvre.” The Louvre has many famous pieces of art; one of the most famous is the “Mona Lisa.”

I did some research and here are some interesting facts:

1. Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world.
2. There are 1,665 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
3. The Eiffel Tower was very unpopular when it was first built.
4. When the Eiffel Tower needs repainting, it is done by hand.
5. There are over 40,000 restaurants in Paris.
6. There are more dogs in Paris than people.
7. The first photograph of people was taken in Paris.

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

If we could travel anywhere, we’d like to go to the moon! Does it look and feel and smell like cheese? Would we fall in the craters? The endless stars look beautiful and all the planets are amazing too.

This is our story of the man on the moon:

A big hole, far away, too big to last another day. While the universe is big, the moon is small, like the man on the moon with his beloved rose.

Spaceships, big and small no matter at all. Today is another day, so please, go the other way.

He loved that rose like it was his life, in the rose, and to think he loved anything more. That rose meant everything to him, even more than his life.

Where do I find beauty in Hartford?

Where do I find beauty within Hartford? Simple, there’s many ways I can find beauty within Hartford, for example, the museums, the successful small businesses, one of which a previous teacher of mine owns, the parks, Nightfall, the list is endless, but where I find beauty the most, is the school system. I know it sounds silly but it’s true. Allow me to explain.

When I started in Hartford schools, I was a student at Annie Fisher Monntessori, a wonderful school to say the least, I had many friends, some I don’t talk to anymore, and some I talk to quite frequently. I was engaged in the arts, such as art class and fun acting opportunities. When I was in Kindergarten, I was the flower in a tiny class play, definitely one of my favorites roles, since it was simple, but very important. This school definitely taught me important life skills, such as how to wash dishes, how to fold laundry, social skills, how to get over stage fright, and so much more. In first grade, I was Glinda the Good Witch in a school-wide play. There were about seven Dorthys that would switch places with each other, same for the scare crow and other characters, but I was the only Glinda, me. My sister went to the same school as me, and on the other half of the building was a connected school, Annie Fisher Stem. So whenever it was my turn to bring a lunch bin to my sister’s class, I would rush to the cafeteria, grab the cart, and rush back to my sister’s class, and hug her. It was the simplest things that made me happy there. But when 5th grade ended, I was switched to my town school, McGee Middle School, located In Berlin. It was the budget issues that pushed my mom to switch me and my sister. McGee was no walk in the park, I’ll tell you that.

At McGee Middle School, everyone was the same, there was barely any diversity, and the worst part was, none of the girls felt comfortable wearing shorts or skirts around one of the gym teachers. He was a bit of a creep. There were some ups of course, for example, there was a girl I had met over the summer at a Hartford convention, we didn’t give each other phone numbers or anything, but I remember having that feeling of ‘Wow, I really wanna be their friend’ and during my time at McGee, I had met her, now we’re best friends. Of course there were more ups than that, for example, we had tiny controllable robots, after school clubs, VR headsets, an ice cream cooler, a chip rack, and a soft pretzel machine. Those were the only ups I can remember. But even those ups had their downs, the food cost money, even just the plain normal lunches, only a few people could use the VR headsets at a time, the after school drama club left me with the worst roles, I had maybe like, sixteen lines in all four musicals I was in, and my friend group size always differed, the one determining factor was if any of the friends were in fights with other friends. Then, quarantine hit. My grades fell drastically, I couldn’t focus, and I wasn’t getting the help I needed. I nearly failed 6th and 7th grade. I was a D and F student, my mother was happy if I got a C. It was around the middle of the year when I was having severe breakdowns over grades and terrible roles when my mom decided to switch me and my sister back to Hartford schools, Berlin just wasn’t right for me.

We decided on Kinsella Magnet School, it was a comfy size, not too big, not too small, plus me and my sister could go to school together for a year before I would go to Kinsella High so we could both get adjusted. Both schools are absolutely wonderful. Once the lottery was drawn and we got in, I was ecstatic, I finally had something to look forward to, I wouldn’t just sit at a desk where I did virtual learning, dreading tomorrow. The first day was great, I had six friends on day one, and now I have many more. When I was in shop class, we got to learn about power tools, and even use them! A bit later in the year, I auditioned for a small play. I wasn’t expecting much of course, as I had gotten terrible roles the past two years, but I ended up getting the role of one of the main characters! This school had so many more opportunities than any school I’ve been to. I got to work with electronic tools, learn more about tools, be a part of the student government, get the education I needed, and more to come. Now I am even part of the High Honor Roll, getting only A’s the entire year, with my lowest grade being a 91, which is still an A. Kinsella High School will be so much fun, especially since I get to work with my shop teacher again. I wonder what opportunities the high school holds for me.

The Hartford School System is such a wonderful thing, it’s absolutely perfect for me, plenty of friends and diversity, no one is the same, and that’s absolutely beautiful, this school system gives everyone a place to be themselves, and not to mention I haven’t been sent to the counselors office for just talking about being queer, like I had at McGee. I’m so glad that Hartford has these opportunities for everyone attending their schools. Beauty is everywhere in Hartford, but to me, the most beautiful part where I can express myself, and learn the most, is school.

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

If I could travel anywhere in the world I would want to go to St. Lucia. I have never traveled outside of the country before. I want to be able to escape the cold and take a tropical vacation with my family. I chose St. Lucia because it is beautiful but small and not a very well known Caribbean island.

If I could travel anywhere in the world I would want it to be somewhere that you need a passport to get to. I believe it is important for people to go to other places so you can meet people who have grown up different from you. I want to try new foods from St. Lucia. I especially want to drink coconut milk out of a coconut. I would like to go to St. Lucia to learn all about the people and the culture of the island.

I Want to travel to St. Lucia to take my family on a vacation. My mom loves the beach and we have never been to a Caribbean island. My sisters and I love going to the beach in the summertime. We love to visit new places as a family and I would want to take my family on a special vacation all together.

I want to go there because it will be a fun experience for me and my family. I would like to explore new places. My mom and I like to go for hikes and see new places. I want to visit a place where we could make special memories and experience a new culture. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why? Deep In The Pages of Paper and Ink

I would travel to a world that has never been real.
This small, pointless fact doesn’t quench its appeal.
A place so much better than where I was born;
A world full of magic, a rose with a thorn.
I’d go deep in the pages of paper and ink,
With villains much kinder than you’d ever think.
Castles with parties, daggers strapped to my thigh,
Dragons that carry me through the vast sky

Where my only stress would be this world’s certain doom, Instead I’m holding a book of this world in my room.
There, power boils thick in everyone’s’ blood.
A monster wants to spill it; I must stop the flood.
I’m a hero or a villain, that’s for me to decide.
When the darkness comes, I won’t run and hide.

But here I feel weak, avoiding the dark.
Instead of fire inside, there is only a spark.
In that world, I have power to take down all evil,
Here, I sit around and drown in the upheaval.
It’s not all that bad, here in the real world.
Here with my books, my mind is unfurled.
But I would rather be there, in the world that is fake.

This wish causes me an unexplainable ache.

What does cultural diversity mean to me?

Hartford.

Let me start off by saying.

No, this will not be an extravagant piece like Langston Hughes.
No, this will not be a letter to the people like W.E.B Du Bois.
AND.

No, this will not be an invigorating story of identity like Zora Neale Hurston. This is just a reminder to myself and those who are depending on me.

That I am no poet, I am no singer, I am no musician.
What are you? Why are you here?

I can’t exactly articulate that in words but I can reveal my passion and show you how much I do care.

I will make a statement.
AND.

I will set a new standard.
Oh no! Not just for me!

But for all the little brown boys and girls who are struggling to find their identity. I tell myself that I will be something and the world will know my name. I dare to dream aloud and put myself in the conversation of fame.

Or will they refer to me as insane and force me down – preventing me from winning? Deep down in my soul I know this isn’t God’s intention.

To have some live free while the rest of us live in frustration.

Afraid to walk straight because we keep looking over our shoulders.

While “others” walk boldly – as they are confident in the fact that they can live to get older.

Breaking all the stereotypes and limitations that were set in place, but now we’re left picking up the pieces after all doubt has been shattered.

They say the voice of the black man should never be heard.

These situations have presented so much pain and hurt mixed with frustration. But I comfort myself when I remember – my thoughts are bigger than my actual situation

Remembering that God’s love is for all regardless of the infused melanin in my skin. Thankful to know that I too have the opportunity to dream big.

And Win.

I’m glad I’m just a black boy who is merely delivering a word of encouragement. Motivation.

And reminding you that your voice matters.

So When you see me soaring.

Just know that I am living my truth as God intended.

Free just like the next man.
I just want you to know the audacity of my freedom was all part of God’s plan. * *

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

If I could liver anywhere it would be the stars.
Past the Sun and far from Mars.
On a ball of hot gas feared and loved by all and seen to be otherworldly. If I could live anywhere it would be near a blackhole.
With time as it slows.

If I could live anywhere it would be in the stars, the ones oh so large. I would tun on Saturn’s rings and catch steroids.

If I could live anywhere it would be far from comets, and close to light. Not the center of the universe but somewhere close for flight. A place too cold for any creature to put up a fight.

A place hot enough where monsters don’t roam.
A place with a change of seasons and a day and night.
A land filled with hills, valleys, and streams.
A place that is otherworldly and unbelievable.

Somewhere where I can see light reflecting off the moon from the sun. It seems the only place for me is filled with oxygen and calm with a sea. If I could go anywhere it would be Kepler-452b not too far from home. It’s a whole new world, a place so perfect it can’t be real. That’s the place I would want to live.

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

Japanese Cherry Tree

I’ve always wanted to go to Japan. Because of some of the things that are there, like mostly really colorful things including little clips and chibi characters. But one of the things I want to see most is a full bloomed cherry blossom tree. The reason for this is because they’re one of the most magical looking thing ever to me and the smell of a cherry tree is amazing. Cherry trees are always one of the things I’ve wanted to see as a younger child and still is. That is why I want to go to Japan and going there will always hold a special place in my heart and mind, especially if I get to see a cherry tree up close.

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

I would like to go to Puerto Rico because most of my family is there and I would like to be on an island that will make me feel safe because most of my family is there. So I would like to go because there were many generations of my parents that were born over there. Even though I was born here in Hartford, Connecticut, I would love to be over there.

Bandera (Flag) Las Cotorras (Birds)
El Morro La Amapola (Puerto Rican flower) La Playa (Beach) Las Calles (Streets)
Los Montanas (Mountains)

What does cultural diversity mean to me?

Cultural Diversity is something that I feel very strongly about. The term cultural diversity means to include people of different races and bring them together. There is always a need for there to be more diversity in the world and I feel that it would also be very substantial in literature, the school systems, and the medical field. What comes to mind is making sure that cultures are appreciated and presented to people that are unaware of that culture. It makes me want to make sure that my family and friends learn from it too. Personally, I feel that there needs to be more cultural diversity in literature and in school systems.

Literature is something that is very important to me and has been a part of my life since I was young. When I was in elementary school, I was not able to read books that had characters that were people of color; and at the same time, there were not any authors of color. I only read from the perspective of a white person. I feel that if I had the opportunity to read and learn from authors of color it would have been very substantial for me. I also feel that I would have been able to start my organizing of activism earlier than in the 9th grade. Now in this day and age children all over are learning about serious topics regarding the civil rights movement, racism, Ukraine, police brutality, etc. in primary school and are actually witnessing history in the making. There must be a need for more representation shown in the books they read. Many organizations such as We Need Diverse Books are working to make sure there is more inclusivity in children literature and many are following in suit to them. I am one of those examples. For my Girl Scout Gold Award I am working with a black owned bookstore, The Key Bookstore, to collect books for Hartford Students ages 6-12 at the school’s Environmental Sciences At Mary Hooker, Grace Academy, Trinity Day Academy and the Wilson Gray YMCA and the Real Art Ways Park Art Program. I will be creating a website that the Hartford Public Library and Connecticut School Libraries can utilize so that they can make their libraries more inclusive and help their students learn more. When students have access to these books, they will be able to learn from perspectives that they may not have heard of before. It will be even better if they are able to talk about it in class with discussions on the books they have read. By reading and learning from different cultures especially at the ages of 6-12 it can be seen that it is not only an example of cultural diversity but it is also bringing people together.

Not only has my activism caught the attention of my family and friends but it has also caught the attention of SHOPBLACKCT where they were able to help me get an anonymous donor to match the last 50 books for my project so that I can finish the collection of my books. I was even able to be on HOT 93.7 and be featured on FOX61. By having those opportunities, it showed me that my community really does care about what I am doing and that it really is something that can make a difference. It also shows me that my activism is very important as so many people are talking about and want to help it thrive.

I want to make sure that everyone feels comfortable at school. In my school there are people from all over Connecticut and that may have been born somewhere or have had parents that were born in a different country. With so many cultures and religions in one school, it is very interesting to learn from someone that you are unfamiliar with. My school makes sure that we are open and respectful to the ideals of another culture. It shows that we really are a great school community. As we have a Chinese New Year Celebration and Black History Month Celebration every year, the whole school is able to understand the cultures of Black and Chinese people across many decades. It can even be shown that we learn where other students come from when we have spirit week as one of our themes is Wear Your Flag. It is very cool to see students and my friends walk through the school with their colors of where their families are from. It is always colorful and pretty and just looks so nice. To conclude, I feel that with being able to hear and see different cultures at my school I feel that other schools should follow suit and make sure that their students feel comfortable and culturally represented and appreciated.

Ultimately, for me I expect the workplace to have workers from all different backgrounds, ethnicities, races, etc. This can be especially seen in the medical field. As a patient, you want to have the utmost trust in your physician and you can feel that especially when you can relate to your doctor such as being of the same race or ethnicity. When I was in elementary school there were barely any people of color that were doctors, they were more secretaries or janitors. But now, especially since 2020, there have been so many people of color that I see in the medical field and I feel more comfortable when I talk to them as I know they have my health as their main priority. In light of these facts, it can be shown that cultural diversity is very important in the workforce, especially the medical field.

All in all, cultural diversity is something that is very important to me. An example of me utilizing cultural diversity is in my Gold Award. I not only am doing my Gold Award Project for me but also for those kids so that they can learn about cultural diversity and make sure to learn about new cultures. My doing of this project is not only showing people that there are so many cultures in the world that you do not have to look at just one. But learning about them can help you better understand new perspectives and the world. I am not only being a role model for those students but also for my 3 younger siblings to make them see that you can make a difference in your community one step at a time and anyone can help you with that. Making sure that everyone feels respected and knows that they are appreciated is what cultural diversity should mean to everyone. Whether we were born in the same place or not or eat the same foods, we are different and that is okay. As long as we respect each other and try to make our community better for all cultures, then we are doing a great job. There is always a need for change and the world will be better when we can hear from cultures that we have not heard from and understand the ideals that are there.

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

Where would I go?
Would I travel far and wide?
Oh
The places we could only dream to know
Somewhere rain falls
A place where greens could green
Somewhere peaceful and full of life
Is it the forest I seek?
Going to a place of wonder
Where the sky is covered with huge trees
To shake this aching feeling of normal
To run wild and free
My curiosity is sure to find
My teenage years left behind
Tropics only grow
They never wither
The rain forest is the place to go
For those who aren’t bitter
To live a life as grand as this
Always peace
Always bliss
To Travel to the Amazon rainforest has always
Been a dream of mine
Life these days
So full of concrete buildings
Technology
No has time to see
The great things

Nature can truly be.

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go and why?

“Bereavement Victim” visualizes a universe where I am certain of myself that allows me to manifest the best aspects of myself regardless of my physical identity or anxieties.

A place to really be myself with a lack of hinderance on my speech or how I carry myself. I’d be so fluent and free at any given moment because I’d be able to show people the full version of me when and wherever I want without fear of judgement or harassment.

Where do I find beauty within Hartford?

This is a bit of a basic response. Despite living in Hartford my whole life, I never got to explore the city as my parents were a bit overprotective, so when I was little I never got to connect to my city. It wasn’t until recently I was allowed to start biking and bussing around the city since they felt like I was old enough. Even with this new found freedom, it was hard to get comfortable with the new situations. Often I would plug my earbuds in and just zone out, but one night I was taking out the trash and noticed how quiet the street was. Walking up my driveway, I noticed there were no cars driving around not even by the intersection or by the highway. Cautiously I crossed the street, feeling like I had crossed over to a new world. It was so peaceful, like my little slice of the world was taking a break, a short rest, and I was there to see it. It was seeing this new part of the city that made me feel like I was finally able to connect with it. The feeling of contentment after a long day, like snow muffling the world, was what I felt that night. So while not the most glamorous, I find my street and night truly beautiful.