The Things We Carry @ Peterson 6th Grade

I carry my faith in Islam from Chicago.
I carry my knowledge from Chicago.
I carry my love for my family everywhere I go.
I carry my hate for the devil wherever I roam.
I carry my luggage of clothing and other daily items wherever I go.
I carry my Holy Quran wherever I go and place it on my heart.
I carry my defense for protection when I visit someplace new.
I carry my body to walk certain places.
I carry my brain to know where I am going.
I carry my creativity wherever I go because it might be useful one day.
I carry my language so I can greet people by saying “As salaam wo alaikum”

I carry the box that is filled with the ashes of my loved ones.
I carry the pictures that are left of my family and ancestors.
I carry what is left of my old T-Shirts.
I carry all the grief and sadness I had.
I carry the 8 page book my dad wrote to me before he passed away.
I carry toy I got last from my dad.
I carry the love from my family.
I carry the thought if this war never happened
I carry the thought of the war bombing I went though.
I carry the thought “will this war end.”

I carry happiness as I see the light.
I carry sadness when I see I am gone.
I carry friends in my heart throughout the journey.
I carry my family in rhythm of my steps.
I carry knowledge in my head because I know I can.
I carry tears because I am all alone no one beside me.
I carry memories because I have to look behind me.
I carry fun you can’t go wrong with fun.
I carry creativity, you got to have creativity.
I carry my medals and rewards, to see what I have accomplished and see how far I’ve come. I carry them to cherish the successes of my past.

I carry my grandma’s recipes for tamales.
I carry my dad’s Mexican music DVD.
I carry my stuffed toy dog since I was a baby.
I carry my cousin’s soccer ball that he gave me.
I carry my Chicago accent, Spanish and English.
I carry poetry, that learned from Joy Young.
I carry my photographs with my memories.
I carry carry the soccer techniques that I learned to share with others.
I carry my favorite team, Barcelona.
I carry Lake Michigan from my memories.

I carried tears, saying goodbye to the only family I knew before my parents came.
I carried friendships I made, thanks to my new people.
I carried the very little stack of wool clothing I had.
I carried excitement, knowing a new bicycle was waiting for me.
I carried jewelry that later, I never wore.
I carried curiosity, wondering why exactly am I going away with these two nice people?.
I carried a camera, which my parents got because they lost the other, and took pictures of all the white colored people.
I have one thing I carried that was better than the rest, I carried two new people, my parents.
I’m saying goodbye, but hello at the same time and I carried a word that means both.
Namaste.

I carry a tear jar of all the times I’ve cried.
I carry my happy, sad, tragic memories of things that have happened with family and friends.
I carry food to keep me alive during these times.
I carry hygiene products to keep me healthy and clean.
I carry a cup of water to keep me alive,
I carry my blanket and stuffed animal to keep me warm and safe.
I carry money to buy new things of my liking.
I carry my phone, charger, and headphones to keep me occupied and to keep in touch
with loved ones.
I carry words of wisdom from people who have taught me how to live and take care of myself over the years.

I carry my hope for a better life.
I carry my sorrow that I must leave my home.
I carry my books to become knowledgeable in many subjects.
I carry my food to eat when I have none to spare.
I carry my water to quench my thirst.
I carry the money I will take to the foreign exchanged.
I carry the memories I rejoice.
I carry the thoughts that every night come back to me as dreams.
I carry the recipes I have learned that were passed down from generation to generation.

I carry photographic memories from family travels and childhood.
I carry my beloved cat, Shadow.
I carry my drawing and writing journals.
I carry my parent’s favorite perfumes or scents; to be reminded of them.
I carry my parent’s wedding CD’s.
I carry my favorite stuffed animals and blankets.
I carry my dearest memories and nostalgia.
I carry inspiration and optimism.
I carry education and academic achievements.
I carry my cultural background, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and my birth home Chicago, “Chitown Stand Up!”

I carry traditions from years and years and years ago.
I carry money. Some type of currency to make me assured that I will still be healthy and not in a bad situation.
I carry emotional scars. Emotional experiences I have been through.
I carry physical scars. Every scar having a memory of its own.
I carry cards my mom’s uncle sent to her during the war.
I carry pictures as a source of memory of journeys.
I carry books as a source of entertainment and knowledge.
I carry opened eyes knowing positive and negative experiences will be created.
I carry electronics as a source of connection with the people I love most.
I carry hope. I carry hope so I can be successful and know that I can win if I put my mind to it.

I carry my grandfather’s telescope.
I carry the spirit of my aunt.
I carry the books that help me lose myself to another world.
I carry the strength of my Cherokee ancestors.
I carry the perseverance of my Cherokee ancestors.
I carry the stuffed animals to comfort me.
I carry the knowledge that I have gained.
I carry the recipes of my family.
I carry the hope that things will come together.
I carry the pride of my family and the generations that slowly developed our species.
I carry the symbol of thousands of generations.

I carry the mentality of my mother, “What would a winner do?”
I carry food and clothes in the blue-velvet bag that was gifted to me.
I carry the handcrafted wooden music box that plays my great-grandfather’s favorite song.
I carry the creativity of my aunt; her talent for drawing and music.
I carry the ability to use my voice to its full capacity; speaking up for what I need and want.
I carry some of the handmade jewelry and art I have collected.
I carry the morals and integrity my parents taught me.
I carry the memories of my best moments to keep me motivated.
I carry a watch and a compass in order to keep track of where I am and the day.

I carry my document with my very important information.
I carry memories of my African culture, foods, and ancestors.
I carry my loving and tasty family recipes such as goat meat, stew, spinach, and pounded yam.
I carry the colored fabric that I used as formal headwear.
I carry the languages such as Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Fula.
I carry the hot sun, so it can be 104 degrees. Like it is in Lagos, Nigeria.
I carry 2,000 Niger hoping to use it in the future.
I carry memories of holidays throughout my life, good and bad.
Lastly, I carry hope and determination for a new life.