I am teenager living in one of the most diverse cities in the world, los angeles
a place where eclecticism blossoms
the nightlife electrifies you
and the distinct culture broadens your imagination
all you see is magic
blinding you from the chaos that intoxicates like smog

I have grown up colorblind
no ethnicity, race, gender, or class
can portray a divergent image in my mind
finishing high school and overwhelmed with high expectations
feeling more inclined to learning more about the world around me

With a blink of an eye, news about shootings and beatings are flooding my newsfeed
videos going viral
protests being organized
trying to absorb meaning behind all of this
Opening my eyes wider, forcing myself to see the world differently, like with X-ray goggles

Looking deeper, seeing through the mask that covers up true emotions
looking deeper, wondering why so many people are judged and treated differently based on their beliefs, gender, and sexual orientation…

The chaos not only surrounds the city that i live in, but the whole world
a world emphasizing one beautiful nation and advertising endless possibilities
turns out to be an opaque realization that you might have ability to experience

As I become a small speck in this wild and big world, I can not feel small
this can not be the way I see my city
there needs to be change
new faces, new voices, new lives

There will be change, and I am going to bring it
and the city of angels with sparkle with and without the X-ray goggles