Things That Happened to Me in High School That Wouldn't Be Okay for Me to Talk About In High School

After Poetess, Lauren Zuniga.

I AM STARTING A NEW PROJECT!
I spend most of my time on YouTube watching spoken word poetry and a few months ago I came across a poet by the name of Lauren Zuniga. She has a poem, or better yet a short narrative, called, "Things That Happened to Me in High School That Would Not be Appropriate for Me to Talk About In a High School." It is a list of all the things she's been through and how much she had seen and never talked about.

Inspired, I decided to write a suite of poems based off of my high school experience. I think it is crazy how much young people go through, but are never allowed to discuss. Whether it is fear or lack of understanding, I am opening my heart and diving into some of my deepest thoughts. I, of course, want to share some with you.

In continuing this project, I am asking for your support. Send me stories, poems, pictures, paintings, any form you chose to use. Share your high school moments with me. I don't know how this project will continue to unfold, whether it will morph into a book, a collection of short stories, or something that makes us feel a little less alone in this world. Whatever it is, we need it. Peel back your layers with me and let's dive in. You have always been here for me. Now, let me be here for you.


"I spent a summer on scholarship at Point Park University,
dancing Monday through Saturday from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
That entire summer,
I saw the best ballerina eat 6 full meals.
Everything in between was Cheerios and constant bathroom visits.
I caught her head stuffed down the toilet +
begged her to stop.
She said, 'you don't become the best without making sacrifices.'
I contemplated for weeks, but settled on second place and chicken nuggets.

Once a year, we got the call.
It came like clock work.
Another kid had killed themselves.
Somehow, it was always a freshman.
At 15, the world had already convinced them that they were too gay or too sad to live.
My senior year, he wandered into his daddy's closet
and stole the gun hours after homecoming.
From miles away. I swear I heard the bang.
Each year, I'd beat myself up for week wondering why I couldn't save them.
They keep teaching about sticks + stones and how words never break you.
They lied."

-Naturallykbiggie, Things That Happened to Me in High School That Wouldn't Be Okay for Me to Talk About In High School- Part Three + Four