Where Are You From?

Submitted by The Fifth Grade Team

Have you ever been asked, “Where are you from?”  Fifth graders realized that the answer isn’t defined by a singular place.  Where Are You From?, by Yamile Saied Mendez, is a beautiful story of a  girl who is asked a simple question that does not have a simple answer.  The story explores the topics of love, family, and identity.  As a way of reflecting on their families’ unique backgrounds and histories, fifth grade students wrote poems entitled “I Am From” as part of our poetry unit.  First, the students brainstormed where they are from by identifying important family members, vacation memories, personal belongings, special foods and holidays with great significance from their lives.  They then drafted their “I Am From” poems and revised their pieces to bring forth their best writing.  This was a community building writing assignment that allowed each student to showcase his/her identity and provide his/her classmates with an opportunity to learn more about one another.  We hope that writing these special poems helped the students recognize and celebrate the beauty of their differences.

I Am From

By Trennon M.

I am from a white house with a hot tub and a pool,

From chocolate chip pancakes and cheese burgers.

I am from piano, traveling, Nintendo, and a big city of Legos.

From going to Vermont on the weekends during winter.

I am from lots of skiing and lots of snow,

From sports, video games, and drawing.

I am from a selfless, loving mom,

Who makes lots of tasty meals and snacks.

I’m from a funny, hardworking dad,

Who uses his limited free time to help me practice baseball.

I’m from the laughter of Lauryn and the jokes from my dad and mom.

From the love of my entire family.

I am from ski trips to Killington, Vermont, Mt Hood, Oregon, and vacations to Europe.

From Christmas cards, trees, cookies

And dinners at my grandma’s on Christmas eve.

I’m from birthday dinners, cakes, cards, and presents.

From pumpkins and trick or treating on Halloween.

I’m from video games with my uncle and going to the little league world series with my dad.

At my house, in my living room, I can find my great grandpa’s grand piano.

When I play it I get reminded of him.

On my dresser, in a case, sits a baseball signed by many famous baseball players including

Aaron Judge. All remind me of my joy, my love, my memories, and my family.

Where I’m From

Dhruv A.

I’m from woven string bracelets that I were to this day,

From beaded necklaces and hand made leather balls.

I’m from rakis, soft black sweatshirts, dusty mandirs, and long white airplanes. 

From small remote control car collections

I’m from long rocky hikes and black & white chess sets.

 From dad’s old tennis racket, milky white kier, and squishy rubber balls.

I’m from a happy, hardworking mom

Who always cleans up after my messes.

I’m from a tall, kind dad

Who always looked after me even when it was hard

I’m from the sweets of Nani and Dadi.

From a family who keeps laughter and joy in the air.

I’m from bright yellow lights on Diwali, Staying away from the bright powder on Holi, and hand made bracelets on Rakhi.

From fights with my sister, a yearly trip to India, and Dad’s beautiful engagement ring

And the sweet taste of keir pori on Punum.

I’m from Friday night movies, long strategic chess games, online classes, waking up late on the weekend.

From decorating the house on Diwali with lights, lamps, and long lines of dias.

I’m from roti sabji dal and hot, red, raw, Indian peppers.

In my mind in a long pink cell, I can find some old cheerful photos, filled with memories that will always have a place in me.

In storage a soft small batman blanket, that I once slept with lay comfortably filled with dust

My small loveable dino collection sits on my sidetable. 

It all reminds me of my fun, my laughter, my memories, my love.

         My family.