My Mask
by Reese from Weekend Ink: Story Behind the Mask
My mask covers my entire face
And my mask represents toughness
My mask is made of metal
And oh, my mask is covered with fake scars and real blood
My mask is a definition of don’t mess with me
New Year’s
by Simon from Ink Spot
New Years is one of my favorite things to celebrate.
Because I can relax with my new presents that I got from Christmas.
It’s also a day to hang out with my family.
It also might be one of those days when me and my brother don’t fight!
It’s the time with no homework.
If It snows its even better because its time for hot chocolate.
It’s the time for a hot fire after the night.
Me and my friends talk about what presents we have.
At night me and my family watch a movie with snacks.
At 11:59, we watch the ball drop and celebrate by drinking fake champagne and we always say it’s a new start for everyone.
Nature
by Tony from Ink Spot, 5th grade
The sun shines on me
There’s nature all around me
It’s truly beauty.
It is amazing.
Then I see the cars passing,
buildings in the distance.
Then I think about
how we could make it better
And then start again.
My Cleveland
By Zoe B., 5th grade, at Ink Spot
I see Key Bank Tower
so big compared to me,
dirty “orange” traffic cones,
drivers can barely see,
Yellow taxi cabs drive from street to street,
the rusty old coins indenting your feet.
Fancy people leave playhouse square,
the Cleveland Clothing Company,
I know will always be there.
If you drive on an old buick road
it sounds like clickity clack
the flying plastic bags
will always fly right past.
My name is Natalia
By Natalia, written at LEI with with Jovenes en Accion, Cleveland Council on World Affairs
My name is Natalia. I don’t know what the meaning is. My name was given to me just because it is a beautiful name. My name reminds me that I’m really happy because I have the necessary things: a beautiful family and nice friends. I think these things are the best of my life. I love my name.
Age 16.
Toluca, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
School: Plantel Nezahualcoyotl
de la Escuela Preparatorio (UAEMEX)
My name is Cesar
By Cesar, written at LEI with Jovenes en Accion, Cleveland Council on World Affairs
Hi, I’m Cesar. My name means two things. It means I’m a leader, and it means I’m strong. It was given to me by my aunt. It reminds me of a Pizza restaurant and a great roman emperor.
Cesar Eduardo Samaniego Jimenez
Preparatoria Hermanos Flores Magon
Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
I have two names
By Juan Bautista, written at LEI with Jovenes en Accion, Cleveland Council on World Affairs
I have two names which I’m very happy to possess. My two names are Juan Bautista. The first name is very, very (and when I say very, I mean VERY) common in my country. Although it is not a Spanish name, many people think that it is. My second name Bautista makes a great pair with my first name. It is a biblical name. I’m religious, although it doesn’t mean I have to be…Something funny is that some people think that. I don’t have any religiousness, and I think about that. That would be a funny irony. I don’t have much knowledge about why my parents gave me this name. They only told me that it means “the chosen one.” So, I’ve been waiting for someone to tell me that I must save the world or something like that. Really, I like my name. If I only say the first one, it’s common, but if I say both, it’s not something you hear every day, unless you go to church every day, but I like it a lot.
Juan Bautista
Preparatoria Hermanos Flores Magon
Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
My name is Melina
By Melina, written at LEI with Jovenes en Accion, Cleveland Council on World Affairs
My name is Melina, which means something new in every language. In Greek, it means yellow canary. In Russian, it means raspberry. In Italian, it means little apple. For me, though, my name has one meaning. When my mother was carrying me, my father was reading about my anscestors to gather clues about my birth. He found a book called The Other side of the Wall about Jewish resistance to Nazi rule. A “Melina” was a made up word for a safe hiding place. Melinas were places of solidarity and hope.
From Western Massachusetts
My name is Lizeth
By Lizeth, written at LEI with with Jovenes en Accion, Cleveland Council on World Affairs
My name was given to me 16 years ago by my mother and father. It has a beautiful meaning that not many people know. I think that every name has a reason why it is given, and my name is special. Most of the people add a “b” between the z and e. I really love how it sounds. Before I was born, my mom was about to lose me. She prayed all day and night and my dad worked so hard every day. I think God heard their prayers. I was born for a reason. I came for a reason, for a mission, and I will make it. The meaning is “the chosen and loved by God” and that’s why I know that I have to make something with my world, my community, and with my life. If you change the name, you change the meaning, you change my life.
Lizeth
Age 16
Preparatoria Hermanos Flores Magon
Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
My name is Eneida
By Eneida, written at LEI with Jovenes en Accion, Cleveland Council on World Affairs
My name was given to me by my mother. It is the name of a Greek Island. My name reminds me of my mom and grandma, because they decided on my name. Actually, it’s my mom’s name and it was given to her by my grandma because my grandma used to read novels in her free time. She read a book named “La Eneida” and she liked it because it was about pirates in a Greek Island. Sometimes I don’t like my name because people don’t know how to pronounce it. But I still like it because I think it’s an original and not common name. My name reminds me of my mom and grandma and reminds me that I can do everything even if hard times exist in my life.
City: Culiacan, Sindloa Mexico