I, Maggie, stubborn, sweet (sometimes), sleepy anf perfect (according to my boyfriend), am my sister’s best friend. Lover of chocolate, the

sun and my boyfriend, feels happy, sleepy and crazy, needs chocolate, my boyfriend and books, fears the dark, bugs and losing

the ones I love, would like to see North Carolina and Taylor Swift. Am a resident of Foros de Amora (almost Brazilândia). Welcome you to

my poem.

I, Joana, a girl: medium-build, brunette, sassy, daughter of Dad, lover of fashion, NY and Vogue, feels loved, needs travel, love and tea, fears the dark, being alone and spiders, would like to see Justin, am a resident of Azeitão, Portugal. Welcome to my poem.

I, Guilherme, a boy; tall, happy, intelligent; friend of a person, lover of music, food and beaches, who feels without words, who needs a Lambourghini and more time, who fears hippos, cotton buds and that door, who would like to see Eminem, Dave

Mustaine and that other person, am a resident of Venus. Welcome to my poem.

I, teacher, a lazy Liverpool supporter; catching up, ticking off, riding through; child of a conjunction, lover of primroses, double-grooves and new words, who feels like floating, being carried by waves and smelling hot bread; who needs a new vibe, a new ride and a new hook, who fears oblivion and empty heads, who’d like to see the Baltic, eat really good sushi and go diving in the red sea again, am a resident of this little rock we call home and I welcome you to … my students.

Tel: 212 223 937Email: secretaria@e-self.netWeb: e-self.webnode.pt

express yourSELF

I, me, myselfby the students of SELF language school

Luis Silveiro

A foreword

Describing a best friend, a member of our family, a pet, a city, anything, can be an exhilarating, if confusing, experience, but what about when someone asks you to write about yourself?

Writing about oneself must be one of the most difficult things you can do.

You cannot be proud; exaggerated, overstated, yet, you cannot be timid, reserved, or unsure.

The first step to writing about who you are is to look through the eyes of others, and try to see what they see. After all, we are the conjunction of others’ perceptions of ourselves. And we model our personalities on these perceptions.

This little book happened because of a lesson. I gave each student a poem template and asked them to fill in the missing information based on a previously written poem. The first reaction to poetry writing is quite simply that you can’t do it; that it has to rhyme; that is has to be profound.

It is our experiences, day by day, that make existence profound, not the words themselves, they are a complement.

What came back was truly remarkable, and well worth sharing with you all.

But first I must thank the writer of the template, although I cannot be sure who that is. But you can find similar templates at: www.myteacherpages.com/MrsThonus

In the spirit of SELF school and its students, I honestly hope you enjoy this reading experience and try it out for yourself also.

Thank you and good afternoon.

Luis Silveiro.

‘I, me, myself’ is an express yourSELF publication © aráiza productions MMXIV. All rights reserved.

I, Diogo, a boy: curious, stubborn, persistent, son of mom, lover of nature, sports, biology, who feels tired and half

asleep, who needs to make up his mind, who fears torture and failure, who would like to see himself becoming someone important, am a resident of Seixal, Setubal and I welcome you

to my poem.

I, Matilde, a girl: tall, happy, intelligent, so of my parents, lover of animals, sports, friends, who feels normal, who needs super-happiness, who fears hairy spiders and scarves, who would like to go to Hollywood, am a resident of my imagination. Welcome you to my poem.

I, Tomé, a boy: son of my parents, thoughtful, friendly, lover of WWE, feels untidy and confused, who needs a new phone, who fears dying, jobs and snakes, who would like to see Kingston, am a resident of Portugal. Welcome to my poem.

I, Pedro, a boy: tall, fun, happy, friend of Rita, lover of animals, cars and girls; feels GREAT,

needs a PS4, fears bears and cats, would like to see Messi. Am a resident of Seixal. Welcome to

my poem.

I, Leonardo, a boy: strong, funny, happy, love of music, sports and exercise, feels happy but tired, needs more work to do, would like to see Chuck Norris, Van Damme and Pinto da Costa, am a resident

of Portugal. Welcome to my poem.

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I, Cátia, a girl; short, stubborn and happy, daughter of my mother, lover of dogs, Italian food and movies, who feels bored, who needs happiness, health and money. Who fears grasshoppers, really old people and needles, who would like to see Central Park, Logan Lerman and the Taj Mahal, am a resident of Casal do Marco, Setúbal. Welcome to my poem.

I, John, Son of Thor, lover of gold … and women,

Who feels angry,

Who fears the return of the past

Who would like to see the Shire,

Am a resident of Rohan,

And I welcome you to my poem

I, Joana, happy, friendly… MEAN, friend of my friends, lover of boybands and friendship, feel excited, nervous, intelligent, needs love, a phone, TV. Who fears exams, people, myself, who would like to see London, concerts, Canada, am a resident of my house. Welcome to my poem.

I, Rita, a fun, tall, energetic, pretty daughter of mom, lover of ice-cream, feels happy, needs nothing, fears Ema, would like to see myself on TV, am a resident of Foros de Amora. Welcome to my

poem.

I, DAVID, A MAN, HUSBAND, SON, BROTHER, LOVE OF BOOKS, BEER AND RADIO, FEELS CALM, HAPPY AND TALKATIVE, NEEDS MONEY, MORE FREE TIME AND A BIGGER HOUSE. WHO FEARS HEIGHTS, UNTIDINESS AND STUPIDITY, WOULD LIKE TO SEE J-LO, SHANIA AND SHAKIRA, AM A RESIDENT OF CASAL DO MARCO, SETUBAL. Welcome to my poem.

I, me, myself…I, Mariana,

A fashionable vagabond; an ordinary girl, intelligent and ambitious

Daughter of two progenitors (obviously)

Lover of unreachable knowledge

Who feels exhausted, numb, but alive

Who needs to sleep and stare at the stars

Who fears the ocean, failure and religious figures

Who would like to the Northern Lights while listening to Leonard Cohen and easting macaroons.

Am a resident of the Planet Earth and

I welcome you to my poem

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I, John, average height, lazy (sometimes not), and lacking in

ideas, acquaintance of Jesus, lover of food, sport and videogames, feels confused, Needs ideas, Fears not

having any ideas, And who would like to see this thing finished,

welcome you to my poem.

I, Mikey, a boy, tall, funny, expressive, brother of God, lover of music, sports and SELF, who feels lost in words, who needs cash, sleep and water, who fears dogs, who would like to see ‘The Hippo Wars’, am a resident of Aroeira and I welcome you to my poem.

I, Rafael, a boy, fun, happy, cool, brother of Filipe, lover of cars and food, who feels happy, hilarious, nervous, who needs more video games and toy cars, who fears scream

movies and shoes, who would like to see Italy and China, am a resident of Portugal. Welcome to my poem.

I, Sofia, beautiful, bright, free, sister of Diogo, lover of things, friends and family, who feels trapped, who needs love, who fears almost nothing,

who would like to see the world, am a resident of the universe. Welcome to my poem.

I, Ema, a girl; restless, big-mouthed, energetic and funny, lover of animals, ‘avatar’ and iPads, who feels happy, who needs money, love and friends, who would like to see pewdepie, Canada and the Maldives, am a resident of Seixal and I welcome you to my poem.

I, Sara, a girl, tall, happy, shy… Son of mum and dad, lover of boys, swimming and food, feels happy, needs good grades and to be a little wiser, fear spiders, ants and aliens, would like to see Cristiano Ronaldo am a resident of here. Welcome to my poem.

I, Beatriz, a girl: beautiful, smart, fabulous, wife of Harry Styles, lover of

1D, swimming and that person , feels happy, needs love and

a pony, fears wind and illusion, would like to see 1D, space and Egypt. Am a resident of Herdade da

Aroeira. Welcome to my poem.

I, Mariana – HAPPY, INTERNET, PEOPLE, I LOVE YOU

Luke’s wife…

Lover of donuts, ice-cream and 5SOS,

Feels so done in right now tired

Who needs help to tidy her bedroom to sleep, some food and wi-fi.

Who fears SHARKS

Who would like to see California

Am a resident of Sesimbra,

Welcome to my poem.

I, Barbara, a girl; friendly, tall, (who doesn’t like to be a fifth wheel). My brother’s sister. Lover of the Sea, surf and skates. Who feels out of place, who needs happiness and attention. Who fears demons and who would like to see Hawaii, NY and Australia, am a resident of Portugal. Welcome to my poem.

I, Ana Rita, a girl; short, happy, fun, friend of Madalena, lover of pandas and dolphins, feels happy, fears spiders and would like to see 1D, am a resident of Seixal. Welcome to my poem.

I, Raquel, fun, restless, sleepy, sister of nobody, lover of nutella, Ruca and plates, who feels energetic, who needs to rest, who fears Paul, who would like to see her elbow, am a resident of Seixal. Welcome to my poem

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