How Calm Music Helps My Mental Health And Helps Me Relax School can be a rollercoaster.  Between late-night studying, trying to keep up with friendships, and all the pressure to figure out my future, there are definitely days when everything feels like too much.  But one thing has always been there for me—music.  Not just any music, but calm songs, smooth jazz, a little R&B, and all the playlists I’ve carefully put together over time.  Listening to music isn’t just background

How Joining an Architectural Building Club Boosted My Confidence I’ve always been a little on the quiet side. The kind of person who blends into the background instead of standing out. I used to worry that my shyness would keep me from making friends or trying new things.  But everything started to change the day I joined an architectural building program at my school.  At first, I was nervous—almost too nervous to even show up—but what happened next ended up being one of the

Preparing Myself for Life After High School: Figuring Out My Future and College Plans Life after high school feels like this huge, exciting, and slightly terrifying blank canvas.  For so long, my world has been defined by school bells, homework assignments, and familiar hallways.  Now, as graduation creeps closer, I’ve been thinking deeply about what’s next— What colleges might be the right fit for me, what I even want to study, and how to prepare myself for a whole new chapt

Learning to Talk to My Parents About My Feelings Talking about your feelings isn’t always easy, even with the people who love you the most.  For me, opening up to my parents felt awkward at first—not because I was scared of them or thought they’d react badly, but because I didn’t know where to start.  I didn’t know the “right” words or how to bring things up in a way that they’d really understand. Over time, though, I learned that opening up to them doesn’t have to happen all

How I Stood Up to Bullying and Found My Voice Bullying is one of those things you never expect to experience yourself—until it happens.  When I think back to second grade, I remember how excited I was at the beginning of the school year.  I was a little nervous, of course, but mostly I was eager to make new friends.  At first, it felt like I had.  I ended up in a group that seemed fun and welcoming.  We laughed, hung out at recess, and shared snacks.  I thought I had found my

How I Stay Organized During Busy Weeks As a Teen Some weeks just feel extra overwhelming.  Between school assignments, after-school activities, family responsibilities, and just trying to have a little free time for myself, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day.  I’ve learned that staying organized is the key to keeping my sanity during those busy times.  If I don’t have a plan, everything starts to pile up, and then I end up even more stressed.  Over time, I’

How I Rebuilt My Confidence After Being Hurt And Became More Confident in Myself Confidence is something people don’t always talk about until it’s gone.  I didn’t realize how much I relied on mine until it was shattered.  Being hurt—whether by friends, classmates, or even situations that don’t go your way—can leave you questioning everything about yourself.  That’s exactly where I found myself not too long ago.  But step by step, I found a way back to loving who I am.  Rebuil

When I Realized a Friendship Was Toxic And Stood Up For Myself Freshman year was supposed to be exciting—a fresh start, new classes, new people, and endless chances to reinvent yourself. I thought I had things figured out I already had a small group of friends, and for the most part, we all got along really well. But then, in the middle of the year, I met someone new who ended up changing everything. At first, she seemed fun and bubbly, the kind of person who could make any s

Finding My Voice in a Tough Situation And How to Use It When I think back to my younger self, one thing stands out clearly—I wasn’t always great at speaking up.  As a child, even when I needed help or felt uncomfortable, I would often stay silent, trying to handle things on my own.  It wasn’t because I didn’t trust anyone or didn’t want help.  Honestly, I didn’t really understand why I stayed quiet.  I just thought keeping my feelings inside was easier than risking attention

My Experience With Finding A Safe Space  Even though I’m homeschooled and spend most of my days learning at home, there are still moments when I need a change of scenery—somewhere that feels like a retreat from my routine.  Spending so much time in the same environment can sometimes make everything blend together, and even my bedroom doesn’t always feel like enough of a break.  That’s why I’m so grateful to have a safe space outside of my house: my grandmother’s home. Her hou

How I Cope When Anxiety Feels Overwhelming Being a junior in high school can feel like standing in the middle of a storm sometimes. Between keeping up with grades, trying to figure out my future, juggling friendships, and just being a teenager, there are days when my anxiety feels like it’s swallowing me whole.  I’ve had more anxious moments than I can count—those times when your heart is racing, your thoughts are spiraling, and it feels like you can’t catch your breath.  But

Balancing School, Sports, and Friends as a Homeschooled Teen People sometimes think being homeschooled means I have all the free time in the world—but honestly, that’s not true at all.  Homeschooling can be flexible, but it also takes a lot of self-discipline.  When you add sports and friendships into the mix, things can get hectic fast.  For a while, I struggled to keep up with everything. When I played volleyball, for example, it took up a big chunk of my afternoons and eve

Growing up as a teenage girl isn’t always easy. There are moments when you feel unsure of who you are or where you’re going, and there are times when it seems like the world expects you to have it all figured out. But for me, I’ve been lucky enough to have two amazing women in my life who have guided me, loved me, and inspired me to become the person I am today: my aunt and my mom.  Without them, I don’t think I’d have the confidence or strength that I do now. ⸻ My Aunt, My B

Lately, I’ve been paying more attention to what I eat and how it affects how I feel throughout the day.  I’ve noticed that certain foods have a huge impact on my energy, mood, and overall well-being.  Fruits and vegetables, in particular, are my go-to foods for feeling energized, staying focused, and keeping my mind and body in balance.  Eating well doesn’t just fuel your body—it fuels your happiness, too. When I start my day with the right foods, I feel lighter, more alert,

Being a teen girl comes with a lot of challenges, and one of the biggest ones is dealing with peer pressure.  Sometimes, people think peer pressure only happens in big dramatic ways— Like being pressured to try something dangerous or completely out of your comfort zone.  But the truth is, it shows up in little everyday moments too.  It can be as simple as someone trying to persuade you to buy something you don’t even want at the store, Or someone pushing you to say yes when y

There was a time not too long ago when everything in my life felt overwhelming.  I was juggling school assignments, tests, and projects, and on top of all that, my family was moving into a new house.  Everything seemed to happen at once, and I didn’t even know where to begin.  There were boxes everywhere, deadlines looming, and a to-do list that felt a mile long.  Every time I thought about starting, I’d freeze.  It felt like I was stuck in the middle of a storm with no clear

Stress is something everyone faces, but for me, one of the biggest blessings in my life is having a family I can lean on.  There have been so many times when my family has stepped in to support me through rough patches,  But one moment stands out in my mind more than any other.  It reminded me just how lucky I am to have people who will always be there for me, no matter what. It was one of those weeks where everything seemed to pile up at once—school assignments,  personal re

Between school, extracurriculars, and social activities, it’s easy to feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. But don’t...

Setbacks are a natural part of life, and no matter how hard we try, we’ll all face them at some point. Whether it’s a failed project, a...

Dealing with peer pressure is something everyone faces at some point, especially during your teen years. Whether it’s friends pushing you...