A raised tree root caught Kelly’s toe, and she pitched forward, arms thrown out as her balance barely recovered. The gravel path crunched underfoot; each step attracted unavoidable attention. A turn taken too quickly led to a near collision with a trash can. Parks promised calm; Kelly delivered chaos. First kisses often happened in places ...

I will never forget the moment I realized being nice is cooler than being popular. “Our 2012 Prom Queen is…. Brooke Settoon!” “What? There is no way…” There are many things I don’t remember about grade school, but I still can recall the times where I desperately wanted to fit in. I believed popularity was ...

To my high school English teachers, Tonight I attended the senior Academic Awards Banquet with my younger sister, where I saw each of you receive a letter (or three) as a mentor. I wanted to add one. So here is a letter from a former student who sat in your classrooms a decade ago. It’s ...

To the teacher who didn’t care, All I wanted was a chance. A chance to do what I loved. It wasn’t just a hobby to me; it’s what I loved most in the world. By not giving me a chance, you took that away from me. It’s been over 10 years since I quit my ...