I AM NOT DAMNED

 “Crime is soaring, schools are failing, government has lost control, and Lawrence, the most godforsaken place in Massachusetts, has never been in worse shape.” ~ Jay Atkinson

I AM NOT DAMNED

I am not damned, I am empowered.

You see my superpower is…teaching.

I use every single fiber in my being to

mold youth into confident resilient

young men and women,

who you can’t hold back by saying they’re

from the so called “damned” City of Lawrence.

I am not damned, I’m motivated.

I’m from undercover dreamers and believers

fighting each and every single day to educate

our youth on how to

move mountains and be themselves because

there is nothing worse than a person who falls for

anything ‘cuz they don’t stand for nothing.

I am not damned, I am neglected.

I didn’t always see myself as

a proud product of Lawrence.

Hiding in the dark, suppressing

all feelings and emotions because

nobody would understand or cared enough to know.

I am not damned, I’m driven.

I wear my heart on my sleeve like Weezy.

I no longer hide but shine bright

because mami says, “echa pa' lante Yulissa sin miedo

porque asi es la vida.”

I am not damned. I am diverse.

I used to say: I’m not supposed to be a teacher though

‘cuz teachers don’t look like me,

with my glowing brown skin, curly hair –not to mention

the fact that I’m a gay female. And yes, I may have

my low income, first generation, college graduate credentials,

but I am not damned.

I am adverse

because now I teach.

I teach students to not limit themselves

because of who they are or who think they should be.

I teach students who look like me and

aspire to do great things…like teach!

I used to see a world that had no place for me, but now… I know better.

* This is my spoken word piece, it is meant to be performed.*