Academic Works

An Analysis of Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever isn’t just a story about a girl chasing wealth— it’s a raw look at how the world shapes us and how our choices shape our fate. Winter Santiaga grows up in a world ruled by money, power, and survival, but as her life unravels, it becomes clear that her downfall isn’t just about the world around her; it’s about the decisions she makes in it. This fiction serves as a way to examine

Battle Through Public School “What are you?”  Not a day at Westlake High School went by without hearing that question: “What are you?” It echoed through hallways, classrooms, and even casual conversations, a seemingly innocent inquiry that carried a weight most people couldn’t understand. For those asking, it was a fleeting moment of curiosity. For me, it was a constant reminder that I was different, that I didn’t fit neatly into the categories society expected. Most people

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Monachopsis:  the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.  By the age of nine, I was familiar with my oddities; a secluded mind, choppy bangs and pronouns that didn’t match my supple face. I learned to let their shame swallow me whole and the vines o