Community in the Darkness

by A.S.

As a child, I planned elaborate parties for every birthday, with themes like bakery, rock star, and Rapunzel. I prepared for months before, carefully selecting dresses, activities, and frosting flavors. I helped my parents create a makeshift cupcakery, karaoke bar, and princess castle in our home.

Out of My Room and Into the World

by Aster McNulty

I have always been a homebody, even in elementary school. I went to the park after class with my friends, and to birthday parties. But I felt safest and happiest and most myself at home—the tiny, messy apartment I share with my parents.

The Foundation of Friendship

by Bhone Kyaw

The crowd erupted in triumphant noise. Cheers and cries rose from every parent as they saw their child walking into the auditorium, about to graduate Rego Park Elementary School. Unlike my 5th-grade classmates, a feeling of happiness and ecstasy did not rain on me when my name was called. 

Gaining Confidence and Control

by Anonymous

Names have been changed. In 7th grade, I was bullied by a few of my female classmates. They made fun of me for being a hijabi (meaning I wore a headscarf) and said I was ugly. I had social anxiety. They talked about me behind my back and made fun of me to my face.

Writing contest winners winter 2023

Four times a year, we ask our readers to write about the impact recent stories have had on teens around the country. In Winter 2022-23, we had a range of responses from writers connecting to stories about family, race, online culture, self image, and the importance of a name.

Gaming While Female 

by Erika Yeung

Names have been changed.   The first video game I played, when I was nine, was Call Of Duty: Black Ops III, a first-person shooter game. The player experiences the action through the eyes of the protagonist in a three-dimensional space. I loved the adrenaline rush that it and other games gave me.