Assistant Editor, Debtwire Municipals
BORN: Council Bluffs, IA
LIVES: New York, NY
MENTOR’S ANECDOTE: So much of Rachel’s work is inspired by, or written for, people she knows and loves, which is inspiring in its vulnerability. Writing with her reminds me how important my friends and family are and how much they have shaped me. I am glad she feels so connected to her community, and I cannot wait to watch her build on that foundation and continue to excel.
This piece is about friendship—specifically, the power of female friendship.
Singing through the halls and dancing in the rain
Navigating through uneven terrain
Having them makes you feel a little more sane
Painting eyes and tying laces
Giggling loud and pulling faces
All the things that friendship encases
When you are with them
You will always feel the sun
Because a girl in the arms of friends
Is a girl who has won
Rachel and I were discussing how much we appreciate our female friends, and we had a goal of writing more poetry this year, so this is how these two ideas came together for me.
From skinned knees to class
from soccer to grad school and
weddings, growing up.
Promise to never
play “Jai Ho!” again. Though, I
miss the dinosaurs.
Have you considered
watching The Golden Compass
while in Baltimore?
Hurricane-zone life:
sun, beaches, cruise, everglades,
evacuations.
Science fiction and
writing. The formation of
the first planets, stars.
Starting with bikes to
origami, hikes. Sharing
stories, patterns, time.
JISELLE ABRAHAM
YEARS AS MENTEE: 4
GRADE: Senior
HIGH SCHOOL: Edward R. Murrow High School
BORN: Queens, NY
LIVES: Brooklyn, NY
MENTEE’S ANECDOTE: For the past four years, Girls Write Now provided me with a community of girls like me to share our feelings. Even if I didn’t share at workshops, it was good to hear what goes on in other people’s heads when they write. Thanks to Girls Write Now, I have a different perspective, and I have learned that every writing genre is a different outlet that can help express other sides of me. I want to thank the Girls Write Now community and my mentor for helping me move forward with writing. It will always be a part of me everywhere I go.
HEATHER STRICKLAND
YEARS AS MENTOR: 4
OCCUPATION: Senior Manager Internal Communications, American Express
BORN: Philadelphia, PA
LIVES: Brooklyn, NY
MENTOR’S ANECDOTE: Over the last four years, I have watched Jiselle grow tremendously, from a quiet, shy girl to a strong, opinionated woman. In turn, Jiselle has challenged me to explore new genres and always asks me how my writing is going, reminding me to put words on the page. We have become especially close this last year, opening up to each other and sharing personal stories to strengthen our bond. The Park Slope Starbucks (our regular meeting spot) will always have a special place in my heart, as will Jiselle. I am so excited to see what the future holds for her!
I wanted my final anthology pieces to illustrate the feelings that people of color might feel. Everybody’s experience is different, but we all have a universal understanding of what it can be like.
White and Blue
Simple in blue
Plain in white
Living in my world
Is a brownish delight
I can see your eyes
Judge my fate
Based on my skin
And based on your hate.
Heavy in power
Low in fear
You think my world
Is too much to bear
That’s where you’re wrong
And that’s ok
How can you feel a statue
When
