Volume XVI 2019-2020 ii The Creative Arts Magazine of West Georgia Technical College 2019-2020 Volume XVI Student Editors Samantha Bendolph, Student President Citlalli Cisneros Jamichael Smith Doris Okafor Vashti Saintil Faculty Editors Crystal Calhoun, Editor-in-Chief Jason Kennedy Jane McClain Margaret Cade Please find previous volumes as well as submission information and www.westgatech.edu/student-life/voices iii West Georgia Technical College publishes VOICES annually. The magazine seeks to showcase the best examples of the creative spirit that is alive and well at WGTC. While the college encourages submissions from students, faculty, staff, and others specified in the submission guidelines, submission does not guarantee publication. While the magazine wishes to represent the diversity of the college, Selections are made by blind selection without regard to any identifying information about the individual contributors. VOICES retains the copyrights to all materials and non-exclusive rights to publish all works in any format. All material is copyrighted to protect WGTC and to exclude others from republishing contributors’ works without their permissions. However, all contributors retain the rights to their own works and the rights to publish their submissions elsewhere. All opinions expressed represent the opinions of the individual contributors, not the opinions of VOICES, the editors, or WGTC. Special Thanks The editors wish to thank President Dr. Scott Rule in the administration of WGTC. Our thanks also go to the students, staff, and faculty of WGTC for their support. Specific thanks go to the Office of Student Life, Melinda Hofius, Latoya Cotton, Brian Barkley, Dr. Kelly Steed, Ben Chambers, the Library staff on all campuses, the WGTC purchasing staff, the WGTC Maintenance Staff, and everyone’s families, friends, and personal support structures. Cover Art: “New Romantics” by Abigail Sadler Overall 1st Place Winner in the Art Exhibit. All work appears in its original form with minimal editing. West Georgia Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. As set forth in its student catalog, West Georgia Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Equity (Title IX) Coordinator, Dean of Students, 770.755.7839, 200 Campus Drive, Newnan, GA 30263. ADA (Section 504) coordinator is V.P. of Administrative Services, 678.664.0533, 401 Adamson Square, Carrollton, GA 30117. iv Table of Contents The Creative Arts Magazine of West Georgia Technical College .................................... iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ v 1. Fiction ................................................................................................... 1 “Her Self,” MaKayla Tappin ............................................................................................. 2 “Arabella and the Full Moon,” Elizabeth Neely ................................................................ 9 “The STER,” Samuel Quinn .......................................................................................... 11 2. Poetry ................................................................................................. 15 “Growing Up,” April Hayday ........................................................................................... 16 “Comfort When I Fear,” Katie Seel ................................................................................ 16 “Growing,” Jeryn Holdren .............................................................................................. 17 “The Birdkeeper & the Fowler,” Jeryn Holdren .............................................................. 18 “Slow Burn,” Jeryn Holdren ........................................................................................... 19 “We Can Do It!” Miya Dean ........................................................................................... 20 “Snow,” Asia Brown ....................................................................................................... 21 “Lost Love,” Michayla Ralich ......................................................................................... 21 “Beach,” Maranda Alford ............................................................................................... 22 “Mirror,” Elisa Kincaid .................................................................................................... 22 “The War of Love and Peace,” Keona Greene .............................................................. 24 “Lyrics of my own,” Minnie Gipson ................................................................................ 24 “Love Unexplained,” Sandra Mercer ............................................................................. 25 “Estranged,” Sarah Adams ............................................................................................ 26 “Alabama,” Christian Tidwell ......................................................................................... 27 “Just a Poem,” Christian Tidwell .................................................................................... 27 “The Hidden Lies Behind the Tears I Cry,” Vashti Saintil .............................................. 28 “The One Who Saved Me,” Tracey Cambron ................................................................ 29 “A Sailor’s Life for Me,” Courtney Wells ......................................................................... 30 “Pathological,” Courtney Wells ...................................................................................... 30 “Torrance Tornado,” Isabel Petrus ................................................................................ 31 “A Billion Stars in the Sky,” Reena Puran ...................................................................... 33 “There Was a Reason,” Morgan Gibson ........................................................................ 34 “Why Must We,” Santana Johnson ................................................................................ 42 3. Nonfiction ............................................................................................ 43 “Campus Carry: The Protection We Need,” Zoie Jones ................................................ 44 “The Accident,” Ashley Willams ..................................................................................... 45 “The process of creating a raised garden,” Hannah McCollom ..................................... 47 “The Turning Point of American Innovation,” Christopher Ethridge ............................... 48 “Freedom in Waves,” Megan Kendall ............................................................................ 51 “Magic Mrs. Askew,” Marti Stephens ............................................................................. 52 “Life is Not Always Fair,” Kay Driver .............................................................................. 53 “Life Lessons from Childhood,” Kay Driver .................................................................... 55 4. Art Exhibit Winners ............................................................................. 57 v “New Romantics,” Abigail Sandler ................................................................................. 58 “Lustful Drowning,” Stephen Mendola ........................................................................... 59 “Space Ocean,” Katherine Mink .................................................................................... 60 “A Baby’s Little Discoveries,” Sarah Adams .................................................................. 61 “Not a Bad Guy,” Macy Jones ....................................................................................... 62 “Mrs. Kitty,” Iveta Kral .................................................................................................... 63 “Don’t Forget The Sky,” Andrea Bocanegra .................................................................. 64 “The Dark Sea,” Shea Stansell ...................................................................................... 65 “The Skin I’m In,” Ramaria Hart ..................................................................................... 66 “Radio Sheep,” Lydia Robida ........................................................................................ 67 “Fearless,” Hannah Hicks .............................................................................................. 68 “Hercules,” Jasmine Coppernoll .................................................................................... 69 “Range Error Halycon Days,” Jacobi Rogers ................................................................ 70 “Cockatiel In Pink,” Sharail Martin ................................................................................. 71 “Traveler,” Abigail Sandler ............................................................................................. 72 VOICES Submission Guidelines ............................................................... 73 vi 1. Fiction Winners 1st: MaKayla Tappin, “Her Self” 2nd Place: Elizabeth Neely, “Arabella and the Full Moon” 3rd Place: Samuel Quinn, “The STER” 1 “Her Self”