TAKE A SEAT

An effort to balance multiple concerns.

I was raised by my dad who was not my dad from birth. I am different from the others. I met my dad when I was 11. I am lucky to have a big family and lots of people to love me.

People inspire me. I imagine New York is full of people who live in small spaces and are trendy. I want to be one of the people in New York.

I am gay but that does not define me.

Fear holds me back. I am learning to take risks.

I lost my dad to cancer. He taught me to be honest.

Being held against one's will. Human trafficking.

I have been violated beyond repair. Haunted by the memories and tortured by the horrid thought that most of the perpetrators roam free scavenging for the next weakling to sink their teeth into.

I am diabetic. I deal with my condition through music.

My life is a constant attempt to see a situation from all angles.

I fear being unproductive. I need a reminder to stay mobile.

My whole life I was bullied. I cannot change that.

I hide the chaos in my head through the mask that I wear.

My story is a series of curved roads and whirlpools. I am my best companion. I am me. Society will not change me.

My life is a battle between pretentious beings and nature.

Her complexity, strength, weaknesses and beauty all constitute to her nature. She makes me want to thrive to be a more respectable human being everyday. To be tender, yet stay grounded and powerful. To be humble, yet confident and proud. To use these qualities to my advantage and progress in whatever situation I find myself in. My mom.

I am inspired by nature. I am South African.

My African friends are ashamed of their cultural heritage. I am not.

I remember a carefree childhood. No stress. No worries. My younger brother was my best friend. Now we hardly speak.

I witness greed. The excessive wealth of a select few is ridiculous.

I am determined to walk my own path

The teachers reported; quiet but remains positive. I was alone. My escape, music.

I have learnt to love and accept myself. Even my percevied faulty characteristics.

I don’t like people inside of my safe space. It must be isolated.

I fought with my mother for buying me the wrong brand of sanitary pads. She cried. She grew up without sanitary pads.

I can only do so much with the things I have seen. I choose to embrace or let go.

I let myself free. I own the closet and every accessory inside it.

I grieve the loss of someone close. I go on with life. Someone notices.

My journey is a story of memories and events and bumps and bruises.

Every day I wake up and I prepare for war, I prepare for the daily battle that my life has become. A never ending battle between myself and my body. I suffer from bulimia.

I gave in to my parent's dream for my future.

I let my mind take flight

I feel like I live in a prison. A prison of my own skin. Where people judge me, before they know my full story. I am white.

Life is a process of finding yourself. I am on the journey.

My life is a connection of pieces and gaps.

I owe it to my parents to realise my purpose and escape mediocrity.

My father passed away when I was 15 years old. My heart was broken. I put my broken pieces together and learnt to live life again.

I am South African. I challenge the concept that South Africans are badly educated.

I grew up on a farm being encouraged and comforted where 90% of the language spoken was not my mother tongue, Afrikaans. This experience taught me that culture matters less when we all speak a common language, of love and support for each other.

My life has been inspired by my mom and my family. Sacrifices and growth. Challenges and second chances.

I am a product of the sacrifices my parents made.

Life does change.

I am encouraged to reignite the positive aspects from my past.

I am proud to be a Sotho female. I value my culture and traditions. I am free and comfortable in my skin.

I sometimes feel static. I move towards my goals, firmly seated.

Growing up I always felt like I didn’t fit in. Now I am pleased to stand out.

I have Congolese friends.

I was born with Hirtchprung disease. I survived 13 operations before I was 6 months old. I discovered sport. I have finished every race that I have entered. I am a survivor.

I see the world differently. I look for the finer detail and hidden messages.

Nothingness inspires me. Wide open spaces are breath taking.

I am out of the ordinary. It is ok.

I recognise my heritage. I appreciate that I must adapt to new environments without destroying my past.

We see and are seen simultaneously. Perceptions are best understood when we switch them actively.

As a child, I was surrounded by conflict. My success is a choice.

I may appear to be weak or broken. I am functional.

I have a ruined past with potential to change and grow.

I just want peace. It is in my DNA. Even if you are rude to me, I will be kind.

My safe space is my imagination. I love the fluffiness of my chair.

I shield myself from anyone and everything that causes me harm.

I am everything that had come before me. I am everything that will exist one day. I am the voice of the Soul. I am Heritage.