To World, From a Biracial Teen

It's quite difficult to explain to someone what it feels like to be so unimaginably confused with figuring out what you're a part of, what you're supposed to identify with, and who you are. It's just one of those things that you can't quite phrase right. So, I figured, why not put it in art? The following is a sonnet that I wrote called "To World, From a Biracial Teen"​, which is from the perspective of a Filipina-American in 2017.

To World, From a Biracial Teen
So, once upon a time, there was just her
Not brown, not white, she was just in between
She built this wall, in hopes it'd be a blur
And yet, for years her pain just went unseen

That girl is me, in a world full of dreams
But I'm the one that just can't fall asleep
Why don't you see you've torn me from the seams
I promise you, those words cut very deep

So this goes out to the world, please hear me
Because it seems as though you never have
I feel like I will never be set free
But I know this can all be in the past

'Cause FYI, this skin comes with a voice
And world, you'll hear us, you don't have a choice.

-Aislyn Nihan
VP of Campaigns and Events
Co-VP of Journalism and Publication