Sophia Kaushik is a high school student from California who is passionate about literature and writing. Sophia has been writing poetry and short fiction for as long as she can remember and has had her work published in a number of literary journals. She is a book review writer for her school newspaper and a founder of her school’s poetry club. Outside of school, Sophia studies classical voice and sings at recitals, charitable concerts, and competitions. She also volunteers as a middle-school tutor in reading comprehension and math. Sophia is a strong believer in the power of the written word and the endless possibilities that come with literacy. Participating in the Sociality of the Story Refugee Project as a peer reviewer has been a transformative experience for Sophia, as it has reinforced her belief that storytelling has no boundaries and can unite us in our shared human experiences. Sophia’s favorite part of participating in the project has been meeting and getting to know Blandine Mulenga through the peer review process and during the final interview. Sophia feels privileged to have had the opportunity to help Blandine tell her story.
Personal Narrative
Interview with Ali
I’m writing about the man who used to chop wood in the village. The wood was useful to people here. People used his woods to build houses, burn charcoal, and for domestic use. I chose this topic because one of my friends was a chop wood cutter. I want my readers to know the way of living in the village where I live.
Young Person Under the Influence, by David Assumani Josh
My cousin Glory lived in Uvira, a province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the village where I spent my childhood. Life was peaceful for Glory until the day when destiny took a tragic turn. The sudden death of his beloved mother plunged Glory into an abyss of pain and despair. His pillar, his source of comfort, had disappeared, leaving a gaping void in his already bruised heart. Devastated by the loss of his mother, Glory instinctively turned to his father for support and guidance. However, his father, already distracted by another adulterous relationship with a mistress, seemed unable to meet his son’s emotional needs. As the days passed, Glory’s grief turned into bitterness and resentment towards his father who had left him alone in his pain. Glory decided to leave his father’s house to go and live with his grandmother. He felt she was the only one who could understand his loss. Glory’s grandmother was a widow, and Glory’s mother her only child. Like Glory, she was alone. Although Glory felt he had to be with his grandmother, she lacked the means to take care of his material needs. So he decided to drop out of school. Over time, Glory began to withdraw into himself, seeking refuge in dubious social circles. He was attracted to a group of young rebels, who, like him, seemed to have been broken by life. These new friends led him into illegal activities, they taught him risky behaviors. Together, Glory and his new friends spend their time smoking and drinking alcohol. As the weeks and months passed, Glory drifted further and further from his good manners. His father, blinded by his own guilt and obsessed with his new wife, did not notice his son’s drift. Glory found himself trapped between the grief of losing his mother, the anger towards his father, and the toxic influence of his new friends. As the dark clouds seemed to envelop his existence, a glimmer of hope emerged from the shadows. A kind neighbor, who had known Glory’s mother, saw the boy’s distress and decided to intervene. She took the time to listen to him, to understand his suffering, and to offer him a safe haven away from the bad influences that threatened to consume him. Although it wasn’t too late for him to turn his life around, seeing Glory’s journey has always served as a warning to me to surround myself with good people who help me on my path. This story was peer reviewed by: Niko King-Mahan
