Writing as reflection
Writer's Evolution Essay
"It was easy, then, to impress my teachers with a few well-placed semicolons and an introduction and conclusion that appeared to relate to the same essay topic, and I basked in their gratitude, believing that I was a good writer mainly because my papers didn’t force my teachers to reconsider their profession."
Kitten Heels and Combat Boots
"Now, I see that the perception of myself as a strong person solely because of my rejection of traditional femininity is just as supportive of the status quo, and just as harmful to women and young girls, because it makes us believe that we have to choose between femininity and personal strength."
Plantains and Privilege in Bribri Territory​​
"I stepped off the boat and into YorkÃn on the same day that my host brother Paul sliced his leg wide open with a machete. Later, he shook his head and told me it was a God-given punishment for skipping Saturday services."
Why I Write
"In elementary and middle school, I wrote because I was the best, and everyone knew it. It was my thing. Now, I have to admit that I’m way behind my classmates, and I have to work at it anyway — not because I’m the best, but because writing makes my life better, makes me wrap my head around the world in a way that helps me understand its patterns and complexity."
