By: Valentina A.

(for the two strangers who became lovers and eventually… my parents) is a poem dedicated to my parents, who are both psychiatrists.  From a young age, names of medications and psychiatric disorders became commonplace around my house and have inspired me to pursue a career around mental health.  I want to normalize needing help and admire those who are able to help. Writing with slashes reflects a stream of consciousness, paralleling how the human mind functions on a day to day basis.

2nd · High School Writing (2021)

psych / iatry / has such a / scary / ring to it / it reminds me of the / pet snake i never wanted / but
/ somehow / found its way into my backyard / anyways / i don’t know how you / did it / but / you
have / instilled / in me a / sense of / pride / regarding mental / health / and have / taught / me
psychiatric hospitals / are not like the ones in movies / with the “crazy” people / getting
electrocuted / in asylums / after all / crazy people / are normal people / who simply / need a little
/ help / psychia / try / you try to help / and your patients / try to get better / but once in a while /
you feel helpless / because / addiction / is no easy habit to break / and children / are stubborn /
they don’t like taking / pills / adolescents abuse / drugs / my zoloft / eases anxiety / my friend’s
vyvanse / aids her adhd / taking meds / does not equal crazy / because if it did / we’d all be
considered / insane / you went through / med school / residency / fellowship / and now spend
your time / helping / those who cannot help / themselves / if heroes / weren’t only in movies /
you / two / would be like superman / and wonderwoman / to me / super in how / committed /
resilient / you are / and how you make me / wonder / about the / inner workings in my mind /
mental health / is like another family member / present at dinner conversations / and everyday
gatherings / it is not / taboo / it does not / make a person weak / to admit / they go to a /
psychiatrist / because they’d go to / you / and i know / you / can only / help / them get / better