I come from a family of immigrants
who like to barbecue on Sundays
to forget their troubles.
I come from a family that pushes me
to do better in school
but didn’t go themselves so what would they know?
I come from a family that says “Tu puedes”
but don’t know what it feels like to have
teachers tell me the opposite.
I come from a school where “Friends”
are going to be with you every step of the way
but only stay that to your face.
I come from a school where sitting alone at lunch
makes you a loner
but sitting with fake people is better.
I come from a school where you can tell anything to a teacher
but when you open up
they gossip about you to admin.
I come from friends who I tell anything to
and consider sisters
but when I tell them something through their ear
it goes out their mouth but to another.
I come from friends who plan things in front of you
but leave out the part where you're invited.
I come from a community that has beautiful
bright green lawns
but that's only thanks to the immigrant “Jardinero”
whom they can only refer to as “Juan” or “Jose”
because it would take too much
to know the name of the person
they want out of their country.
I come from a community that
looks happy on the outside but feels
like a shadow on the inside
just like everyone else.
--Kate A,. 6th-8th Grade