Young people are fortunate to grow up with the most advanced technology ever known…or are we? While technological advancements offer undeniable advantages, they also expose young people to complex platforms like social media. Personally, I have mixed feelings about social media. While I acknowledge its benefits, I believe much more needs to be done in […]
CW: Mentions of disordered eating, anorexia, and competitiveness. Competitiveness in eating disorders runs deep due to the extreme comparison of bodies, behaviors, and physical issues between oneself and another. While someone may think that they are not “anorexic enough” because another person displays more extreme behaviors, that latter person might think the same about the […]
Three years ago, my family helped me move into my freshman dorm. We often hear the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun” and “the next four years of your life will fly by.” Early on in college, it’s hard to believe these statements. But now, as a senior, I can confirm their truth. So, […]
The word purpose carries many connotations; it’s different for everyone. Personally, I am not sure if I have one singular purpose in my life. On the contrary, I know that I love spending my time volunteering for a variety of causes that I believe in. I remember one of the first times I did volunteer […]
Recently, I woke up to see yet another job rejection in my email inbox. Since graduating with my Master’s degree in Journalism three months ago, I have applied to more than fifty jobs. So far, I’ve received 15 rejection letters and have been left without a response from many other companies. Everyone experiences rejection at […]
CW: Mentions of suicide. “No judgment” is so much more than just listening to someone share their story. It’s more than just accepting their story, sympathizing, and extending compassion. While mental health campaigns have long advocated to “end the stigma” and make it easier for people to talk about mental health, I believe there’s an […]
America is facing a crisis of loneliness, particularly among our youth. The United States Surgeon General released an advisory in 2023 about the epidemic of loneliness and isolation that we are seeing in this country. Many factors have contributed to the loneliness epidemic, including the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, many young […]
CW: Mentions of suicide. “Nǐ hǎo.” Those two words are the way to greet another person in Chinese. Given that “nǐ” means “you” and “hǎo” means “good,” the greeting for saying hello actually directly translates to “you good?” or “are you okay?” This underlying meaning reflects a cultural practice of acknowledging others and expressing concern […]
I recently lost my grandmother, which was probably one of the biggest losses that I’ve ever experienced in my life, especially because it happened very suddenly. I spent several months of the year in her company, and spoke with her everyday; she was like a second mother to me. After this loss, the automatic reaction […]
CW: Discussions of substance use, suicidality, and self-harm. Youth substance use is happening regardless of whether or not people are speaking openly about it. As a teen who had a substance misuse problem, I was never given non-judgmental information regarding substance use; I was only told unhelpful statements like “drugs are bad for you.” This […]