Department of English

This collection of poems aims to follow my ever-changing identity through its stages of growth and discovery. Each poem represents a step in the process of accepting and embracing my true self. The collection carries pieces ranging from focus on my family to my passion for various interests. Through them, I argue that I, like many others, am simultaneously a product and rejection of my environment. Together, these poems divulge snippets of my life and self as an individual. Tidbits of the various hardships I have overcome thus far intend to illustrate the physical, mental, and emotional journey I have traveled to better the lives of myself and my loved ones. Alongside self-discovery, the goal of these pieces is to call attention to societal stigmas of the communities I identify with (namely LGBTQ+ in this specific collection). I focus on using symbolism, alliteration, and recollections of childhood to realistically define myself.