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YCM Story of the Week

  • Frame by Frame: Love in Motion

    After my aunt died, I didn’t have any videos to remember her by. Filmmaking has provided me with a way to lovingly channel my grief.

    by Hadiatou Barry

    I sat at the kitchen table with my hand planted on a flower print cloth as my aunt, Tanti Sadjo, prepared couscous, my favorite meal, for my birthday party. I watched in awe as she mixed the grains in a large silver bowl, ensuring that each grain was coated with the perfect amount of sauce.

Recent Stories

  • Making Joy

    by Dani J.

    When I walk into the printmaking studio, the creaky wood-paneled floors give away my entrance. The studio appears dilapidated, with pipes exposed from an open ceiling, and I hear every other person’s footsteps and children screaming in the distance, but at this point it’s like a second home to me.

  • Finding Peace Within Myself

    by Justin Sosa

    On the morning of Mother’s Day in 2023, I decided to buy roses for my grandmother. She had always been there for me, from taking me to school to watching me while my parents were busy working. She’d been sick for over a year.

  • The Oatmeal Cookie Peace Offering

    by S. I.

    I was perched on a wooden stool next to the kitchen island, gobbling a stack of waffles, eager to not miss the train for school. As soon as I was done, I placed the syrup-covered plate in the empty sink, slung my backpack over my shoulder, and headed for the door. 

  • The Road to Acceptance at 16.5 

    by J.L.

    It’s an early summer day in June, the last day of finals. There’s a funny sort of feeling, when school ends. You stare out the window in class, glimpsing the beautiful promise of the outdoors, inhaling that sweet smell of possibility.  

YC Magazine publishes true stories by teens, giving readers insight into the issues that matter most in young people’s lives.

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Video: Stories That Transform

Watch how educators use our stories to support the well-being of students

Represent Magazine

Stories by Teens in Foster Care

Book Review: Spilling the Greasy Beans on Demon Copperhead

What Barbara Kingsolver’s novel gets right about the opioid and foster care crisis in Appalachia

by Jessica Miller

Barbara Kingsolver dedicates her novel Demon Copperhead to survivors of the opioid crisis and foster care. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the book is dedicated to someone like me: I am an Appalachian who was put in foster care due, in part, to my father’s opioid addiction. 

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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More Recent YC Magazine Stories

  • Alone With My English

    by Ava Wong

    ​​​As I walked into the kitchen, I sensed the chaos of my family—the clattering of pans, the screaming of aunt over aunt, the toddler running between rooms. I sat patiently, languages flying.  “It’s time for dinner! Hurry up and eat!”  I craved nothing more than fading away at family events.

  • Dancing With the Bollywood Stars 

    by Ayush P.

    In the 4th grade, I attended a Bollywood dance class for the first time. My mom had signed me up, and the goal was for me to do something outside of my school and home life. “Physical activity is good for you!

  • Wrestling With Stereotypes

    by Ushoshi Das

    As we shake hands, I can feel the pressure on me. Like a mantra I repeat: Strong grip. Stern expression. Show him you’re serious. The whistle blows, and my mind goes blank. It’s just me and my opponent. As Coach says, if my head is really in the game, I shouldn’t even be able to hear the advice he’s shouting from the sidelines.

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