The Woman Inside of Me – student poetry

What resides in me,
is a woman far greater than they eyes can see.

What I hear when your voice meets my ears,
is the same doubt that has remained
throughout the years.

What I’ve always wanted you to see,
was this fire coming out
from inside of me.

All you’ve done in your attempts
to dishearten me,
has made me the empowered woman
that you’ve come to see.

The woman I’ve become
may not be what you wanted for me,
but strongly I stand
in spite of your attempts to retain this woman
whom I call me.

Accept me for who I’ve grown to be.

A strong woman who lives her life compassionately.

— Angela Castillo
(B.A. – Sociology Major/ Women’s Studies Minor, 2009)