My name is Inonge Kaloustian. My first name means “someone whom everyone loves” and my last name means “the good coming.” I was born and raised in the DMV, and have lived in gorgeous Prince George’s (PG) County, Maryland, since I was four years old. On June 13th, 2021, I graduated magna cum laude with …
You Can Carry the Weight Now. Since I was 17 you’ve shown me that I can be great. I wasn’t disciplined, but you showed me that I could be. I had potential and you showed me how to refine it. I was rough, but you loved that about me. When we first met, I didn’t …
I began knowing there would be an end. I slipped on the navy jersey many times knowing the day would come where I wouldn’t compete in the same way. Knowing I’d miss road trips, game days, locker room concerts with my teammates – a game time tradition that meant dancing and singing until our hearts …
We spent 10 years together. Some were easy, others were far more difficult. In the beginning, I
loved every minute spent with you. Toward the end, I started to imagine my inevitable days without you. There were so many aspects of me – and yet there you were – center of them all. You tested me in every way imaginable. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. Mentally. There were days I wanted to give up on you, to leave you behind and move on. To be known as something else. Other days, I was so present with you, I forgot about anything and everything
else. You were my everything. My family knew all about you; they always asked how you were.
Friends would text me; to congratulate us on our milestones. You gave me not one, but two,
beautiful rings. When people thought of me, they thought of you too.
This year is the first year that I won’t be suiting up for Fall camp and playing football, a sport I’ve played since I was ten years old. From the time I decided to move on until now I’ve thought about the different ways that I can speak about my own experience. I’ve asked myself, …
“Dear Summer, I know you gon’ miss meFor we been together like Nike Airs and crisp tees” Jay-Z on “Dear Summer” It’s still hard to comprehend. This August is the first August in thirteen years I won’t be gearing up for Fall Camp. More than a decade. More than half of my life. If you …