My Future

Life has been mean, but I keep walking. I've had crazy dreams-- bad dreams-- ones tht I've never even told my mother about. As the years go by, things should get better. In my future I want to see a better day and to get much respect. I want to continue running track and to keep doing well in it. I want to get into college. I want to reach twenty-one and beyond. I hope to meet the girl of my dreams, a beautiful woman that I will marry. I hope my mom gets married too. I want to have kids of my own. I want to keep walking tall.

(Braxton Mitchell, 11th Grade)

Barbados Dreams

My mother's family is from Barbados. Although I have not yet been there, my mother has told me stories about the place. My mom has a picture of herself in Barbados. It's a nice place, I've heard. My family talks about the blue water and drinks they have there, things like cocount water and mango juice. One of my friends is from Barbados, and he has told me a lot about it. This summer I plan to go and want to take two friends.

What do I imagine Barbados to be like? I think it has nice people and that it's a place where people party all night, relax on the beautiful beaches and sleep in nice beds that would make a person never want to come back to Atlanta.

People who see my afro and my smooth, dark skin ask me what I'm mixed with. At first, I didn't know what to say, but eventually my mom told me about my ancestry. I was happy. When I have kids I want them to be from Barbados. I can't wait to go.

(Braxton Mitchell, 12th Grade)