One student explores their online persona and the lasting importance of conscientious social media practices.

A powerful poetic piece about the experience of being Black in America.

Liner notes that showcase the meaning and musicality of the Jimmy Ruffin song “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.”

This student’s powerful piece reveals the essence of racial injustice.

In this poem, a student reflects on identity.

In this personal narrative, a student describes their family origins with an intimate point of view

A student spins through space and a treasure trove of memories in this poem.

A powerful poem that lifts up Black women.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student shares gratitude for the dedication of nurses and gives “credit where credit is due.”

A student finds her wings in unexpected places in this piece about the transition to college.

This personal narrative addresses the struggles of students graduating high school during the pandemic.

A poem about staying true to yourself during a challenging transition

This creative narrative imagines how the coronavirus views humanity during the pandemic.

This creative short horror piece explores the mysteries and danger of a night in the woods.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a senior at South High School in Minneapolis offers words of support to healthcare workers across the country, including her own mom.

A rousing public narrative from an author coming to terms with their identity as a young Chinese American woman and what they represent: the community of Boston's Chinatown.

A student reflects on memories of home and what binds her special community together.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student describes how essential workers are the pulse of New York, fueling the city’s hope.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student shares how essential workers’ courage and compassion center her during these hectic times.

In this public narrative, a student makes the case for creating community change by building youth centers in her neighborhood.

In this public narrative, a student illustrates the hardships his uncle has faced to argue for a path to citizenship.

Discover what one student experiences when they tuck their phone away for a whole day.

In this poem, a student reflects on their roots and their desire to grow.

This narrative piece contemplates the struggle of immigrants during the pandemic.

A student reflects on a small moment and single sacrifice that transformed her outlook on giving.

This student reveals the mysterious origin story of the king cake. Hint: it includes Big Freedia, DJ Chicken Wing, and a massive party.

Living in the digital world can create unwanted attachments, as one student laments.

When Instagram becomes an unsightly battlefield.

A personal essay that explores the different shades of the Black Lives Matter movement.

This poem takes an honest look at two sides of the writer's culture.

A student explores the paradox of how technology is used amongst teenagers.

In this poem, an echoing question strikes a chord and reveals the tragic loss held within systemic injustice.

A student recounts separation with a beloved friend through a nostalgic lens.

In this poem, a student reflects on their first encounter with forced assimilation.

A memoir that questions the idea of home and how it changes with time.

A family interview reveals a mother's painful past and shines a light on her persistence.

This bilingual poem explores the harrowing story of a boy working while in school to save his mother.

This poem offers a very-real answer to "What do you want to be when you grow up?"