Somerset County 2 Creative Writing Anthology The Somerset County Creative Writing Anthology is a component of the annual Somerset County Teen Arts Festival. Although the 2020 Festival was cancelled due to concerns regard COVID-19, the Creative Writing component was completed and is presented here. The Somerset County Teen Arts Creative Writing component is typically a complement to the County school district’s regular English classes in that it offers students the opportunity to work directly with professional writers and poets. Students are encouraged to fine-tune their writing skills and are given insights into the creative process. The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission wishes to commend the students whose work appears in this anthology, and hopes the experience will inspire them to continue writing as an expressive art form. All students, artists, and school liaisons have our heartfelt thanks for their work in helping us prepare what we hoped would be another great festival. We know their dedication to the arts will make the 2021 Teen Arts Festival the best yet! Cover Artwork: Stacey Hernandez, 17 Manville High School 12th Grade 3 SCHOOLS & STUDENTS ALEXANDER BATCHO INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Teachers: Maggie Balzano & Erika Barney Fendt, Alaina .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Figueroa-Holguin, Arlette .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Kubilus, Kayley ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Pankowski, Ryan .................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Pratts, Juan .............................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Tay, Volker & Wesolowski, Michael ................................................................................................................................ 27 BOUND BROOK HIGH SCHOOL Teachers: Susan Del Conte, Courtney Nemorofsky, & Neisha Young Amaya, Kaira ........................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Avila-Cordero, Jocelyn ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Baskerville, Janae ................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Etwarroo, Aliya ...................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Gersick, Jenna ......................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Gorel, Kevin ............................................................................................................................................................................ 37 Guzman-Cruz, Perla ............................................................................................................................................................. 40 Hector, Sophia ........................................................................................................................................................................ 41 Hernandez, Araceli Priego ................................................................................................................................................... 42 Hollingsworth, Nina Nate ................................................................................................................................................... 43 Jordan, Darian ........................................................................................................................................................................ 44 Konrad, Haley ......................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Lopez, Lorelai ......................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Martinez, Jamie ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Martinez, Maria ..................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Muslim, Tanaya ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Rodriguez, Christian ............................................................................................................................................................. 51 Stankevivius, Ellen ................................................................................................................................................................ 52 Scott, Josiah ............................................................................................................................................................................. 53 Smith, Shauntel ...................................................................................................................................................................... 57 4 BRANCHBURG CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Teachers: Suzanna Updegrove Curtis, Katherine ................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Illiopoulos, Dora .................................................................................................................................................................... 60 Mathai, Devin ........................................................................................................................................................................ 65 Patrick, Katherine E. ............................................................................................................................................................ 69 Senate, Madeline.................................................................................................................................................................... 70 GREEN BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL Teacher: Doreen Darr Doan, Sofia .............................................................................................................................................................................. 72 HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL Teachers: Julianne Anderson Chui, Caitlyn ........................................................................................................................................................................... 76 Hodorowski, Morgan ........................................................................................................................................................... 77 Patel, Diya............................................................................................................................................................................... 78 HILLSBOROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL Teachers: Billy Dixon, Ian Evans, Patricia Heck, Jaime Hoffmeister, Rebecca McManus, ………………Susan Nami, Nina Presuto, Shelley Rubin, Christina Simons, & Maureen Wild Altidor, Oliva.......................................................................................................................................................................... 80 Baker, Gabrielle ..................................................................................................................................................................... 81 Borer, Madison ...................................................................................................................................................................... 84 Bragger, Sarah ....................................................................................................................................................................... 87 Boyce, Cody ............................................................................................................................................................................ 88 Chen, Alina ............................................................................................................................................................................. 92 Dhawan, Ishika & Narielwala, Ashna ............................................................................................................................... 95 Eville, Alfred 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