On the Subway By Sharon Olds The young man and I face each other. His feet are huge, in black sneakers laced with white in a complex pattern like a set of intentional scars. We are stuck on opposite sides of the car, a couple of molecules stuck in a rod of energy rapidly moving through darkness. He has or my white eye imagines he has the casual cold look of a mugger, alert under lowered eyelids. He is wearing red, like the inside of the body exposed. I am wearing old fur, the whole skin of an animal taken and used. I look at his unknown face, he looks at my grandmother's coat, and I don't know if I am in his power – he could take my coat so easily, my briefcase, my life - or if he is in my power, the way I am living off his life, eating the steak he may not be eating, as if I am taking the food from his mouth. And he is black and I am white, and without meaning or trying to I must profit from our history, the way he absorbs the murderous beams of the nation's heart, as black cotton absorbs the heat of the sun and holds it. There is no way to know how easy this white skin makes my life, this life he could break so easily, the way I think his own back is being broken, the rod of his soul that at birth was dark and fluid, rich as the heart of a seedling ready to thrust up into any available light. In the poem "On the Subway," by Sharon Olds, 2012, the protagonist's point of view and narration describes an encounter with a black man on a subway train. Through the use of literary elements such as historical allusions, the vivid setting of the poem, and the brilliant contrasts between Black and White, Olds suggests that even in modern society, racist views and feelings are still a prevalent undercurrent. Rolling straight into her poem, Olds is particular about where she sets the scene, as it is a vital keystone in illustrating the theme of racial prejudice in modern society. Starting with Olds' carefully constructed title, "On the Subway," she is already building her groundwork, quite literally, as it states the location of the scene described — the subway. As the poem starts, Olds continues to paint the picture and reaffirm the title, writing, "We are stuck on opposite sides of the car...rapidly moving through darkness." This is paramount for Olds as she does one of two things. First, Olds establishes her setting in the subway and then utilizes this setting as a powerful metaphor to represent the undercurrent of society's racism as subways run underground. Second, as Olds describes the situation of the subway, she illustrates the sharp divide between black and white, "stuck on opposite sides." Through her deliberate choice of words and setting, Olds highlights the physical and abstract barriers that prevent many people from accepting their peers and becoming stronger as a community. To further strengthen her point of the barriers and social views, Olds demonstrates the racist views of modern society through her protagonist, who represents mainstream society. In her poem, she writes, "He has or my white eye imagines he has the casual cold look of a mugger...he is black and I am white, and without meaning or trying to I must profit from our history...". With the short amount of time a subway trip provides, Olds's main character has stereotyped the young man across from her, judging his looks, the color of his skin, and his history, feeling both afraid and condescending towards a person she knows nothing about. This divide represents the views, ideals, and life situations both sides are experiencing, showcasing this still very prevalent undercurrent of racist views. Digging deeper into Olds's poem, she transports the past to the present as she uses historical allusions to once more expose modern-day society's racist views and bias, openly or cleverly concealing them in plain sight. Olds begins promptly, "He is wearing red, like the inside of the body exposed. I am wearing old fur, the whole skin of an animal taken and used." These short sentences are deeply significant. Looking at the word 'red,' there are many connotations associated with it; in this case, however, the primary connotation is blood, and the young man 'is wearing red, like the inside of the body exposed.' Slavery was a cruel, inhumane occupation that shed the innocent blood of millions of black people through continual acts of brutality at the drop of a hat. Black people were not considered humans and, therefore, were treated like animals. With this new context looking then at, "I am wearing old fur, the whole skin of an animal taken and used," Olds again highlights and connects the beliefs many whites held onto for generations: black people are less than human, black people are animals, alive for the benefit of the white, to serve, to work, and to be taken advantage of to be helpful to the superior people. Through these historical allusions, racist views and themes are pouring out of the seams and into the spotlight. Furthermore, Olds again travels deeper into modern-day society's structural inequity and racist views as she contrasts Black vs. White throughout her poem. Olds writes from her protagonist's point of view, saying, "We are stuck on opposite sides of the car...He is wearing red, like the inside of the body exposed I am wearing old fur, the whole skin of an animal taken and used...he is black and I am white..." These excerpts, taken from different parts of Olds's poem, illustrate the disparity between the main character and the black man she encounters on the subway. The first, "We are stuck on opposite sides of the car," illustrates the different backgrounds the main character and the black man come from; the subway car is like life, and they are stuck on opposite sides, male versus female, black versus white. Then, "He is wearing red, like the inside of the body exposed I am wearing old fur, the whole skin of an animal taken and used," is another distinction, her rich versus his poor, representing how the past positions of their families, and people were passed down, the white woman with her generational wealth, and the black man with his hand me down clothes with no generational wealth. After slavery was abolished, the odds were still stacked high against blacks. The restatement of "he is black and I am white." These apparent opposites reconfirm the divide and prejudice between these two people, crucial to laying bare the stark divide and undercurrent of racist views. Overall, Olds's poem is a beautifully constructed masterpiece that sheds light on the horrible and disheartening undercurrents of American society. While American society has come a long way in learning to accept others and close chasms that divide communities and allow racist views to fester, the views and feelings toward those with a different skin color have been facilitated over hundreds of years, making it extremely difficult to root it out. The different settings or backgrounds a person might come from and the blatant differences that cause distrust and judgment of those deemed different or inferior is a slow process of change that Olds is trying to help kickstart. Olds's poem is a strong example of bringing injustice and racist views to the forefront, allowing them to be examined, understood, and changed for the betterment of society and human connection.

I am the second oldest of eight kids, so life is always a party! I was raised to work hard, be honest, help others, and find joy in every day. I love being active and, through my involvement in high school sports, I have developed an incredibly precise dream. My dream is simple. I want to be a high school coach, specifically for Cross Country and Track and Field. While this might not seem like the most glamorous or meaningful job, it is my passion to work with kids and especially young women to help shape who they are and who they will become. I love pushing not only myself but everyone around me to reach new accomplishments! As a high school student, athletics have been incredibly beneficial for me and have shaped my character. Through sports, I have gained not only confidence, self-esteem, and a strong work ethic, but also amazing role models who have set me up for success in all aspects of my life. I want to give other young women the opportunities and encouragement I have been given. As an upperclassman, I took on major responsibilities during my athletic season, making my senior year particularly meaningful. In Track and Field, my main events are long-distance, but our team lacked a coach with experience in our events. While the coach we had was a great asset as a cheerleader and timer, I had to take charge of my team to fill in the gaps. As I worked with my coach and other coaches to develop an effective training program, I got to watch my teammates grow and achieve new personal bests. Taking on the role of coaching was extremely challenging, but it became the most rewarding experience of my life so far. One of my favorite memories was helping a freshman break six minutes in the 1600m. While I did not run the race with her, I got to coach her through every step. I went over a race plan with her, mentally prepared and encouraged her, and then cheered my heart out around the track. Watching her cross the line, knowing that I had a hand in her growth, was the proudest and happiest moment of my life. I want to chase that feeling every day as a coach helping others achieve their “impossible” goals. As a silly little freshman girl, I did not have confidence in myself or my abilities, but as my coaches believed in me, I began to believe in myself. The change they inspired by empowering me will have an endless ripple effect, especially as I plan to pay it forward. I will continue to encourage and support the strong women around me and everyone I can reach to push their limits and reach for their stars. As I coach, I will not just train athletes but create a loving environment that will change the lives of my athletes. I hope to become a pillar in my community and source of strength for women to draw from. My dream is that my impact will continue for generations as the strong women I mentor step into my place and continue to empower others.

I am the second oldest of eight kids, so life is a party! I was raised to work hard, be honest, help others, and be happy. I love being active, and so I joined sports in high school, which was one of the best decisions I have ever made as it shaped not only my character and life, but my goals and future aspirations. The big goal for my life is simple: I plan to save the world—a big statement with a very underappreciated role. I want to be a coach! For most of high school, I did not have any idea what I wanted to do with my life. I always knew I wanted to help others, but how I would do that never came up until my senior year. The best way to see the impact of different influences on something or someone is to give it time. In my four years of high school, I have changed so much because of the support from my coaches and the sports I have participated in. I want to be a formidable force for good for those around me, especially those in my community. Being a coach is a powerful role. A coach has the ability to help mold the youth of the rising generation to be incredible, caring, contributing members of society. Every day, a coach has the opportunity to influence their athletes in immeasurable ways! I want to be that coach! In my own life, my greatest enemy has always been myself. As a little freshman I was a very insecure, bumbling girl who never thought she could become a leader or bring about change in the world. However, because to my coaches I was able to overcome these personal struggles and become refined on a deeper level which allows me to connect to others and reach limits I never thought were possible. As I went through high school I went from that little clueless freshman to being named team captain of my cross-country team two years in a row - it still blows my mind! The change in my self-confidence and outlook on life was incredible and very beneficial for me. It brought the clarity, focus, and direction to my life that I was missing. For these reasons, I am driven to be the best prepared coach to provide for the athletes in my care. I want to learn, grow, and share the lessons I learn with others so they can have the best chance for success. High school is a vital time for teenagers to set the overall course for the rest of their lives. Kids need strong, kind, and supportive coaches to help guide them and provide healthy environments for them to grow and learn. I am going to be that person. I love sports and I love the idea of helping kids grow in character and confidence just like I did. If there is to be a future, it is NECESSARY to invest in the younger generations not just with money and opportunity, but with people who can shape the younger generations into confident, driven, and caring individuals. I can do that, I will do that, and that is how I am going to make a difference in the world through my career.

Sound of Freedom is a powerful movie. As a very sheltered girl, I do not live or see the horrors that many people around me experience every day. Watching Sound of Freedom – a movie based on a true story about human trafficking and an incredible rescue – was a huge eye opener for me. I realized that my life is so, so easy compared to others and that I am incredibly blessed even if I don’t have the most glamourous of lives. When I watched Sound of Freedom, it was a reality check, and it motivated me to do more than live day to day and hour by hour. I have been inspired to reach out to others around me more consistently and be aware of dangers. It has also motivated me to be involved in my community through service and church work. While I have not yet played a key role to help mitigate human trafficking, I am a positive force for others around me, and I can provide strength and comfort to those in need. After I finish college, I plan on becoming a high school coach for Cross-Country and Track and Field. While this might not seem like the most important of careers, through this job I will be able to edify and protect the kids in my care and instill values and strengths in them that will take them through the toughest of times. This will not stop human trafficking, but I can help mold kids who will later become big game players in changing the world for the better. Sound of Freedom is a dark movie of horror and tragedy, but it is also a movie of triumph, inspiration, and hope. This movie is a call to action, a standard raised to build a better world with people who will not give up or stop trying when they don’t know what to do next. I want to be this type of person. I will not stop trying to do good. I will not be a couch potato when I can be out in the world and community spreading light and finding those who are lost. Watching Sound of Freedom lit a fire inside of me and it will burn bright forever. I hope to inspire those around to take action, fight against darkness in whatever capacity they can, and to make the world a better place.

Over the past several years, I have given back to my community in countless ways. For example, I have participated in the National Honors Society and the Interact club for the last two years of my high school experience and have contributed well over 80 hours of service during that time. Some of my most favorite service opportunities included going to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army, and helping plan and run regional activities for youth in my area! Also, another way that I have given back to my community is through my participation in sports! I run Cross-Country and Track and at every race or meet for the past four years, I have built connections and befriended athletes on teams across Nevada and California, I have always tried to be a positive cheerleader and light for those athletes. My goal - to leave everyone with a smile on their face! :) Community has had a huge impact on my future career ambitions. As an incoming freshman in high school, I had A LOT of growing up to do. I was a rambunctious, bumbling girl with a lot of energy who never really had a chance to be a part of sport and who didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life. Joining the Cross-Country team at my school was one of the best decisions I ever made. The running community including my teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and complete strangers helped mold me into a person I am really proud of. They helped me learn how to work hard in all areas of my life, how to set goals and achieve them, how to deal with disappointment and failure in a positive way, how to be a leader, and how to live life to the fullest. Some might ask, “Why on earth would you ever want to run!?!” One of the biggest reasons – the incredible community! My running community helped me to figure out my life, decide what I want to pursue as a career, and know how I am going to change the world. I have always wanted to help others, and, through the influence of the running community, I know just how I am going to do that. I am going to be a coach for Cross Country and Track and Field. While this might not be the most glamorous job, I am going to work with youth in a highly productive environment, help them chase their goals, and experience personal growth in all areas of their lives. The running community helped shape who I am today. I am more confident, I am a hard worker, I am a leader, I am a friend, I am a teammate, I am an athlete. I am happier, I am healthier, and I am ready to take on the world. I want to and will give as many people as I can the same opportunities I was given because it changed my world.

I am the second oldest of eight kids, so life is a party! I was raised to work hard, be honest, help others, and be happy. I love being active, so joining Cross Country in high school was one of the best decisions I ever made. Cross Country brightened my world and brought my life into focus. It was like getting a second family but with different rules, responsibilities, and challenges. Suddenly, I had a new group of friends to get to know and work with. I was thrust outside my comfort zone and into a world where I had to learn how to take criticism and advice, work with others as a team, manage being uncomfortable, and do a mentally and physically challenging activity. To be honest, it was rough, but it was also extremely awesome. Cross Country taught me how to set and achieve impossible goals, like going from a little freshman who did not even get top twenty at State to winning State my senior year. I had to motivate myself and be disciplined to do the little steps every day and not let the bumps in the road derail me. My self-confidence was nonexistent, but Cross Country and the coaches and teammates I was blessed with changed that. I am happier and healthier, and when I graduate, I will hold on to my healthy lifestyle and share it with others. Cross Country has impacted who I am today and what I want to do with my life in the future! The big goal for my life is simple: I plan to save the world—a big statement with a very underappreciated role. I want to be a coach! For most of high school, I did not have any idea what I wanted to do with my life. I always knew I wanted to help others, but how I would do that never came up until my senior year. The best way to see the impact of different influences on something or someone is to give it time. In my four years of high school, I have changed so much because of the support from my coaches and the sports I have participated in. I want to be a formidable force for good for those around me, especially those in my community. Being a coach is a powerful role. A coach has the ability to help mold the youth of the rising generation to be incredible, caring, contributing members of society. Every day, a coach has the opportunity to influence their athletes in immeasurable ways! I want to be that coach! Outside of sports, I am a bookworm! I LOVE books! If I could, I would read for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy. I can be found with my nose in a book anywhere I go. Besides being a book nerd, I also love music and dancing! I spent a couple of weeks in Costa Rica on a Humanitarian trip where I got my first taste of swing dancing, and I have been hooked ever since. It has become a passion and mission of mine to both learn more and teach everyone else how to dance! Finally, besides spending time with my awesome family, I love serving others! Over the last several years, I have spent countless hours serving at places like the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Feed My Starving Children, I Can Ride, my church, and elderly care facilities. I love putting a smile on other people's faces and spreading sunshine wherever I go!

Every December, I go caroling with my church youth group at our local geriatric care facility. One year when we arrived, instead of a whole room, we only had two beautiful little ladies waiting for us to sing to them. As we began, we could see we had made their day a little brighter and given them a glimmer of hope during the holiday season. At one point, tears streamed down one sweet lady's face, and they hugged and thanked us for visiting them. This experience left a profound impression on me, showing how serving can have an impact not just on who you serve but on yourself as well. Many people feel lost and forgotten, and it has become my mission to find these people and make them feel seen through making meaningful connections. Another experience that left a deep impression on me was my time with ICanRide. Working with this organization enabled me to run alongside young kids with disabilities as they learned how to ride a bike for the first time. This was such an amazing experience. The kids' emotions ranged from excited to nervous, and some were slower in picking it up, while others made you work hard to keep pace. Their parents watched from the sideline as their kids finally learned to ride a bike, a skill most people might take for granted. It brought a lot of hope and joy to these parents in ways I can only begin to fathom, and I got to be a part of that. I patiently cared for and guided these kids through a challenging activity by providing one-on-one support, helping them break barriers and succeed. As the second oldest of eight kids, I constantly strive to be someone my siblings can look up to. I have worked hard to balance all aspects of my life to keep service and spreading joy at the center. My life is a whirlwind, as I am not just a sister but also a student and an athlete. However, serving others has brought clarity and focus, as service is my anchor in a crazy world and has become my guiding principle. Throughout high school, I have been given many opportunities to give back to my community by being deeply involved in service clubs and holding officer positions in the Interact Club and National Honors Society. I have served well over eighty hours of community service working with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, ICanRide, FeedMyStarvingChildren, and projects like Angel Trees. I have also been able to do a lot of service and give back to my community through my Church. My Church often participates in or holds service projects in my community, such as making and delivering blankets to older members in the area, doing Angel Trees, and hosting clean-ups. I have even been called into a position to serve as a member of the State Youth Council where we oversee and plan local area and regional activities focused on the youth. I have absolutely loved my time as a member of my service clubs and as a part of my Church. Seeing so many people impacted and changed while I have worked with them has refined me as I strive to always exemplify a spirit of excellence. Because of service, I have gained some of my best memories, become more confident, and become more people oriented. My love for people has grown tremendously, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back to my community now and forever.