Personal Life
Author Sarah Nicole Smetana: The Band That Vanished and the Songs That Stayed
By the time I was electrocuted on an ungrounded stage in San Bernardino, my first band was already over. We hadn’t broken up yet,...
Who Am I?
At any age, it can be hard to figure out who you are. Am I a good person? What am I good at? Why...
My Grandmother and Her Fight with Alzheimer’s Disease
Recently, I had to write a speech for a competition at school on any topic, and I picked my grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s. I...
Christmas Magic All Year Round
Christmas magic. These two words have enveloped children’s hearts with joy for hundreds of years and have filled their eyes with wonder and excitement....
I’m Still Here
As we draw towards the closing end of 2017, I'm proud to find our society, in general, becoming less stigmatized towards mental health issues....
How Not to Build a Monster
Odds are, you aren’t as dramatic as I am, but I’m sure we’ve all been there -- that moment when it feels like everything...
The Effect of Death
My school has just suffered a horrible tragedy. A student was found dead two days ago, the morning after our homecoming dance. I did...
Author Kes Trester: Sitting at the Cool Kids’ Table
We all experience feelings of not belonging, of thinking we’re the only one standing alone at a party when everyone else is having a...
For Me
It was 2 am when I found myself in a full-face of makeup, a golden bodycon dress, and Adidas I had slipped on to...
Erin McCahan: On Thinking There’s Time
Tall. Elegant. Southern. Gentlemanly. Kind. Principled. These are the words that come to mind when I think of my stepdad. Late. The man was...
