Individuality

Aoozo bil Allah min al shaitan al rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Alhamdulilah rabbil alameen
Ar Rahman nir Rahim
Maliki Yawmidin
Iyakanabudu wa iyaka nasteen
Idhi nas sirtal mustakeema siratal
Lazemma an amta alayhim
Gharil maghzoobu wa laz zuleen
Ameen

As she pulls out her musullah that resembles opals, it is hard yet comforting against her skin. Her heart beats fast as if she were running before hand.
She remembers those glances, hard and questioning,
She’s been put off to the sideline
As if she were up in the nosebleeds trying to peer down with squinty eyes to get a close up at the action posted down below,
Yet still she doesn’t understand.
She wants the burden to be released off of her shoulders
The feeling like stepping out of a hot shower as the cool airbrushes past her face
The water glistens down her body, and she feels renewed again
Unlike them she is unique, she is independent.

Being independent
That’s what makes me feel special
The fact that
I don’t have to depend on anyone but myself
But they’re there if I need them
It makes this intensifying feeling
This feeling inside twisting and bending
My inner thoughts
My conscious – To this imaginary maze
The feeling of you being pushed
By an invisible force
So you can step up
And share your talents to the world
When you be you
People will 'aaah' like Katy Perry’s fireworks
But my fireworks are blue
The color of the sky
So it can remind me of the endless possibilities
That I can partake in for my educational and personal journey
Being African-American
And Puerto Rican sometimes limits me
But also empowers me
Se que solo soy un para pero soy una chica vale ba pena lluchar por
It empowers me to not be another statistic
Feeling the sense to shine brighter than the sun
That power ignites my soul to the inner core
Making me explode
I am an orchid
In a bush full of weeds

As the smell of sweet candied apple
And white musk fills the room
People turn and stare
As the aroma
Of Egyptian oil captures your nose
It confines you
Not the scent of an ordinary girl
But of a proud Muslimah
Never permitting anyone to
Stray her from her destiny
She stands there in a grey and purple over garment
Concealing her body
As a silk purple hijab shields her head
Protecting her mind
She is far from the usual
She is a wingless butterfly
She may not pray everyday
Or read the Qu’ran as much as she should
But does that maker her a non-believer??
Nobody’s perfect!!
She has her imperfections
Imperfections that make her unique
As unique as a purple orchid
In a flowerbed of white roses

While I’m hearing the qualities that should embody me
Should I conform with society expects of me
Death sentencing my personality
I hang my head down low and walk
With the remaining world shallowly
Creatively dying, screaming in my soul
“Let me live for me”
Say everything that I feel should be said
Like listening to slow ballads about being your self
Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
“You are beautiful
No matter what they say”
Or to pop beats about the same
Who Says – Selena Gomez
“I’m no beauty queen, I’m just beautiful me”
Nanananaananananana

Individuality is what makes us one; it sets us apart from the crowd.
Whether it be the confident rapper or the long haired Heavy metal kid
Individuality reflects exactly who they are.
Some lose themselves to the written word, and are taken to a whole new dimension.
While others create there own digital 3 dimensional planet.
People can create beautifully orchestrated melodies with their bare hands.
But for others it is sufficient to put on a smile and have one million conversations
I am an individual and you are an individual.
Like a bowl of culture blending and forming a vast land of diversity and honor.
We are individuals sharing a common goal.
That is being someone we can feel positive about.
Regardless of our similarities and differences, we are all individuals.






-Roshanna, Brianna P., Olivia, Briannah L & Carlos