Humans of Bayanihan #1- Rich Millo

"Being able to be one of those people to add to the minority is like a challenge, and I accept"

Ricardo Miguel Millo, also known as "Rich", is a freshman studying secondary education with a focus on English and minoring in Spanish. His hometown is Hoftman Estates, IL. He was born in the Philippines, and his family moved to Chicago when he was 3 years old.

Rich knew that he wanted to be a teacher since he was a sophomore in high school because of his teacher, Mr. Macnider, who really sparked his creativity and passion for english. During his junior and senior year, he was deciding whether to major in history or English. In Mr. Ahn's English class, Rich says that "the one thing I took away from him was that I can do anything with reading and writing. The possibilities are endless."

Finally, due to the strong influence of his english teachers, Rich decided to major in English. But his love for writing stems back to when he was younger. In second grade, he would write many short stories. In high school, he also started writing poetry. He says that he would describe his style of writing as "hopeless romantic", and he loves to incorporate bits of irony into his prose as a comedic twist. He loves filling up his journal full of poetry– specifically free verse. Writing poetry is more enjoyable to him when there is "NO STRUCTURE! FREEDOM ONLY!". His inspiration comes from his teachers and his experiences from friends, family, and school.

Not only is writing his passion, but it is also his form of therapy. Rich likes to use writing as a "way of coping with stress". He keeps a book with 642 writing prompts in it, and when he has time, he opens up to a random page, picks a prompt, and writes. In some of his more recent writing, he tends to write about the future a lot. In his short stories, he imagines what it would be like to reunite with his friends from high school and college after 10 years.

Aside from his love for writing, another reason why Rich chose English as his major was to challenge the stereotype that Asian students must pursue a degree in math or science. While most of his friends are science majors, he did not let others' expectations steer him away from doing what he is passionate about. At the end of our interview, Rich claimed that "being able to be one of those people to add to the minority is like a challenge, and I accept".

Below are a couple of Rich's favorite poems that he has written.

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A Different Point in Time

A time nonexistent,

but real in my mind.

Where my life was about you,

instead of what it is now.

I was your “go to,”

The “main” one.

Even what you call “your guy.”

But none of this is real.

I’m stuck where I was before.

Just someone to count on.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

I’m a mere “panic button.”

Where my fantasies grow

I see you and I, as one.

Together, in the knowledge

That we have each other, no one else.

It’s fine though.

Reality is what it is.

There are reasons why things are how they are.

But let your imagination live.

A different point in time.

Where things are complete opposite from what they are now.

A time that will never exist

because the moment will never be created.

-Rich Millo

Why I Write

I write because you exist.

My mind can go on tangents

and I may seem to lose my way,

but, I ultimately come back

to the thought of you.

I can’t capture your complete essence in the art I create.

It’s easy to form something out of others,

but you have some sort of shield that hides away

your true, inner form of being that holds your secrets.

You fascinate me.

I want to pursue you and figure out

the pieces of the puzzle that makes you, you.

Only then will I be able to be satisfied with my work.

But, I feel contradicted in the way that

when I do figure you out, the magic will be gone.

The mysterious thoughts I hold in my mind will grow dull.

I feel that I’ll lose a sense of meaning in what I do.

I believe there are two parts of me.

One craves your style and persona.

The other wants to be amazed at a distance.

Both clash and leave me breathless when I’m with you.

I don’t think I’ll ever fully comprehend your way of living.

But, I am vulnerable to let you see mine.

I guess that’s what people do for the ones they love.

I’ll give you my life for the chance to hold you another day.

I can make different pieces of art.

Many on other people, maybe straight fantasy as well.

But, I’ll never be able to create you clearly.

I write because you exist.

-Rich Millo

#HOB #HumansofBayanihan