“Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda” or known as

“Love, Simon” Movie Review By Alexa Agnello

Simon Spier is a 16 year old high school student who is in the closet. No one knows he’s gay. There is only one person who knows Simon is gay and his name is Blue. Simon found Blue on his High School’s tumblr page, “Creek Secrets.” In the movie, Blue put a post up on the blog and Simon emailed him under the name Jacques. Simon leaves his email open on one of the school computers and student,  Martin Addison takes pictures of Simon’s emails. Martin threatens to release the emails unless Simon can get Abby Suso to date him. Over the course of the movie Simon tries hard to get Abby to date Martin. In Martin’s final attempt to get Abby to date him, he makes a fool of himself during the football game and gets rejected in front of hundreds of students.

The acting from Nick Robinson (Simon), Katherine Langford (Leah) , Alexandra Shipp (Abby), Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Nick) and Keiynan Lonsdale (Bram) is amazing. All of the actors interpreted their characters authentically.  Nick Robinson portrayed Simon in a unique way and was as awkward as Simon is described.

My favorite detail from the movie is that whenever Simon met someone who he thought was Blue, the next email he received was narrated by that person. The movie is inspiring and may be able to give teenagers, or people in general, the confidence to come out to their family or friends. Even though the movie wasn’t exactly like the book, I still enjoyed every second of it. The movie offered a new look into Simon’s life and the frustrations he experienced when he was younger. This movie shows that you shouldn’t be afraid of who you are, no matter if you’re straight, bisexual, gay or pan, you should be loved the way you are.

Walkout Of Misery

By Christian Allamby

17 minutes for 17 names

The walkout we had showed that gun laws were to blame

Instead of supporting the cause and keeping things organized

We’re off to our lives, with grief surely unrecognized

We did more standing than walking

“Beigel” and “Feis” would’ve wanted a sequel, but their hearts been deported

Led by feet that supported, arms placing kids in safety’s confinement

They took more action than us, but yet can't get another chance at surviving

Student athletics, scholarships for the future

“Alhadeff had her mind on competitive soccer”

One goal set ahead, just for the next morning to be presumed dead

Family wishing she was still alive to see their baby girl run ahead

A band for our fallen, but no more marching for them

“Gina” and “Alex” will always have tunes crowds could never forget

Beautiful souls reaching from broken scars

There is a need to be upset when you don't get a chance to see your child make it far

Why did he do this?

Why does it pain?

Could be from illness…

or he’s just mentally insane

“Peter” and “Petty”, JROTC program

Never to touch the field, because death came and called early

Where’s their medal of honor, not that it settles families losses

No one could ever be ready when all they know is practice

Slowly advancing, death is something they haven't grasped yet

“Carmen”, just like my mother”s name

If she was ever taken from me I’d might scream God’s name in vain

Who knows, maybe he is to blame

But why take an excellent student away from us, playing with our lives like a game

To see a father cry, and have another father die

For “Jamie’s” father I understand the pain that must be inside

To see an angel fly the sky

And realize your princess won’t ever get to reach her height

For “Chris”, with his half missing, his family's left with a hole

No other man could ever replace him even when death leaves a warm hearted man cold

To balance a job and a family, providing your son with the keys to live right

Offering your team the green light, teaching every kid on the roster not to let the screams bite

“Helena”, “Meadow” and “Nicholas”, one more year, that’s ridiculous

Some had scholarships, others didn’t

At least we know fear didn't blurr up their vision

Why did you do this to children?

Three who almost tasted adulthood, waiting for high school to finish

They were headed to college

Why not let them wake so they can finish

Full of life, surely gifted, “Martin” had just experienced new lessons

“Luke” was crossing, bound for greatness

“Cara” coasted, chilling in sand swallowed by deep waves

Three more names of victims, who all had vibrant lives to raise

At certain levels it gets harder for my temperature not to go insane

To have this mess with your brain…

Connecting to these people, hearing the things we all do the same

My duty to feel like a friend, feel for anyone who’s been fighting this pain

If I lose friends I’d be back to writing this

Please don’t force an overtime, you’re taking lives of innocents

Find a new balance between peace and riots

Please as a people, put an end to this

Would’ve found a friend in “Oliver”, writing poetry, we shared the same

And if not, who cares about the differences?

Either dead or alive, we still have our name

But I wish for every child and adult who lost their lives in the Parkland shooting to walk the clouds and prevent anymore rain

For you guys I dedicate this poem with a promise…

If hope dies, i'll make the light shine

The world needs to see the pain, recognize your importance

From one soul to another, I hope you all stay to see the change students are finally involved in...No more misery and crying

A Woman’s story

By Christian Allamby

It starts with you, what they tell every child

It starts with you, “damn I haven’t had a boy in a while”

Fourth trial should be a man just like me, isn’t that wild

Disappointed by my gender, I guess this reality now

Said that you would praise me, but just left my mother to raise me

Don’t go and have another girl, you always see us as lazy

A waste of time to have me

You probably think we mistakes, you probably think we’re only here for sweating the kitchen and handing you cake

My father treating me like my boss now, another man who won’t provide me my raise

I do just as much work as you, but I’m forced to hide around, locked in your safe

He's been so fond of color, let's see what happens when he meets my red

Been so hesitant to show it, my rage feels too powerless to shed

What a phenomenal color, most women wear it on both sides

“She claims her color shows inside and out, but she's just being difficult”

“Flammable fumes, she wants to show red, so ima make her sad, deep down and depressed”

“Claim i cant change you, but my views is what's gonna save you”

The definition of men is crazy

Advocated by thoughts to bring their son to the light, but give their daughters less than a smile and a ride to school once their entire life

Because that life for me was like every six months, mom had to carry me for nine… just for you to go express yourself towards other woman like mom was your slave on the side

“You should run to my words”

“These are your tasks, now cook something good”

“Don’t you dare to talk back”

“Ms. do I make myself clear, or am I misunderstood”

I think my ears work perfectly, tired of hiding bruises under my hood

Never preached for robin to come get me, another man that’ll never look

Look through your blinded eyes, justice will soon reach present times

You know your “perfect” windows will never be tinted, so be satisfied with not having another guy

All you did was ruin my mirrored dreams

Thought who planted me as my father, wouldn’t just whine and scream

2018, might turn you into another dad meme

Disgrace to the human species, you and the men that raped our goals instead of treating us like your picture perfect queen

I’m not your shelter, someone for you to bury your anger

Feel like i've been homeless all my life, you've provided me nothing but danger

Better off with a stranger or running away to become my own leader

Even though most men will deny my victory I’m not someone who’ll serve you like a waiter

Was I ever important, oh wait you’re too busy to deny it

How'd you bring mom that diamond, but wait until you’re out the public to display abuse

Talk all about me, running my mouth, but you could never spill the truth

A part of many chapters in my life, I hope I become good enough to publish it

The world should see you suffer, forget tough love, it’s over

No changing the bruises and scars on my skin

You won’t change for us, there is no “depend”

Open ended regret, swallow your pride because now you're the “GIRL”  within

Wanna be number 1 on the rafters, congratulations you worked 8 hours

Treat them 8 hours like forced labor, abuse me, but speak in a tone like childish laughter

Won’t let me have a phone, won’t let me acknowledge a real man

Is this your plan, indoctrinate my gender, so I feel like I’m on foreign lands

Nothing is enough, won’t let me leave the house unless I’m covered

“Talk to me nice or I’ll make you see blue for not putting my fork and spoon on the right side next to the butter”

How I know your heart is black?

Failed as a father, so don't fight the firing, you can take your own guilt out back, I heard depression’s hiring

You don’t cry when I’m facing struggles

You just lie, missed the moment when I blew my first bubble

But of course you're late, probably at the bar or disgracing mother’s name

Could give no care in the world, but still try and prevent your little girl from having fame

I guess I’ll force my dreams of having a good dad to the side, teach my son how women can be the best part of your life