clouds . Everything looks exactly the same . It even smells the same . I ’ m not sure what else I had been expecting – did I want this place to change , or my eyes to change ? The everpresent images burned into my sight feel too real , starting to fade together to match reality .
The past is all too clear . I remember walking down the alley , looking for a shortcut , mind solely focused on the music buzzing in my ears . It took a while before I saw the men standing in the shadows , lazing against the walls , chatting to one another in hushed tones . I should have listened closer as they turned their attention to me . I should have smiled at them more pleasantly . I should have given them what they wanted . Maybe I should have turned the music ’ s volume up so I couldn ’ t hear the words he spat out at me like venom that had spent too long building up in the back of his throat .
Shock paralysed me as I tried to think . How was I supposed to respond ?
I had never seen that much greed in someone ’ s eyes – hungry for a response , demanding the right type of attention . I saw his sharp teeth behind his grimace , his beady eyes flickering and realised I failed to give him what he wanted . His hot , acrid breath hit me when I saw the gleam of a knife waving around in his loose , careless hands . As I sprinted off I felt my blood burn under the knick of his knife and finally lost control of my thoughts – all full of so much fear . What if he wanted more from me ? What if he was angrier ? What if there are other , crueller monsters out there ? His friends laughed . I forgot how to .
My thoughts still haven ’ t changed . His words play in a loop , again and again until they blur together into a meaningless strand . As I stare at the pavement , I dissect the words , looking for the vicious vitriol I couldn ’ t handle . Maybe it wasn ’ t there to begin with . Maybe I ’ m choosing to overreact . But here on the curb , that knowledge does nothing but make me feel smaller , like I ’ ll implode with the slightest breeze . Was his blade too sharp , or was my skin too thin ?
Far into the dark , a towering figure prowls through the street . I sink into the alley walls , concealed by shadows . He looks around , scouting for prey . As a passing headlight illuminates his face , I notice how much he looks like the monster who hurt me …. But his eyes are wide and his brows drawn in worry , fumbling around in his pockets before drawing out a phone . He looks lost and panicked , like he ’ s been washed away from the safety of his friends . But monsters don ’ t get worried ; monsters don ’ t have anything to fear – not even each other . By himself he ’ s not a monster ; he ’ s just a person , lost , alone and scared .
As he walks off , I realise my body ’ s stopped shaking . I know I ’ m powerless against an inhumane , vicious monster , immune to all reason and feeling , but I don ’ t need to fear a person . Standing up , I take one last look into the alley , heartbeat still thrumming in my ears . I don ’ t find any monsters hiding in the shadows .
Jeremy Beecroft , Year 11
Different , not really . ( Don ’ t judge a book by its cover ) Static Image Assessment
My static image portrays the two sides of Luis at high school . Luis is “ different but not really ”. He has a disability that makes him learn and act differently as seen on the left-hand side of the image . On the left side , Luis is dressed not like the rest of the students . The font and spelling of “ different ” show how difficult writing is for Luis and represents how hard his life can be . His left-sided brain is supercharged . He is wearing drab grey clothes and is surrounded by a grey depressing background . The word “ different ” separates Luis from his classmates . The left side of the image sees Luis as “ other ”. As you can see by the sad expression on his face , Luis does not like to be separated from his classmates or made to feel different . Other features that make him different are his scar and his disabled arm . The left side shows how special classrooms for people with disabilities can be isolating and can make people scared of disability . Most people with a disability don ’ t see themselves as different and actually have many superpowers as seen by the left brain . It is hard for other people to see this if they do not have people who are different in their classroom . On the right side , Luis is smiling and wearing the same uniform as his classmates . The background colours represent a bright and sunny day and show us how good Luis feels when he is part of the big high school crowd . Luis is just like everyone else on this side and has friends standing next to him . The rest of the quote “ but not really ” is curved around Luis and his classmates , joining them together and showing us that Luis is not really that different and is just as capable . This side of the image represents inclusive classes and societies . This image is targeted at mainstream kids and is telling them that no matter their race , religion , or disability , we are all the same , trying to achieve the same things in life . It is important to accept people for who they are , whether you are smart , dumb or disabled , it does not matter at all , there is always someone better or worse off than you , it ’ s no big deal , human diversity is good .
Luis Douglas , Year 11
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