International Literary Journal To Feature HCPSS Student's Work

Columbia MD

18 May, 2021

11:06 AM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Hammond High School senior Mohamed Elhassan's illustration has been selected for the cover of the international literary journal Waxwing. Elhassan, who was born in Sudan and arrived in the United States as a young child, has earned national and international accolades for his poetry and artwork. He earned a silver national medal from Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for his poem "We Ask to Not Be Black," which is under consideration for the organization's anthology. According to the Howard County Public School System, Elhassan produces work that reflects upon his duel identity as American and African, and about issues he cares about such as animal rights and climate change. His poem "We Ask to Not Be Black" was inspired by watching the news and feeling vulnerable because he didn't choose his appearance, yet still wants to embrace who he is. The sunflowers in his artwork "And Mama Keeps 'Em Growing" symbolize Black Americans and offer a hopeful direction. This summer, Elhassan will serve as one of two 2021 National Youth Science Camp delegates for the state of Maryland. He has earned several scholarships to attend Stanford University where he will study symbolic systems, a combination of humanities and technical sciences, as he fulfills pre-med requirements and works toward his dream of becoming a physician and a scientist.