Issue 1

FOUNDED IN
ST LUCIE
COUNTY
LIFESTYLE,
ENVIRONMENT,
FASHION, ARTS
AND MORE
FOR TEENS
BY TEENS
P A N D E M O N I U M
C O L L E C T I V E

SEPTEMBER 10.... EDITION NO.1
DESIGN BY TIFFANY VU

ABOUT US
Pandemonium Collective is a magazine that centers
around the motto: For Teens, By Teens. Our editors
come from High Schools in St Lucie County Florida,
but our magazine is for teens everywhere. We focus
on providing a safe space for the community to
become informed on current events, and to tune into
some of their favorite topics. At Pandemonium, we
focus on finding unity within the chaos of society.
Our name is also a fun play on words, as our
magazine was founded throughout the PANdemic.
Today, young voices are rarely given a platform for
their opinions and concerns, we seek to fix this
problem and create a future that transcends through
creativity, individuality, and unity.

The Team
Editor-in-chief: Talia Bock
Fashion Editor: Shannon MacGregor
Arts Editor: Nicole Beltran
Athletic Editor: Sofia Tovar
Academic Editor: Herlanda Marcelin
Environmental Awareness Editor:
Zoe Brooker
Current Events and Political Affairs Editor:
Erica Morman
Graphic Designer: Tiffany Vu
Photo Editor:Talia Bock
Lead Photgrapher: Shannon Macgregor
Photo Shoot Director: Talia Bock
Photo Shoot Director: Shannon Macgregor
Art Director: Talia Bock
Production Manger: Talia Bock
Writer: Talia Bock
Writer: Shannon Macgregor
Writer: Sofia Tovar
Writer: Jennifer Lugo
Writer: Zoe Brooker
Writer: Mya Maybank
Writer: Tiffany Vu
Writer: Brianna Loriston
Writer: Stephanie Ojito
Writer: Herlanda Marcelin
Writer: Brittney Wolfe
Writer: Zach Cooper
Writer: Erica Morman
Social Media Manager: Talia Bock
Website Creator: Talia Bock
1

S T A F F F A V O R I T E S
F A V O R I T E S H O W A N D S O N G
Talia- Nana; Teen Idle- Marina and The
Diamonds
Brittney- Criminal Minds; New Romantics-
Taylor Swift
Herlanda- Teen Wolf; Kiss Me More- Doja Cat
and SZA
Jennifer- Greys Anatomy; Save Your Tears-
The Weeknd
Mya- Survivor; Telepatia-Kali Uchis
Nicole- The Office; Any Daniel Caesar song!
Shadalou- Anne with an E; Brooklyn Baby-
Lana Del Rey
Shannon- Attack on Titan; Self Control-
Frank Ocean
Sofia- Gilmore Girls; Hey There Delilah- Plain
White T's
Tiffany- Akame Ga Kill; Instagram- DEAN
Valeria- The Uncanny Counter; The King-
Conan Gray
Zach- Greys Anatomy; Experience- Ludovico
Einaudi
Zoe- Hells Kitchen; The Author- Luz
Erica- The Bachelor Franchise; Just Like
Magic- Ariana Grande
Brianna- Euphoria; Fire Drill- Melanie
Martinez
2

3
50 THINGS TO DO
AFTER THE
PANDEMIC
Tea Party With Friends
Have Your Own Photoshoot
Go To an Escape Room
Go to a Theme Park
Shopping Spree
Movie Marathon and Sleepover
with Friends
Baking With Friends
Go Thrifting!
Save up Money for a Cheap
Cruise!
Cupcake Wars with Friends
Make Jewelry
Go to a Concert
Picnic With Friends
Beach Day
Rent a Yacht for the day
Go to a Luxury Movie Theater
Spa Day
Go get a Psychic Reading!
Go Luxury Consignment
Shopping
Have a Garage Sale
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Make Clay Crafts
Road Trip
Go to a Art Museum
Camping or Backyard Campout
See a Musical
See a Sports game
Paint Flower Pots
Support Local Businesses for
the whole day (Food and All)
Make Scratched art
Support a Local Garden
Go Roller-Skating
DIY your own Tote Bags
Go To a SplatterBox near
you
Host a Winter Party
Stay at a Hotel with Friends
Go Fruit Picking
Star Gazing
Game Night
Go To The Selfie Museum
Go Indoor Skydiving
Go to a Pool Party
Go to a Fair
Go to a Fancy Dinner
Go to The Springs
Go to Halloween Horror
Nights
Go Book Shopping
Go to the Sugar Factory
Check out the Wynwood
Walls
Go to an Aquarium

As we continue to pollute our planet, we are
not only sickening Mother Earth, we are
poisoning ourselves. We are destroying our
rivers, depleting our resources, and
contaminating our air supply. We aren’t just
killing the planet, we are killing ourselves.
SUSTAINABILITY
Adopt new ways of living. Think about your
output and its effects on the environment,
before there is nothing left to affect.
4

SUSTAINABILITY IN
FASHION
It's always exciting to go shopping and find new clothes you love that allow you to express
yourself, but have you ever thought about how making some changes to your shopping
could benefit the environment ? Sustainable fashion is a movement geared towards creating
a system of consumption in the fashion market which is more ethical and beneficial to the
environment. Rashmila Maiti reports in her article “Fast Fashion: Its Detrimental Effect on
the Environment” that “According to Business Insider, fashion production comprises 10% of
total global carbon emissions, as much as the European Union. It dries up water sources and
pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year. Even washing
clothes releases 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year, the equivalent of 50
billion plastic bottles.” In addition to what was stated in the previous quote, fast fashion,
which refers to clothing that is rapidly mass-produced by manufacturers and retailers in
hopes of selling large quantities in a short time frame , has many other drawbacks
environmentally and socially. Environmental issues stem from the amount of water, energy,
and chemicals used in production; the large amount of waste expended from the process
results in an alarming amount of pollution. Fast fashion is often produced in environments
where the workers are not only put in dangerous situations but also severely underpaid. A
2018 U.S. Department of Labor report, found evidence of forced labor and child
exploitation throughout the fashion industry in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India,
Indonesia, Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam and other countries. Also, According to non-profit
Remake, 80% of apparel is made by young women between the ages of 18 and 24.
There are many ways that you can shop sustainably in order to build your closet without
having to worry about the negative effects of fast fashion.
Shopping second hand is a great and increasingly popular way to shop sustainably. There
are many unique pieces that can be found throughout thrift and consignment shops.
Thrifting also allows you to have fun with your shopping, finding things you never would
have thought to look for, and in turn presenting you with some surprising finds. There are
many local thrift stores as well as chain stores such as Goodwill, Plato’s Closet and Salvation
Army which are all great places to thrift at. (Article continued on next page)
P A G E 8 T H E S T Y L E S E C T I O N

A S H I O N
ARTICLE CONTINUED...
F
If going to a thrift store isn’t convenient or you’re not finding
what you’re looking for, don’t worry there’s still other sustainable
options. There are many online websites and apps which serve as
a sort of virtual thrift store allowing you to look at second hand
clothes being sold from a variety of sellers. This makes it super
simple to find exactly the type of item you’re looking for by just
searching a brief description of it and looking through the results.
Some of these sites include Depop, Poshmark, Thred up and
Vinted.
There are also many companies which have made efforts to
produce more ethical and environmentally conscious products.
Some companies include Ralph Lauren, Reformation, Patagonia,
Levis, Boden, Pact and Fair Trade Winds. These companies, as well
as many others which aim to be ethical and eco-friendly in their
manufacturing, are great places to get new clothes from while still
shopping sustainably.
Now that we’ve discussed sustainable options that are available, I
encourage you to give them a try. Sustainable shopping is a great
way to find clothes which help you express yourself, without the
negative consequences of fast fashion. That all being said we
have all shopped fast fashion before and it can be extremely hard
to find everything sustainably, as long as you are conscious of the
impacts of fast fashion and make an effort to reduce your
consumption, you are helping to improve the world and fight the
negative effects caused by fast fashion .
References:
https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-theenvironment/
https://www.greenbiz.com/article/numbers-economic-social-andenvironmental-impacts-fast-fashion
ARTICLE BY SHANNON MACGREGOR
PHOTO BY LUX STUDIO
PHOTOGRAPHY
8

ARTICLE BY TALIA BOCK
Fashion was never intended to fit an exact form; it is a piece
of art. Society utilizes fashion as a form of nonverbal
communication, in which people can transcend through their
choice of clothing. The power of choice in what we wear
allows individuals to create a projection of who they are or
who they want to be. Everyone has the power to join into
this conversation. Just like in every other conversation,
people should have the freedom to speak how they wish.
Clothing does not have a gender. Clothing does belong to
any singular person. Clothing can be worn by anyone who
desires to wear it. In this form of self-expression, nobody
should be subjected to dress a certain way, just in the hopes
of pleasing others. People tell each other to be who they
want to be, but these same people are the first to speak out
against a man wearing a dress or a woman wearing a pair of
loafers. People seek to destroy what they find odd or
different, but this is damaging not just to the individual but
to society as a whole. The age of the white picket fence is
over, change is coming. Fashion is an expression of emotion.
This expression of individuality needs to be cherished not
ridiculed.
Each piece is cultivated by a pair of diverse hands. The
creator and the creation tell a story. By allowing consumers
to purchase their items, creators are in turn inviting others
to listen to their story, and to create a new one. There are no
limits to how fashion can be worn, or who can wear it. It is
and was always intended to be put on a diverse set of bodies.
What one chooses to put on their own body, is their own
choice. This choice, so important to them, has absolutely
nothing to do with you. Nobody should feel as if they have to
dress to conform to society, or to please others. It isn’t
anybody’s responsibility to dress for you; therefore, it isn’t
your responsibility to express judgement.
Nobody is meant to be the same. Nobody is meant to like
the exact same things. Nobody is meant to wear the same
exact things, for this would defeat the purpose of
individuality. What is your wrong, is another person’s right.
What you hate, another person loves. This clashing, this
variety, is perfectly healthy, for it creates a diverse society.
This statement holds true, unless this variety turns into hate.
Just because someone is different than you, does not mean
they are wrong. Breaking outside of the box should never be
a wrong thing.
We can use this form of art as a way to learn about each other.
Sometimes taking the time to enter something with an open
mind allows for a whole new outlook on things. Sitting back
and perceiving can often be more beneficial than immediate
commentary. There is much to learn from reflecting on the
output of others, as opposed to instantly judging it. In
reflection, comes understanding, and often acceptance. Rather
than shutting out any idea that isn’t your own, try
understanding the choices of others.
Diversity itself isn’t a new thing, its just a unique thing; it’s a
universal idea that has forever existed, but it is just now being
championed. It is not necessarily meant to be a statement, its
meant to create acceptance and to embrace individuality.
Wearing something outside of one’s “gender norm”, isn’t weird
or wrong, its’ just different and the world hasn’t come to fully
accept that yet, hence why we as a society cannot stop fighting
for equality in every possible sense. People have striven to fit a
certain image, because for so long fashion was only considered
acceptable if it was “normal”. Yet, even now, nobody really
knows what normal is. This word has so much potential to
adapt and change as the developing world begins to evolve.
Normal can be diverse, and diverse can be normal. People can
begin to embrace what makes them, them.
If you think a dress is beautiful, then why is it that it becomes
less beautiful to you when its on a man? Where does the dress
suddenly become ugly?
P A G E 9 T H E S T Y L E S E C T I O N

W H E N L I F E G I V E S
Y O U L E M O N S . . .
10
M A K E L E M O N A D E
Model: Kamryn Larmon
Photo: Lux Studio Photgraphy

ARTICLE
CONTINUED
Trying to fit the unrealistic standards we see in
celebrities, online, or out in public can be exhausting and
is utterly pointless because everyone is different.
Embracing our differences is what makes us unique, and
diversity is how we grow together. Sadly, many kids,
teenagers, and even adults struggle with anxiety,
depression, and body dysmorphia that stems from
wanting to fit in and countless time is wasted on
overthinking. Living in fear is, in my opinion, the number
one way that we collectively take time for granted. Hours
on top of hours are wasted looking in the mirror and
hating what we see because we’re not this hourglass
shape, making us afraid to go out and enjoy ourselves.
We routinely judge ourselves every single day, and we
forget who we actually are in pursuit of this desire to be
liked, when it should be the other way around. Shouldn’t
we want to attract people who connect with our real
selves instead of attracting people based on false
personas? This way, wouldn’t we truly explore being
happy instead of pretending to be happy? We shouldn’t
waste time on thinking negatively about ourselves,
because we subconsciously convince our brains we’re
not good enough, which could be detrimental to both
physical and mental health. Instead, our time could be
used on self-improvement and regulation, keeping in
mind that reality is very different than what we see in
other people.
There are two types of people when it comes to
outlooks on life - cycle people and straight-line
people. Someone who thinks in cycles is
someone who believes that every day they
wake up is another day like the last, a day that
follows a routine that is on a never-ending loop.
This person sees New Years as a day to mark
the start of a new cycle, one that is similar to
the last, and one that will be on repeat for the
rest of life. Someone who thinks in a straight
line doesn’t wait for a new cycle to start. They
think, ‘why waste time waiting when I could
act now? The past is in the past, and it’s up to
me to determine how my future will look.
There’s no going back, only going forward.’ We
need to stop thinking of life as a series of cycles
and start thinking of it as a straight line. Every
second that passes is a second closer to the
end of the road, and no one wants to look back
at their life and think they didn’t make the
most of it. So, make the most of it. Take every
opportunity that comes your way, because who
knows when the opportunity won’t be there
anymore. Don’t let fear of rejection or feeling
out of place stop you from trying new things -
after all, trying new things causes time to
seemingly go by slower.
“EMBRACING OUR
DIFFERENCES IS
WHAT MAKES US
UNIQUE”
13

GETTING OUT OF THE
QUARANTINE SLUMP
Deep clean your room!!!
The cleanliness of our space plays a crucial role in shaping our mental space and motivation. I for one can say that when my
room is messy, it’s harder to focus on anything else. As the saying goes, “clean space = clean mind”. This may not be true for
everyone as mental health definitely plays a role in motivation to clean, but deep cleaning can be done step by step! First, try
taking all of the water bottles out of your room, then the next day you can put your laundry away. If you’re up for it, try to
knock out all of your cleaning in a week. Rearrange your closets, clean your desk area and reorganize it, go through your
drawers and refold your clothes. I promise you can do it!
Redecorate
Decorating can really change the vibe of a room. Personally, before quarantine, I didn’t have a specific color scheme or vibe
that I was going for, but when I realized I was the queen of pink, I made sure to make my environment match my desire. Get
colored curtains, drench your room in plants, find a beautiful lamp! Elevate your space to make it into a place you love to be.
If your room is dim, lights are definitely a must buy to brighten the mood and fill the room with energy. If you feel that your
room is stale, you could add some little trinkets and candles. Really just sense what you feel may be missing and fill that
space with something that you think belongs.
Make a routine
Creating daily rituals that you generally follow help establish healthy habits and discipline in your life. It does not
necessarily need to be strict, unless you’d like it to be, but just little things like waking up, washing your face, brushing your
teeth, and drinking some lemon water can make a monumental difference in establishing a mood of self-care and
productivity for the day. Do not become too intense if you decide to make schedules., if you easily become dejected by not
completing all of your tasks for a day in a timely fashion, I recommend that you establish only one or two manageable goals
for the day without time restrictions and give yourself space to not always complete your goals. Make sure you don’t punish
or stress yourself as a result. I used to fall into the loop of toxic productivity, but it really is not that deep. Set goals by
priority, but make sure that you do not neglect your self-care or wellbeing in the process. (Article Continued On Next Page)
A R T I C L E B Y E R I C A M O R M A N
1 4

Prioritize self-care
Self-care is such an important step to feeling rejuvenated! I cannot stress this enough~ do things for yourself that make you feel good. If
you enjoy putting on a facemask while drinking cranberry juice in a wine glass and watching the Bachelorette, you should be putting aside
the time to do so! If your self-care includes something as minimal as trimming your nails or as extravagant as a 14-step skin care routine,
you need to make time to take care of yourself and do those tasks. Personally, I have set dates and times that I routinely conduct self-care.
And yes, I do have my salicylic face mask day on Mondays at 8 during the Bachelorette! Think about small changes , like switching your
classic pasta for spinach or chickpea pasta, adding spinach into your smoothies, or eating sandwiches with wheat bread; This will all help
effortlessly add more protein and fiber into your diet without the hassle of entirely changing your eating habits. You do NOT need to cut
out fun foods that you enjoy, like cake, just eat it and enjoy yourself, but make conscious decisions to add nutritious value to your meals.
Also, do not take working out as a cheat code to “working off” what you eat. Fitness should be purely for cardiovascular health, muscular
health, etc. You should try not to be ashamed of nourishing your body or indulging in your food desires. One educational YouTube
channel that I recently discovered that discusses relationships to food is by Nutritionist Abby Sharp. I definitely recommend checking out
her content, which focuses on maintaining a healthy relationship with food and denouncing diet culture. She brings a great perspective
that I believe many need to hear!
Try new recipes
Adjacent to the topic of maintaining healthy eating habits, changing up the regular menu can be a fun way to spice up your diet. Do not
feel obligated to jump in headfirst with Vegan Golden Lentil Dal with Cilantro Speckled Basmati. Trying simple recipes, even if they are not
super healthy, can still be a very enjoyable experience that makes the highlight of your day. Try to step a little bit out of your comfort zone
when it comes to foods! Set aside the time to plan the meal you want to try and just jump right into it!
Go outside
This one should be self-explanatory, but sometimes, we just need to go outside and touch some grass. You could go on a walk or a bike ride
through your neighborhood and just let the sunlight bathe you. If you don’t necessarily love being outside, just a few minutes a day to go
pick up the mail or sit on the porch or driveway will hopefully give you the vitamin D that you need to keep going. However, for my nature
lovers out there, find activities that you can enjoy outside, like homework or arts and crafts. Try to find a place you enjoy going that you
find beautiful and that energizes you!
Tap into your creative side
If you’re a person that enjoys the arts, make sure that you hone your skills. Paint a tree, draw an animal, write a song, make a play, do
something that will stimulate your interests and make you feel good! I feel like many people lost themselves from the motions of life, but
now is the time, more than ever , to reinvigorate your creative interests. Make a fanfic. Write poetry. Make jewelry. I will say it again, make
time for things that you enjoy in your life. There is nothing worse than realizing that you’ve been wasting your time doing things that don’t
bring you happiness.
Find new hobbies or get deeper into old hobbies
Reacquainting yourself with things that used to interest you is a great way to reconnect with yourself and things that bring you joy. But if
you’re anything like me, you never established solid hobbies and now is a great time for self-discovery. Personally, I have come to enjoy
journaling, researching, cooking, and trying out new self-care tips. You can always learn your niche through experimentation. Try new
things, but if you don’t like something, don’t force yourself into it. There are more things to try and eventually you will discover your thing,
whether it be crocheting or video games or something more active like yoga. Being open can lead to great outcomes!!
Switch up your style!
I’m not going to say that clothing makes a person, however clothing does have a significant influence on our confidence and how we
present ourselves. Style choice is entirely up to you, whether you chose to go with a boho vibe or a goth aesthetic should not be influenced
by anyone else! Wear what makes you feel your best, be confident in your appearance, and do it for yourself. Dress up to get the mail or go
to the grocery store. Being self-conscious is not an option! The only thing you’ll feel if you didn’t wear what you wanted to is regret, so I say
JUST DO IT!
Schedule video calls with friends
Socialization is very important in keeping your mental health intact during times of isolation. Even introverts need time to be social with
others. One thing that I know I had an issue with during quarantine is that I stopped talking to my friends, which really led to loneliness
when I actually wanted to talk to others. Reconnect with friends!! Do not feel ashamed to send a text after not talking for a while. You can
also schedule video calls on Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, etc. and do fun activities. Technology is such a useful tool for doing anything under
the sun, but you can always get creative with the things that you do while hanging out. You can talk, play games, watch movies, or even
work out with friends!!
Research things that interest you
As I said, one of my hobbies that I would like to share is researching. I don’t necessarily mean deep dives into the cause of World War 2
(unless you like that stuff). But researching for things that you may want to do in the future is always a fun experience for discovery.
Personally, I like to get into things like colleges, careers, and big purchases (cars and houses). You may be more interested in researching
for the Italy trip you may want to take or even the business you may want to build. Finding time to create a vision for your life may help
you create insight on who you want to be and that’s what I truly love about researching. You don’t necessarily need to do it on yourself, like
I said, a deep dive into a historical topic may be a thing that brings you excitement and of course you should indulge in that! But finding
something that interests you and you would like to know more about is key to this experience. ( Article Continued On Next Page)
15

Take steps towards your long- and short-term goals
It may seem like life is on pause from being in the house constantly, but in reality, you can still
move towards your goals, whether it be through planning or executing plans, there are resources
to move you towards those goals. Let’s say your goal is to get onto the soccer team, although you
may not be able to practice, you can go on a run each morning to build endurance and train your
body. Achieving academic goals may be your struggle, but there are ways to make sure that your
brain is not on pause during quarantine. I know… It is very hard to maintain motivation without
that simulation that we get in school, but by making dedicated study blocks in your day where you
turn off your notifications and get into a study mode, you can inch your way towards your
educational goals! Short term goals snowball into long term ones and breaking them down into
pieces will make it significantly less stressful.
Make self-improvement a habit
Self-improvement is important in order to keep yourself from feeling stagnant. Teenagers are
constantly changing, up to adulthood and learning skills along the way, but it can be easy to get
into the loop of going with the motions without furthering your potential. Reaching goals is not
necessarily a marker of self-improvement. Self-improvement could be something as simple as
doing your laundry regularly or reading for twenty minutes a day before bed. You do not need to
constantly be stressing yourself to meet expectations and surpass them every time, but you do
need to be doing the best you can do for that day. Even if you do slack off, try not to feel
completely demotivated by taking time to rest. Doing little things over time and building habits
can lead to a tremendous difference that can ultimately lead to a refined version of you, which
should be the long-term goal.
16

I N T E R V I E W W I T H
E D E N J A M E S
T R E A S U R E C O A S T S T A R A T H L E T E
1)Can you please take a minute to tell us
about yourself and your goals for the
future?
Hi, my name is Eden. I’m 17 years old and
I attend Treasure Coast High School. I
play football and have been playing it
since I was about three or four years old.
Eventually, I aspire to play the game at
the professional level… in the NFL. My
favorite colors are hues of brown, black
and blue. In my spare time I like to read,
workout and watch TV. For this season, I
hope to run 1500 yards, 20 touchdowns,
and lead my team to the state
championship. I would also like to earn
some more Division I scholarships.
4)How has the pandemic altered your views on how you go about your game and
life in general?
The pandemic has changed my views on how I go about my game and life in general as
it has given me a lot of time to reflect. Game-Wise, it has taught me to value football
more. I learned to cherish it for as long as it will last since you can’t play it forever.
This appreciation led me to take more pride in my game and it encouraged me to
maximize my work ethic; the pandemic really allowed me to fully take advantage of
my potential. Life wise, it has taught me to value everything more. I’ve learned to not
only value my own life, but also the people who are in it, as you never know when
time will be taken away from you. Also, the pandemic has taught me not to waste my
time on trivial things, and to devote my energy towards becoming the best person
that I can be.
5)What has been the best part of this past year, as far as your athletic journey goes?
The best part of this past year, as far as my athletic journey goes, is that I’ve been able
to receive multiple Division I scholarship offers to play football at the collegiate level.
I was also able to contribute in helping my team win districts and achieve its first
undefeated season!
2)How has the Pandemic impacted you
throughout your training?
The Pandemic actually gave me the
opportunity to maximize on my training.
The facilities where I worked out,
allowed me to train as if the Pandemic
didn’t exist. This was great for me as I
didn’t have to worry about distractions
which ultimately led to be being able to
maximize my training.
3)How were you able to overcome the
struggles of the pandemic to work
towards your goals?
I was able to overcome the struggles of
the Pandemic to work towards my goals
by mitigating as many distractions as
possible and by focusing on myself more.
1 7

MY TOP FOUR BOOK
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR THE MONTH OF
SEPTEMBER
A R T I C L E B Y S T E P H A N I E O J I T O
A Deadly Education(Naomi Novik)- Harry potter's evil twin. This
wonderful book is more than just any magic school with kids, it
features cursed artifacts, a mandatory 4 year enrollment, if you can
survive it, and a sarcastic female protagonist who can “level
mountains and kill untold millions.” El, our protagonist is a half-
Indian half-Welsh living in the scholomance, a magic school
designed to protect young wizards from being hunted in their
homes by monsters who sense their growing magic. As the years
pass and the dangers of the school become more threatening, El
begins to build a relationship with the savior of the scholomance,
Orion Lake, against her own wishes. The story takes off from there
with near death experiences every other page and major character
development.
Throne of Glass(Sarah J Mass)- A legendary assassin is called for
the king. Celaena Sardothien is Adarlans Assassin, a legendary killer
and the right hand woman of the King of the Assassins. At least she
used to be before she got shipped off to a slave camp by the same
man who raised her. A year later, the prince of the kingdom comes
to claim her as his champion and takes her to the castle. Now she
must compete among 23 killers, each of who are champions to
some noble from the kingdom, in hopes of gaining her freedom in
exchange for service to the king. Meanwhile, she becomes friends
with a princess from a far away land and becomes intertwined
with the dark forces looming beneath the castle as each of her
competitors are killed one by one. The race for freedom now
becomes a race for survival.
In Five Years(Rebecca Serle)- The romance book that isn't a Persuasion(Jane Austen)- The blueprint for second chance
romance book. In five years is a story about Dannie Kohan, a woman romance. Persuasion is another of Jane Austen's classics that never
who doesn't like change and goes through life with a planner in fails to impress. Anne Elliot, our protagonist, broke off her
hand. Her best friend Bella, is the complete opposite, she's wild and engagement to Frederick Wentworth eight years ago due to her
carefree and doesn't seem to understand Dannies need for rules trusted friend's advice since the man had no prospects and plenty
and guidelines. The night of Dannies engagement she falls asleep of self confidence. Now that he returns from the Napoleonic wars
and spends an hour 5 years into the future in a bed with a different with wealth and a title, Captain Frederick Wentworth is looking for
man, in a different house, and with a different ring on her finger. a wife. Anne must endure his conquests with Mary, her sister,
When she wakes at midnight, in the present, she can't seem to sisters-in-law. As they begin to see each other frequently, the
shake the dream. Fast forward 5 years and it all starts to unravel. “In tension between them rises and Captain Wentworth begins to
five years is an unforgettable love story, but it is not the one you are glance in her direction once more.
expecting.”
18

When opening a book, a reader is confronted with an entirely new story. The
experiences and lessons relayed, only within the confines of the pages, act as a
safe space for children all over the world. Books not only serve in educating our
future generations, but they also provide an escape from the harsh realities of
everyday life. Yet not every child has been granted access to this opportunity.
Among St Lucie County, there are children who have been unable to have a book
to call their own due to financial obstacles. The Pandemonium Team came
together to start a book drive in hopes of collecting enough material to give back to
children who were unable to experience the joy of buying their own book. In less
than a month, Pandemonium Collective collected over 2000 books.
Thank you To St. Lucie Reads, Children Services Council, L.A.
Vinas Plastic Surgery, Massimos Pizza and Pasta, St Lucie
Ballet, Escape Room PSL, and Loxahatchee River District for
helping us carry out this vision.
19

M A K E Y O U R S E N I O R Y E A R S W E E T
Model: Erica Morman
Photo: Lux Studio Photography
W I T H T H E S E
S W E E T
S C H O L A R S H I P S
NEXT PAGE
23

Voice of Democracy Competition
Create a Greeting Card Scholarship
Coca-Cola Scholar Program
Molly Turner Broadcast Scholarship
Technology Addiction Awareness
Scholarship
Imagine Dragons Origin Scholarship
Superpower Scholarship
Elks Most Valuable Student
Scholarship
Ron Brown Scholarship Program
“I Matter” Scholarship

CONTINUED
My style of bullet journaling changes as my
life changes. It should reflect that. There
isn’t a set way to do it and that’s why a lot of
people keep one. My busier days may
consist of a schedule, while easier ones
with a 5-point list. I might even choose to
stick to an end-of-day reflection when I
don’t have time. Journaling isn’t always
organized and sometimes I end up with
notes from psychology in them. And a lot of
the time, it’s not even pretty. They stain. My
pen wobbles, so my lines aren’t straight.
People miss a few days. I’ve missed a
month- or two. Big deal! Who cares!
Because MY bullet journal is a reflection of
my voice, my growth, my development as a
person!
Forgetting this makes journaling an
undeniable burden. I’ve been there. See,
the base of a bullet journal isn’t stationery. I
sound like a hypocrite, I know. Truth is, all
you need is paper and a pen (or pencil).
Everything else that ends up on the page
should be a simplified version of your life.
That sounds heavy, but it’s true. It’s a
journey. All you have to do is connect the
dots
27
ARTICLE

ANONYMOUS STUDENT COMMENTS AMONG ST. LUCIE COUNTY
“Lack of organization and communication is a big issue. Nobody ever has any
idea what is going on, until it happens; this is extremely frustrating when
you’re a student who is constantly striving to find the best opportunities.”
“There is a constant lack of appreciation for high achieving students. The
top ten ceremony at my school was messed up. When the administration was
advised they did nothing. When you’ve worked four hard years to get to a
specific point, this becomes extremely frustrating.”
“There is a lack of attention for any sports other than football.”
“Guidance Counselors never seem to have the best interest of the student.”
“Premier athletes in sports such as swimming or track are never applauded
or featured.”
“When it comes to testing, there is no organization. Last year, testing
schedules weren’t posted until the night before.”
“Lack of education about the opportunities that are available to us, or how
to access them. There is no information about FLVS, Bright Futures, AICE,
HONORS, or scholarships…. This is all research that we are forced to on our
own, with no assistance.”
"Misinformation is constantly being presented by guidance counselors. They
don’t know what they are doing, and in turn damaging the success of
students.”
30

“Its all about fending for ourselves. There’s nobody there to help us do better.
There’s no guidance anywhere.”
“School has become more of a superficial contest rather than a place where
people learn about the things they love… at least that’s how it is in St Lucie
County.”
“The school always seems to value what they can gain from a student rather than
the student themselves.”
“Money, money, money…. That’s what they are all about.”
“Parking should be free!”
“Schools are quick to forget that they are here for us, we are not here for them.”
“School spirit is severely lacking; this is largely due to administration not
supporting or approving student organizations.”
“Lack of information given to rising seniors.”
“No scholarship opportunities are ever discussed.”
“The guidance for applying to colleges is not there for St Lucie County. They leave
it up to the students to research and figure everything out, but most of us don’t
even know where to start.”
“Guidance counselors make it so difficult to change classes.”
“Students are often put in classes that has nothing to do with their own interests.
When students try to address this problem, administration couldn’t care less.”
“With the exception of few staff members, everyone is just there for the check.”
“There is a lack of student support.”
31

"USE WHAT YOU KNOW TO CREATE WHAT
YOU DON'T "
Quote by Talia
Bock
32

THORNS... CHAPTER 1
An excerpt of an upcoming novel centered
around the ideals of self identity and purpose
amidst a complicated relationship.
WRITTEN BY TALIA BOCK
33

My favorite memory of us, happened when we were only five. We sat squished together in the corner of your ripped up leather
couch, the one that you guys just recently moved to the den, and watched what was our favorite cartoon on your living room
TV. I remember the little boy in the show carrying the little girl home from the park because she was “too weak”. Even at the
young age of five, I knew I didn’t like the comment, but I stayed silent because I didn’t want to upset you, but you surprised
me. I remember your face growing red, and full of anger as you stood up off the couch, yelling at the TV because “girls weren’t
weak”, you told me I wasn’t weak. I joined you in your session of yelling, as we screamed at the boy in the show, yelling at him
to be nice to girls because they could be even stronger than men if they wanted to. I remember your mom walking into the
room and chuckling as we told her that we refused to watch the show ever again. From that day forward, I knew I wanted you
by my side. At first, I just wanted to be your best friend, but over time I realized I wanted to be something more to you.
I continued to stare at the back of your head, gazing at your shaggy black hair, replaying the memories of us in my own
head, as the math lesson in front of us started to fall further and further out of focus. The sweet vanilla scent of your leather
jacket you had laid on me, simply because I had whined that I was cold, seemed to wrap tightly around my shoulders and
cling to me as the image of your green eyes and your sly smirk stood forever imprinted in my mind. I began wondering if I
would ever forget all the little details about you. Would I one day forget the scar behind your ear, or the freckle on your left
arm? Or would our memories together be the first to go? Would I one day forget the day we searched for hours on end when
you lost your cat at the park, or would I forget the time we got stuck at the little hotel in Maine with your mom when we got
snowed in? I smiled to myself finding the answer to my question. I would never be able to forget you, even if I tried.
I wondered if you felt the same way about me. I knew I meant something to you, you always told me you loved me, but
was it only as a friend? Did you think of me as a sister? Would there ever come a day where you would make me yours, or
would you let me grow old with someone else?
The bell must have sounded somewhere between my thoughts, as I felt your large, calloused hands tugging on my sleeve
letting me know it was time to leave. Your scent was overwhelming as you stood over me, I had spent almost everyday of my
life with you, but everyday I felt more nervous. My hand went to reach down to grab my bag under my desk, when your hand
grasped my wrist.
“ I already got it.” I looked up to see that sly smirk on your face, and my tote bag hanging off your shoulder.
“ Thanks” I mumbled. I always appreciated when you carried my bags for me, but I liked doing it myself. I didn’t want to be
the little girl who needed to be carried home from the park.
You tilted your head, chuckling as if you could read everything about me.
“Daydreaming about me again?” Your hand brushed through your hair as you tried to tease me. You had always found joy
teasing me to the point where, I would lightly smack your shoulder and beg you to stop, until salty tears of laughter began to
fall onto our cheeks. Yet, you didn’t know your comment held truth. A part of me wanted to spill out all my feelings, but I
didn’t. What would you do If I told you the truth, would you leave me? I didn’t want to find out.
“Shutup Max!” I still plastered that same quirky smile on my face, that I did when we were kids. I still loved joking with you, I
still loved being with you, the only difference now, was that I realized, I loved you.
You ignored my comment shaking your head, as if you had just won something, as you began walking out the door. Your
footsteps were quiet, most people wouldn’t have been able to sense your presence, but I had become accustomed to it. It was
like listening to drizzling rain, it was light and faint, but if you knew it was there, you could always hear it. That’s exactly how it
was with you, I could always sense your presence, and so I could always hear your footsteps.
You didn’t call out to me, you knew I’d eventually get up and follow you, I always did. I always thought, maybe there’d come a
day where I’d stay sitting in the little school chair and surprise you, forcing you to come back and get me, but I never did. I was
always too scared that you’d keep walking.
Your strides were longer than mine, already halfway out the school by the time I had gotten out of the chair. I always had to
run through the halls to catch up with you, I constantly begged you to just wait for me, but every time your response was the
same. You’d chuckle as you roughed up my hair and say, “No way am I waiting”. So, everyday I’d run to you. My high tops
would screech against the floor, as my tiny hands tightly held down the sides of my pleated skirt to make sure it wouldn’t
catch wind and fly up.
By the time I reached you, we were always outside, and the cool wind would calm whatever sweat had managed to break in
the midst of me running.

My whole life, I was always running after you, but unlike most other situations, there was a stop. You were always there at
the end of the finish line.
“Moms cooking tonight, you’re staying for dinner, right?” You kept looking out to the sky as you talked to me, it was odd.
Your tone was warm, but the conversation felt cold. You had always said that the eyes were the key to the soul, and that
eye contact was the only way to have a proper conversation. Having started the pattern at such a young age, it never once
seemed awkward to me, but this did. This gap, this isolation, what was it? it was just a simple conversation, but you felt so
distant.
“Um yeah, I usually do. Did you not want me to stay tonight?”
This time you turned to me, your green eyes meeting my hazel ones. Your hand reached for the back of your head,
forming a sort of v shape in the gap between your elbow; the position was so awkward, yet you tried making it seem like
you were relaxed, as you plastered that small smile on your face.
“Of course, I want you to stay, I was just making sure. Are you feeling okay today?”
I was feeling fine today. You were the one acting strange. I hadn’t felt this barrier between us since the sixth grade when I
had won the annual school race, and you had told all the boys in the grade that I was the fastest person you knew, but I
had thought you said that I was the “fattest” person you knew and refused to talk to you for two weeks.
“I’m fine Max, lets just get to your house.”
The rest of the walk was in silence. You continued looking ahead, only glancing back at me when you thought I wasn’t
looking. It didn’t feel like we were walking to your house together, it felt like you were walking away from me. A burning
sensation began growing in my throat. I couldn’t explain the feeling, it was painful and agonizing, but it was gone just as
quickly as it had appeared and I ignored it.
When we walked into your house, your mom was already cooking dinner. She said she needed to start now, otherwise it
wouldn’t be ready in time. The house was already beginning to fill with warm spices. It only took the savory scent of
oregano to know your mom was making her special meal. I smiled to myself knowing I was welcomed here.
“His jacket looks good on you Cel” I think your mom had always considered me her own child, but I hoped one day I really
would be. I hoped you would make me yours, and I could call her my own mom too.
“Thanks Rose” I shot her a cheeky smile before looking over to see your reaction, but you were already walking up to your
room. Your footsteps seemed slightly different, foreign, they seemed too loud to be yours. As the distance grew further
and further between us, the burning feeling in my throat started to return. It was as if thorns were pricking their way
through me. I didn’t know this feeling. What was it? Was I going to cry? Is this what you leaving me feels like?
I could hear your squeaky door, and picture your hands grasping the brass knob before tossing both of our bags to the
side of your room, but then, I heard the door shut. You had closed it on me, there was another barrier between us. As the
hinges on your door squeaked upon closing, all the built-up air in my throat seemed to push its way out into a wicked
cough. My body started to hunch over as my hands reached to cling at the burning sensation inside of me. I could feel
your moms eyes on me, alarmed and ready to help, but then it all stopped.
“Celeste are you okay?” Her face reflected genuine worry, but I didn’t need help. I refused to need help.
“Yeah I’m fine, really. It’s really just a cough.” I really was fine, I needed to be fine. I couldn’t tell her I was coughing because
of you. I couldn’t even tell myself I was coughing because of you, I couldn’t understand it. I needed to be able to carry
myself, I couldn’t depend on you to be there all the time, but I wanted to. I wanted to be able to lean on your shoulder for
everything.
Your mom’s reply never came, but I could feel her eyes gazing into my back as I lightly trekked up the stairs to your room.
I placed my own hand on the brass door handle, the same way I imagined you would, and I opened the door. I broke
down the barrier between us. Things were normal now, right?
35

36
I stood in your door frame taking in the scent of you, waiting for you to look at me, to smile at me, to do something,
but your eyes stayed glued to the TV. You wouldn’t look at me, so again, I ran to you. I walked over to your bed,
plopping onto the space next to you where your white comforters were bunched in a pile, that smelt the same as
your leather jacket, the same as you.
“ You have homework today?” Again, you didn’t look at me as you asked the question. Was I suddenly not enough
for you?
I shook my head yes, not knowing what else to say. I couldn’t seem to find the words to answer you today. I couldn’t
bring myself to speak to this version of you, who made me feel like an outsider, I couldn’t do it.
My hands seemed to shake as I reached down to the canvas bag that you had thrown to the side of your bed. My
hair fell over my face as I fought the urge to cry and let out all my tears right in front of you. Today felt so different,
too different. You felt so cold, so distant, and I couldn’t figure out why.
Then your hand was on my wrist, holding me. You turned me and forced me to look at you, to make eye contact
with you. You were being you again, and we were being us. I expected you to tease me, or hold me in your arms, or
ask to help me with my homework, but instead you asked me a question.
“Celeste?”
“Yeah?” Your eyes were sad, they were distant. We weren’t us again, this wasn’t us. We didn’t get sad together, being
together made us happy, or at least it made me happy.
“Are you going to the dance with Jacob?”
“Jacob? My lab partner?” The annoying kid who never took a hint when it was time to shut up? “No.”
You turned your back on me, abandoning our conversation, your breath growing heavy as I watched each of your
shoulders begin to rise in your black shirt as your head fall forward. Were you upset, that you thought I was going
with Jacob? No, never once had you asked me to a dance, why would you be upset?
“Celeste, I think I’m going to go to the dance with Olivia.” Oh Olivia, that was why you were being like that. Olivia,
the girl who’s head you would stare at whilst I daydreamed about you in math class. Olivia, the kind of girl I’d never
be. I could feel myself crumbling under your words, I could feel that same burning sensation in my throat returning,
and I could hear that sort of wicked cough willing to come back out, but I wouldn’t let you see me like that. Instead,
I smiled to you.
“That’s great Max. I’m happy for you.” I knew my eyes had to be glossy as tears threatened to pour down my face,
but I kept flaunting that toothy grin, trying to make you happy.
As your head turned to meet me, your eyes looked almost surprised. Were you in disbelief over what I had said? Did
you want me to cry? Did you want me to beg you to be mine? But then, you smiled. Not your real smile, but that
fake one you gave to your mom when she asked you if you had just been crying, but you didn’t want to bother her.
Your lips curved, but your eyes remained sad. Were you sad for me? Could you tell that you had just shattered every
last bit of my heart? Or were you sad for yourself?
I didn’t want to find out. You were my best friend, whom I loved, but for at least tonight, I needed to get away from
you.
I started shrugging off your thick black jacket, that I had always loved wearing, but I only loved wearing it because
it was yours, and I thought wearing the jacket meant that I was yours too. Now I knew I wasn’t yours, only the jacket
was, and it was time to return it. Maybe one day I’d see it on the shoulders of a girl like Olivia; the kind of girls who
were always pining after you, but I always thought you’d reject for them the geeky, quiet girl like me. The kind of
girls who were captain of the cheer team, the kind of girls who’d win prom queen, the kind of girls who make fun of
girls like me.
“I’m going home. I don’t feel good” It was the truth, I didn’t feel good, I was lovesick.
“Your parents aren’t even home, they’re on a business trip, stay in the guest room tonight.” You didn’t really want
me to stay, you were pitying me. You looked down on me. Your eyes were different than they normally were. For
the first time, I really felt as though you were looking at me like I was weak. I couldn’t tell if you figured out exactly
how I felt, but the air was different, and I knew you felt it too.

“Max I’m going home. I’m going out the back door, tell your mom I said goodbye. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I
wanted so much to be close to you, I wanted to be held in your arms, I wanted you to ask me to that
stupid dance, but I knew what I needed was to be away from you. I left the leather jacket laying on your
bed before walking out the door.
If you tried calling out to me, I never heard you. Everything seemed to grow silent as my back turned to
you and I finally started to let the tears pour down my face. Why didn’t you want me?
It was raining outside, and I was shivering, feeling the loss of warmth all throughout my body. The
burning in my throat returned, and this time I had no means to stop it. There was no reason to act okay,
there was no reason to appease you when you left me alone in the cold, hard rain.
The tall, green trees around me started to grow blurry as the wretched cough from earlier, returned. This
time it was worse, it was almost as if something was stuck in my throat. There was a lump, an ache, a
pain. I felt like I was literally being ripped apart because of you. My frail hands reached up to my throat
struggling to find air as my knees gave out from under me. The grass underneath me was wet and I could
feel the dirt scrape against my bare legs as the coughing fit continued to worsen.
I reached my hands to mouth, alarmed, as I began tasting the bitter crimson liquid that only spilled
when something broke. Blood was dripping out of my mouth as I sat gripping my throat. The picture was
gruesome, but the only thought I had was you. Your warm arms, your soft smile, and your stupid laugh,
all of it.
The coughing fit stretched on and on, until it didn’t, until my eyes began to widen as a single petal fell
out of my mouth. A single flower petal, the same color as your emerald, green eyes. The petal was
crippled and splattered with my own blood, but there was no mistaking what it was.
I caught my head in my hands sobbing, realizing you would literally be the end of me.
I had only heard stories of the disease that caused flower petals to drop from one’s mouth. The disease
that causes thorns to pierce through my throat. The disease that would kill me, if you never loved me
back. The disease of unrequited love, Hanahaki.
Now, I sat in the park all alone, needing you to carry me home, and say you love me, because I was too
weak.
37

Poem by Lily
Y O U M A K E M E
F E E L U S E L E S S
How empty must I feel for you to understand
That I’m not a vacation you can just visit,
destroy what you want and never clean up the mess you make.
how sad do I have to become for you to
understand the difference between the ground
you walk on and me.
You present yourself to me like a gift, you force
me to take it because I guess I deserve it.
you don’t knock before you barge in, you just
let yourself in, unannounced and unexpected
and leave me gasping for what little air is
already left.
You come at me like I’m your first priority,
Staying in my life because I guess I like the
Company, the feeling that there’s always
Weight on my shoulders, always a reassurance
That I’m definitely not going to be in a mood
for anything.
You don’t have morals, you steal my happiness
and kill my spirit. You don’t abide by any
common rules or laws, you make your own and
I just have to follow them.
You don’t have morals, you steal my happiness
And kill my spirit. You don’t make your own and
I just have to follow them.
You were never popular, the only “friends” you
38

POEM CONTINUED
Have your victims. You drag me away from
Everyone who used to love me, and leave me
Isolated in a cold, dark place.
You aren’t respectful, you claw your way into
The lives of so many genuine people and drive
Them to the brink of insanity, you have no
regard for my thoughts or my feelings,
stomping all over me until there’s nothing
decent left to salvage.
You’re never creative, you tell me everything as
it is and make me see all of the terrible things
poisoning the world, you never sugarcoat the
truth, no matter how much it hurts. You even
helped me clearly see the my smallest flaws. You
call me disgusting and tell me that I’m
worthless.
You have no empathy. I could be laying on the
bathroom floor, blood dripping down my skin
and you would tell me how beautiful that
shade of red is on me.
You make it your goal to make me feel lonely
Until I don’t know why I’m lonely anymore.

40
ART BY GABRIELLE KATERINA

last night I ran away
I laid in my bed encapsulated by my
relentless mind
begging to break free
When I am there I can do anything I
want
The world is my muse
I can escape even when there’s no
where else to go
Poem By Ella Gagliardi
L A S T N I G H T I R A N A W A Y -
Unbeknownst to me, it’s established
Its own routine
Scouring for the tiniest task to stop
nodding off into slumber, a one way
Ticket to repeating the same day,
same week, same month all over again
my imagination starved mind craves
for false realities starring my
emotional insecurities directed by my
subconscious, an award winning cast
for restlessness
in my dreams,
we were about to exchange
goodnights and I love you’syour
as I begged for you to stay
I wanted to feel your love after months
of starvation
pulling me closer with every breath
every once and a while trailing your
fingers up and down my back, melting
me into security and bliss
42
but, something changed in the script-
I am compelled to tell you how perfect
you are
your beauty flows in your intention and
in your precious locks of hair
your ethic is admirable, accomplishing
every last goal in mind setting you up
for the brightest future
how could you ever think of yourself
as less than?
you will always be more than enough,
more than perfect

POEM CONTINUED
at this moment I break the fourth wall
as tears begin to overwhelm my
vision,
spilling over my waterline
tracing down my cheek
eventually dripping down to my pillow
I brushed it off as a moment of love so
Passionate, so encapsulating, making
It so much more painful that you and I
Only exist through a screen.
But at ungodly hours, thoughts begin
To warp.
Those were the first time those words
Had graced my mind as a natural
Thought
I had never heard someone think to
tell me that I was
enough.
Equally sad and empowering, I had
Only heard it from myself, even more
So the fact that mere words of
encouragement could bring tears to
my eyes.
But it was a moment of love
Overflowing with passion
As I had finally cracked the code that
Had puzzled me for years- how can I
Love myself when all I feel is hate?
43

B A L S E R A – T H E S T O R Y O F A
C U B A N W O M A N , A N D H E R
O N G I N G F O R F R E E D O M
L
STORY BY JENNIFER LUGO
The dreadful day had arrived, and my heart began to beat faster as the seconds passed by. I knelt
on the edge of a muddy swamp, with the slimy contents reaching up to my neck. I was carefully
waiting for a signal from my abuelo, who was going to let me know that it was time to join the
others on the balsa, by discretely splashing a fishing rod into the water. It was quick, and I almost
didn’t recognize the hushed sound. It was impossible to completely process what I was doing, but I
soon found myself struggling to breathe as I found a comfortable position on the wooden board
that lined the floor. I finally found the courage within me to keep my eyes open, and to look at the
worried faces of the balseros that accompanied me. Most of them, I easily recognized. My
grandparents, my mother, my two aunts, and quite a few neighbors that I had gotten used to
chatting with every afternoon. Their presence made me feel relaxed; knowing that we were all
seeking the same thing assured me that it was worth the struggle. I wanted to be strong for them, I
knew I had to. At just 11 years old, I had already endured the pain of living in some of the worst
situations a country could offer. The scarcity surpassed that of lacking food; the division between
those who supported the government and those who desperately opposed it spread hatred and the
unity we once held, disappeared.
Our plan was to give the Cuban Coast Guard the impression that we were going to spend the day
fishing, seeing as it was something common along the Nuevita coast. This area was specifically
known for carrying the country’s fish market, but also for being the most common escape to those
seeking freedom elsewhere. Realistically, we would be moving miles away from the 12-mile mark, in
hopes of reaching American territory. Because of the Cuban Adjustment Act, we didn’t fear
deportation. We often heard of refugees who received assistance and welfare benefits, including
housing and food stamps, which became available immediately once they reached US land. All of
the rules meant that any Cuban who wanted to become a permanent resident of the United States
could do so, much quicker and easily than people coming from other parts of the world. This part
sounded pretty straightforward, but the key requirement was that we had to reach dry land. Under
an amendment to the Cuban Adjustment Act, Cuban migrants could be apprehended in the water
between the U.S. and Cuba and get sent home, which meant that even once we left Cuban waters,
we were still in danger of being sent back. Overall, this trip was bound to bring days of torture, no
matter the outcome.
44

STORY CONTINUED
This wasn’t our first time doing this. We had just spent 3 months
imprisoned in the Cayman Islands, after yet another failed
attempt to escape led us farther away from our destination than
we could’ve ever imagined. We had spent that time with our
hopes higher than ever and imagining only the best outcomes. We
were seeking asylum, and at that point, it didn’t matter who
provided us with it. If we ever stepped on Cuban territory again,
we would go straight to prison, and that is something that made
me go insane. As stated by Cuban law, anyone who escaped—or
who talked about it, assisted someone else, or collected any
rafting materials—was subject to ten years in prison. Anything
could happen, and I was ready to endure whatever outcome.
On our third day at sea, our motor completely broke down.
Water had entered it, and we hadn’t brought any tools that could
possibly fix the issue. Two days later, my father saw a cruise ship
in the distance; this gave us hope, and we started to believe that
we would see land sooner than later. As more time passed, the
waters turned clear and our emotions turned bright. We were
close, and we felt safer than we had since we had embarked on
our journey.
We reached the island town of Key Biscayne, Florida on July
4th, 1999. I can still close my eyes and vividly see everything we
went through. The way chills travel up my spine when I relive
the moments are indescribable, yet there is absolutely nothing I
would’ve done differently. I believe that everything happens for
a reason, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to
accomplish what many can’t, and to represent the courage that
Is buried deep inside the souls of those living back home. I did it
for them; I needed to honor those who didn’t succeed, those
who are struggling now, and those who will attempt the voyage
later on.
45

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