Since elementary school, I’ve been a perfectionist with a strong work ethic. Some of my earliest memories go back to kindergarten, where I would volunteer to help my teacher clean up supplies from the day. Over time, my desire for perfection intensified. I wanted to be remembered as a student who worked harder than anyone […]
When I started at a new school last school year, it definitely wasn’t easy. Going into a new environment where I knew no one, I often felt like an outsider and didn’t think I could ever find my people. There’s one issue that I experienced firsthand that is rarely talked about, and even when it […]
Did you know that the last time the United States Government released a national strategy on suicide prevention was in 2012? That’s 12 years since the nation has had an updated and comprehensive outline that can guide us in the fight to prevent suicide. Recently, the Biden-Harris Administration released a new National Strategy for Suicide […]
Graduation balloons fill living rooms and college dorms echo with the sounds of packing tape. It’s the start of summer, and for many young people, this time signifies the start of big life transitions. Amidst the bittersweet goodbyes and nostalgic reflections, a sense of anticipation fills the air. Change is hard but it also opens […]
School is inevitably a stressful time for teens. Balancing school work, extracurriculars, and a social life poses many stressors. To find out more about the stress that teens experience, I interviewed 12 high school students from grades 8 through 12 about their mental health, stress levels, and what affects them. The students interviewed were from […]
According to the American Psychiatric Association, 5% of adults suffer from seasonal depression, and it typically lasts for nearly half of the year. Despite these statistics, I find that many of my friends face seasonal depression every winter when switching out of Daylight Savings time. They feel shrouded by the early sunsets and suffocated by […]
Hi, everyone! Do you want to go to college? Are you in college already? Your choice is valid, whether you choose to go to college or not; some people benefit from it and some don’t. But for those of you who do want to go to college and are worried about it and those of […]
Data shows that approximately 32% of teens suffer from anxiety, and that this number is expected to grow. Academic anxiety is a subset of generalized anxiety resulting from schoolwork or stress related to schoolwork. A 2015 Cornell University study identified four components of academic anxiety: Worry: Thoughts that prevent you from successfully studying or completing […]
A week or so ago, I sat down to begin brainstorming for my college essay. I had no introduction, didn’t know what I wanted to say, and couldn’t think of any life-altering revelations during my high school career. I spent three years pining after perfect grades and a shimmering reputation. It left me with quite […]