YouthComm Magazine - Youth Communication

YCM Story of the Week

Arriving, Finally, As My Chosen Name

Choosing my name and my community make me feel powerful enough to shoulder the burden of being a trans high schooler.

by Spencer Katz

I had recently cut my hair short for the first time. At school, a male friend saw me and said, “You look like a boy,” and it felt validating, especially coming from a boy. Then, it started to click that maybe I wasn’t the girl I thought I was.

Recent Stories

What We Can Do to Honor the Loss of Tyre Nichols

by Enoch Naklen

On January 7th, Tyre Nichols was pulled over by five Memphis police officers for “reckless driving” according to NBC News. What followed was 13 minutes of him being brutally beaten and tased by these police officers. He died in the hospital three days later.
My Case for Examining Existing Stalking Laws

by Luca Bernstein

One day, I was sitting outside with my mom and her friends at a coffee shop when a 50-something looking man who looked like The Dude from The Big Lebowski complimented me on my bicycle and asked if he could take a picture.
Coming Home to Harlem

by Kayla Ruano-Lumpris

Names have been changed. It was 6th grade recess, and a couple of girls were complaining about how far away they lived from school. I stared off into space, kicking at the fake grass beneath my feet, hoping they wouldn’t ask me where I lived.
Of Course I’m Smart Enough

by Enoch Naklen

“OK class, we’re about to transition to community meeting! On my count. One!” announced my 4th grade teacher. One was the signal to push out your seat from the desk. “Good job we’re moving with urgency! I like it Morgan State!”

Represent Magazine

Stories by Teens in Foster Care

My Burdens as an Adoptee

My parents want me to be grateful; I want them to see the whole me.

by J.M.

I was born in Kentucky and only had about three days with my birth mother before I was put into foster care. While nine months pregnant with me, she had been apprehended by the police and forcibly hospitalized because she was homeless and suffering a psychotic episode.

Youth-written stories in Represent give inspiration and information to teens in foster care while offering insight into those teens’ struggles.

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