Stories
School
I Changed Schools and Never Caught Up
The first time I changed schools, everyone told me it would be a “fresh start.”
New hallways. New teachers. New chance to be someone else.
What...
Family
Being ‘Mature for My Age’ Isn’t a Compliment
Adults always say I’m mature for my age.
They say it like it’s praise, like it means I’m doing something right.
What they don’t realize is...
Creative Writing
I Use Writing to Say What I Can’t Say Out Loud
When I write, I don’t have to explain myself first.
I don’t have to smile so people feel comfortable.
I don’t have to turn my feelings...
Culture & Immigration
I Love My Culture, But I Hide It at School
At home, my culture is loud and colorful.
It smells like spices and home-cooked food. It sounds like my family talking over each other, laughing,...
Friendship
Friendships Feel Temporary Now
I don’t know when friendships started feeling fragile.When they stopped feeling like something you could rely on and started feeling like something you had...
Mental Health
I Think I’m Anxious, But I Don’t Know Who to Tell
My heart races for no reason sometimes.
I’ll be sitting still, doing nothing, and suddenly it feels like something is wrong. My chest tightens. My...
