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Phoenix, still
young, takes flight towards the beaming sun.
Keen on feeling the warmth with every beat of wings,
It soars higher into the beyond, higher into the light it so
longs.
But even a phoenix needs to fight the flames of the sky
above.
Warmth turns into burns, burns turn into pain.
Phoenix, still
young, spirals back down to Mother Earth.
Diving through the sky, carving the ground as if water.
Wounds heal, but scars still remain as constant reminder.
Pressure builds, crushing it back into ash in which it came.
There it lies still; its cries heard by no one.
Phoenix, still
young, takes on a new life from the ash.
With wings renewed; a newborn heart in place.
Carefully it crawls out of safety it has known for so long
And again starts a fresh set of hopes, dreams, and fears.
The same world, stares into the eyes of the lone phoenix.
Phoenix, still
young, finds that the sun is no longer appealing.
Its wings, now beating to the song of the moonlight,
Ascends the midnight
sky with winds breezing through.
May the phoenix never feel the burn of the sun again
As I have felt you outshine me time and time over.
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| Back from UVA Young Writers Workshop. Wow, what an experience.
The days were so long with the summer heat always beating down on my back. But the weeks flew by me like stormy winds. There was no escape from it, the dorms weren't air conditioned. We ate all our meals at Observatory Hill (called O-Hill by locals). The food was horrible, but it was 5x better than the stuff I usually have at school. Most of the time I had to walk everywhere with my class, but it was alright.
The things I learned didn't teach me how to write better, but how to be unique with my work. I was lucky to read and hear so many different styles. Each of us took the two weeks to learn off of each other, under the care of a teacher and two counselors. Fiction with Beth! Yes, we call everyone by first names there. Everyone was indeed friendly. Through positive feedback and strong suggestions, my writing style and changed for the better.
Ah, my suite 330. They were the best. So full of energy, love, and most of all, overflowing with fun. My roommates Mickey and Nell, the awesome duo Kayla and Julia, the lovely Maya and Maria, and the brilliant Stephanie and Grace were the people that I lived with. You know, half of the experience is about the people you live with. My counselor Emily is an amazing songwriter; I'll be sure to buy her CD when it comes out. Shopping over the weekend was something I rather enjoyed. We were all supportive though all the rough times, but we always knew how to joke around. Our quote board was FILLED with inside jokes that had me rolling around the floor every time. We even stunk up a Shrine to Johnny Depp (which, wasn't my idea).
Oh, the last day of workshop was depressing.... sort of. I read a piece of my original story (which is going rather well) for the cafe around 9 o'clock at night. After I finished packing around 11:30, all the feelings started to hit me, so I went and played cards with a fellow fiction writer named Bobby. He was cool. His friends and I played cards for a few hours, but his friends got knocked out cold to sleep. So the two of us played more cards for another few hours, telling jokes every so often. And finally we saw the sunrise together, in no romantic way or form. Having a relationship with someone that you've only known for two weeks and doesn't live too close to you? Not worth it. Well, that meant that I didn't sleep for 28 hours straight!
I asked and got statistics: 100 students were accepted out of at least 500 applicants. Those that were accepted came from 30 of the 50 states, including Washington D.C. It was amazing, so see so many writers in one place. Not just any writers though: fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, poetry, mixed genre, and songwriting. So much talent compacted into the campus ground; I was amazed. I was truly blessed to have been accepted.
I am SO going to have to do that again.
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| Whee!!
I dissected a pig yesterday =D It was actually really fun, but the smell ruined the experience a bit. School's coming to a close... right after we get our final exams out of the way. How stressful...
So? What is everyone doing over the summer? There's a birthday party I'm going to on the last day of school (which is Friday June 15). After I come home from my workshop, my cousin's coming to hang out with me for a few weeks. After she goes back to Texas, my family and I are going to the beach. I forgot which one, but we're going for a week. I hope you guys will enjoy your summer too =D
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|  Hm... My mind seems pretty blank these days. I don't remember what actually happened, but I do remember being intensely stressed. I know that a lot of schools are done already, but I just barely started my exams. I've been fighting with my parents a lot more, but that doesn't matter. I'm just looking forward to Saturdays for my kyudo (ceremonial Japanese archery) lessons. I'm also trying to get my learner's permit soon aka within a week. And the UVA workshop has one major down point right now that I see: the dorm doesn't have air conditioning.
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| Dear Future Young Writer,
Yes... "future"! You are in our future!! We are delighted to inform you that you have been selected to participate in Session I of the 26th annual UVA Writers Workshop. We look forward to tapping your creative juices as you, along with other talented peer writers, come together to create a residential artists’ community this summer on the campus of the University of Virginia.
That's right, ACCEPTANCE!
I was so scared. The problem was that I didn't know how they would contact me. Their site said by mail, but their flyer said by email on March 30. So I waited at my computer all day yesterday, and I never got the email. This morning I moped around. But all of a sudden my mom found the email in my inbox this afternoon!
Despite my happiness, I still keep thinking of my grandmother. What would she say to me today? Would she spread the news to all my aunts as quickly as I am telling my friends?
When I was younger, I thought that my grandmother would have lived longer. "Grandma, when I can drive, I'll drive you wherever you want!" "Let's go take a walk during the summer!" "Happy birthday! Stay healthy!" "I'll call you everyday from college!" Those were the things I wanted to say to her... My connection with her is lost from here on out, I'll never see her again, I'll never hear her words of wisdom again; but I know she's still here right beside me, constantly watching.
I did it. Please be proud of me like you've always's been.
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