History of the Bellwether review This literary and arts journal was originally named The Rock Creek Review and was started by Rock Creek faculty members. In 2011, the Advanced Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing course was started, and the decision to change the journal’s name to The Bellwether Review was implemented to symbolize the artistic drive of writers and artists at PCC. A bellwether is a reference to agrarian society, referring to a bell placed around the neck of the lead ram, or alpha ram, in a flock of sheep. The alpha ram leads the flock of sheep in the best direction for the entire herd. In this stead, the contributors whose works are published in The Bellwether Review lead the way for students from all backgrounds to express themselves and set trends for artistic expression within the college community.

Meet the editors Sean P. Hotchkiss “When you have found something, it's always in the last place you looked.” Sean P. Hotchkiss is one of the Layout and Special Pages Editors, as well as our Social Media Editor. Father of three, widower of one. Sean is pursuing an A.A.S. Business: Marketing degree at Portland Community College (PCC). He rediscovered his love of writing after returning to college after three gap-decades. In addition to owning a small marketing support firm, he is a reading and writing tutor at the PCC Sylvania Campus. He pursues his writing with passionate inspiration or, perhaps, inspired passion. Sean is also a presenting author at the PCC Groundswell: a Conference of Student Writing in June, 2023. Arpi Schlesinger “Power isn’t determined by your size, but by the size of your hopes and dreams!” -Monkey D. Luffy Arpi Schlesinger is one of the Fiction/Nonfiction, Typesetting, and Web Editors for this issue of the Bellwether Review. As a kid, he always loved making up stories and telling them to people, whether that be through art, writing, or on stage, and that love carries with him to this day. He is super honored to be able to edit a student magazine like this, and is passionate about young people having a platform to share their art. In his free time he enjoys working out, cooking, hiking, and playing video games. One day he hopes to be a published author. Mars Carver “Life is just too complicated to be smart all the time” -Scott Adams Mars Carver is one of our Special Pages editors and Poetry editors. They started off as an editor for their highschool newspaper, now onto bigger things like the Bellwether . They love to read short stories/manga online. Some of their favorite authors/illustrators include Junji Ito, Cornelia Funke, and Lemony Snicket. They also crochet a lot including the cardigan in this image! Alli Tschirhart “Don't look at your feet to see if you are doing it right. Just dance.” ―Anne Lamott Alli Tschirhart is our Fiction/ Nonfiction, Web, and Correspondence Editor. She is an aspiring author who focuses on themes of motherhood, mental illness, and family dynamics with a preference for horror. She will be transferring to PSU to obtain a degree in English and Writing. She loves reading and her three cats. Emily Miller “Wait, we had to pick a quote?” -me I definitely feel like I bit off more than I can chew, having taken 15 credits, working more than one job, and volunteering… but in the end, I’m excited and proud to show off this year's journal. I enjoyed working with this editorial team to bring you, the reader, this journal. I don’t have much to say, except to go out there and get creative, (while also making sure you don’t overwork yourself). Emmy Ward “We are all stories in the end, just made it a good one.” - Doctor Who Emmy is one of our Correspondence and Poetry Editors. She is an avid reader who loves to write short stories. In a few years she will be pursuing an English degree at PSU. In her free time you will find her hiking, working out at her CrossFit gym, spending time with her dog and cats, or snuggled up on her couch reading a good book. Adam Parker “The mind is a good thing to lose every so often.” -Dominic Monaghan Adam Parker is the Art and Co-Proof Editor for this issue of the Bellwether Review. Adam has had a strong connection with writing and storytelling since a very young age. He wrote his first short story in the second grade which was simply titled, ‘The Wonders of Lasagna,’ describing his favorite food. He has since shifted his writing in a more serious direction, now producing content in the genres of Fantasy and Fiction. His personal battles with anxiety and depression are what inspire him to write as it is a wonderful outlet to process emotion. He is thrilled to have this opportunity and hopes it will help him on his journey to becoming a published author.

Return to Mortality Natalie Alsdorf don’t go thrashing. don’t try to deny death the promised pleasure of sweeping you away. stop pretending you have all the time in the world. you don’t. and that’s okay. whether flying in a private plane– pining for perspective on a moonlight flit, or lying on a table while they look at your pain, don’t go thrashing as death takes your hand. in its hushed and humble embrace, the darkness will ease the pain, will dim the lights. death won’t seem so sinister if you allow the vexing veil to fall. look into its steadfast eyes, and realize– it will do you the least damage. Natalie Alsdorf I am currently 19 years old and have spent most of my life in western Colorado. Besides my time in Oregon the past year and a half (for which I am so grateful), I consider myself a Coloradan at heart and felt called to move back to the colorful, sunny state. Most of my inspiration for my work is derived from nature, my faith, and the human experience. I enjoy sunrise runs, cat snuggles, writing (and re-writing) late at night, and listening to audiobooks and music. I hope to become a published fiction author in the future and am taking my goal one day, and one word, at a time. @nataliealsdorf (Instagram)

Untitled Monserratt Sandoval Drop . . . Splash. Drop . . . Splash Drop . . . Splash The last traces of rain trickle down the gutter’s broken edge None would it matter, who could hear it anyways? Especially when I’m inside, down below Down three flights of stairs Flies lay still in the circular lighting Fuzzy. Vibrating. Who could see? Surely not me Darker than vantablack down here Frost bites at my skin, sticking to the concrete floor Lips sealed shut My mind screams help My body screams death Drop . . . Splash. Monserratt Sandoval My name is Monserratt Sandoval, I am a Mexican-American and am currently 18 years of age. I’ve always appreciated art from a young age, and couldn’t wait to start creating my own artwork. Other than one class in senior year high school, this is my first art class in PCC. Here is where I first really used charcoal in my artwork, which I quickly fell in love with, as it can be found in a lot of my pieces. I enjoy creating observational pieces, like See Through and Self Portrait, which showcases my dining table and backyard door, and myself. I also wanted to shine a light on new perspectives in my work on different lives, which is how the inspiration of Our Life came to be. This piece is one that I hold close to my heart. I also enjoy writing, taking great inspiration from my own life experiences.