Basketball is a pretty big deal in Indiana. In 1986, Hollywood made a movie called Hoosiers and filmed it about forty minutes from where I live. …
Advice to High School Seniors Waiting on Those College Decisions
Let me guess: It’s the beginning of February, and you’re one of those kids who either didn’t apply to any school early or unfortunately got …
Dear Future Me: You Can Do It
Dear Future Me, You can do it. You will be able to complete the challenges in your life! Do not give up so easily! …
Dear 12-Year-Old Sandra
Dear 12-year-old Sandra, I get it. Life sucks. You used to have breathing problems as a kid, then you outgrew them — yay! — then …
Getting Motivated to Study
Studying isn’t always a fun activity. Natalie Portman once said, “I love to learn, but I hate to study.” This quote has been on my …
Breaking Barriers
“It is what it is.” As an incoming high school freshman, I had spent the past three years being a sheltered, 4.0 student from whom more was expected. I’m from a low-income …
Dear Past Me
Dear past me, Too often I’m asked to write to future me, or I guess right now it’s present me. Time’ll mess you up, homie. …
How to Earn Your Teacher’s Respect
Unless you are completely oblivious, there is a part of you — even if it’s a tiny part — that wants your teachers to like …
Ugly by Matthew Newton
What is beauty? Webster’s dictionary defines it as “the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses …