Catie - I Will Defend

Cardinals

The phrase “I will defend” or the theme of the volleyball team, “I will protect this house”

Not only a theme, yet a phrase that is backed up with such passion

Honoring your school and teammates in the way you play the game

Helping one another out every chance you get

You are a team

Uniforms are only a part of what unite you

Fans

Red shirts

Red socks

The intense faces of the players

Hands flying everywhere

The look of exhilaration and stimulation after scoring a point

Anticipation for the ball to come back over

Creeping up on the other team point by point until reaching victory or defeat

The feeling of knowing you gave it your all and left it all on the court

Content; you did your job and defended your school’s pride.

 Catie, age 15

Brittany - Pride

Shark Pride
Do not abide
Or confide
Push the cleaner fish aside
Do not pay the helper any mind
You have your pride
Glide through the sea with closed eyes
Stay inside and hide

Brittany, age 15

Anonymous - Pride

Pride in Our City—

Jazz Fest

Mardi Gras

Voodoo Fest

Culture

Food

But the greatest of all, Black and Gold + Superdome.

No one will understand the thrill and rush that a New Orleanian gets when the Saints win. Although they can be viewed as just a team, they are a symbol of pride for each individual.

We take pride in our city, but what would pride be for New Orleans without the Saints? 

Anonymous, age 15

Anna - I Will Defend

I will defend the things I believe,

That is the only way people will achieve

The goals we place, and attempt to make,

Trying to overcome the challenges we take.

Force yourself to believe and defend,

Who knows? You might start a new trend.

Helping others to defend what is right,

Don’t go down without a fight.

You will defend.

You will defend your ideas and beliefs,

Standing strong against your own motifs.

We will all defend the actions we make,

Even if they are big mistakes.

Defend your actions, defend your talk,

To which people disagree you should never balk.

I will defend.

Anna Marie, age 16

Francie - I Will Defend...

I will defend
those who cannot defend themselves,
I will defend
what I think is right. 
I will defend 
those who defend themselves. 
I will defend 
those who are trying to make a change. 



Francie, age 16

Chelsea - I Will Defend...

I will defend New Orleans

New Orleans I will defend

I will defend my self

Self I will defend

The Saints defend New Orleans

New Orleans defends the saints

I will defend

Defend I will

Chelsea, age 15

Leira - Pride

A Lioness’s Pride

Pride

A Lion Pride

Pride Rock

Like Lion King 3D

My 17th Birthday Gift

Special Day to Me

Like my Name Meaning

Special Name to Me

Lioness of God

So speaks Sylvia Plath

Or Lion if I were Male

But I am not Male

I am a Female

A Lioness

With a Lion’s Pride

A Female Pride

An Older Pride

My Pride in Me

I am the Lioness

This is my Pride


Leira, age 17

Anonymous - Anticipation

Dreaming, losing sleep
Anticipating something magical,
A night with dancing
And my prince charming—
My first and only prince charming,
My first and last night to fall in love
And become popular.

It felt like an eternity
Before this magical night arrived;
My anticipation growing
My heart pounding,
And my stomach growling.
Staring at my dress in the mirror
Feeling somewhat like a princess;
Shaking from nerves,
And my first two-inch heels,
Or…
Possibly from the thought of meeting the opposite species.

Arriving awkwardly early,
I nearly fainted
Walking into the party.
I saw it.
A boy.

Anonymous, age 16

Elizabeth - Anticipation

Waiting for the day to come
Soon it will be Friday
Anticipation

The day draws nearer
Nervous chatter among the high school
Brings around rivalries
Anticipation

Who will win?
Best dance?
Most spirited?
Dodge ball champion?
Best costume?
Greatest cheers?
Anticipation

Intense, suspenseful and FUN
Making posters
and costume skirts Friday morning
Anticipation

Today is the day
It has finally arrived
Anticipation

Learned the dance? Check.
Made posters? Check.
Completed the costumes? Check.
Anticipation

Finally the competition begins.
The dances are finished, dodge ball has been played
Which grade will come in first?
Anticipation

The judges deliberate
The winner is announced
And it is……

Elizabeth, age 16

Brooke - Who Dat

Pulse.

Stand Up and Get Crunk.

               How vulgar. How am I a part of this?

Crunch.

The whole of the dome

Encompassed in sweat

Thunk.

            Oh God.

Irony

If I am the catholic school girl.

Who speaks in articulate, perfect sentences.

            How dare you use a dangling modifier.

prim.proper

          Pleated skirt

Jersey.

Both overpriced.

          Shudder at subject verb agreement

Cringe. OH beautiful Brees.

who cares.

          I don’t.

“WHO DAT.”

Brooke, age 16

Sarah-Ford - Anticipation

I took it Monday

I get it back Friday

The hours of studying

For what?

The stress

The anticipation

Waiting, wondering

Finally it’s Friday

Sarah-Ford, age 16

Anonymous - Who Dat

WHO DAT, 
two words 
mean so much more 
than any non-neworleanian could know. 

ONE TEAM, 
who fought for something, 
something that changed the mood
of a devastated city,
and united a now unstoppable community.  

WHO DAT,
two words,
forever engraved in our hearts,
forever a part of our lives, 
forever a phenomenon.  



Anonymous, age 16

Maeve - Anticipation

I wait,
and hope that the tiny munching
of the bugs in my walls have stopped.
Standing stock still and hearing the
CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH
of tiny demolition crews eating away at the structural integrity of my house.
But now,
I hold in my hands the poison
that will cause a vast exodus, expelling
thousands of those unwanted,
disgusting creatures from within a block radius.
My skin tingles with anticipation.
My finger is on the trigger, ready
for the mass genocide that is about to take place.
Those termites won’t know what hit them.

Maeve, age 16

Ashley - Who Dat

WHO D@T!

New Orleanians are who d@ts.

We bleed black and gold.

We play with integrity,

but we play to win.

On February 7, 2010 the Saints proved that NOLA is back;

After 43 years we have something to be proud of.

Every game night, whether Sunday, Monday, or Thursday,

our city comes together to cheer on our team.

Bless them boys for bringing pride back to our city,

for making our dome an icon.

Now we have something to be proud of,

something to cheer on.

GEAUX SAINTS!

Ashley, age 17

Lillie - Anticipation

 [ an-tis-uh-pey-shuh ]

the waiting for that moment, that one instance of aha

the anticipation is coming home, not for artificial comfort

                but for that feeling.

not exactly pinpointing what it means, but knowing it’s there.

the je ne sais quoi  c’est mon raison d’être in the background.

                the (treesonst.charles)(potholesoneverystreet)(moldingonthebalconies)(foreverpuddlesbythepark)

                                make the [ an-tis-uh-pey-shuh ] worth it.

Lillie, age 16

Ruthie - Anticipation

Sitting in the classroom with a clock stuck between 4 and 5
Thinking songs on my stereo are all I can write down
Script letters saying HELP
Scrawled.
I really do like this class
its just
Friday and I’ve got babysitting cash
and streetcar tokens
and summer season is almost over.
There’s maybe four good snowball days left
and you are crazy if you don’t think
I’m wasting my money
on Hansen’s today.

Ruthie, age 16

Courtney - Who Dat

who dat a phrase known to everyone
from new orleans
has just the right jingle when
everyone screams it at a game
or even in someones living room
alone by yourself
it all sounds the same
the anticipation oozes out of it
with every time it comes out
of our mouths
the spirit and excitement behind this phrase
is normal to locals
but to everyone else it
is something that cannot be understood

Courtney, age 16

Torre - Anticipation

Patience, anticipation

I sit quietly in my room waiting for the time to come

After so many days keeping us silently apart,

The minutes feel like hours slowly creeping by,

Hours upon hours until I can be wrapped in our warm essence and aroma

 Filled with the sweet taste of love,

I can already feel your arms around me as I make my way down Decatur Street,

Your golden brown skin glistening in the light of the brightly illuminated café;

My heart races with anticipation and zest as I see you enter

With a white powder-like cloth covering yourself,

Oh, dear Café Du Monde,

I thank thee for reuniting me with my beignet 

Torre, age 16

Ashley - Anticipation

Driving down St. Charles Avenue
Like you’ve done a million times before
Yet, this time feels different
You feel a whole new freedom
You roll down the windows and let down your hair
Like you are the cliché in a cheesy movie
You feel unstoppable
But then reality hits you
As you get closer and closer to the
Big, red light
Its inevitable stop just waiting to welcome you
Anticipating the red turning to green
The clock is ticking; the song on the radio has alreadychanged,
Your foot is hovering over the gas pedal
The guy next to you is trying to scarf down a hamburgerbefore the light turns green
While banging his head back and forth to some rap song
This light couldn’t be any longer…


Ashley, age 16

Megann - Anticipation

You pack your bags and move on out 
with your stuffed rabbit and your striped sweater
and follow that crowded street to mystery 
farther
         and farther
                         away from 
the skylight and the curved metal of the bridges
the bleach white dome and the Mississippi

you take your striped sweater and you stretch it over your eyes 
and cry on that black top road to nowhere. 

months pass and anticipation fades your second-hand foreign uniform 
your forced white tennis shoes are gray
tomorrow is homecoming day

you pack your bags and move on out
with your stuffed rabbit and your striped sweater
and follow that crowded street back 
                                                                  home. 

Megann, age 16

Leira - Anticipation

Feelings of Fall in New Orleans

What is this?

This feeling

Is it excitement?

Yes

No

Not exactlty

What is it?

The weather

Still so warm

Yet some days cool

Windy

My favorite

New Orleans is hot forever

Except in Winter

But then there is Fall

Neither fully cool

Nor fully warm

My favorite time

The season of red yellow leaves

Except our trees never change

No pretty colors

But still

Autumn in New Orleans

It is still beautiful

Maybe it isn’t the weather

It is something else

A feeling

What is this?

This feeling

Is it excitement?

No

It is Anticipation

For the leaves to never change

For Fall to come

And for the feelings that follow

Leira, age 16

Olivia - Anticipation

There’s that rare occasion of anticipation that’s actually not quite so rare anymore.

It’s the moment of hoping it will all be normal and yet wondering how it ever could be.

And breathing becomes foreign. Rhythms are shattered. Oxygen.no.longer.exists.

Because this is the difference between life and death, in a certain kind of way.

It’s the initial impact of atmosphere that will tell the rest of the story.

That will lead to either one of two endings. There is the occasional welcoming back of
circulation to all parts of the body. Or there is the expected continuation of deprivation of
security.

Although the two are so deeply different, they all end up intertwining in the end because
experience knows that one will never exist without the other soon to follow.

I hope you know that it’s not a question of want, but need. Not alive, but present. Not beside, but
with. Not me, but we.

Olivia, age 17.2109

Brittany - Anticipation

Anticipation is in the air

You can feel it in the breeze

Smell it in the air

Sense it everywhere

Cars crazy causing a traffic mania

Everyone is in a hurry

So many things to do

Food preparation

Parties to oragnize

Black and gold

WHO DAT! WHO DAT!

It’s Game Day!

Brittany, age 16

Stanley - Anticipation

As I revisit this place, I relive our pleasant memories

For it was here where we spent the years of our lives.

We watched the world go by as we danced in these fields

And it was here where we created our own paradise.

Unbeknownst to the world we navigated the arctic tundra,

We swam with all the beasts of the sea;

And even though our troubles were many

When we were here all I could think of was you and me.

In the fall we’d sit here, waiting for the sun to appear in anticipation,

We never failed to miss a sunrise any breezy autumn day

And even though the innocence of our youth fled from us,

Hands interlaced, Apollo’s chariot never failed to greet us just the same.

With church bells ringing, “Till death do we part” was a vow we later said

And I can’t help but think that isn’t true

Because even though you’re gone, and returned to dust,

When I’m here, I can feel your presence: I’m standing, right next to you.

Stanley, age 15

Matty - Who Dat

If you live here,
You’re a Who Dat.
(And I don’t mean “New Orleans, Louisiana is my place ofresidence” live here
I mean, live here, like “you cantake the girl out of New Orleans but you can’t take the New Orleans out of thegirl, this place courses through my veins, I wouldn’t touch jambalaya with a tenfoot pole if it’s from anywhere outside the great state of Louisiana” livehere. )
The owls whisper “Whoooo”
The toads rumble “Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat dat.”
The cicadas crawl out of the soil and reach out with all 6legs just to sigh “Whodatwhodatwhooodaat” in a low rumble
It’s really impossible to miss if you’re listening.
One stranger at the bar yells “WHO DAT?!” and the wholeplace erupts into a song everyone just knows the words to.
We are Who Dats because people look at us and say
               Who Datcity whose beauty can be found in Magnolia blossoms, used book stores, andtrees that make their home in the sidewalk cement?
               Who Datcity with the bright lights that never flicker, even when they’re looking eyeto eye with the storm?
               Who Datcity with the owls, and the toads, and the cicadas, and the late-night partyanimals who never stop singing?
It’s a wonderfully simple answer:  we Dat.


Matty, age 16

Amy - Anticipation

For as long as I remember,

Every June until September

Started a new hurricane season

That brought fear that exceeded all logical reason

Waiting for the news reports in anticipation,

But mostly we think nothing of the increased precipitation

The rest of the country wonders why we say we are proud to swim home,

But little do they know, this is the one city that we are proud to call our own

This is the time of year that we can only hope and pray

That our houses and levees are strong enough to withstand another day

Amy - age 17

Melissa - Anticipation

Stage Fright

I am drenched in perspiration, while flooded with anticipation.

Pulse races, hands shake.

Temperature rising, mouth dries.

I ponder the paradoxes of anxiety.

Why is it that while all of the clocks are melting, it feels as though time is freezing?

And why does the air seem to grow more and more scarce when we are wheezing?

Lights are blinding.

Sounds--deafening.

The very same lights and sounds I willingly approached,

And will continuously approach because they are my home.

When I am able to focus, however, I realize that I am alone

In front of all of these people

Although I cannot see them, I know they’re there.

I stumble saunter from the wings onto the stage

On my face, a Cheshire grin appears

From ear to ear,

And I think to myself,

God,

What am I doing here?

Melissa, age 17

Holly - Anticipation

Crowds flock the arena,
And football chants roar through the sea of people.
Anticipation builds as the New Orleans Saints prepare to take the field.

The Who Dat Nation has gone far too long without donning their game day time attire.
Their time away from the Saints has caused enthusiasm to build inside them.
Everyone is waiting…
Waiting for the whistle that will bring an end to their off season silence and mark the start of a
new season.

The whistle is blown.
Everyone is silent, cautiously waiting for the first snap of the ball.
3…2…1…
The ball is snapped.
Who Dats amplify their cheers so that the away team realizes who’s gonna run the show.

With the first scores on the board, the Who Dat Nation knows what is to come this season.
This knowing only makes their chants grow louder and louder until
the game ends.

Holly, 16

Olivia - Summer Rain

I used to play this summer game,
And it’s supposed to sound like summer rain.

Clear drops begin to hit the gutter,
When fingers slip against one another.

Battered roofs take the rap,
As the ring and thumb make a snap.

Sheets of water fall root bound,
Like pounding fists that smash the ground.

Thunder begins as the skies ignite,
While feet tread the earth with might.

Countless tears splash and resound,
Like pounding fists that smash the ground.

Torrents finally start to unwrap,
As the ring and thumb make a snap.

Showers drizzle down to a putter,
When fingers slip against one another.

All this from a summer game,
That’s supposed to sound like summer rain.

Olivia, age 17!

Amy - Summer Rain

Rain is what makes New Orleans unique

Daily surprise thunderstorms only make the city even more complete

In a constant damp summer atmosphere

It hits so hard the water is all you can hear

Other places think driving with a cluttered windshield is such a pain

But for us in New Orleans, it’s the most relaxing thing about that sweet summer rain

And how can the news say after all this rain we’re still in a drought?

They clearly have not been outside or they’d know without a doubt.

The rain boots, jackets, and colorful umbrellas abound in the mustered dark

But no storm can keep people from playing in the puddles in the park

The New Orleans rain helps make us the best city with no other above,

For its all of the unique characteristics that mold New Orleans into the city we all know and love.

Amy, Age 17

Olivia - Snowball

In New Orleans, there is no such thing as “Beating the Heat.”
Because we all know that it is a pointless battle
That will only leave us straddled
Somewhere between drowning
From the humidity that collects in our lungs with each breath
Or from the salty droplets that leak in through the corner of our dry mouths.

Living here means being broiled and braised for three-quarters of the year,
Set out on the cooling rack for the rest,
Only so that the entire cycle can start again.

This is where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are synonymous with Plum St., Hansen’s, and Sal’s.
Because we all know that a good snowball is the only remedy that can peel our melted bodies off the
sidewalk and put us back into a solid state.

And yet life carries on
In the midst of this oppressive warmth.
Notes of the Blues are still served up into the air.
Steaming spices are still playing flavors on tongues.

Because this is the City that Never Sleeps, right?
Ok, maybe not. But the Big Easy can do it too.
And so can The Crescent City, The Birthplace of Jazz, The Home of Mardi Gras.
The City that Care Forgot.

And the moment that a cool breeze finally catches in the air,
Every New Orleanian will say,
“Man, I’d pick being hot over being cold any day.”

Olivia - age 16.75

Madison - Message to young NOLA

how hypocritical
for me to say, we’re not that different really
when the worst thing to happen in my neighborhood
is the escape of the labradoodle next door.
how hypocritical
to pretend that we have the same beliefs.
when my school says no gum chewing
and the charter down the street? no handguns.

-stop-

You’re a who dat? and
You were at jazz fest, eating a mango freeze? and
You cried when the saints won the super bowl
but not when Your house was destroyed? and
You can tell the days of the week by whats cooking on the stove
Let’s see, monday? gotta be red beans. gotta be cornbread.

but most of all
You get a little pissed when people ask if You survived.
of course You survived, You’re here, aren’t You?
ain’t You here, just waitin to be found- by somebody, anybody.

You are here. and so am I.
we are beautiful in our brokenness; in our shared love affair
with this ditzy, drunken, magical place
we call home
reppin the 504ever.

- Madison, age 17

Gaby - Message to young NOLA

Life is short

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

After all, it is New Orleans

But life isn’t the Big Easy

It’s not ‘easy peasy lemon squeezy’

Some believe in fate,

Some believe in God,

Some are still in that debate

But know this, fate, nor God, will live out your life

They may be present, but know, that what you do

Will pursue

Reap what you sow

Be prudent, be wise,

But don’t be a PRUNE

Plant and harvest love

Weed out the hate

Dust if you must

But wouldn’t it be better to enjoy a beignet

And sit there with sugary powder as the Ponchatrain breeze embraces you?

Yes it’s true, that there’s so much to do

And if there’s no time for rest, then have you ever heard of a breather?

Despite the work and the hardships,

Know this:

A cup of determination, a cup of pure, concentrated will

And a cup of optimism

Will lead you through the potholes

And onto a smooth road.

-Gaby, 16

Rose - Message to young NOLA

Right now, you're probably wondering what you ever did to be plagued with this much pressure. School hasn't ever really been your thing; not that you don't exceed in other areas.

You're probably wondering how you're supposed to succeed now when it's never even really worked out for you in the past, so you should probably get to know this group of boys that I know who struggled with something similar.

These guys had been failing all throughout their 40-year franchise, and it seemed like nothing that they worked for ever went their way. They faced defeat after defeat, and every forward step they took seemed to bring them two steps backward again, like your attempts to go from 3 failing classes to 2 failing classes ended – with 4.

But, you should also probably know that when it came down to the most important moment, the hard work put forth by these guys finally paid off too. They didn’t care that they had never progressed that far before; they just kept moving forward with the help of a fearless leader named Drew. Pretty soon, these guys were a bit of an inspiration to anyone who laid eyes upon them, especially their home city.

And probably the most important part of their story was the end, which you are reaching for yourself now. The final moment to prove yourself. This isn’t any time to ease up; there’s always a chance at success if you have the right drive for it. You should probably take to heart the words that these boys heard at the end of their triumphant journey: Finish Strong.

Rose, age 17

Anonymous - Message to young NOLA

Have fun!
You live in the best city in the world, New Orleans.
Live your life to the fullest and have a great time.
Enjoy the music, the food, and the festivities throughout the city.
See everything! Do everything! Stop at nothing!
The world is your oyster, and New Orleans is at your fingertips.
Live it up! 504ever


Anonymous, age 17

Anonymous - Message to young NOLA

I know it’s hard, living life.

The expectations society puts on us doesn’t make easy.

We can’t be fat, we have to be skinny, and you won’t have a chance if you aren’t pretty.

Don’t listen to them; keep going strong.

You’re a beautiful person; don’t ever let someone tell you otherwise.

We all love you and don’t want to see you wither away.

So keep fighting. Know that your friends and family are behind you.

Don’t just fight for us, but fight for yourself

Anonymous, age 17

Melissa - Message to young NOLA

A wise woman once said,

“Hate breeds hate,

Fear breeds fear,

And love breeds love.”

Life is too short to waste with unkindness;

Take time to let love grow.

Some people have ulterior motives,

But do not be disheveled by their blindness.

Just be still; and know

A wise man once said,

“That karma

Can turn around and bite you;

And those who you think are friends

Can turn around despite you;”

And though you may think that

Everything that happens in the next four years

Defines who you are and what your life will be

You’re wrong.

Ghandi once said that,

“Everything you do is insignificant,

But it is important that you do it.”

Live your life trying

Because once you stop trying, you stop living

Once you stop living, you start dying

And dying is easy

Giving

All of yourself to everything that you do

Is inexplicably difficult, but will ensure you success

But giving all of yourself to people

Who don’t give all of themselves to you

Is never in your best interest

Melissa, age 17

Lane - Message to young NOLA

Untitled

I never knew you back in your young days

Back when you were my age

When I was a “tween”

When you were so weak

I hear the stories and gasp

Why’d you get into all of that?

I like not knowing that side of you

Never go back

- Lane, age 18

Anonymous - Message to young NOLA

YO

New Orleans. New Orleans Youth.

Swim! Swim until it hurts. Never stop. The current of the mighty Mississippi might
pull you away.

Just keep that head up. Swim for those who might need floaties in this city Swim
for those bright, happy days.

Don’t give up.

Ever.

But seriously, don’t…

- Anonymous

Sam - Message to young NOLA

Live without regret
Live without fear
Live two lives:
one for yourself and one for those who aren’t here to live one themselves

Sam, age 17

Olivia - Message to young NOLA

There is this girl down the street

With cupped hands and an impossibly large mouth

Selling her

“FRESHSWEETLEMONAAADE!”
“FRESHSWEETLEMONAAADE!”

There are two little brothers shaded yellow

With colored fingers and unsteady words

Selling their

Lemonade only 50¢
Lemonade only 50¢

FRESH

Ignorance is bliss?

SWEET

Savor every bit.

LEMONADE

Take it all in.

The sweetness brings me back,
And I thank them for that.

Olivia, age 17

Sydney - Message to young NOLA

Feelings
only get you in trouble
Feel for others more than for yourself
Thoughts
Make them good ones
Think about your actions
Tears
Make your face red
Cry and embrace your new color
Anger
Only wastes time
Be mad in your night mare, realize it was just a dream
Laughter
Leads to smiling
Laugh with everyone not at anyone
Judgements
Cause corruption
Judge not, and you will overcome
Love
Be truthful,
Love is not a fantasy, it can be your reality

Sydney, age 17

Hannah - Message to young NOLA

Stand up for yourself. Don’t let others push you around.
Just be you, it’s always better in the end.

Say what’s on your mind and you’ll be forward bound.
Make your thoughts known; it’s always better in the end.

But don’t only speak when you’re saying what people want to hear.
Don’t be a push-over, it’s always better in the end.

You’ll get through everything you are going through
You’ll make friends to last a lifetime, remember, it’s always better in the end.


Hannah, age 17

Alli - Message to young NOLA

Have fun. You only live once.

Don’t believe everything you hear.

Do what you love.

Most importantly:

“Be real, because a mask only fools people on the outside. Pretending to be someone you're not takes a
toll on the real you, and the real you is more important than anyone else.” (All Time Low)

Alli, age 17

Matty - Message to young NOLA

Dear Friend,

To be young, they say, is to be in your prime

This ambiguous moment, they say, is when poems rhyme, and the sun shines

          "Enjoy your time! Ah, such a wonderful city!  Be young here!"
           But what if you aren't particularly happy as a youth?  What if your burdens weigh you down and      the time is uh, slipping, and falling, and just. Out. Of. Reach. And you wake up and you may not be quite as young as you remember.  Or what if this "prime" isn't like the movies. Maybe you didn't get asked to prom, or you don't party on Saturday like all the other cool cats who seem to be as prime as a good steak. Or maybe you do. So? Who cares? What defines a prime? Does it even exist?

I think it’s what you make of it.

But you know what they say, what they say isn't really credible anyway.

Best,

Friend

(Matty, age 16)

Katie - Message to young NOLA

 Makes me whole?

Hey bay do you want some Gumbo?

        Hmmm….

               I can hear the ingredients simmer in the pot

              The overwhelming taste absorbs my mouth

                   The combinations swarm my tummy

                              Makes me whole

Hey Kates red or white beans tonight?

       Hmmm…

              I can hear my brother yell out “RED!”

                 The amount of beans in the pot is overwhelming

                    Take a bite…dryness. No flavor

                             Makes me whole

Hey Katie Bug do you want spaghetti tonight?

                 Hmmm…

                 The noodles are overflowing from the pot

    Moisture radiates off each surface making my tongue overjoyed with happiness

                Red Sauce on my clean, white polo- nothing new

                                Makes me whole

Yo! Want something to eat?

             Hmmm…

          The bubbling and the searing of the tomato on top of the bread

           Crunch, Crunch, broken down one by one each entering equally

             Small but filling, keep them coming… who wants the last one?

                              Makes me whole

Um do you want me to actually cook?

             Hmmm…

              The macaroni and cheese is baking in the oven

                   Fear runs through the veins- decisions

                    Yum? Luckily, Overpowered with coke

                              Makes me whole

Sincerely,

Katie, age 16

Torre - Message to young NOLA

Living in a world inside a bright young mind
In it lies residence of endless needs and opportunities
Lacking are the moments to look behind
And wander aimlessly about what you have done
In front of you lies the future full of notable deeds
There is the presence of curiosity
Encouraged by a desire for self-recognition
Where we will all develop different cognitions
Some of us see discovery and hope
While others only see misery and feel frustration
This is where our true cognition develops
In the hope of rediscovery
Because in this, ambition is generated
That raises up our thirst
To live day by day
Remembering our true thoughts
As we try to take life’s punches
Hoping that it won’t break our backs

Torre, age 16

Ruthie - Message to young NOLA

Living between deities and diets,
TV tells us all we are is a party and a pastry
They see jazz funerals and cemeteries
And flood waters hitting our homes and they say,
That’s New Orleans!
They say we eat and we drink, and sure sure, we do.
They say we party and we pray, and yeah, of course.
They say we’re Bourbon and we’re Basin, and we say, have you been out of the French Quarter?
They’ve got this spotlight on New Orleans so much they can’t see our natural glow.
They hear the myths but won’t wait to hear our story.
But they’ve got New Orleans in their crosshairs now,
They say, we see you! They say, we’ll come down a few days a year,
Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, conventions and conversions, they’ll be here.
Thanks for spending your money, your time!
You never left the quarter, but I guess that’s alright…
There’s more to our city then bars and devastation tours,
They won’t see it.
They’ll go home and say, not too different from my town
Sure, sure, yeah, of course.
Keep kidding yourself.

Ruthie, age 16

Amy - Message to young NOLA

To that girl walking the distance to school every morning, hot or cold, rain or shine, arid or dew.
Here's to you.

You make me wish that we still lived in a safer, more peaceful times, when it would not be seen as an
act of terrorism to offer you a ride.
Sometimes I wish I could, but honestly I've never tried.

You make me realize that I am lucky, but just because those polls of people who walk to school always
come out close to 0%, the kind exists in you.
You make me regret living in the murder capital of the world, which makes me worry for you every time
we pass, and that’s true.

You make me wonder, how long is your walk every day and would you take it if you were offered a ride?
Does it make you scared, when cars slow down around you or honk at you, on the inside?

Well here's what I say to you.
Hold your head high and just keep on walking on by.
For you may not realize, but the little things you do,
every day can make a much bigger impact than on even a girl like me, too.

Amy, age 17

Claire - Message to young NOLA

You went to the dome,

And that was your home,

Why would you go there in the first place?

You thought it was safe

This temporary shelter

Except your home is not there

It is the house that is near

To mine.

Then you went to Texas

You didn’t know what was going on

But a friend saw you on the news

At that point you were still moving on.

After our family friend called “hey, I saw Ben”

My mom decided that you were still on

Earth and we were going to see you again.

You arrived at the Lafayette house like nothing was wrong

And my mom cried because she hadn’t seen you in so long.

You continued to act like you had back home,

Eating oatmeal, chocolate and sweet potatoes on time

You didn’t realize the stress that your presence had caused us to overcome.

Katrina didn’t stop Ben,

And his guardian angel didn’t lead him to the end.

Claire,  age 17

Anonymous - Message to young NOLA

Your Lesson

You left us speechless. Confused and so hurt. We wonder why it happened to you. Why you?
Why now? You are such an inspiration. A person so talented. So happy. So full of life. Again and again
we ask ourselves why you had to go. Now, I know why. You came to teach us a lesson. A lesson like no
other. A lesson greatly needed. Your arrival and quick departure taught us to love like no other, take
advantage of every second of everyday, and make an impact. We thank you for that. We ask you to
help us remember your lesson and what you have left us here to think about. We ask you to help us
carry on, but never again, never forget. We ask you to help us realize that our time is short and we need
to take advantage of it. We ask you to help us love. And most of all, we thank you for teaching us, and
we can’t wait until we meet again!

anonymous, age 17

Brooke - Message to young NOLA

i used to know a girl who ran

good. She said

words weird

ball. not cone.

that’s what we call it at home

praw like craw.

pray at church not with leans

that’s what pecan and caramel means.

she ran away

From food

from Words

crawled in.to a shell

and she fell

skinny. awkward for.ei.gner

voice over at the coroner

i used too many words

efficiently to assume I knew her

the girl who stood up

what I meant

was in.tolerant

for the new girl in her shell

i used to know the girl who ran well.

Brooke, age 16

Lizzie - Message to young NOLA

Our City

New Orleans

French Quarter, streetcars, Mardi Gras, and snowballs,

The people of New Orleans seem to really have it all,

Beignets, the Saints, The Mississippi, and more,

Visitors and tourists don’t even know what’s in store,

Jazz Fest, Gumbo, and music from the soul

New Orleanians love their city, true and whole

Nothing will stop us, we are proud to swim home,

Not even with water surrounding the Dome,

There are many different meanings of the Who Dat Nation, or NOLA, too

What does New Orleans mean to you?

Lizzie, age 16

Darby - Message to young NOLA

Never stop,
live life,
exceed expectations,
go beyond limits
set by those who want to govern
you.

You
are America’s future,
Hope
who has power,
enough power to
control your
future.

Future
is success,
there are no other
options,
failure exists
but only if you allow it to
thrive.

Thrive
in your environment,
take what you can
from it,
keep in mind:

Never stop
because You
are the Future,
you must Thrive.

Darby, age 16

Lillie - Message to young NOLA

Season your years with what feels right,
but never forget what the flavor of home means.
         (lavender and dog breath to me)
Forge your own path,
but never speed through the good scenes.
        (Kodak moments are rarely caught on film)
Support everyone who needs you,
But don’t let your own infrastructure succumb.
        (muscle strength has nothing to do with this)
Don’t coast your way through life,
but always remember where you come from.
        (home isn’t where the heart is, but where the mind often wanders)
But most of all,
don’t worry about every rough edge
because the world is round.
        (and about 131,479,713 and a half feet around)

Lillie Martin, 16

Grace - Message to young NOLA

Never let people get you down

Keep on smiling, and never frown

Things always work out in the end

Be yourself, and no one else my friend

Don’t let anyone tell you who to be

Try it out and you will see

Even when push comes to shove

God will be smiling from above

Make time for school and get good grades

Make good memories that will never fade

Keep friends and family close to your heart

And you and your loved ones will never be apart

Grace, age 16

Holly - Message to young NOLA

The Stars

Have you ever been told to aim for the moon because if you fall you’ll land in the stars?
I have.
My parents always say, “Set a farfetched goal for yourself because achieving your goal isn’t as
important as the person it forces you to become.”
This attitude is New Orleans.
New Orleans is a city of dreamers—full of aspiring musicians, artists, and kids who wish to
make something of themselves; kids who are willing do whatever it takes to become the person
they want to be.

I’m telling you to reach for the moon because if you fall, at least you’ll be among the stars.
I’m telling you to:

Challenge yourself.
Strive to be the person you want to be.
Never let anyone tell you that you're not good enough or that you’re not gonna make it.

The only person who can stop you from becoming the person you want to be is yourself.
Don’t let fear stop your dreams.
If you fall short of a dream, see where it brought you and who you’ve become because of it.
Explore your possibilities.
Aim for the moon so you can end up among the stars.

Holly, age 16

Brittany - Message to young NOLA

New Orleans,
also known as The Big Easy
Some natives pronounce it N'awlins
What do you call it?
Some prefer the initials NOLA
I call it my home
How about you?
Amazing food, enjoyable music,
A true family
What do you think?
We are all connected
Intertwined
The Crescent City


Brittany, age 16