Reply ID: kvqf

Dear Ms. Renegar,

I was very happy to hear from you again. You don't understand how much your support means to me. The encouragement you gave me adds more fuel to my imagination. Glad you liked that poem, A Kept Secret.

I wrote that poem at a time when I thought nobody was listening, not even the air. At a time when I thought my life was trapped in a message nobody cared to hear. A lot of emotion went into that poem, so I'm glad you felt it. As a writer, that's basically what you're looking for: to be able to reach, touch someone with one word.

The thought of your students wanting to read my stories and poems: Wow. That's just a feeling I can't describe. I hope some, if not all, are inspired enough to pick up a pen and explore the possibilities before them. Because there are plenty for them to grasp. They just have to find them. Writing is a beautiful tool. I know many young people don't sit down to write anything by hand these days, but it's worth it. A machine can jot down whatever you tell it, but when you sit down with a pen and paper and you start feeling your fingers become numb, that's when you know all sweat, blood, and tears were left on every word. And that gives you a great feeling of accomplishment, pride. These are emotions that you have to feel in order to keep going. I just hope my writings help make a change in them, period. So, of course, you have my permission.

Unfortunately, no Skype is allowed. I can only write through snail mail or talk on the phone. That's why I appreciate your patience with my response. I know time is precious to you, so I apologize if my responses don't come soon enough for you. I also want to ask you if you would like, I could send you past issues of the Motive magazine my poems have been published in. I can also send you a copy of the book my small autobiography was published in under the pseudonym Jesus A. Campos. All I need is an address to send them to, or a P.O. Box or the school address. If you don't want all the world to see that information, then you can send it to me at the following address.

Jesus Andrade #0993450
633 Old Landfill Rd.
Taylorsville, NC 28681

Get me the information and I will make sure you receive everything.

Also, I know you will be extremely proud of me after I tell you this: I was able to get my G.E.D. done late last year! I finished it in Nov., right before my birthday. I was very proud of myself. After that, I was hired as my teacher's assistant! I honestly don't know how I got that position. I guess my teacher saw something good in me. Can you imagine me tutoring other students? It's a good job, I enjoy it. I learn a lot every day. Plus, it keeps me together and focused. Everything's going good for me.

Thank you for your encouragement. I truly do appreciate it. Thank you. Please let me know how things go in class, and please tell your students that dreams come true only if they work hard to make it happen.

With love and respect,
Jesus Andrade