Nuntius Californiensis Spring 2017 Nuntius Californiensis-1 | Page 3

Volume XII, Issue 4
Nuntius Californiensis, Spring
Paranoia: A Poem
Convention Stories
(continued from pg. 1)
Joshua Zou, University High School
t starts with a pause when they’re talking.
Certamen, Carmina etc.
“How do I choose just one favorite memory
from a past JCL Convention?
This year’s
th
Convention marked my 19 … that’s a lot of
memories to consider.
3
Instead of just one
memory, many come to mind. Convention
I
Small enough to be a mistake,
to be the momentary turbulence of awkwardness,
an eddy in the Acheron of life.
But it’s not a real pause is it? It’s not a real one, no.
2005 is a highlight. For the 50 th Annual State One birthed inside your own mind, feeding you lies.
Convention we went to University High Maybe you didn’t believe them
School in Irvine. The banquet was at Knott’s at first, but sooner or later, one of them
Berry Farm (super fun!), I rode the chariot (we hit somethin g, something soft, reminding you of
nd
won), and we took 2 place in spirit. Too bad
all the times when you felt the most …alone.
we lost the prize – a giant Frisbee – on our
way back home to San Francisco! Our HS-1
Certamen team worked really hard to earn a
place in the finals.
After they won the
competition by only five points, the team of
The Ancient Greek Word “paranoia,”
meaning “madness”
four freshmen swarmed their coaches. It was And so you believed it didn’t you?
an adorable scene. (continued on pg. 7) Because Oedipus could solve all the problems
that weren’t of his own making.
And when the pause became a voice, you still believed it,
didn’t you?
Even when you knew it was lying.
You devour the pause, the lie, all of it. You gluttonously
digest the “fact”
that proves your insecurities right:
that no one wants you around,
2005 HS-1 Certamen Champions from St. Ignatius
College Preparatory
that people see you the way you see yourself.
You lose yourself to the lie,
You find somewhere else to be (continued on pg. 6)