Before, I always wished that I was older. Now that I am, I don’t want to grow any older. —Jao San Pedro

Marah

Despite all the humiliation and deprivation that I have faced in my city, I still truly love it. I love its people. Maybe because I was raised as a forgiving person, forgiveness is something the conflict couldn’t take away from me. I used to think that forgiveness was a sign of weakness, but I now realize that forgiveness is a source of strength. Read More »

Kiana

My grandparents raised me Catholic. I had no way out of it. I graduated from a Catholic high school and it was protocol to attend confession every month. I mostly skipped, but on days when I couldn’t, I’d go last, assuming that the attending priest would be so tired hearing 36 teenagers spew their sins and ask for forgiveness and absolution. I asked my classmates how they felt after confession. Mostly they’d reply, “I feel forgiven and cleansed.” But I didn’t feel forgiven or cleansed. Read More »