By: Alina Das The iridescent lights and hundreds of filled seats made my heart beat in a way I had never felt before. As my name was called, I slowly walked onto the empty stage. Using all my gathered confidence…

By: Angel Ramnani The biggest challenge I have faced is knowing that Indian families typically want their first child to be male. My parents conceived a child before me, but my mother aborted because she was afraid it would be a…

By: Angel Ramnani On a typical day of tedious classes and tennis practice, my dad was running late from work. I decided to go to Cerritos library to start on my daily pile of homework, so I wouldn’t have so much…

By: Hannah Yun Thud. Thud. Thud.  The sound echoed throughout the entire library. Thud. Thud. Thud. Eyes immediately shifted from books and study materials to the source of the sudden footsteps. “Look what you did, you ruined them!” She yelled. Feeling…

By: Aruna Subramanian Questions piled up as I hesitated to reply I dodged a few knowing or unknowing. When I embrace the unknowns, The knowns started to leave. Now, my path is filled with some familiar queries and a few new…

By: Aruna Subramanian Leaves that love in excess Of tree, closely cling Of soil, promptly fall Even so, a few dangle in disarray until a storm blasts…  

By: Jacob Chung The mint chocolate chip ice cream carto that was once in the refrigerator is now in the trash The last scoop in my stomach I know you wanted me to share because you asked me for some I’m…

By: Israel Sajini Beneath the faces of Jasper lies some rough clay. Inside the darkest coal we find gold refined. Within each stormy phase, lies a sleeping node. Around every peaceful road, We hear chants of warfare. In every broken villa,…

By Yuan Hongri Translated by Manu Mangattu Ah! Of iridescent gems of time The heavenly road you paved light！ In a kingdom of stars, I found my home. In the golden cities, I opened the gates of the city to the sun,…

Written by Chinese Poet Hongri Yuan Translated by Yuanbing zhang Who is sitting in the heaven and staring at me? Who is sitting in the golden palace of tomorrow? Who is smilling? The golden staff in his hand Flashing the…