Author: Melissa Dos Santos

My name is Melissa. I live in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn; I’ve been living in NYC for almost 9 years. I’m originally from Cambridge, MA. I’m an avid reader, specifically classical literature, essays, poetry, and all forms of news media. Over the summer, my readings have been a melange of Baudelaire’s Paris Spleen, essays by Camille Paglia, classic works such as the Master and Margarita and Who Killed Homer. I love live music – excited for the upcoming season at Carnegie – bird watching at the Ramble, and cooking Ottolenghi inspired dishes. I’m a plant mom and addicted to yoga.

I’m a sophomore. I never felt the need to be “credentialed,” but I ran out of things I wanted to pursue that didn’t require a degree, so I returned to school after 15 years. I completed prereqs for nursing, but I’ve had a change of heart, and I’ll be transferring to City College in the spring to pursue international relations. I’m exploring my options and following wherever my inspiration takes me.

I’m taking this class to practice my amateur writing skills. I originally intended to take the introduction to poetry course, but journalism attracted me due to its practical application.

Here are some of my “children.” They’re a mix of medium indirect light and succulents. The wall behind them was purposefully painted yellow so that in the morning, the sunlight bounces off the wall to create a golden glow. The plants are grateful.  The natural world is a magical, pure and free domain that embraces me and fuels my imagination.