This months' episode is a bit different. Here at The Four-O-Eight we've told the stories of our classmates, our teachers, our parents and our community. In every one of those episodes we've narrated bits about ourselves as well, bits that are woven into the fabric of the segment. This month, however, the focus is solely on us, on our spirits, on our stories, on what makes us the human beings we've become. It's our turn to look inward, to face our demons, to face our angels.
The iTunes Podcast contains 9 of the 19 stories told by us.
Below you will find ALL the stories. They are honest, true and required courage and rigor to put together.
This is who we are in our rawest forms.
Franky and his father have, to put it mildly, a troublesome relationship, one full of resentment and anger. In this segment, Franky confronts his father and explores the reasons for the chasm that has grown between them.
In the year 2012 Brec made his journey from The Philippines to The United States. This is the story of that journey and of the difficulty of that transition.
Elizabeth's mother had to make a choice. That choice would cause waves throughout Elizabeth's family. This is the story of that choice and how it impacted and continues to impact Elizabeth's life.
Alex is a talented student and a talented member of The Four-O-Eight. But, last year, Alex learned a lesson about team work, about stress and cooperation. This is the story of that lesson.
Marianna and her brother Juan suffered under the hands of their father. He was physically and mentally abusive. This is Marianna's story and of how she has tried to make sense of it all.
Jenny has always had questions about why she and her brother weren't close when they were growing up. In this segment Jenny talks with her brother and they try to hash out the reasons for their apparent disconnect.
Chris Castro was a trouble maker when he was in middle school. He never thought his actions would put him in danger of being labeled a "criminal". In this segment, Chris and his mother explore the event that pushed Chris away from "childishness" and into the more serious world of criminal behavior.
Two years ago, Consuelo knew she was destined to marry the guy she was dating. She knew their wedding was going to be big and she knew they would live happily ever after. What she didn't know was that she was stuck in a relationship that was unhealthy. In this segment, Consuelo looks back at her time in this relationship and, with the help of her mother, tries to figure out what happened.
Guadalupe is a shy person. She's quiet and introspective. In this story she reflects on how her shyness has been an obstacle for her and how one decision she made helped her overcome this very difficult challenge.
Annicka lives surrounded by choices that carry with them some very serious repercussions. In this segment she explores how so many of the choices that exist in front of her seem to carry serious consequences and what this constant stress has done to her psyche and her spirit.
David Calvo has a little sister, someone who looks up to him and admires his skills and his passion. David understands the power of this responsibility but also the challenges that come with it. In this segment he explores what it means to be an older sibling and how some of his choices have created unnecessary stress for his little sister.
In this segment Keiry Molina discusses how one teacher taught her much more than academics and how these lessons have shaped the young person she is today.
Anabell feels disconnected from her mother, a situation that has left her wondering where in her family she can find support and comprehension. In this segment, Anabell talks to her sister about what they can be for each other in the absence of a guiding parent.
Music has the power to shape our perceptions of the world and of ourselves. In this segment, Esther examines how music has shaped her perception of love, peace and politics.
Drugs have the potential to destroy lives. Kimberly understands this really well. In this segment she shares the story of how drugs changed her family's life.
Everyone enjoys traveling. It's fun and you get to learn about other cultures and other people's way of life. But, it's different when you have to move to another country to live there, to continue your life there. In this segment, Jackie and her two younger sisters share their experience of what it was like to move to Mexico and try to make a life there.
Eating disorders are not uncommon. Advertisements and movies tell us how we're supposed to look, tell us what is considered beautiful. Jocelyn Martinez examines her own journey through living with an eating disorder.
We carry our bodies with us everywhere we go. We learn to love and hate those pieces of us that we feel don't meet our expectations of what is normal or beautiful. Tabina talks about a part of her she sees as flawed and what it has taken for her to finally be comfortable with every piece of her.
Yorgy is a dancer. Everyone at our school knows it. She's talented and passionate. In this segment, she explores how dancing has become a powerful force in her life and why it's shaped her to be the person she is today.