Reminder:

The writing on this blog is from teens who are in a lockdown facility called O&A. O&A stands for Observation and Assessment, a 45-day period ordered by the courts where their behaviors, attitudes, and skills are charted for their juvenile judge.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Fiction Writing Prompt: "3 Keys"




"You were just given three keys. 
They will open anything you want. 
Use your imagination! 
What do they open?" 

"1. The key to my mansion. 2. The key to my 2012 STi. 3. The key to my safe with a billion dollars." 

"1. Opens my closet so I can get my fresh clothes. 2. Door to my mansion on the top of a mountain. 3. Key to my  chest with magical items." 

"1. Key to safe with a hundred billion $$. 2. Key to my mansion in Hawaii. 3. Key to my million $$ yatte (yacht)." 

"1. to my mansion with a soccer arena inside. 2. to Six Flags Amusement park. 3. To my house in LA with babes." 

"1. Opens my Hummer. 2. Opens my big huge house. 3. Opens up my Foot Locker store." 

"Key 1. Opens my farrari f-50 with 2 12" speakers, custom vinyl with custom spinners, iPod with all my fav music. Key 2. Beach house in Malibu. Key 3. Opens my metal vault with 2 billion."

"Key to freedom. Key to a valtfull of money. Key to a Caddillac CTS V black with black rims that have a red going around the lip of the rim with a bumpin system and an iPod touch 64 g with all my favorite music with Selena Gomez sitting in the passenger seat." 

"1. to lamburgini diablo black gold neon with tinted windows. 2. Key to mansion on private island with lots of girls. 3. key to my club on Mars." 

"1. Key to perminent freedom. 2. Key to bank full of money. 3. Key to my private island."

"Space shuttle. Lambergini deablo. All human siclotys." 

"Key 1. Opens my Saleen Twin Turbo S7 jet black car. Key 2. Opens my huge mangen. Key 3. Opens my garage that has my jet, motorcycles, for wheelers, jet skies, the rest of my cars." 

"Room full of super powers. Utopia. The biggest & best stadium in the world." 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Everyone Has a Story: "A little part of my story"

I was born in Salt Lake City but I was raised in Mexico and were i was raised is not much but thats were im from but i have a lot of storys to tell about my life. i could prolly write a book but im a start by writting about wen i got jumped into my gang so i was around the age of 13 and it all started cuz of my family they are all gangsters so they started taking me out and do stuff that I was only gona get me into trouble but I did dem any way. but so wen i was 13 I got jumped by my cuzins and some other guys to this gang. Shortly after that I started getting into a lot of trouble I stopped going to school I started getting into alot of fights just cuz a stupid color and a lot of other stuff that in the end was not worth it but it took me a long time for me to realize that i guess its true what they say i found that girl i love and she made me change and thank god she is still with me but that's pretty much a little story of how i use to be in a gang and got out of it to change my future and my life... 

AP, age 17

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Everyone Has a Story: "My Amazing Dog"

One day when I was watching a bruce lee movie and my mom was throwing my dads belongings in the back of his truck I heard a loud screach of a car slamming on its brakes, followed by the loud yelp or cry of a dog. Frantically I jumped up from the couch to look for my dog Buster, with no sign of him, I bolted out front. To my horror I seen my dog pinned under a vehicle with neibors and family standing around. I then yeled to lift the car off him so we tryed our best with no luck when a massive Soman man stopped his van to then lift the car enough for my broken dog to drag himself free. He had broken his lower back and was paralized from the mid back down. He was taken to the vet and put down due to severe injuries. We cremated him and had his paw print taken and to this day I often think about my amazing dog Buster.

SN, age 17

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Everyone Has a Story: "Scouts and Me"

One day me and my scout troop decided to go on a scout camp to heart lake in the mountains as part of the trip we decided that we weren't going to bring sleeping bags or tents. we were just going to use tarps and ropes for shelter and to sleep in. So when we get up there we tie the tarps in a slanted position on top of some trees so that it would keep rain off us and that was about it, there were no walls around us except one facing the exit of the camp, that looked like a slash "l" and we used the other tarps as sleeping bags. Well at night after going fishing and cooking fish over an open fire we all started to fall asleep, there were about 4 people under each tarp, and my group we stayed up and we talked quietly then we started to nod off and right before we fell asleep we hear this amazingly loud rumbling and the ground shaking going BOOM! BOOM! we thought at first it was a minature earthquake, but it kept going in that patter, and it kept getting closer and louder so we were like someone go check what it is then I look out and see a huge bear just standing in our camp, looking around. apparently it smelt the fish but we were all helpless if that bear decided to attack no tent walls nothing. Amazingly it just wandered away and then the scout masters came out with there guns to make sure everyone was safe. And that's my story! :o)

M.J., age 17

Monday, August 22, 2011

Everyone Has a Story: "Out of the Box"

Once i got in the system and got locked up everything changed for me. The first time i got caught up was like the whole world came down on me and i felt like crap. When i first got locked up i didn't know what was going to happen next and was scared that i wasn't going to go home and that i was going to stay longer. But once i left and went home i didn't care and was like "that was nothing" so then i started getting in trouble more til i finally got in to much trouble and had the possibilyty that i wasn't going home and got into a program that could help me with my issues and problems so it did help me get my head straight and set my goals together and get my Education back and have more respect for my family and future so i won't be in a box and have a family.

A.R., age 17

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Class Poetry: "The world doesn't understand"


The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
And they never will, for you see we can
never truly understand each other unless you
feel the same pain. Maybe then we can all
be brothers.

JP, age 16


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
Smiling on the outside crying on the out
but I refuse to sit and pout
on the inside. I let out a real loud shout
Still figuring out what this lifes about
My life takes a whole new route
My lady two months pregnant with my baby
and it so crazy but I've been raised a G
The heat has got the best of me that was
obviously not my destiny. So before it end with
rest in peice I thought of my neice and I know
she be there at least better than any drag all I
gotta do is give her a hug. No long feel the need
to smoke any week. Yes indeed all I need is my
family.

CM, age 16


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
I want to do right but dident now how
to do it. I cant sit here and hurt
my fam. I can't and wont be the
bad guy. Im gonna do whats
right being with my family is worth
it. not getting into trouble. I rather
do the right thing not the bad thing.
I wanna get out and do whats right.

FC, age 13


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
A confused kid who doesn't understand what he has
oppurtunitys giving to him
but he throws them in the trash
but when the day comes he will show you all
that he isn't a kid who crumples and falls.

AR, age 17


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
I don't even no my self any more
now I em lock up doing the
rong things. Grandma I em so
sorry that you have to see me
like this. I never want you
to see me lock up. I love you
and I miss you. I em trying
to make it right.

MN, age 15


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
All they see is the outside, never looking in
Don't ask me why. But I wish they would
look a little deeper and try to help me out
while I self destruct into a million pieces
then I won't be able to bounce back again
so help me now I save from a gruesome
end and I will tag along writing with my
pen all the things I can win if I set
my mind in motion.

SN, age 17


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
I yurn to be free
Just the world and me
Everyone judges what they see
but they don't know me.

RE, age 16






Friday, August 19, 2011

Class Poetry: "The world doesn't understand"

The world doesn't understand
what's going on in me
But the only one that does
isn't always around to talk to me
So the young man that has no body
goes out in the street
He is always running on his feet, packin heat
running from the police this is why
this kid shouldn't be on the street.
Because he is always running on
the street on his feet packin heat
while he's running from the police.
But then once he is gone to DT
the person to talk to gets on their
feet to look for him on the street
But he isn't there an now he feels defeat.

GL, age 16
------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
But yet everyone thinks their better
than me, I'm told I'm angry
I'm told I'm hurt And I don't disagree
but look me in the eye and
tell me I don't have a reason
to be, I try so hard to fake it
Just to try and make it
But I just can't shake it
The feeling that the world doesn't
understand what's going on in me.

ZH, age 17


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
life has struggle we need to overcome.
I have faith one day I will succeed.
I've made bad choices but I'm changing
my ways. No more brick walls or program
clothes. It's my time to shine and get back
on my grind. I ain't talkin bout hustlin, I'm
talkin bout a job I will enjoy and that I
have worked hard for. Hustlin is easy and
quick but how all I see is brick and I
ask myself "Wess good now?"
I start today by changing my ways.
Money is money but I got to make it
the right way.

TP, age 17


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
tell me do you see me or do you
see what appears to be me?
Do you see a confident young lady or
an overly compulsive young layd
Do you see Beauty or a beast
I know the world doesn't understand me
Because I don't even understand me.

SC, age 16


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
I feel sad, like I'm the one who is to suffer or
pay for that mans wrong doings. I"ve lost everything,
How can I cope, when sometimes the ones who ment
me harm are those that said "I love you." When fear
is my friend, I feel like it but don't act. I always was
the one to protect the little ones. And I'll always
remember I'm the survivor and I get to tell the
story. But what happens when that storyes at its end?

AS, age 16


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
I live in a pineapple under the sea,
a lonely starfish lives next to me.
We stay up all day and party all night
Until Sarah's class comes and gives us a fright.

MT, age 16


------------------------------------------------------
The world doesn't understand
What's going on in me
I live in a rock under the sea, an annoying
sponge lives next to me, we stay up all day
and party all night until Sarahs class comes
so we hurry and write.

JC, age 17





Thursday, August 18, 2011

Poetry: "When we met"

When we met for the very first time,
I felt like a rocket in the sky.
I thought you'd be right by my side,
but now your gone and I'm all alone
wishing you didn't do the things you did
You said you lost me but I'm still here
When I told you I loved you I ment it
So I'm gonna be here forever my dear
Mom told me to never judge a book by its cover
Even though you did what you did
I still love you because you were there
when I needed you the most & I'm your love.

TP, age 17

Monday, August 1, 2011

Poetry: "The Life of a G!"

Its hard livin the life
of a g! looking ova my
shoulder at the age of
sixteen. Thinkin what
will happen to me am
I gonna get jumped
shanked a bullet to
my brain? or am I gonna
get to spend another
day with my family. I
know I messed up choosin
this life but know it's time
will I live or die. Thats just
the thing nothing in this
worlds perfect, wait I dont
believe that you see she
my daughter shes undefeated
shes the most precious thing
that Ive ever seen and I pray
to god she don't bang at the
age of thirteen. This aint
the life for a little gir no
doubt about it, it may seem
cool it may seem fun, but its
not the life to be livin on
the run, to have to cary a
gun so you dont get shot
but cops dont care it's just
another bullet on the block
just another Mexican, cops dont
care cuz most of them are
different skin. But I can't
change that, thats their
problem. I got enough of them
as it is but thats how it
is to live the life of a g
you never know what to
expect sometimes I look at
myself then at my man and
think do I really want this
life around my kid. I never
once asked if it scared
her. did we prepare her
never ment to scare her
what does she see through
her little brown eyes Mom
and dad always having
fights. Moms sorry I never
ment to have you see that
but just remember we love
and we never ment to hurt
you. never ment to make you cry
we want to see you smile
tell the day that we die. you
know hun its craz we lost
your little sister but I know in time
you'll learn to miss her. I know
I miss her daddy even misses
her but just remember baby
shes in a better place and
we can't change that no
one understand why it
happened thats why I seem to
cry and cry. Why are we
left here to suffer, what
did I do what did I say to
make god change his ways.
That was my baby I watched
her grow, then you took her
away like it was nothing at
all I cant believe it. I feel
so defeated my hearts torn
to tiny little ity pieces. She
never got a chance to take
her first breath to get her
first glance when she came
she was so tiny so perfect I
didnt understand why she was
just as big as my hand
but what happend, happened
I'll just keep pushin tell the
very end.

MS, age 16