JTOH Cultural Expressions

JTOH Team and Distinguished Others

Isela Acosta MSU Denver Nursing 2021

Congratulations to the class of 2020 You finally graduated However, make sure you stay 6 ft separated

Not the usual summertime activities However, there’s plenty of time to spend with our families The future doesn’t seem to look very bright However, summertime has brought injustice to the light

Staying inside is all we do However, some manage to get with their crew I’m excited as my first semester of college begins However, this whole situation is finally getting under my skin

I accept to care for my Grandfather with great pleasure However, he gets sick and goes away forever 2020, you ruined our lives However, you have given us new strives

Musashi Hueston MSU Psychology, Minor Sociology 2021

I've been having trouble sleeping, battling my demons inside me. You say I overthink? Well let me explain something to you G. I been thinking about the places that I frequent, all the people that I see Do they befriend me for being me?

Orlando Moreno MSU Video Production/Film and Media studies 2025

Isaiah Flores MSU Denver Political Science 2024

Keep yourself well-guarded Keep yourself well-armed Bring every hateful instruments with you Nobody knows what you’ll need Take the pledge Wear black all day Chase cars at night

Elva Parga MSU Denver Mechanical Engineering 2021

I don’t understand

I don’t understand why there’s so much negativity in the world I don’t understand why people continue to play into it I don’t understand simple things I don’t understand complicated things I don’t understand why I overanalyze everything that comes my way I don’t understand why people aren’t more caring and understanding I do understand that I want to understand.

Tala Mohammed MSU Computer Information Systems 2021

Jaquelin Valenzuela MSU Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences 2022

01/27/2021 Distant gunshots, My chaffinches singing in the morning. Greenhouse gases and carbon monoxide, My fresh air. Brick walls covered in phrases that exhibit stolen territory, My fine arts museum.

Alexa Montoya MSU Denver Speech Language and Hearing Science 2023

Everything is the same

I wake up and it's the same day, yet a different one The same feeling of repetitiveness Missing the same people I can’t see Wondering when life will ever be the same Strangers turned into people I also missed Creating new friendships, seeing whole faces Smiles turned into something we have to see through eyes

Eric Perez MSU Denver Criminal Justice 2021

“Demons at the Nighttime”

Just because I’m alive does not mean I Survived. I see my demons playing everyday, Wishing it was the last time. I’m blessed to wake up early, Get on my grind but my head feels stuck. Sitting still, deeper than a coal mine. Just because I’m alive does not mean I survived. I’ve seen friends die, and I'm left wondering why Why Must I be the strong one? I can’t hold all this pain inside. Now, I decide to put those feelings aside, Do I let them eat me alive and cry till I die.

“The Books”

Books have always been my escape Even when I get behind they have always help me keep my faith. Before books I was running around like Nixon claiming I wasn’t an crook. Running wild my whole family was shook. That was the same summer my best friend and my aunts life got took, Books have always been my escape. Books have made me an super hero just without the cape. Books have taught me so much and always been there to help me get out of this depression crutch. But books aren’t given to everybody but I been blessed oh so heavily. From Corn mothers to my abuela I have support even though I hardly see them Without these woman I wouldn’t be where I am today, because they have always helped me Keep my faith.

Christina Maxim MSU Early Childhood Education 2022

I always wonder if I’m doing it right Am I teaching you to be brave And strong and Proud Am I teaching you to be kind But to still stand your ground With my heart now living outside of me This whole mom thing feels like being on a rollercoaster I always hope I’ve done it all right After another long day has passed It’s not until you’re sleeping peacefully That I have a moment to reflect And then comes my reward To see your smile To be embraced by your hug To hear “I love you mama”

Ngan Vo MSU Denver Master of Social Work 2023

I am kind and ambitious I sometimes wonder about my future I hear the sound of ocean waves I see a sea I want to be successful I am kind and ambitious

I pretend I am happy I feel a touch of something sweet I touch a summer’s cloud I worry about violence I cry when I fail I am kind and ambitious

I understand challenges are inevitable I say it is imperative to improve mental health I dream for a peaceful day I try to do my best I hope for a successful feature I am kind and ambitious

Superscript

Sean Easton MSU Denver Computer Information Systems/ Marketing 2022

Gallery of JTOH ART

Alexa Montoya

A letter to me

Sometimes I doubt myself, can I do everything I want? Am I smart enough? Am I strong enough? Am I motivated enough? I often feel the weight of the world on my shoulders crushing me Sometimes its too much to handle Time keeps running out and getting shorter Or am I just imagining that? All of these questions and all of these emotions They feel so overwhelming but they make me who I am I heal and grow from the self doubt that was caused by other I love me and my wandering mind

Alexa Montoya

Bailey ( my kitty)

I wonder if you know how much you mean to me How much I appreciate being awake at 6am only bc you woke me up Your cute little face is the first thing I see every morning And the last thing I see before bed Oh what an honor it is to love you To hear your purr and see your big blue eyes An unworldly experience that nobody else is able to try I am so lucky I thank you everyday for choosing me and loving me It could have been anyone else, but I got lucky I thank you for everything and I hope you understand I hope you know I love you right back

Alexa Montoya

I don't understand

I don't understand why the world is so cold and unfair I don't understand why there are people living on the street and some are in houses I don't understand why we care more about material things instead of human lives I don't understand how we can pretend everything is okay I don't understand what the end goal is I don't understand anything and I want change I understand its not my responsibility to carry the weight of the world on my back

Jaquelin Valenzuela

Unnamed

The realization of growing up hits harder than expected You go from buying coloring books to paying rent And from constant daydreaming to being stuck in reality Monday through Friday, and then again on Sunday nights Is it the Sunday scaries, or just the overwhelming feeling of existence?

Jaquelin Valenzuela

Ezbeidy

Legs blue toned yet alive Long , como tu cabello You speak more lies than most I’ve grown to despise you I am made of wires and codes You are Made of veins, arteries Bravery-I am Straight A’s, blank soul You are Hands of mischief & genuine bliss Guardians say Look up, and Reincarnate But I can only pray, You become Only Who I appear to be

Jakkie Valenzuela

Isaiah Flores

Christina Maxim

I don’t understand When our curiosity becomes a nuisance When it becomes frowned upon to keep asking why

Isela Acosta

I don’t understand poem:

I don’t understand why growing up is so hard I don’t understand why we are not taught the important things I don’t understand why we are so stressed I don’t understand what all this pressure is for I understand I must do what I want with my life

Ngan Vo

I don’t understand poem:

I don’t understand Why people must move away Why people argue over stupid stuff Why people cannot get along Why everything is so complicated