lookingglass
Through the "Looking Glass," readers are invited to dig deeper into our issues as contributors share reflections on their work. Specifically, "Looking Glass" provides a sort of parlor where authors and artists reveal the genesis of their pieces, as well as provide meta-discursive insight into their textual and visual creative works. 
Apprentice Volume 3 Reflections
Young authors from Overbrook High School in Pine Hill, New Jersey were coupled with our editors and introduced to the workmanship of editing and publishing. Apprentices approached the magazine from both an author’s and editor’s perspective. Authors were guided through cover letters, manuscript revision, and submissions. The work they submitted is the work you see in this issue. It is our hope that these young authors will go on to continue publishing their work, as well as consider the editing and publishing industry as they go on to choose their own craft.

Jordan Busch
"Pride"

I bring my passion for reading into my writing. Being that I have always been an avid reader, starting to write seemed like a no-brainer. Passionately reading the works of others gave me the desire to delve into writing myself. I have spent years contributing to school newspapers with nonfiction articles, but I also compose poetry and other creative works. As a freewriter, I do not truly pre-write and plan a story or a piece of poetry. I am more likely to write during a specific emotional period or at a time where I see the world struggling or in a sense of deprivation to the truth. I write to not only become published, but to reduce stress. I use my writing to base my education of new things and to give people a deeper understanding of how I think and why I stand up so strongly for the things I believe in.

Ava Underwood
"Living Paradox"

“Living Paradox” was a piece of artwork that was inspired by hardships that I have gone through. In a way to set myself free, I created artwork that pieces together adjectives from those who had hurt me that seem to contradict each other. I was able to create the thought that I, myself, am a living paradox. Other than creating art like “Living Paradox,” I enjoy meeting new people and having new experiences, which in the end help me create art, whether it is of a positive outcome or negative.

Reina Garcia
"Crossing the Border"

I was born in El Salvador; in 2012, I began my journey through the desert to the United States. The short story “Crossing the Border” was a personal experience I wrote based on the struggles and victories I have had. Through this story I talk about how I overcame my fears, how God performed a miracle by saving me from dying in the middle of a desert. My main purpose in writing stories and poems is to inspire people that everything is possible in life. My passion is to write Christian songs and to play piano.

Leea Rosiak
"Life's a Dream"

I am a singer and songwriter by nature. This is my first time writing poetry. I am figuring out that songwriting and poetry are at times the same but they are also different. This is going to be the first time that I publish my work. After high school, I want to keep writing music, and I want to go to a mechanic school.

Julia Koener
"Mime"

I started to write when I was in seventh grade and had an instant connection to it. My English teacher gave me the motivation and told me I had talent, so I continue to write today. My piece “Mime” was inspired by volunteering at a local food bank and seeing the struggles of their community and that their voices never have the chance to be heard. It struck me that opportunities are taken away from them based on where they live and the income they make. My poem focuses on the feeling of being trapped where they are and being forced to stay silence.

Rob Rossano
"To My Snowboard"

I'm into snowboarding and other action sports. I wrote this poem about me on my snowboard because when I'm on my snowboard, I feel free with no worries. I can enjoy the outdoors and have fun. My snowboard and I have a bond that can't be broken.

Thomas Milewski
"Left Me Behind"

Writing isn’t a habit or a passion I usually have, but my poem has a lot of meaning and connection between my dad and I. He passed away early, and we were in a fight when he passed. My poem is about me missing him.

Noah Iacono
"Free World"

The original topic I was given in class for writing my original poem was nature. I decided to interpret that. I took nature and thought of the world as a whole. When I thought of the world as a whole, I thought of what makes the world go round. Although it’s natural things that keeps us alive, I thought about technology and how it almost runs the world. I decided to use those thoughts and focus on how it can distract people, so I wrote about how there is more to the world than what seems to be. That was the original meaning. After writing it, I found other meanings in my words as well. I believe what I wrote is a good piece of work, and I am proud of it.

Cooper Schipske
"Carnivore"

Art is a place where I can kinda just roll with the first thing that pops into my head. My head is always blowing up with ideas just flowing every which-way. When I find time to make art, almost like a valve on a ball or tire, art is releasing the pressure from within my head. Not all of my pieces specifically have a reason or background behind them, but were just spur of the moment ideas that I just had to get down on paper. Therefore, the meaning behind most of my works is to serve as a pressure reliever. Since I don’t always have a purpose, my goal is that when my artwork is on display, that  the audience looks at and goes through the many possibilities.

Christina Morrison
"Scene from a Scope"

Art is a freedom that can be understood by anyone. As a sophomore at Overbrook Regional High School, I am an aspiring artist who is inspired to cross boundaries and am ready to show my art to anyone willing to see.

Nick Furlow
"Love Is"

I’m a high school senior from the Loch who enjoys playing football as well as sleeping. I might be young, but my poem is about love. During my 17 years of living, I suffered some tough heartbreaks, so I know a little something. I like to express my feelings on the football field, and since football has ended, writing has been a great outlet to express my feelings.

Caitlin McHorney
"Camping"

The inspiration for my short story in the beginning was the fact that I needed it for a grade. Eventually it turned into something that I didn’t expect. My goal when writing this was to have the reader question what happens to the main character throughout the story. I wanted the ending to be questionable and allow the reader to choose what happens. The story goes into detail about certain life lessons including friendship, loyalty, and living in the present. In the end, the story that I wrote at two in the morning just for a grade became a story that appeals to the reader.

Ivannah Sosing
"What is the Fourth of July
to You?"

My motive for writing “What is the Fourth of July to You?” is to raise awareness for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As time has gone on, Independence Day celebrations have gotten more about fireworks and barbecues. Many people have forgotten what the day is really about. Many veterans and active-duty soldiers have the mental illness PTSD. A day meant for celebration is a nightmare because of the countless triggers they experience due to the fireworks. I wrote this poem to inform people of this disease and its traumatic effects.

Gabriella Parisi
"Urban Sunflower"
and "Kaleidoscope Sky"

My interest in art is parallel to the love I have for nature. There is a science behind everything in nature, algorithms followed by plants that happen to form appealing geometrical patterns. I like to imitate this in my art by making deliberate calculations and measurements that form symmetrical pieces of work. Having a minimal formal education means a lot of research on my own, figuring out what I like, and what works for me. It’s fun to experiment imitating nature.

Chandler Wikander
"Ten Things I Love About You"

Things were getting tough at home. The stress of being a teenager and not having a father in my life was wearing on me. Not only did I have music to get me through these times, I used my words to really tell my story. There was nothing that my trumpet or piano could do that would do any justice to the inner turmoil that was eating away at me. While trying to convey my complex emotions towards my father, I knew I needed to keep it light. This was a healing moment for me, and I needed to make it count. My mother was very supportive throughout the whole thing. She kept telling me, “Use your words as your weapon. Be strong and keep your composure.” Since writing this, I’ve come to grips with the reality of not having a father, and now it’s not something that bothers me any more. Writing is therapeutic, in a sense. I wrote more poetry and fictitious novellas in middle school and throughout my first two years of high school before shifting my focus completely on to music. I definitely plan to continue writing throughout college, and even the rest of my life.

Devon Tomasello
"Emergence"

As a young artist, I’ve opened many doors that have helped form me into the person I am today. I’ve dabbled in different art styles like painting, color pencils, oils, and pretty much anything else you can think of. I’ve also done sculpting, printmaking, and photography. However, as a young artist I’m still constantly teaching myself certain things so it’s sometimes hard to draw a purpose in my art besides it being practice.

Justin Thistle
"The Three Trinkets"

I was originally given the task to write a poem, but it turned into my own work of art instead of just a grade. I never write much. I'm more of a drawing artist, but writing is a form of art. Just as hard as drawing a straight line, a perfect curve, and having the perfect shading. Writing is in a way an extension of ourselves. The brain is the brush in writing. Only you limit yourself; never settle for less.