This volume of narratives and poetry, Beyond What You See, shared the stories of young men and women and their teachers at East River Academy The tales shared here are heartfelt and sincere; woven from a rich tapestry of life experiences which will no doubt make us laugh and shed a few tears. Many of the stories will connect us all to a common humanity. They will leave us challenged and push us to examine our biases and preconceptions about people. They will open up worlds we can only possible see and imagine through the eyes of others.