Within, a still pond,
Peace waits in quiet shadows,
Silver waves, untouched.

Through life’s shifting winds,
Chaos stirs the world outside,
Yet deep, calm prevails.

Look inward, find peace,
Where no storm can reach your heart,
Serenity stands.

• Tenzin Sinon (CPL 2024-2025)

‘Struggle of peace’ is trying to suggest that peace isn’t something we find in external circumstances, but in our ability to reconnect with ourselves, even in the midst of turmoil. The challenge, in any form, is to quiet the storm of stress, comparison and embrace the inner stillness that’s there, waiting to help us navigate through it all.

This poem reflects the inner turmoil I’ve experienced as a college student. Life feels chaotic—between academic pressures, personal expectations, and the overwhelming uncertainty of the future. Often, it seems like I’m being pulled in a thousand different directions, with no real sense of control. The calm pond in the poem represents the peace I’m constantly searching for but struggle to find amid all the noise.

The line, “Peace waits in quiet shadows,” speaks to my belief that this sense of calm is always within me—and within all of us—hidden beneath the surface, even when life feels overwhelming. I’ve come to understand that while the world outside constantly shifts and stirs, there is a place within where I can find balance. I just need to take the time to listen to it, to embrace it.

My own thoughts often mirror this; mostly calm, sometimes chaotic, but always moving, never letting me stop at one point or one thought for too long. This reminds me that life moves in cycles, but I can always return to that place of calm when I feel lost or anxious. For me, that inner peace is often reflected in my family, particularly my grandmother, who I think of as my heart. She represents that still, quiet place where I can find grounding.

What I want the poem to convey is that peace isn’t something we find in external circumstances, but in our ability to reconnect with ourselves, even during a time of turmoil. The challenge, in any form, is to quiet the storms of stress, comparison, and doubt—and embrace the inner stillness that’s always there, waiting to guide us through it all, often called a gut feeling.

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