I’m On Fire by Kimberly Feliciano, February 2010

I hate you so much – it hurts !
It burns when I look at you
I am on FIRE!!!
The feeling is indescribable …
They say hate is a strong word
But it becomes weak when you come to mind
When people ask me to explain myself
The words are hard to find
I Hate You so much it hurts !

Why is it that when you move, I feel

And when you breathe, I exhale

Each time my body touches yours, my heart skips a beat

And like the rivers flowing south, I want to be your steep

Won’t you be my everything

My funny and my mad

My happy and my sad

Baby won’t you complete me like a chef does a meal

Gracefuly you give me joy as you’re the joy I feel

Angels dance upon clouds as we meet and our lips touch

You are pure beauty, that will always be enough

It means being nothing but the best

YABC puts your determination to the test

YABC gives you a second chance

When you get this chance you take it with out a glance  

YABC is motivation

Teachers, staff and students all believe in you

They know you’re not a failure

And sooner or later you will make it through   

YABC is proving everyone wrong

And being able to say you did it at the very end

YABC is making a change

YABC is me

~Leanne Ruiz

What is YABC?
In my eyes it’s another opportunity
A chance to become
what you want to be
If it wasn’t for YABC
I’d probably be getting my GED

What is YABC?
It opened my eyes
To work hard toward that prize
Because of YABC
I have more pride

What is YABC?
One step closer to success
No more closed doors, no stress
I’m starting off fresh
My life is not that big of a mess

THANK YOU MR. SMALLHORNE
AND ALL MY TEACHERS
JUNE 2010, HERE I COME !

June 11, 2009 by Expressions Editor.

YABC means a future, an education, and a life to me. Mr. Smallhorne once told me, every time he is asked for change on the subway he asks people whether they have completed their education or gotten their GED; too often, the answer was no. I feel honored that I’ve gotten a second chance to redeem myself academically and that I will be graduating on time thanks to Mr. Smallhorne and the YABC Faculty. YABC is a stepping stone to college, which in turn is a stepping stone in my overall education, which will contribute to my career and, in turn, allow me to go forward in a profession I really enjoy. YABC has given me a new lease on life and the opportunity to show a side of myself no one believed was there. I had been laughed at when telling my assistant principal I would be graduating on time. I had been told by former teachers, it was impossible for me to do well. In YABC, however, I have always been met with support and told I can do anything I want to in life. The teachers and administration in YABC only showed me support and care. For this, I thank YABC and everyone involved in my graduation. ~Yannis Trittas

I Love YABC!

June 11, 2009

Words cannot fully describe how grateful I am for YABC. I came into YABC not knowing a thing or having a dream for my future. I never thought I’d even make it. But YABC brought hope to me and opened up new doors of opportunity. I truly can’t imagine where I would be if I never came into this program.
Here at YABC, you aren’t judged on your past and the things you did or that you do. You’re pushed towards success and to achieve your dreams and goals. This program has truly enabled me to see, work towards and reach my goals. I am forever thankful for such a program as this. I love YABC !
~Judy Tran

What YABC Means to Me

June 9, 2009

YABC introduced me to amazing people from all over New York City.
YABC is another chance at making my future the best it can be.
YABC gave me a chance to make my family and friends proud and
proved that I wasn’t going to give up or settle for a GED.
YABC showed me how to open up to my opportunities and taught me that anything is possible.
And lastly, YABC at Lehman HS showed me what it was like to have a real boss, thanks to
Mr. Smallhorne.

~Kimberley Rousseau

YABC

June 6, 2009

YABC means alot to me
Not only is it a school
But I can also consider it a family
I feel comfortable with all my teachers
I look forward to pass
This place isn’t like day school
Forget about cutting class
Mr. Smallhorne pushes you and wants to see the best
When I first met him I thought he was mean and crazy
But thats what separated him from all the rest
He came off mean because he cared and was all about business
I look up to this man now, my future feels like it’s all a part of richness
I have dreams and I know what I want to be
This program here is the best
I love YABC
~Alban Gashi

On the Right Path

June 3, 2009

YABC MEANS A BETTER BEGINNING AND ALSO A SUCCESSFUL ENDING.
IT MEANS MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND A BETTER FUTURE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
YABC MEANS ANOTHER CHANCE. IT MEANS YOU HAVE GUIDANCE AND YOU ARE NOT IN IT ALONE. IT MEANS AN EASIER AND MORE SUCCESSFUL FULLFILLING LIFE. YABC CAN BE YOUR LAST CHANCE TO START OFF ON THE RIGHT PATH.

~Natasha Ramnath

The Whys of YABC

June 3, 2009

Whys of YABC?

Why? Because it’s a second chance.

Why? Because it’s the core to a greater future.

Why? Because you’re expanding your knowledge.

Why? Because it’s accepting.

Why? Because you gain more opportunities.

Why? Because it’s the best.

Why? Because at the end, you can say “I DID IT!”

~Natasha Ramnath

YABC Means to Me

June 3, 2009

Y.A.B.C. means to me
A creative future for my family
Hopes and dreams coming true
To better help my economy

Y.A.B.C. means to me
An education for you and me
To learn and observe what we see
To better reconstruct every Y.A.B.C. in N.Y.C.

~Darryl James

June 3, 2009

With you I’ve had success
With you I have fulfilled my requirements
With you I have begin a new positive beginning
You and I make the perfect combination
To become an excellent student
And also to accomplish my goals
Graduating and working towards my desired profession
Thanks YABC , for believing in me and my skills
And also for teaching me the definition of optimism

~Evelyn Almonte

Why YABC?

June 3, 2009

Why am I in YABC?
And why have I failed in the past?
From failing before,
To now passing every class…

Why has YABC made my life in a curl
Why should I challenge the people on my block
When I could challenge the whole world =)

YABC means a lot to me because of the success I’m having while being here
My grades have been a reflection of the work that I have been putting in
And I’m proud of that!
It’s been a great chance for me to see how good I can be in school
With the caring teachers and lesser distractions …
I love YABC!

~Hector Esteves

Never Forgotten

June 3, 2009

YABC is a program that will never be forgotten in my life history. It is a special place where you can create a brand new ending; it really has for me because I’ve never done this good in school since I was a young boy in elementary school. During the time that I’ve been attending this program, my focus about school has increased so much, to such a great level that I actually attend happily. I have started a brand new ending and I’m proud of myself and the teachers like Ms. Cohen <3 (HEART) that have helped me build my way to the top.

~Christopher Maradiaga

Education at Night

June 3, 2009

YABC mostly means to me an opportunity or chance. I say opportunity because it allowed me to get my education in the night because I, and others, were not able to do so in day school for any which reason. YABC to me, personally, means the first steps of getting my life back on track. It’s allowing me to get my diploma therefore I can go to the Navy.

~Giovanni Woodley

Many Things …

June 3, 2009

YABC can mean many things to me
From happiness to excitement …
… happiness because I got another chance to finish what I started
… excitment because I have something to look forward to after I am done
From stress to headaches …
… stress because I had so much to do in so little time
… headaches because it wasn’t easy looking for information
From amused to clowning around …
… amused because of my new involved friends in my life, who really care
… clowning around because I knew I could be myself
To sad and crushed…
… because soon I will leave this place and will never see them again
This is what YABC made me feel and I’m happy that I came …

~Marleen Aponte

What YABC Means to Me

June 3, 2009

To me, YABC means a fresh start, an opportunity to make up for my mistakes in high school. To begin a new life without bad influences in my everyday life, mainly because everybody in YABC has the same goal to graduate and to make the people we love happy. To achieve something well worth talking about in a few years from now, to be able to tell my kids that I finished high school and that they should at least do the same, to be able to get a better future for my family and last but not least to have learned a sense of independence.

~Barry Sanchez

A Second Chance

June 3, 2009

YABC is a second chance
YABC is Smallhorne and some great teachers
YABC is challenging
YABC is becoming a man or a woman
YABC is proving the doubters wrong
YABC is moving on to the next level in life
YABC is leaving the past behind
YABC is creating a bright future

(Y)oung
(A)dolescents
(B)ecoming
(C)onfident Adults

~Michael Sprolling

YABC

June 3, 2009

YABC means alot to me.
I started off lost and rebellious
But eventually I got the flow of things
I started off doing the same old things
But then I learned those actions are what got me into YABC
In the beginning I was not doing homework
But now I pull all nighters
I was scared, not knowing if I was going to graduate on time
But now I know I will …
Thanks to YABC

~Julio Valdez

What YABC Means to Me

January 27, 2009

I wouldnt say I was jumping with joy when I heard that I had failed a couple of classes and now had to attend night school. But I realized that’s all I could have done. Afterall, I was only doing myself a service and molding my own future. As I started to attend my classes, I thought this was going to be hard not to mention the late hours. For the first month, I think I was just in denial at the fact I had failed, and now this was my alternative. Slowly, I realized that I was being given an opportunity to change, a chance to do better, and I was being so ungrateful, wondering how many other students would appreciate this more. YABC has given me the hope, and I believe with hope comes faith. When you believe in yourself and are optimistic about what’s ahead, you will be dedicated and stirve to succeed.

~Athia Jilani

YABC

January 21, 2009

I had reached the end
I felt empty
Others were moving ahead
And I was stuck there
I didn’t want to regret what felt right
I chose the wrong path with the wrong people
During that time I knew I could do better
Yet, I chose not to
One night, I sat down with a paper in my hands
My report card proving my failure
I couldn’t stop the tears
I felt so alone
I needed someone to talk to
My “friends” weren’t there
I realized they never were
Motivating myself, I stopped my flowing tears
Ran to my Mom and asked for her help
She held me tightly
I knew she still believed in her seed
I sat in his office, impatiently waiting for a second chance
A very serious conversation led me to change my life
Now, I’m looking forward to a successful future
Thank you, YABC

~Daly Ramirez

What YABC Means to Me

January 21, 2009

YABC means hard work and time to prepare for the future. To be in this program, you must be serious with your work and not fool around. You are here to better yourself and get an education, to better your future, to see who you are going to become, where you are headed and what you will be doing. College is the next step which YABC prepares you for.

~Rogerio Cabrera

What YABC Means to Me

January 21, 2009

YABC means a lot to me because it’s given me another chance to make a change in my
life. Being in this program, I have learned a lot, like how to make my own choices
and how to learn from my mistakes. Without YABC, I don’t think I would have a future.
YABC is going to lead me down the right path. It’s going to make life worth living because before I was in YABC, I felt like giving up. I felt as if there was no way I would ever make it in high school. I have learned that everything in life takes hard work and time, that nothing in life
is going to be given to you with a silver spoon. I am thankful for the teachers who push us hard to do our work because I realize they just want us to better our lives. This is what yabc means to me.

~Alea Harris

Y.A.B.C.

January 21, 2009

Sometimes I ask God,
Where would I be if it wasn’t for Y.A.B.C?
Could change be their perfect word for me
Because when I look in the mirror
It’s a different Jacob I see.
I dont know how to thank the teachers
That helped mold me
Because now through their faith
I know what I’m destined to be
And I owe it to Y.A.B.C.

~Jacob Cotton

YABC

January 14, 2009

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” Those were the first words I heard out of Mr.Smallhorne’s mouth. YABC is made up of regular people like Martin Smallhorne, Ms.Cohen, Mr.Digruccio, Ms.Land, and Mr.Armand who have the same passion and courage in which they walked in at 8AM and carry that same charisma until 9PM on YABC days. People like them make us want to strive for achievement and success. This program means a lot to me. It has taught me that, in life, without the benefit of a doubt, everyone deserves a second chance. The YABC is a dropout prevention program, but in my eyes it’s a graduation boost program. From the moment you walk into the building you can smell success in the air. The Lehman program’s determination and strive for success has made it Number One in the city. YABC stands for Young Adult Borough Center; in my point of view YABC has a different meaning.

Yearning, love and attention that is given and experienced everyday by this staff and workers of Lehman High School.

Achievement is all that is expected in this program and it’s all we can give.

Barrier is what the YABC in Lehman creates for you. It separates you from what you don’t need and what is necessary to be successful in the outside world.

College is the next step that follows after leaving this wonderful site. You can carry on the same success as when you leave YABC, and enter college with that same striving to achieve and to be someone in life.

~Christian Lajara

Why I Love YABC

January 14, 2009

I love YABC because this program has helped me so much in getting my life back on track, in reference to school. This program has made me meet new people and experience new things. This program has saved so many people that are young adults and that were headed in the wrong direction. I’ll miss this program but it’s only another stepping stone for my future and for my new beginning.

~Jonathan Irizarry

YABC

January 14, 2009

YABC means a second chance in life, something that I am not familiar with.
Just when I thought all hope was lost a hand reached out to me. I have never
had a second chance at anything, so this meant a lot to me. When I first came into YABC, I isolated myself from anything that was going to stop me or slow me down, so it was only
me and education. I sacrificed so much in order to get back, to making something
of myself and not be nothing at all. It’s like waiting on that bus stop
for that bus to come because it’s not my last stop yet so I am trying to
get back on. I am ready to move on. At a point it seemed like the bus was
never going to come at all, but I stood there waiting patiently without turning
away or giving up hope. We all made mistakes and to make up for this one has a
big impact in my life because it’s my future on the line and this is the risk I’m
taking. It’s funny because I read this fortune cookie that I will never forget when I was 12;
it said, “Risk may cause failure but success cannot come without it.”

~Jose Almanzar

YABC, To Me

January 14, 2009

YABC, to me, is a place to fulfill your dreams
a brand new start for a brand new ending
YABC is a chance to pursue your deepest passions and ambitions
It provides morals and structure to keep you from falling way down under
YABC is the growth of all living beings in a world that is nothing but what it seems
In YABC, is where all my dreams could come true
so that the goals I reach for, unravel
so that I can start anew

~Kabiya Jones

What YABC Means To Me

January 14, 2009

YABC means a lot to me because it gave me another chance at education. Sometimes I thank God for giving me a second chance because without this I would have been on the streets and not doing as well as I am doing at this moment. I also thank all the teachers that stood behind me and never let me fall or slip. No matter what happens from now to my last day I will be very thankful for everything. Also, YABC is part of my family and will always be in my heart now and forever because of all the doors that opened up for me. Without those doors I donʼt know exactly where I would be; all it took was for me to walk through that door. Thanks to all the teachers and counselors that have helped me to be on track to graduate. From the bottom of my heart, I really thank all the staff in YABC at Lehman High School.

~Johanson Rodriguez

What YABC Means To Me

January 14, 2009

YABC means a lot to me because even though I made a big mistake by not graduating, I know that I can be something in life with a second chance. I’m glad to know that the teachers I have can understand hard situations that some young kids go through like not having the time to go to day school so most drop out or get a G.E.D. I know that someone cares in this world besides my mother, so for that I am happy having this school as a part of my life growing up. The guide in my life at this point is the fact of me going to school and having a good enough average to get into a better college.

~Victor Perez

YABC

January 14, 2009

YABC means a lot to me because I get a second chance, and a second is like one out of a million for me. YABC makes me more focused on getting out of high school, and on becoming successful in life. If there were no YABC, I would still be in jail or I probably would be on the street somewhere. There is always a teacher right there to help students. YABC is a new beginning for me. So YABC is the place I want to be

~Lorenzo Velasquez

YABC

January 14, 2009

An opportunity a chance

A new beginning

And a successful end

It has given me hope

A chance to repent

To have a fresh start

To make up for those mistakes

That are costing my life

~Johanna Luna

Y.A.B.C.

January 14, 2009

To me, YABC means a chance that was given to me to start all over. This time is to start

clean and forget everything that I did in the past that caused me to fail every

class. I was being foolish, and I wasn’t thinking how it was going to affect me in the

future. Now that I’m in YABC, I know that I will do so well because the teachers are so

different that the ones that I had. They understand me and they will do whatever it takes

to help me understand something. Not only do they want me to understand the work, they

want me to pass and graduate, and to find a good career. They care about me and my family.

When it is class time they know how to make the class laugh, and they know how to make

the class interesting.

~Dilanny Salas

What YABC Means To Me

January 14, 2009

I can sum up what YABC means to me in two words. I would have to say YABC is a “New Beginning”. Most kids feel as though they cannot finish regular high school in the daytime so they do not finish at all because they feel there are too many distractions. Then they mess up so bad in day school to the point they think they cannot return.

I say YABC is another way of saying a “New Beginning” because there is no such thing as “point of no return”. YABC believes in the saying “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending”. YABC has start a new beginning for me in my education and made me to believe that I can be someone in life after I graduate.

~Alex Brown

What YABC Means To Me

January 14, 2009

To me, YABC means a chance to finally get out of high school. It also serves as a chance to go through a school day without having to deal with the distractions that sometimes plague the students in day school. I started YABC last September which was my fifth year in high school and I only had 17 credits before I started. Mr. Smallhorne told me the program was not like regular school and the laziness I showed my first four years would not be tolerated. The program offers students paid internships, college application help and faster routes to get out. YABC is proper preparation for the life I am set to live in the near future.

~Sean Perry

Making My Life Right

January 7, 2009

What YABC means to me is I have a second chance at life. Meaning I have another chance to make my life right. I’m happy there is a program like this because a lot of kids would be drop outs, and as much as some kids still do want to drop out they’d rather take another chance at life just to see if they can make it in life, to see if dropping would of been worth dropping out. The reason why I’m here is because me and school never got along once I got into high school. I was an angel in middle school and elementary school but I guess once I hit high school grounds and saw how much the older kids were having fun hanging inside the hallways and leaving early I figured hey, “Why don’t I try it and see if it’s fun? “ So I did, and it got me into a lot of trouble because all I wanted to do was be known and have fun. I never went to school and when I did go to school I never went to class. So I’m so happy that I did find this program in time so that it would help me out a lot; if I didn’t, I think I would of gotten pregnant or in some deep trouble where I would make my mother embarrassed to speak to me. I love my mother – that’s why I’m glad I gave this program a chance and I want to make my mother and myself proud. That’s what YABC means to me.

~Sandra White

Y-A-B-C

January 7, 2009

YABC, to me, is a second chance at success
YABC, to me, is a person at his or her best

Y is for Young because my age is at that point
A is for Adult because that’s where my knowledge is headed
B is for the Borough because the Bronx is where I was raised at
C is for Center because in that part of my heart, greatness is resting

~Brandon Graham

Second Chance

January 7, 2009

YABC means a second chance to me. I’ve made many mistakes throughout my high school years and now I’ve gotten a second chance to make it better. Some people say you can’t turn back the hands of time but really you can, even though I can’t go back in time and mend my mistakes it doesn’t mean I can’t try to make it better. I’ve learned that if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do in the beginning and slack off, there will be consequences and that’s what happened to me. I didn’t go to class, I was always cutting and never did the right thing, I didn’t think about the consequences I was “living in the moment”. But when I stopped and realized what was going on, it was too late, and I struggled to get my grades up but I was still behind so many credits. Then I heard of YABC, and it gave me hope. I thought I could start all over without playing games. It was time for me to be a mature young adult and go on with my life. YABC has helped me in many ways. It means a “new beginning” to me, and if I don’t slack off I get to graduate, go to college and pursue my dreams.

~Jennifer Moreno

Clean Slate

January 7, 2009

its more then a school
its a fresh start
your transgressions get washed away
and that’s the best part
no old records of wrong
you get a clean slate
no more running from cops
its a new date
you get to start over
its like you’re brand new
YABC’s only objective is for you to pass high school

~Christopher Mondal

January 17, 2008

YABC, to me, means a new start. It gives you a chance to start

your life fresh. All the bad things you did in the past are over with

and you do not even have to think of them again. It is the next step

in our lives for good things to happen. You will be able to make it to

the next step in your life. YABC means hope of all the bad that has

now changed to good.

Thomas Guttman

YABC

January 10, 2008

What YABCmeans to me is a place where you can be successful and actually finish high school with no problem. It gives you another chance to prove to yourself and then you can achieve your goals in life. The only thing you need to do is push yourself to be motivated and try your best at anything you do, because anything you have in mind to do and you really want it, you can get it by pushing yourself to the limit. I think if YABC didn’t give me this chance to prove to myself that I can finish school, I think I would never have finished high school.
Thank you, YABC!

Liridon Gjonbalaj

YABC Means …

January 10, 2008

YABC means to me…

YABC is a safeguard from my past.

A new start from the mistakes I’m trying to run away from.

YABC is a way not to get suspended from school.

YABC is a way to get out from going to school so early in the morning
knowing I don’t want to be there.

It’s a recollection from people I made bad choices with
and who left me starving, grasping for a new beginning.

YABC means new faces,friends and life to be turned back.

It’s a way to stop the rumors and end the turmoil that I once suffered from.

Monique Gordon

YABC

January 10, 2008

My Mistake

Life beginning early.
A voluntary leap into the future.
My introduction to the world.
It’s a window that I look through,
and on the other side of the glass,
my life blooms in full color.
It’s my slow disarmer.
A speeding of the clock.
It’s the unrepentant stripper of
my last surviving innocence,
my deliverer, the messenger.
It’s words put in my mouth,
and tools put in my hands.
A loveless marriage of
my arrogance, and my cowardice
my laziness and my pride.
My friend, my bloomer…
My express lane with the red
sunset background.
The fighter of my unsurety.

Angelina Jiraud

Untapped Potential

January 8, 2008

I entered YABC beaten and battered, thrown and smattered
My dreams crushed like slush but all I needed was a push or the slightest touch
My parents were mad but they never stopped encouraging
Because I was their son and they never stopped nourishing
I feel like I got a second chance when at first glance it appeared to be my last dance
But it’s really the beginning and this program is all forgiving
For me, it was like a rebirth, a chance to cement place on this earth
YABC is influential — they don’t see you as damaged goods
But more like untapped potential
I’m determined to finish, I refuse to let my brain diminish
Because knowledge is power and my time is now so I must seize the hour

Nelson Arroyo

A Castle Called YABC

May 29, 2007

In the beginning of September

A pearly white castle

For second chances

Lehman YABC

Opens it’s doors to my education

Jamal Jones

YABC

May 29, 2007

There once was a program named YABC

Thats saves you from getting a GED

Another chance for success

Dealing with less stress

Helping you be the be the best you can be

Chris Colato

YABC

May 28, 2007

There once was a second chance named YABC
Another opportunity to get your High School degree
This made students happy
Especially Abby
Because now she doesn’t have to take her GED
–Daniel Robinson

YABC

May 22, 2007

There is a program called YABC

The kids there are so crazy

YABC is a school for teens

It is a cool scene

The teachers here let us be free

Jamal Jones

YABC Makes a Difference

May 22, 2007

Lehman H.S YABC program has shown me that people can make a difference and can achieve in life no matter how much of a failure one was in the past. The YABC program has really motivated me to finish high school and then to go to college. Without an education or even a diploma your life can become very difficult especially when you are looking for a job .

Salimah Muhammad

YABC, A New Beginning

May 22, 2007

WHAT DOES YABC MEAN TO ME? YABC IS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. IT’S SHOWN ME THAT NOT ONLY GRADUATING FROM SCHOOL IS GOOD, BUT IT HAS SHOWN ME THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE AFTER FINISHING SCHOOL.  IT HAS OPENED MY EYES TO A NEW BEGINNING.  MY COMING TO YABC HAS CHANGED ME.  I AM NOW AN HONOR ROLL STUDENT WHO WANTS TO GO TO LINCOLN UNIVERSITY AND MAJOR IN BUSINESS.  YABC IS THE BEST CHANCE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD.  YABC IS A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS L.T.W(learning to work) WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE F.E.G.S OFFICE AND IT’S AN INTERNSHIP THAT YOU GET PAID FOR.  IT’S A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND LOOKS GREAT ON A RESUME.  F.E.G.S IS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT YABC WORKS WITH. I LOVE IT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ANY TYPE OF HELP. F.E.G.S TRIES TO KEEP THE STUDENTS OCCUPIED, FOCUSED AND OUT OF TROUBLE.  YABC MEANS A NEW BEGINNING.

JASITY COLON

What YABC Means to Me

May 22, 2007

YABC means young men and women exceeding in life,

going forward, pursuing their dreams and being

all they can be.

YABC also means that that this is my last chance

and if I mess this up that is it for me.

So far YABC has been great to me.

I have a job and I work before school, then I come in and do my learning at night.

This what YABC means to me.

Jamal Jones

YABC Makes a Difference

May 17, 2007

In many people’s lives, high school is one of the hardest things. Many teens face the problem of not completing high school. High school seems to be the hardest because teens lose focus by getting caught up with the wrong crowd. Some other reasons why kids don’t finish high school are not having someone to look up to or not having positive things in their lives.

Due to these problems and hard times that these students face, schools have come up with programs (like YABC) to help these kids, so that they can go further in life and accomplish goals. Students who were unable to accomplish what they wanted to in their original school now have another chance.  YABC means a lot to me, and I am thankful that a program like YABC is offered to students who fall into the category of hardships in high school. YABC has given  me an opportunity to achieve my goals and pursue my education. YABC has helped me  understand what and where I want to be in the future. Students need to know when an opportunity like this is given, they should go for it. I am thankful for having had this chance. YABC makes a difference in a person’s life.

YABC To Me

May 17, 2007

The YABC program in Lehman High School means a lot to me.  It really helps me because when I was in regular day school, I was doing terrible – failing, cutting classes and not doing the right thing.  I thought I wouldn’t have the chance to graduate until I joined the YABC program.  It keeps me focused, no distractions and makes me see that I have a chance to graduate and can go off to college.  Now, it’s my second year in the program and if I pass the six classes im taking now,I will be graduating this June. I will make my family very proud. I’m very happy that I joined the YABC program because it has really helped me see life differently.

Kirk Span

Growing With YABC

May 17, 2007

YABC is a great place to go

if your grades may be low

It is easier to pass

and finish a class

And they also make your knowledge grow

Andrew Davoren

YABC

May 17, 2007

Night school in Lehman is YABC

Where the students learn and feel comfortable

Working so hard to pass the class

Accomplishments to become a Grad

At graduation the auditorium is full

Victor Battle

What Does YABC Mean to Me?

April 18, 2007

When I first came to YABC, I didn’t think that I was going to enjoy it at all. I have come to realize that this program has given me a chance to learn more and interesting things. I like this because it was hard in day school for me - I was hanging out with friends and meeting girls – too much was happening! That’s not to say that I wasn’t doing good but I wasn’t giving it 110%. And it’s bad when you know you’re capable of doing way better than what you’re doing now.

So YABC has done a lot for me and it’s really pushing me to do better!

Daniel Robinson

Second Chances

April 17, 2007

YABC means …

… a second chance to finish high school

… a second opportunity to graduate

… a second chance to become someone in the future

… a second chance to be a part of a caring family called YABC

Christian Miranda

Cheers to YABC

April 17, 2007

YABC – You gave me hope

So I say, “ Cheers to YABC”

You have done the unthinkable

and shown me grades I have not see before

I say, “Cheers, YABC”

Even when all seemed lost and the end was near

you gave me the chance to better myself

You gave me the chance to get my high school diploma

I say, “Cheers, YABC”

You have shown me a variety of new friends

who became new characters in the never-ending story of my life

I say, “Cheers, YABC”

Thank you, YABC for giving me (and other young adults like me) a chance

I say, well … we all say,

“CHEERS, YABC!!!”

David Rodriguez

The Golden Light

April 17, 2007

In the shade of darkness dreary

In recesses, low and cold

there is no kindle

No ray of sun

Night falls

No release in still slumber

I will wander within the dream of success

And move beyond the nightmare’s cheer

The light of life calls out to me

Bright thoughts within darkness lie

YABC is the golden light of solace … there lies hope

Melissa I Vargas

Lehman YABC

April 17, 2007

Lehman YABC has really been a good thing for me. In my old school, I couldn’t face the reality of getting to school by 8AM. It was really difficult for me to get up in the morning and manage to make it to school on time. A lot of the classes that I took in my old school were just long and boring. I couldn’t wait to get out of class and fool around, but in Lehman YABC, the learning environment is completely different. It’s a more mature environment with people my age, and the teachers are more supportive when it comes to helping their students. We, as upcoming adults, feel the same respect and support from our teachers as if they were our parents. Teachers put in the extra work to help us to better understand our classwork and enlighten us about the futures that we could all have. A lot of the classes that YABC offers, other day schools probably don’t even offer. No matter how hard things can get in our personal lives as teenagers and as young adults, the staff at Lehman YABC is always willing to give a helping hand, listening to our problems and putting us on the right road to success. In the program, we get the freedom of going out to eat on our dinner break - a lot of high schools don’t offer that.  In addition to the interesting classes, I look at the dinner break as a nice way to vent, instead of being surrounded by four walls of boredom.
Victor Battle

YABC

April 17, 2007

YABC, to me, is another chance at making something of yourself. Nowadays it’s so easy for young adults to make a lot of mistakes and mess up. So many things are happening out there that some of us get drawn into. We end up forgetting about the important things like an education. Education is such an important key in life now because it’s hard to survive in the real world.

A lot of kids get things from their parents and don’t have to work hard. They get food, a roof, money, etc. …

But the truth is, that’s not gonna last forever. We all have to become adults some day and look out for ourselves and do things for ourselves. Of course, our parents will be there for us but that’s not their job. Their job is to prepare us for the real world. They want us to be ready to move on in life, and to have something to fall back on – like a good paying job.

YABC helps kids focus on what they need to be doing. One thing that I personally love about this program is that they treat us as adults. Another great thing about the program is that they really care about you. Sometimes Smallhorne can be hard on some of us but it’s because he wants us to succeed. Without the extra push we probably won’t be able to do it. Maybe that’s what we were lacking in the first place. But plain and simple YABC is something that we should all embrace and take advantage of. Not everyone gets a second chance. The question is what will you do with your second chance?

Christian Colato

YABC

February 1, 2007

ONE SHOT

This is it … the end … the final stand
I stare at my opponent …
the one who can stand in my way…
My opponent stares back with an intense menacing glare
as if he knows
I can’t stop him
but there’s one thing he didn’t count on
- my determination and my will to be victorious
But the odds are against me …
all I have to defend myself is this pencil …
What can I do with this pencil?
I close my eyes … and think — gotta think!
Man, I wish this was a gun … I open my eyes – my opponent
… damn — he’s still there …
I look at my hand and there I see a gun …
What’s going on?
There’s one bullet … I cock it and aim …
Then everything becomes clear …
The enemy is …
My fear — my fear of success.
I can’t let him win …
I shoot and he is pierced and broken — defeated with just my pencil.
That’s what this program means to me — the last stand, my final shot at Victory …
The gun is my pencil and the bullet is Y.A.B.C!

Delano Smith

Renewed confidence

New found hope

New sense of self

Gained information

that showed me it’s okay and good

to think and ask questions that are

hard to answer, even weird, and what some people

may consider unimportant or useless

because that’s what a philosopher does

So, I’d better keep on philosophizing

Financial advice

that taught me all about

assets, liabilities, Roth IRA, CDs, 401k

how to get good credit and how to make my money grow

Learning how to

write checks, do reconciliation to find my balance and

how to find out how much I should have in my compound interest savings account

Making me more money-wise

and more capable of handling my money

Cultural discussions

That broadened my knowledge of

culture and heritage

Giving me a better understanding

of the world that we all live in

Profound stories and creative writings

That stirred up my emotions

and reflected human nature

Writing my thoughts and feelings out

helping me to release

bottled up feelings and thoughts

Sharpening my skills in writing

All of this giving me

renewed confidence

a new sense of self

and a brighter future

Zena Bracero

I like YABC because they made it easier for those of us who can’t make it to day school. YABC helped me alot because I am pregnant, and I am not able to wake up early in the morning. By class starting at 4:15pm, I am able to sleep, study and do my homework before going to school. To me, YABC is a second chance to finish school and get ready for college.

Mayelin Tavares

Thank You, YABC

January 18, 2007

YABC has been a great experience for me.  It is a very good program that has taught me many things. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who would like to join it. I personally joined YABC because it was hard for me to wake up early and this was a great opportunity to get back on my feet and graduate on time. Here they gave me a second chance when they didn’t have to and I am so grateful for that. THANK YOU, YABC.
VIANNY ABREU

YABC

January 18, 2007

Being at YABC hasn’t been all that easy for me. I’ve slacked off but I’ve come back to do what I have to do. I appreciate the teachers and my guidance counselor, especially. They keep me motivated and my head focused on what I have to do. June is when I graduate, and I’m waiting for that day like no other. I can’t say too much about the students because I barely speak to anyone. Anywhere you turn in YABC there is help for you and teachers make sure you succeed and get to move on. I can say that YABC has helped me somewhat in life, and I am thankful for all those who have helped me out.

Chelsea Torres

YABC

January 16, 2007

This Is Where It All Ends … In This Program They Allow You To Accomplish Your Goals …  So That Way You Can Succeed …  So You Can Move On And Be Who You Want To Be In Life … Which Is For The Best … That’s What YABC Offers You … The Chance to Finish High School In A Way That’s Much More Your Style … You Are Considered Young Adults … You Are Also Treated Like One … I Am Grateful For YABC!
Jarnell Wilkerson

Point of No Return

April 12, 2009

I’m at the point of no return in my life
My life goes round and round
And doesn’t seem to stop at any point
Am I to force a smile upon my face?
As if you didn’t rip my heart out my chest
Or walked around with an angle of depression
When will you stop stepping on my heart?

I’m at the point of no return in my mind
I had my head in the clouds
While you had yours in the gutter
Why do we love “love”
When love seems to hate us?
What sweet memories you gave me
NOT!!!!!!!!!!
~Marleen Aponte

Yannis Trittas

March 30, 2009

Brown like dirt
The table holds work
Turning off the light
Work is done and it’s time to start the night

The chair is bare
Supporting nothing but air
In the villain’s lair
The chair doesn’t care

There’s a rip in the shirt
Where I was cut and got hurt
It was after that free house
Using a weapon, the kid was a mouse

Peace is strength
Strength is advantage
Advantage is oppression
Oppression is violence
Violence is war
War is peace

Love is having fun
Being with that special one
Love is getting a call
At 3AM and not caring at all

Life is having fun
Until your days are done
Life is being real
And understanding how you feel
Life is struggle and pain
But rising above for another day

~Yannis Trittas

Disappointed

January 27, 2009

Disappointed at the world
Disappointed at myself
Trying to figure out why
But never seem to find the answers
Mad at the people who do nothing
Mad at my mother for loving me
Or should I just be happy for being alive
Is the world happy?
Or am I just sad?
Upset with me because
I can but just won’t
But the clock seems so fast
And the world is so slow
Getting lost on the way
Waiting for the real me
To explode and change

~Dilanny Salas

Frequent Traveler

January 5, 2009

frequent traveler
escaping that place of fear
traversing mountains
reaching plateaus
but never the heights of the valleys below
down in their slumber
lie the nightmares
of unrequited cares
of unfound bliss
a history of heaven’s prisoners
caged in the shadows
waiting to be freed
to soar like the eagle after catching it’s prey
to nest in the soul’s pillow
and to have sweet dreams
of the journey of self

~Ophra Cohen

A Day in the Life

January 5, 2009

with head in hand or keys at fingertips
the script to be written from the day’s experience
beginning with the lighted dawn
ending with a dark weary woe
or vice versa
a life gone by now
and another to take it’s place
a space of untimely concerns
and movements in chaotic motion
discordant sounds
keeping in rhythm to one’s heartbeat
breathless undertaking
altering that ever so fragile balance
known as the present
today

~Ophra Cohen

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

April 8, 2008

Why haven’t I ever noticed how beautiful Alice Kinnian is? After the surgery the doctors gave me, things are changing in my life really fast. I didn’t see her beauty because I was blinded by my mental sickness. I’ve noticed that I’m smarter by the days. Alice is always been nice and kind to me. I hope now that I’m smarter she can look at me in a different way as I look at her.

This surgery has changed my life completely. I look at life in a different prospective. My life is better this way, I like it better. I have a better job, people respect my knowledge and Alice might be falling for me. I asked her on a date and she said yes, we are going to the movies. Some of the doctors are getting worried about me because I haven’t written my progress reports in a couple of months. The doctors are really on my back about this they even told Alice and she was mad at me but I already said sorry. I hope she likes the stuff I bought her. I also hope the date goes well.

Gianluca Mondaca

Nature

January 3, 2008

Nature has its own personality
The Sun shows us its brilliance
The Moon captures our dreams
The Stars guide us through peril
The Sky takes us to another place
The Sea reminds us of nature’s fury
The quiet Stone listens to our cries
The Night tells us its mournful story
The Mountains gaze and look upon us
The Dawn dances with its beautiful burning ember
The Morning brings hope of a new beginning

Nelson Arroyo

St. Peter’s Church Graveyard

May 28, 2007

The peaceful ground of St. Peter’s church graveyard may not be as peaceful as it seems

Though it may surround a church, a peaceful place of god and such, you can still hear their screams

Screams of torment, and pain, shallow moans of sorrow and loneliness

Their tears ran down my face as if I were them

So much pain I felt at that very moment

I came across a grave marked with the name Robert D. Smith

And suddenly an overwhelming sense of dread

In my head I tell myself it is nothing

But I heard a voice whisper in my ear near the tomb of Robert D. Smith

It said, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, what religion can you trust?

Telling lies, hiding the truth, only you can decide what is true…”

At the “peaceful” ground of St. Peter’s Church Graveyard  …

David Rodriguez

Lion Man

May 15, 2007

If I could turn something non-human into human it would have to be a Lion, just because lions are wise and strong. They are also fearless. Lions would be incredible leaders because they’re very observant and very strategic. They don’t move until every move and thought is planned out. Any sign of weakness that anyone would show, the Lion would have already smelled it and would know how to react to the situation. If I were a like a lion, I would live my life through Righteousness. To get respect, you have to give respect. These are all the qualities of being a Man!

Victor Battle

New York State of Mind

January 28, 2007

when living in New York you have to have a New York state of mind/ coming from a place where there is mo dead bloodshed and police crossing lines/ everyday I step outside it’s like a ritual/ we got some gangbangin’ others are spiritual/ and every other night there is a candle light vigile/ I can’t explain - when you cross over something gets into you/ it aint one thing to have the physical to walk through - here you have to have the mental state of mind/ we got some that never leave their crib without a vest and a loaded nine/ in New York they’re subtracting men/ your crew was 20 deep – now they only down to 10/ then 2 more went upstate - and one more is in heaven - so now your crew is just down to seven/ and half the things that go down here don’t make the news at eleven/ baggy jeans – whites - and you got to rock a Yankee fitted / and you can lose your life in a New York minute/  I’m from New York - New York the city of dreams/ and everybody and their Mom knows someone that turned into a feen/ we’re also the home of the Yankees, Giants, and the Knicks and even though they lose games and you say they aint —-/ its still where a brother lays his head at/ so if you talk about my town - I don’t want to hear that/ And even though crimes are at their high/ were New York – so we’re still going to rise/ So when you’re here – keep your eyes open – pay attention/ they call us New York ’cause we stay reinventing …

Jason Marquez

Hello YABC!

November 16, 2006

Welcome to YABC Expressions.  This is an on-line version of our creative writing magazine.  Please register and log-in below so you can respond to our stories, poems, and reviews with your own point of view.