Represent Magazine

• Choosing Myself

  by Faith Ornstein

  In 17 years, I’ve had to move more than 10 times throughout New York City. In 3rd grade, I attended five different schools. As a child, I never understood why my family moved around like a military family, but now I know some of the reasons. 

• Losing My Brother

  by Anonymous

  Names have been changed. My brother Thomas is only three years older than me. We didn’t feel close to our mom, our stepfather, or our dads. So growing up, it felt like it was just the two of us. We had so much fun playing video games, basketball, and other games we created.

• Figuring Out Relationships By Myself

  by Anonymous

  Names have been changed. When I started 8th grade, my friend Ashley posted a status on Facebook saying I was looking for a boyfriend. Soon after, I received a friend request from a boy named David. I accepted it and we started messaging.

• Opening Up to the Right People Helped Me

  by Tamya Golson

  Some names have been changed  Going into high school, I had my guard up. I was just coming home from two years in foster care and I was quiet and slow to trust.  I was able to make friends, but I suffered a few betrayals.

• Trying to Create a Life in the Country

  by Anonymous

  When I came to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo three years ago, I bounced around temporary homes in Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. Even though moving around a lot was difficult, I liked the pace of big cities. 

• Bullying and Jealousy Made Me Into Someone I Didn’t Like

  by S.G.

  Names have been changed.  Being bullied and losing a friend made me loud and obnoxious. By high school, when I realized what I had become, it was hard to change. It started in elementary school. In kindergarten I had a good friend, Sam, and we did everything together.