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Sometimes, there’s a weight.
Pressing, pressing.
It encompasses you completely, engulfing the mind, swallowing the body.
Paging, paging.
There’s a beck and call at every corner of the world, of your world–
The place where you’re supposed to be whole.
Blinking, blinking.
The sun, the moon, the stars. The big blue canvas alight, on fire, far above what lies below.
You shut your eyes not to be blinded by all that shines, morning or night.
Squinting, squinting.
Because sometimes something that glimmers can be unbearable–
Especially when you hold yourself against it.
Drowning, drowning.
You’re back out at sea, unable to recover from whatever this is, this tunnel you cannot escape, this ocean you can’t make it out of.
The mundanity around you begins to feel like chains, your coffin bound to the depths of the water as those around you replace the light with artificial because it looks better–cooler.
Dying, waking.
Another circle is drawn.
Hello! I’m Mikayah. Here’s a little about me! I graduated from Amherst College in May 2024 and became the the first person in my family to attend college. I majored in American Studies, English, History, and Black Studies with a concentration in Black feminist literary theory. I completed the Summer Bridge program at Amherst College, was a Residential Tutor in the Summer Bridge program at Amherst College, and eventually wrote my senior thesis on the Summer Bridge program at Amherst College. I am now pursuing a Master’s in Secondary Education at Wake Forest University as a Winston-Salem TEACH fellow. Additionally, I have worked as a Virtual Access Instructor and Transition Coach for the nonprofit Let’s Get Ready. I taught 9th grade ELA with Breakthrough Atlanta and underwent extensive professional development and teacher training. I am passionate about education and work to create change within it. Please use the resources provided at your disposal, and feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions.
World of Words 
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