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Bright Financial Literacy is a student-run organization that fosters financial awareness and skills among individuals. Bright stands for B uilding Resilience, Inspiring Growth, and Harmonizing Talent, encapsulating the mission to cultivate a resilient, informed, and harmoniously growing youth population. Founder Somik Baweja on what inspired him to start BRIGHT: I started BRIGHT because I come from a small town where I witnessed many issues like homelessness and addiction. While I never denied that these problems existed, seeing them in my own community was surprising. After researching, I discovered that financial mistakes were one of the contributing factors to these challenges. My lifelong passion for business and economics and my skills and resources motivated me to create a program that could make a real difference. That’s how BRIGHT Financial Literacy was created: a program designed to provide accessible, student-led education that empowers individuals to make sound financial decisions and avoid common mistakes. On their mission: At BRIGHT, we aim to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for financial literacy, fostering economic independence and enabling informed financial decisions. We believe in nurturing a foundation of financial understanding that supports lifelong success and community upliftment. Through our program, we strive to illuminate the path to financial empowerment and inspire a brighter future for all our participants. To date, Bright Finance has impacted over 200 students and has partnered with over 12 organizations. Looking to the future, BRIGHT envisions a global community where financial literacy is recognized as a fundamental skill that is integral to personal empowerment and community development. Our long-term vision includes expanding our reach through partnerships with educational institutions, agencies, and international organizations to integrate financial education into the basic curriculum and public policies. We believe that by building a foundation of financial knowledge from an early age, we can cultivate generations of financially savvy citizens, reducing poverty and enhancing the overall economic health of societies worldwide. By supporting Bright Financial Literacy, you're investing in the future of our youth, our communities' stability, and our economy's overall health. If you want to get involved with Bright, you can join them at their next event to learn about the essentials of credit and debit through the link in their website .

By Maya Ravishankar In times of catastrophe, the borders that divide us fall away. In 1847, the Choctaws who had just arrived after the trail of tears sent a donation of $5,000 in today’s currency to Ireland, then suffering from a potato famine. In 2020, the Irish wanted to “pay it forward”, donating a sizable amount to the Navajo and Hopi communities who were struggling from the pandemic. Similarly, the many Americans who are struggling with the effects of Hurricane Helene today are looking to us for help.  According to the National Weather Service, “Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm late in the evening of September 26, 2024.  Helene's largest impacts were across the southern Appalachians where widespread severe and unprecedented flooding occurred with hundreds of fatalities and billions in property damage.  Strong wind gusts damaged property and blew trees and power lines down in a swath from the Gulf Coast to the North Carolina mountains.”  Yale Climate Connections further reports that “ The death toll wreaked on the Southeast U.S. by Hurricane Helene, as tracked by CNN , reached 180 on Wednesday morning, October 2. The toll pushes Helene above 2022’s Hurricane Ian ( 156 U.S. deaths ) and makes it one of the three deadliest hurricanes of the past half-century across U.S. states and territories. The only hurricanes in that period that took more lives than Helene were Katrina (2005) and Maria (2017). Going back even further, the only other hurricane deadlier than Helene over the past 60 years was Camille (1969) – a storm that resembled Helene in that the majority of Camille’s 259 U.S. deaths came from flash flooding across the Appalachians (in Virginia), following a Category 5 landfall that was itself catastrophic.These numbers include both direct and indirect deaths. A direct death occurs due to a storm’s winds, rains, and storm surge directly, while an indirect death can be due to traffic accidents during an evacuation, lack of lifesaving medical care due to a power outage, and so on.” FEMA reports some ways that we can help: Volunteer to help.  Sign up to volunteer with a reputable group or organization. Do not go by yourself to a disaster area. Look up volunteer opportunities on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster  website.  Cash is the best donation.  It’s important to donate responsibly. When people support voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster. Identify what is needed.  Before donating supplies connect with organizations working in the affected area to find out how much is needed and when it is needed. To apply for assistance: “You can apply for assistance in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov call 800-621-3362 . If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or others, give FEMA the number for that service. download the FEMA app ” To find more information on mental health services, ways to help, and disaster-related tools, visit: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene

By Samantha Quinones It’s Asexual Awareness Week! Read the article below to learn more on what exactly it is and how to spread awareness. Halloween is right around the corner; it’s the time for zombies, ghouls, asexuals, and all the other hidden things of the night to come out and make themselves known. Ok, obviously we’re joking, but what’s no joke is the fact that asexuality tends to be the ghost out of everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. It is the least known sexuality; why is that? Well, one main cause is coverage and representation, which is precisely why we have Asexual Awareness Week. What is Asexuality? Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to others or low/limited sexual attraction to others. It is an umbrella term that hosts a whole spectrum of sexualities, such as demisexuality, gray-sexuality, asexuality, and more. Some may confuse it with abstinence or celibacy, but as it is a sexuality, it is not choice-based. Many asexuals refer to themselves as Aces, so if you hear someone call themself that, no they are not a playing card; unless that’s their Halloween costume... What exactly is Asexual Awareness Week? Asexual Awareness Week is always the last full week of October, and its purpose is to not only support and celebrate asexual individuals but also to educate more people on what exactly asexuality is. Asexuals make up about 1% of the population, and yet it is the least known and often most forgotten sexuality, to the point where others believe the A in LGBTQIA+ stands for ally, and not Asexual/Aromantic. Why is it important to have Asexual representation in the media? As of right now, the only confirmed asexual characters in popular media are Spongebob Squarepants, Yelena Belova from Black Widow, and Alastor from Hazbin Hotel. While there are others, such as Lilith Clawthorne from The Owl House, the fact a quick Google search can only find me four is concerning. People should be able to see themselves represented in mainstream media, and not have to constantly be grasping for any hint that a character may be asexual. There being so few is exactly why Asexual Awareness Week is so important. By having more people learn about asexuality, they create the space for more conversation to happen. Once that starts up, it’ll make Asexuality seem less like a ghost town with 0 members and more like The Haunted Mansion. What can I do to help? As always, spreading the word is one of the most helpful things you can do. If you are asexual and comfortable with speaking on it, don’t be afraid to educate anyone who asks what exactly it is. If you are not asexual yourself but wish to help, supporting asexual creators and celebrities, as well as your own friends and family, is a great place to start. Participating in pride events or making posts on the internet to create community is also a wonderful way to make people feel comfortable with sharing their experiences as an asexual. All in all, don’t be spooked by us; I promise we’re not going to crawl out from under your bed on Halloween night dressed as a card deck. Happy Ace Awareness Week!

LingoBridge is a student run ESL Tutoring organization based in New England, which aims to make english more accessible. LingoBridge Founder Cassidy Cui reflected on her experience growing up with parents who had vastly different immigration experiences. By watching them, she realized and learned just how much age can influence the language acquisition process in the U.S. Cassidy Cui on what inspired her to start LingoBridge: My mother immigrated from Vietnam at the age of 23, while my father immigrated from China when he was 12. As a child growing up in New York City, my father was able to grasp English fairly quickly whether that be in school or to translate for his parents. On the contrary, my mother found it difficult to find accessible ESL resources and lessons as an adult.  My mother has always voiced her struggles learning English later in life, and it was something that affected her deeply. With these observations about my parent’s ESL experiences, I was inspired to create an initiative that addressed these issues while also combining my own passions for language learning.  I wanted to create something accessible and personal to the AAPI community, thus, the idea of LingoBridge was born in 2022. With insights from AAPI community members, my mother, and my other relatives, I was able to listen to real perspectives and stories and craft a project that addressed community concerns.  In addition to my mother and relatives, my Mandarin teacher Ms. Lai, has been a really big supporter of mine and helped with the developmental stage of LingoBridge; she inspired me to cultivate a culturally responsive and individualized ESL learning environment.  With my iterations of LingoBridge, I was able to present this idea in my online business class called Entrepreneurship in a Global Context , where I was able to gain valuable and insightful feedback from students across the globe and get my proposal displayed on an online exhibit. From this experience and the feedback I was given by students, I was able to streamline the ‘student volunteer’ portion of LingoBridge to ensure it is flexible and accessible to all prospective high school volunteers.  On their mission: LingoBridge, a student-led initiative located in New England, U.S.A., is dedicated to empowering Asian adult immigrants with limited English proficiency. Our mission is to enhance their language skills through comprehensive, accessible, and free online ESL lessons, aiming to dismantle barriers and create opportunities within the Asian community.  We are a complete not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization that is 100% student-run.  ​​Recognizing the critical role of cultural nuances and the understanding of cultural contexts in language learning, we specifically cater to individuals of Asian descent. As of now, most of our audience has been from the Chinatowns in New York City and New Jersey. To facilitate effective communication and comprehension, our tutors are either bilingual or highly proficient in Mandarin.  So far LingoBridge has reached and is working with student volunteers nationwide with a team comprised of 30+ high school students from states ranging from New York, Texas, Arizona, etc.  Their current ESL learners' demographic primarily consists of adult immigrants who speak Chinese and reside in the Northeast tri-state area (NYC, NJ, CT). To continually improve their curriculum, following each lesson, they allow learners to provide feedback on the lesson and their experiences. Thus far, all feedback has been positive, with most liking how the curriculum is personalized and culturally responsive for Chinese learners. LingoBridge strives to create an inviting platform to work with other youth projects. So far, they have established a partnership with the Metis Project in NYC and have been featured in the Gen Z Matters Podcast which is hosted by Annika Raj. In the future LingoBridge strives to broaden its influence and aims to make its current curriculum personalized toward a wider range of AAPI communities and languages as several of its student volunteers are proficient in languages other than Chinese, including Korean and Hindi. Further, they hope to reach more high school students across the country who are interested in volunteering with their organization through their media presence. As a youth-driven organization, they would love to collaborate with more student-run initiatives.  LingoBridge will start its fall season and Unit 2 lessons at the end of this October! Signing up for lessons or volunteer with LingoBridge at: https://www.lingo-bridge.org/home   Stay updated with LingoBridge by following their Instagram, Tiktok, and LinkedIn pages:@lingosbridge

By Samantha Quinones Diversity is something that should always be celebrated, so join me in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by learning what it’s all about!  What are the origins of HHM? Being Cuban and Guatemalan myself, I know a thing or two about being Hispanic, but that’s not all Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to celebrate. It was founded in 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown, and originally it was only a week long. It was created to celebrate Hispanic and Latino Americans and all of their contributions to the United States, as recognizing minority work was becoming increasingly popular in the 60s. It quickly grew to celebrate their cultures and differences as well. In 1987, California Representative Esteban E. Torres proposed the week long celebration be extended to an entire month, and the following year President Reagan passed the bill. In 1989, President Bush declared the official days to be September 15th to October 15th. Why these specific days? These specific days were chosen because they coincide with many Latin American countries’ Independence Days. For example, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and my very own Guatemala declared independence from Spain on September 15th of 1821. Mexico declared independence on September 16th of 1810, Chile on the 18th of 1810, and Belize on the 21st of 1981. How should you celebrate during the month? You can attend events and festivals, or even go to your local Hispanic restaurant! If you are Hispanic, feel free to spread your knowledge about your culture, and teach others who are curious , or if you’re like me, force your friends to buy you food (it’s done in good fun, I promise). If you’re not Hispanic but want to learn more, don’t be afraid to ask your friends or online creators about their culture. Showing genuine interest is always a pure form of appreciation, so go out there and have fun! Or buy your Hispanic friends food. That works too. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month Everyone!

By Lola Black The transition from high school to college can be overwhelming. Leaving behind hometown comforts, family, and friends to step into a new and unfamiliar environment often brings anxiety to many students.On top of that, the path to college is rarely simple. From navigating advanced classes and standardized tests to understanding complicated financial aid packages and choosing the right degree programs, students are already exhausted by the time they arrive. The hope for many is that, after all this work, they will find a welcoming community where they belong. This need for belonging is especially strong for students who have struggled with parts of their identity or felt unable to fully express themselves in their hometowns. For them, college represents a chance to discover who they are in a place that values openness and diversity. In this month's focus on diversity, we've compiled a list of colleges that prioritize inclusivity. These schools have made deliberate efforts to foster vibrant, safe, and welcoming environments where all students can thrive and be themselves. Inclusivity can take many different forms, so in order to give a full picture, we’ve broken it down into four separate categories by geography: Western Schools: University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) As one of the few universities to be nestled right along the coast side, UCSB is the perfect choice for surfers and sun-lovers alike. Beyond the schools strong academic profile and ideal setting, UCSB is committed to ensuring the wellness of their students, as evident with the unique challenges developed in partnership by students and staff to both conduct research and improve student wellbeing at the same time. The UCSB Sleep Challenge is a 7-day challenge takes students through a series of modules aimed at helping them improve their sleep quality and habits and henceforth their overall well being. Pomona College & The Claremont Colleges: Located in Claremont, California, Pomona College is often cited as the best of both worlds for boasting the weather conditions of Southern California but also providing a serene campus environment more comparable to the feel of an East coast school. This city is host to more than seven colleges that often work in tandem to promote student wellbeing, such as the case with the Queer Resource Center of the Claremont Colleges. This safe-space offers a place for students to hang out, though it also offers programs such as drop in hours for students to talk with faulty about resources or getting involved and the annual Trans Day of Resilience, aimed at empowering trans students through workshops such as Trans wellness. Southern Schools: Auburn University Located in Auburn Alabama, Auburn University is one of the Souths largest and leading R1 research universities, with well respected programs in fields Engineering, business and physical sciences. Though beyond this, Auburn offers a two-year non degree program for students with intellectual disabilities called the Accomplish Growth in Life Experiences for Success (EAGLES) program. This program aims at providing students with foundational life skills through community service projects, leadership trainings and coursework. The program works in tandem with the fittingly named WINGS program that fosters collaboration between traditional Auburn students, acting as peer mentors, and members of the EAGLES program. Mid-Western Schools: The University of Michigan Known for its renowned academics and athletics as well as a vibrant student life, The University of Michigan is a dream destination for many. While the University supports various commitments to accessibility and inclusion, it is well known for its support of students with mobility challenges through the university’s Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). This program offers a range of services, including Paratransit options, accessible parking, housing accommodations, adaptive technology, and additional personalized accommodations to promote a navigable campus for students with mobility challenges. The university’s commitment to establishing an accessible and inclusive environment extends to their support of student mental well wbing as well. The main Ann Arbor campus hosts numerous reflection rooms, as well as a dedicated Wellness Zone with massage chairs and meditation tools, ensuring that students have many opportunities for relaxation and stress relief. Northern-Eastern Schools: Right in the heart of Boston, Northeastern University’s large student body, academic reputation, and vibrant city life make it a prime environment for city lovers! With such a dynamic student scene, the university prioritizes minority group inclusion through its Social Justice Resource Center (SJRC). The SJRC provides resources and support focused on promoting social justice and inclusion, offering annual programs and workshops like Peace Week and Social Justice Week to foster dialogue, reflection, and action among students and faculty. Additionally, the EMPOWER Students of Color Collective creates a supportive community, promoting academic success and personal growth while earning programing and events aimed at ensuring inclusion of all students. For students embarking on their college journey, the need for a supportive, inclusive environment is more important than ever. While the schools listed are by no means the standard for inclusion, their unique programs and approaches to addressing mental health concerns, accesiblilty for students with disabilites or dedicated resources for minority groups, they can help to exemplify that college can be a place where students from all walks of life are made to feel welcomed, supported and empowered to thrive both socially and academically.

By Samantha Quinones As students, we usually wonder what difference we can truly make in the world. At lot of the time, we are told we are too young to have correct opinions, or that we don’t understand enough of the world to make bold political statements, discouraging us from even trying. However, the student protestors in Bangladesh are proving doubters wrong by fighting for their beliefs and inspiring students around the world by single-handedly changing their country as they know it. A lot of you may be wondering, what exactly are these protests, and why are they so important to talk about? Find out below: What are the Bangladeshi student protests about? In early July, Bangladeshi students from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s top institution, led by Nahid Islam, began to protest to get rid of quotas in civil service jobs. These quotas made it so that ⅓ of government jobs were given to those who were descendants of people who participated in the 1971 liberation movement, offering them disproportionate advantages the other ⅔ would not receive. Even if the ⅔ went to college and/or were much more qualified, they had a much lower chance of receiving employment than those who were simply gifted the job. The students deemed it unfair and held continual protests to have this ruling removed to make the opportunity to hold a government position more universal. The protests were always peaceful until July 15, when the students were attacked by individuals who disagreed with the students, and the very next day police showed up with tear gas and batons. 25 year old Abu Sayed was shot dead in his attempt to defend the protestors behind him. What did the violence spark? Originally, the protests were only meant to overturn the injustice in the ruling, but after the government attempted to silence them through police attacks, they turned their attention to the deep conflicts within their government. Thousands of people from all different walks of life joined in, the anti-government protests growing in size, but also casualties. Over 300 people have been killed, and that’s not even the end of it. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the government shut down schools and colleges, slowed down the wifi so the students couldn’t gain traction online, used physical force with lethal and nonlethal weapons, wrongful imprisonment of the people, and even placed a curfew, but it only incited more violence as the anti and pro government parties clashed. What is the current status of these protests? Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down and fled the country after many accusations of feeding corruption and stifiling disagreement were found, including her sacking a household assistant for allegedly stealing $34 million of state funds. Additionally, her rule consisted of a government that quickly turned authoritarian and fascist. She fled on August 5, leaving Bangladesh in a state of turmoil. Luckily, 26 year old Nahid Islam was there to pick up the pieces as not only a graduate student attempting to earn his masters, but also the current minister of posts, telecommunications and IT, and information and broadcasting. He is helping lead the country’s interim government and two ministries, as the current members in Bangladesh’s interim are 17-18, forcing him to work 16 hours a day for his people. This interim government is unable to make any new policies, but they hope to create a new political settlement for a transition into democracy. Once they finish reconstructing, they plan on holding official elections.  Why is this important? In an interview with NPR, Nahid states that “ As a student can lead a movement, lead a revolution, a student can also form a government, can also lead the government. ” He proves to us that students are a mighty force when banded together, and they are no less powerful just because they are young.  We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this article, and that you leave feeling a little bit more confident in your abilities as you start the school year. Remember, anything is possible when you put in the effort to make it a reality! Thanks for reading! If you liked this article, go check out one of our other student-written articles, available to you on our website! Links to learn more about the protests: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/what-is-happening-at-the-quota-reform-protests-in-bangladesh/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5xye1d285o https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/7/18/who-are-the-protesters-demanding-an-end-to-job-quotas-in-bangladesh https://www.nytimes.com/article/bangladesh-student-protests.html Interview with Nahid Islam: https://www.npr.org/2024/08/19/nx-s1-5077771/he-was-recently-leading-bangladeshi-student-protests-now-hes-a-government-minister

By Aadit Garg As of late, there has been little media coverage on Russia, a far cry from the extensive 2022-2023 reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, you may still recall a brief period of coverage on the suspicious death of Alexei Navalny. The resulting protests in Russia highlight how youth are involved in Russian politics. Alexei Navalny was a highly prominent figure in Russian opposition politics. His political career started as a grassroots anti-corruption campaigner, with a blog combatting corruption in some of Russia’s largest state-run corporations. He had a powerful effect on social media and eventually, in 2011, led large street protests against President Putin. From then on, he cycled in and out of jails, being banned from the general election in 2017. He went on to survive several suspected and confirmed poisoning attempts, showcasing his threatening political momentum. However, in 2021, even after a confirmed and nearly lethal attempt on his life en route to Germany, he returned to Moscow. There, he was immediately detained, never to be free again. He died on February 16th, still fighting his anti-corruption campaign.  His death prompted a huge wave of reactions on the international stage, calls of sympathy for the Navalny family and condemnation of Russian politics. Navalny’s death, and the death of Putin’s political rivals in general, has been shrouded in doubt. Navalny was in good health before his death, which happened rather unexpectedly due to illness on a random stroll, Russia has a track record of killing political rivals, and Navalny was treated with horrible conditions while incarcerated. These factors have motivated large amounts of condemnation over his death.  Navalny’s protests in the past have inspired youth participation. For example, the DOXA magazine, founded by students of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow, covered Navalny’s protests and ran a fundraising campaign to help detained students pay fines. They talked more generally about education and censorship as well, eventually being subject to house arrest. As a result of student involvement, both the government and institutions in Russia have cracked down on protests and increased attempts to “educate” youth against protesting, especially combatting anti-war protests that have recently gained steam.  Youth protests in Russia highlight the relative inability of the Russian government to influence youth with government propaganda as well, prompting Putin to increase youth focus in government communication.  Alexei Navalny, Russia's most vociferous Putin critic - BBC News What we know about Alexei Navalny's death in Arctic Circle prison ( bbc.com ) Russia’s Banned Youth | Close Up | Protests | Al Jazeera

By Aadit Garg Over four years and seven million deaths later, it seems that the world has finally begun to recover from COVID-19. Yet, deep down, people still feel the sting of the pandemic, especially in terms of mental health. The fear, isolation, financial instability and grief wrought by the pandemic have caused sharp surges in issues like anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and even suicide. For youth in particular, factors like online bullying, a need for peer validation, and structural barriers to mental care resources have made them especially vulnerable to mental health issues. Ironically, however, it took the mental health crisis caused by the pandemic for society to finally understand the importance of mental well-being. In a phenomenon the Cleveland Clinic has called the “Pandemic Effect,” people are finally discussing and seeking help for their mental health problems. In fact, one survey by the Cleveland Clinic shows a 14% increase in the number of people who believe mental and physical health are equally important. Furthermore, governments are finally devoting resources to address these problems, as shown by initiatives like 988, a federal suicide prevention helpline launched in 2022 to increase access to mental health care. While progress has been made, we must ensure that communities continue to recognize the significance of mental well-being and work to provide youth with greater access to mental health resources. To that end, what are some things we can do to take care of ourselves mentally? From finals to college admissions to climate change, there is no shortage of factors contributing to stress and worse among youth. The following are resources that can provide insight around and help to deal with mental health issues you or someone you know may be facing. 1.      Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is a reliable source for mental health information, offering specialized information for various populations (e.g. children, adolescents, adults, etc.) and covering a range of topics like stress management, treatment, etc. 2.      Medical News Today. Medical News Today offers a plethora of articles and news related to mental health. They cover many mental health conditions, provide treatment options (e.g. types of support, how to access them, digital apps etc.) specialized to different problems and people. 3.      Mental Health America (MHA). MHA is a nonprofit organization that focuses on promoting mental health, preventing mental illnesses, and improving the overall well-being of individuals, offering information on various mental health conditions, self-help tools, and ways to find local mental health services. 4.      National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NIMH is a federal agency that conducts research to further the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses, providing information about various topics like anxiety disorders, depression, etc. as well as treatment options/services like running 988. 5.      National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI is a grassroots mental health organization aimed at building better lives for Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI includes more than 700 NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates who work in local communities to advance mental health support and awareness. It offers a HelpLine for assistance with mental health issues, online support groups for individuals affected by mental illness, and opportunities to be involved in their mission. 6.      Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). ADAA is a mental health organization focusing specifically on anxiety and depression. They provide information on in-person and virtual support groups nationwide for individuals struggling with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, etc. as well as peer-to-peer online support groups for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). 7.      Loved ones. Talking to people you love/trust about issues you are facing can be an effective method to work through difficulties, especially because these people know and care about you. If someone ever reaches out to you for help, make sure to listen to and understand their emotions and concerns and remind them that you are there to support them. Avoid comparison/judgement of their situation, ask what you can do to help, and keep your commitments. 8.      Therapy. Therapy can be a powerful resource for individuals seeking support and personal growth. It can offer emotional support, self-understanding, stress-management strategies, and problem-solving skills to help maintain one’s mental well-being, and there are many types to fit individuals’ varying needs. Choosing a therapist can involve a number of factors including qualifications/experience, area(s) of specialization, style of therapy and cost/insurance coverage. There are a variety of services that can help connect you with a therapist, including the “Find a Therapist” services of the ADAA, the American Psychiatric Association, GoodTherapy, the Black Mental Health Alliance, etc. 9.  Hotlines. Hotlines can connect you with counselors trained to provide immediate help for mental health emergencies. Hotlines can vary significantly from one to the next: they can be local, state-wide or national, have different timings, cover different types and extents of issues, serve different groups of people, etc. A few examples include 988, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Child Abuse Hotline, the Trans Lifeline, etc. A more comprehensive list can be found here. Remember, it is a sign of strength, not weakness to ask for help and prioritize your mental health.

By Caroline Percival For the vast majority of kids, the word “summer” is nearly equivalent to the word “freedom”. It is a season dreamt about by millions of children worldwide, all of them waiting for their time of liberation and release. During these months of sticky ice cream and refreshing swimming pools, there will be no homework, no quizzes, and no tests. It is universally known as a chance to explore, to try new things, and to be adventurous. However, there are some risks during summer that are incredibly important to take note of and pay attention to. First and foremost, sunscreen is required for every outdoor activity. Although this may sound like common knowledge, very few people incorporate this into their daily routine. According to the Archives of Dermatological Research, only 13.5% of adults wear sunscreen daily, an astonishingly low number considering that one in every five Americans is predicted to develop skin cancer before the age of 70. Forming the habit of using sunscreen is vital, especially from a young age. Not only does it reduce the risk of sunburns, but daily use will halve the chances of getting melanoma later in life. It is so easy to put on a coat of sunscreen every day, so I urge everyone, especially in a season with plenty of time outdoors, to take five minutes and save themselves plenty of pain and money down the road. Another potential danger is posed by a small insect that we often, metaphorically and literally, brush off. Although they are typically considered a pest or nuisance, mosquitoes can be deadly if carrying diseases. They can be found anywhere, especially in areas with standing water for them to breed in. While they cannot be completely deterred, there are actions that everyone can take to prevent being bitten, such as wearing bug spray and making sure there are no areas on their property that water can collect. Bug bites can become life-threatening very quickly, and care should be taken to prevent unnecessary illness. One of the biggest and commonly known hazards of summer is drowning. Featured in many books and movies, drowning is a mainstream problem that is still a major issue today. There are an estimated 320,000 deaths worldwide every year, with an average of 10 per day in the United States alone. It only takes 40 seconds for an adult to drown and 20 for a child, so it is extremely important to pay attention and be hypervigilant around water. Drowning is silent and can happen to anyone, no matter how strong a swimmer they may be. Never swim alone, and make sure to have someone skilled in first aid nearby. CPR goes a long way in reducing brain injury, so it would be ideal for everyone to learn first going into these long summer months. Summer is a fun-filled season with some distinct risks to be aware of. It is necessary to be careful and use discretion in difficult situations, relying on common sense above all else. Sunburns and bug bites are easily preventable, as well as more serious issues like drowning. It is important to have fun, but always remember, safety first!

Books for All [B4A] provides literature access to those facing adversity, underprivileged neighborhoods, and to communities within Native American reservations. Founder Ellie Park on what inspired her to start B4A: Being a missionary for over 7 years, I have frequently met children and young adults that lack the access to the same resources as I do. I have met children from the Navajo, Hopi, and other Native American tribes that asked for the same books that collected dust in many on the shelves of my friends and family. That is when I began B4A. It was initially founded to deliver books to those without access in many Native American tribes but eventually branched to various foster organizations along with other nonprofits such as Homeward Bound and Swift. So far, B4A has accumulated over 3,000 books donated to Arizona Foster Alliance, Homeward Bound, St. Vincent de Paul, Mustang Library, Dilcon Restoration Church(Navajo), and many Hopi children. We gained statewide news attention through ABC15 and have supporters all throughout the country. We are still receiving many donations from book drives set up by over 6 Arizona High Schools including Chaparral, Boulder Creek, Notre Dame, and other organizations such as Mathnasium, local mosques and churches. In the future Ellie hopes that B4A is able to continue spreading the love for literature to not only underprivileged neighborhoods and Native American Reservations, but to communities all throughout the globe that may need their support. A note for B4A supporters from founder Ellie Park: I just want to include a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the cause so far. We truly could not have brought smiles upon the faces of many many children and even young adults without the help of our supporters. Another thank you to Youth Press for helping us spread awareness and contributing to an environment of difference made by the youth. If you would like to support B4A yourself, you can donate books or money through B4A's website Learn more about B4A through their Instagram @official.b4a

Foreward by Sasha Anand | By Arushi (aera) Rege As we come into the month of May, most students face some familiar feeling. The sound of the trees, the incoming feeling of a summer yet again, and of course: finals week. This month at The Youth Press, we are all too well aware of the feelings that finals week brings, but for some besides a heightened sense of stress, maybe depressive thoughts, or something worse. This is one of the primary reasons our team has decided on the theme of "healthy habits" for this months theme. As students, we understand more than anyone what teenagers go through by the end of the school year and encourage every teen to take a moment for themselves, even if it seems impossible. Often that moment, for some, can mean the difference between life and death. Remember that the life is made up of more than one moment and that there is always someone who cares about you and believes in your future, even if you dont yourself. This month, we will hear from a student who worked through their own struggles, with a unique healthy habit: poetry. If you are facing suicidal thoughts, need someone to talk to, or are in distress call or text 988 On what inspires them to write: I mostly write in order to best work my way through my emotions. I started writing because I had a lot of emotions to work through, coming out of a bad period of mental health. In essence, I wrote because if I didn't, I would've died. I use poetry as a method of ensuring that I can discuss my emotions and harder aspects of my life, while also ensuring that I continue to do something I really love. Poetry is everything to me. It's a way of communicating with others, a method of expending my emotions in a healthy manner, and a way to continue to produce work with a lot of creativity. twin exit wounds & a love song the myth starts with a hello baby; the myth starts with my hand on yours & my lifeline placed on kissed-raw lips & whiskey-flavored mouths; the myth starts with prometheus & fire & a penchant to burn. you have a need to set things on fire & i’m the matchstick willing to be lit aflame; the myth starts with strobe lights & meteor showers we pretended were falling down to scorch; we deserve this, you know, the ring of fire we pretend we can’t feel under stars that scream for recognition; the myth starts like this, we pretend to dance underneath the candlelight. waltz. salsa. the details don’t matter; the myth starts like this, i think if i met the goddess of beauty, she’d take your face & your voice & your body & she’d be you; the myth starts with a halo of galaxies untold & a fire under our asses & my rage (love) sold out a concert hall & i screamed until my throat was raw & my fingers cut into the filets only a violinist could achieve. (the truth is my rage barely fills my body, an exit wound with no point of entry.); the myth starts with agni & a story about love & a cheesy line about the tunnel of love & how you’d never let me go if you had the option; each morning an elegy & each afternoon a funeral & each night a burning pyre (burning love burning body burning hearts); the myth goes like this – i tell you i remember what it feels like to be lit aflame, paper-mache skin & nyx’s red lipstick (shade copenhagen) & the raw red of my skin on yours – we pretend this is what nights upon nights look like (not a burning pyre. never the burning pyre; a nightmare long forgotten, a bullet hole with no casing). we pretend this means you never leave. we pretend this means i need you to stay (we pretend that i’m burning. this means i need you to stay. this means i pretend i’m not lying. this means the ring of fire has our name on it & the halo’s a scorching earth or a broken promise or a moth towards lightning or a self-portrait in only one color). the myth ends with a hello baby; the myth ends with the ending we deserve, an unfinished poem & a story that refuses to burn & a man that controls fate (leaving. staying. what does it matter anymore); the myth ends with this: i step on your toes when we dance the waltz (there’s something poetic about this, how the air burns with the desire of it all, how we’re locked together with a halo & a ring of fire); the myth ends like this: we just want to love, baby. we just want to be two exit wounds with no point of entry. we just want to take up space. we just want to burn. dust storm season when it says pull over it really means / don’t get caught in / endless sea of brown / emergency warning blares / you pull over / sit down / get comfortable / siren song won’t leave for an hour / our deserted city awaits / what i mean is its / one hundred and twelve degrees / and we’re doomed anyways / no point in getting out / what i mean is we can / sit here and chat / dust storm warning means / its arizona / so it's summer, so its dry pools and suburbia / cancel the touch tank, darling / the storm hasn’t rolled over yet / what i mean is my skin is the same color / as the storm / what i mean is i’m sitting / in your car / hoping for death to roll over / play dead itself / what i mean is its / dust storm season / so the cacti are withered / so its a dry heat / so the dust storm warning continues / pull over, darling / we can’t win if we’re all dead / the storm isn’t going anywhere / just recline the seats / we can stay here a while / so it’s summer, babe / so it’s suburbia / so it’s suicide / so it’s empty pools / cracked lips, bloody with disuse / sweat soaking my bra / the machinery has rusted! / rejoice again! / god’s still roaming this earth / what i mean is / maybe we aren’t doomed this time / maybe we haven’t lost against all odds / maybe the house doesn’t have to win again / what i mean is that / i need you to stop thinking i’m the storm / what i mean is / i promise i’m not / fundamentally unlovable / please, darling / you’re here with me, aren’t you? / what i mean is i need you / to pretend that we aren’t dying / or already dead / or something in between / what i mean is i need you / to look at me like you love me / what i mean is i need you / to pretend the skies aren’t red / to pretend this isn’t how the world ends / what i mean is / my skin is the same color / as the storm / so its dust storm season / so its suicide / so its suburbia / so i’m sorry / what i mean is / the radio static continues in the background / what i mean is my skin is the same color / as the storm / i need you / to stop thinking of me / as if i’m the storm / i need you to learn who i am / i need you to turn off the siren / i need you to say my name right lifecycle & love i know i promised you that i’d love you forever but baby i think i’m stuck on the notion of how i’m going to remember you longer than i’ve loved you. it goes like this, you call me again, on the phone & i promise that i haven’t been taking tylenol again. i’m thinking of kissing the boy on the phone i’m thinking about being a boy i’m thinking that maybe growth & change are just words that mean “i don’t have you anymore & i don’t think i’ll ever know how to live my life without you.” so maybe i’m the villain here, baby, i know what this looks like. under fluorescent streetlights & bright red skies, i know you’re staring at the girlboy i’m becoming & thinking about how i couldn’t grow (change) enough for this to be enough. i’m a broken record & you’re a broken heart about promises that i’m going to change & you’re going to be here forever. i know we’re desperately holding on, in as many languages as we can. sonya, tujhavara prem aahe maala. i know too many languages, baby, and i don’t know how to love you in enough of them. so just. entertain the idea that growth & change are lies we tell ourselves to become better people because i said i’d end my life cycle with you birth death birth death birth death (somewhere in between it’s about how i’d never leave you. somewhere in between it becomes romance) & tell me. am i going to be a chrysalis forever? am i going to be your pretty little butterfly? representative of all that you wanted but couldn’t have? are you going to keep me to be this little lifecycle replica of what love is (birth. death. repeat.) (verse. chorus. repeat.) i’m sorry baby, we know how the world works. we know how life works. we know what it means to change & i know i’d grow & change if it meant you’d stay & if it meant you’d be mine or baby. (birth. death. repeat.) ode to frank ocean’s cayendo aqui, acaso voy cayendo sing to me softly, my simple angel make me pretend the world’s not ending or dying or dead already because i can’t think with all this fuss i can’t be with all this noise aqui, acaso voy cayendo because at least as the world’s ending frank ocean is still singing and the world is ending and nothing is okay but at least frank ocean is still singing. turn the radio off, love, we don’t need to hear about the crisis, we already know what’s going on, we already know how the story ends because frank ocean is singing so it must be dead of night or four-fifteen in the afternoon or when i miss you terribly or when i’ve gone and broken my heart again because you don’t know how to love me in a way i understand but the world is ending and perhaps we can wait for a bit because frank ocean is singing aqui, acaso voy cayendo here, in this parking lot with the fluorescent orange streetlights that burn the image of you leaving because you always leave and i’ve never seen you stay, not for your mother on her deathbed and not for me when i need you and not for yourself when the world’s ending and aqui, acaso voy cayendo sing for me softly, my simple angel while you tell me your tales of woe because darling, the world is ending and you won’t stay but you won’t leave either so at least keep me company in the world’s final moments even though you’ve never wanted to be here. i kept you as the moon keeps the tides as the sun keeps the moon as we are just celestial bodies because the human race is just a bunch of tiny stars tiny atoms except atoms never touch so i’ve never held you, darling except fuck it, frank ocean is singing and the world is ending anyways so sing to me softly, my simple angel and tell me your tales of woe, porque aqui, acaso vamos cayendo Arushis Website