Page 33 - North Haven Magazine Issue 39 Summer 2025

What It Means

In a sense, we are all on the same path.
Though no two lives are the same,
we walk beneath the same sky,
driven by quiet hopes—
a stable job,
a peaceful home,
a family we can hold close.

The world, at times, feels like a narrow pipe—
pushing us in one direction,
making it hard to turn back,
to stand still,
to choose another way.
Gavin giving an introduction presentation as youth poet laureate.
We move forward,
not always by choice,
but by necessity—
by pressure, by fear,
You also do a lot of community work by dreams stitched into us
throughout town. Tell me about that. long before we understood them.
I have been class president for the past three years at NHHS.
This role requires constant fundraising to offset senior year Yet some—
some step sideways,
expenses. Although not all of the fundraisers benefit the town step forward,
or other communities, I have been lucky enough to run certain step up.
ones that have had large impacts! The one that I am most
proud of is a sneaker drive that I ran during sophomore year. Not in rebellion.
We were able to collect over 300 pairs of used sneakers and Not for glory.
donate them to impoverished countries. I have also been vol- Not for gain.
unteering at New Haven Reads since my sophomore year. In But out of courage.
this role, I serve as a tutor for kids in New Haven (elementary Out of sacrifice.
and middle school students). I help them grow as readers and Out of a love so deep,
writers. I also volunteer at Saint Mary’s Hospital in the sum- it chooses others over self.
mers. I work in the Post-anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). I assist These are our veterans.
nurses and patients and turn over rooms to support the fast-
paced environment of the hospital. Lastly, through my role as Men and women
youth poet laureate, I run workshops in schools to promote po- who heard the call
and answered—
etry and read original poetry at public events such as parades, not knowing where the path would lead,
ceremonies, etc. only that it needed walking.

What profession do you see They left behind comfort,
in your future? routine, the everyday joys we often take for granted—
birthdays,
To be honest, I have no idea what profession I will hold in the dinners,
future. I feel no pressure to decide so early on. I hope to con- a child’s first steps—
tinue to grow as a learner and to gain new experiences. I trust to protect something larger than themselves.
that whatever I end up doing will be something I am happy
with. What it means
is not just uniforms and salutes,
What do you read? not just parades or folded flags.
I mostly read novels and occasionally poetry. Over the past What it means
few years, I have really just read Stephen King novels and no- is standing guard while others sleep,
vellas. holding fast while others flee,
bearing the weight
Who are your favorite authors? so others may walk free.
My favorite authors are Stephen King, Cormac Mcarthy, and To be a veteran
George Orwell. is to have carried a nation's promise
on your back,
What is your favorite TV show? and still come home
I love TV shows. It is too hard to give one favorite, so I will list with dignity,
with honor,
a few: Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Rick and Morty, Barry, with quiet strength.
Severance, and Stranger Things.
So today,
May I print your winning poem? We do more than thank you.
I do not necessarily have a winning poem, but I am happy to We remember.
send you one that I am proud of that you can print. We reflect.
We recognize what it means—
and strive to be worthy
of the path you carved
NorthHavenMag.com with your courage. 33