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New Youth Connections

New Youth Connections
(or NYC)
is a general interest teen magazine written by and for New York City youth. It began publication in May 1980, and is published seven times during the school year. Circulation is 65,000, and the magazine is distributed in every public high school in New York City, as well as to hundreds of libraries and community based organizations in New York and around the country.

Tips for Teachers Guide

TO READ HOW SCHOOLS USE NYC: click here.
Recent Issues of New Youth Connections
To order the complete print edition of the magazine, click here.
Selected Stories from May/June 2009 Issue
 
NYC-MayJune 2009
 

Contest Question
Do you ever feel like you lead a double life, or have more than one personality? Write about a time or situation that shows how you’ve sometimes acted differently depending on who you are with.

FACING MORAL CHOICES

What Would You Do?
Teens debate what it means to do the right thing

Atheists Can Go to Heaven, Too

The Last to Know
I felt betrayed when my boyfriend joined a gang

LESSONS FROM THE STAGE

The Cambria
Inspired by Frederick Douglass's powerful mind

Zooman and the Sign
Mourning for a murderer

Artistic Freedom
When I leave the theater, I'm soaring inside

Ask the Artist
Backstage with a Fuerza Bruta performer

PLUS

Flying Solo
At 13, I realized my dream of traveling alone

Losing Mom
I'm learning to live without my biggest supporter

Patience? Fuggedaboutit
New York is no lazy paradise

The Persistent Politician
Instead of running from defeat, I just ran again

The Talk
A review of sexual health sites for teens

Selected Stories from April 2009 Issue
 
NYC--April 2009
 

Contest Question
Write a letter telling President Barack Obama how the recession has affected you, a friend, or a family member, or about what worries you most given the present economy. How do you think he could help families like yours?

RELATIVE DRAMA: HOW OUR FAMILY IMPACTS OUR MENTAL HEALTH

Anxious and Alone
Teasing drove me to desperation—and away from my family
Plus:Statistics on Bullying

Alone With My Abuser
I thought speaking up would destroy my perfect family

In This Together
I can’t imagine facing grief without family support

My Sister’s Keeper
Seeing my twin get bullied ignited a protective love

Myspace: Fake Teens, Real Problems

HOW TO SUCCEED IN A RECESSION

Comic: What is a Recession?

Find a Job Online
A Guide for Teens

Obama Brings Jobs to NYC Teens

Swap and Save
How to get clothes for free

Secondhand, First Rate
Scoring thrift store threads

Thrifty Guide to Chelsea
Reviews by NYC’s teen writers

BOOK REVIEW

It’s Kind of a Funny Story
An interview with author Ned Vizzimi

Brother I’m Dying
A powerful memoir of adversity and hope

FILM REVIEW

Documentaries Profile New Orleans Survivors
Not as Seen on TV and Talkin’ Water

Behind the Scenes
An Interview with PRO-TV’s Teen Filmmakers

PLUS:

Too Nice for My Own Good?
No one sees behind my automatic smile

Not Ready for the Rat Race
My first adult job left me disillusioned

Selected Stories from March 2009 Issue
 
NYC--March 2009
 

IS THIS ME? THINKING ABOUT IDENTITY

Penguin in the Sahara
Private school helped me rediscover my Latin roots

University of Kitchen
My dad's decision will determine the future of my education

Wearing My True Colors
I’ll never mask my gay identity again

Finding My Haitian Pride

The Things That Make Us Who We Are

MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK FOR YOU

Making Sense of Government Benefits

Programs for New York City Residents

What Help Can I Get?
Access NYC can aid families in need

MOVIE REVIEW

Milk: Story of a Gay Rights Hero

Prop 8: The Struggle Continues

PLUS

Out of the Shadows
I learned my depression is nothing to hide

What Is Depression?

Letters to Parents
What readers wish they could tell their parents

Do Ask, Do Tell
Polling for Justice gets personal for a good cause

Selected Stories from January/February 2009 Issue
 
NYC--Jan./Feb. 2009
 

GENERATION AT RISK: TEEN HIV ON THE RISE

Keeping Quiet
Should I tell my friend his boyfriend’s secret?

Intro: HIV is Hitting Youth Hardest

Too Big a Risk
He was HIV-positive. I wasn't.

Twenty Years Living HIV-Positive
An interview with former NYC teen writer Dave Nisbett

The ABCs of STDs
Know your Sexually Transmitted Diseases

What Should Teens Know about HIV?

HIV in Our Communities of Color
An interview with Suki Terada Ports of the Family Health Project

Acting Is My Activism
Teens educate their peers about STDs at THEO

All Too Real
Two young New Yorkers live with HIV

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About STDs?

Sexual Health Resources for Teens

HOOKED ON BOOKS

Memoirs Proved Me Wrong
The right books taught me to love reading—and accept my past

Stories from the Street
"Gangsta lit" is good reading

My Life Between the Pages
Books help me see the potential in myself

Selected Stories from December 2008 Issue
 
NYC--December 2008
 

Contest Winners
What do you think about the pregnancy of 17-year-old Bristol Palin (daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin)?

FAITH AND DOUBT: RELIGION AND OUR SEARCH FOR MEANING

Talking to the Ceiling
I've discovered a non-religious but beautiful way to accept death

Alone With the Mountain
Finding God in the desert helped me make peace with my Jewish faith

Wearing My Faith
My hijab makes me feel more connected to Islam

Facts About Religion

Rejecting My Religion
Shutting the door on religion has opened my mind to new ideas

My Search for a Church
The sense of community at my youth church was the answer to my prayers

Don’t Cramp My (Hair) Style
Will becoming a Rasta mess with my self expression?

The Beliefs We Keep
Teens write about how religion has shaped their lives.

BOOK REVIEW

Does My Head Look Big In This?
Teen Angst in a Hijab

MOVIE REVIEW

Religulous
Making Religion Ridiculous

 
Vote
art by Lee Samuel

Yes We Did
Obama’s Historic Win

New York City teens react
to the election of Barack Obama.

 
Selected Stories from November 2008 Issue
 
NYC--Nov 2008
 

AIMING TO PLEASE OUR PARENTS

As Much as the Universe
Struggling for independence, I still crave my mom's approval

My Family Across the Ocean
I've given up on trying to please my biological parents

Her Shining Star?
After my mom read my diary, I wasn't sure she'd ever forgive me

Rewriting My Dream
Journalism is my pathway to happiness

How Much Do Our Parents Really Expect?

THE COMPLICATED WORLD OF TEEN-PARENT RELATIONSHIPS

Far From the Mom I Love
We were broke in Kenya but at least I had my mother

Step-Family Ties
I like having the perspective of more than one "mom"

Seeing Through the Fog
My dad's support helped me accept myself—and his new family

Man of the House
My father's addiction left us struggling, and I feel powerless to help
Plus:Something You Can't Fix: What you should know if your parent has a substance abuse problem

ELECTION 2008

Awakening the Youth Vote
Over 18? Don't forget to cast your ballot on Nov 4

Teen Pregnancy
An Election Issue?

PLUS

TV Show Made for Teens
An interview with Red Hook High's David Etienne
Plus:My Onscreen Debut: Red Hook High

Picking Myself Up
In public school I learned that my academic success was
up to me

 
Vote
art by Yong Han Chen


Election '08
Read stories by teens about the 2008 presidential election

 
Selected Stories from September/October 2008 Issue
 
NYC--Sept/Oct 2008
 

HOW TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE

I’m in College ...Now What?

Mishaps and Milestones
Students share the ups and downs of college life

Secrets of Success From Your Professors

Don’t Let Math Hold You Back
Get the help you need

WEIGHING YOUR OPTIONS

Beating the Odds
My aunt decided college wasn’t just for the lucky few

No More Hand-Holding
I'm relying on myself to prepare for college and the real world

Not Your Usual College Fair
"Tales From the Campus" offers the real deal on college life

Community College
A Second Chance

Dorm Sweet Dorm?
Students weigh in on whether to go away for college

Helpful College Resources for NY High School Students

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

Battling the Bureaucracy
When I didn’t get answers, I kept asking

You’re Not in High School Anymore
Tips for surviving the first year of college

How to Manage Your Time at College

Notetaking 101
When you’re reading, don’t just highlight!

Advocate for Yourself
—In the financial aid office
—In class

Find Support
Students tell how they found help

College Grad at Last
It wasn’t the fast track, but I stuck it out

HOW WILL I PAY FOR COLLEGE?

College
A Smart Investment

Take Charge of Your College Bills

Financial Aid Resources


 

Ready or Not: Teens write about facing pregnancy

Ready or Not

Teen pregnancy is suddenly in the national spotlight, thanks to the revelation that Bristol Palin, the 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, is pregnant. The family announced that Bristol will marry her baby daddy, 18-year-old Levi Johnston. But in all the media furor, the voice of Bristol herself, and of other pregnant teens, has gone largely unheard. Below, read the real stories of teens who have dealt with pregnancy and parenting.>>>(MORE)

 
Selected Stories from May/June 2008 Issue
 
NYC--May/June 2008
 

ELECTION 2008: WILL YOUR VOTE COUNT?

Oprah for President

A Trip to the Polls
I cast my first vote based on issues, not on race

Seeing Beyond Ourselves
Race and gender shouldn't be the focus of the presidential election

Young Voters: This Is Our Moment

Don’t Let the Rumors Win
Smart voters don't believe everything they read or hear

Barbershop Debates: A Rite of Passage

PLUS

American at Heart—But Not on Paper

Path to Citizenship
How can undocumented residents obtain legal stutus in the U.S.?

Dream Girl
Our childhood romance was more than puppy love

Habla Español o Francais ou Arabe?
Learning a foreign language is more important than you think

Caroline Kennedy: True to Her Family’s Legacy

MOVIE REVIEW

Does Under the Same Moon Paint Too Sunny a Picture?

Selected Stories from April 2008 Issue
 
NYC--April 2008
 

LIFE AFTER LOSS

In An Octopus’s Garden
My father and I found a lasting bond in music

How to Cope With Life’s Losses

Becoming the Man My Dad Couldn’t Be

Boyfriend Behind Bars

The Home I Can’t Forget
I left my heart on the Lower East Side

Watching From the Sidelines
An injury put my running dreams on hold

A World Away From Her
I feel like I left my grandmother when she needed me most

PLUS

Teens Demand More Summer Jobs
93,000 teens apply—why can’t the City fund more than 42,000 jobs?

Imaginations Run Wild in Be Kind Rewind

Making Our Own Movie From Scratch

Selected Stories from March 2008 Issue
 
NYC--May/June 2007
 

Contest Winners
Write a letter to your parents telling them what’s going on in your life that they should know about—but don’t.

FINDING OUR CONFIDENCE

Clearing Up My Acne—and My Self-Esteem

From Tomboy to Boy Magnet
My sister taught me to be choosy about boys

Standing Up for the Jena 6
Rallying for justice sparked the activist in me

My Life as a Long Hair

Does Feeling Unpopular Make Girls Fat?

Breathing Easier
I won’t let my asthma anxiety rule my life anymore
Plus: What Is Asthma?

Skinniest Man in the Graveyard
My eating disorder put me at more risk than I realized

Selected Stories from January/February 2008 Issue
 
NYC--Jan/Feb 2008
 

FAR FROM HOME: LIFE IN FOSTER CARE

Skyscraper of Trust
My foster mom and I built our relationship brick by brick

Rewriting the Script
I found a way to turn a bad foster care situation around

Finding Our Way Home
It was hard to reconnect with my mom

From Ashley to Angel
I like the person I've become since living away from my mom

What Is Foster Care?

PLUS

Breaking Down the Grade
NYC teens weigh in on school 'progress reports'

‘Move Along’
Has police security gotten too tough at high schools?

Selected Stories from December 2007 Issue
 
NYC--Dec 2007
 

WASTED: UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS

Why Are Parents Clueless About Drugs?

Hooked on Heroin
I loved being high, but I couldn’t control it

A Fine Line
When does experimentation with legal drugs become addiction?

What Drugs Do To You

Where to Find Help for a Drug Problem

How to Help a Friend Who's Using

WHEN A PARENT IS ADDICTED

'I Think These Drugs Are Daddy's'
My father's an addict but I won't give up on him

Something You Can't Fix
What you should know if your parent has a substance abuse problem

PLUS:

Mixed and Proud
I love belonging to more than one culture

Almost One of the Gang
Most of my friends are Crips, but I've chosen not to join

Prisoners in Our Schools
Why are kids treated like criminals while trying to get an education?

Selected Stories from November 2007 Issue
 
NYC--Nov 2007
 
Special Feature:

ARE WE DATING?

Get In, Get Money, Get Out
After hustling boyfriends for money, I never thought I’d get played

Ignoring the Stares
My boyfriend and I refuse to let race be an issue in our relationship

More Than Friends With Benefits
My girlfriend and I had to define what we wanted from our relationship

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places
Where I finally met a boy who treats me right

Why Can't Boys and Girls Be Friends?

DATING ABUSE

My Abusive Boyfriend

What Is Dating Abuse?

TEENS AND MUSIC

Is MTV Harder on Hip-Hop Than Rock?

My Love Affair with Indie Music

SPECIAL REPORT

Someone to Talk To
Teens rally for more mental health services in schools


Selected Stories from September/October 2007 Issue
 
NYC--Sept/Oct 2007
 

ADVERTISING, CONSUMERISM & TEENS

The 'truth' is Hard to Ignore
Teens like these anti-tobacco ads

Starbury
The new status symbol?

What's Wrong With Red Bull Ads?

All-Girl Ad Agency Knows What Sells

Buying Brand Names to Fit In

Hooked on Ralph...and Calvin...and...
A Designer Addiction

SPECIAL REPORT

Teens Criticize School Survey

CROSSING CULTURES

The Daily News Taught Me English

BOOK REVIEW

The Kite Runner
A story of love, guilt and betrayal

Selected Stories from May/June 2007 Issue
 
NYC--May/June 2007
 

Contest Winners
Write a letter to your parents telling them what’s going on in your life that they should know about—and don’t.