It’s back-to-school season, which can be a nerve-wracking time for many of us. Students, obviously, but also parents and teachers who now have to get back into the routine of the school year once more. The old adage of the tree leaves changing colors signaling the change in our lives stays as true as ever. This time of year can be frightening for a student, especially one transferring or advancing to a new school, no matter their age. One universally-effective solution to fir

It can be hard for kids to make friends and engage during class. Classrooms and curriculums aren’t designed to foster friendships and a sense of community, they’re designed to facilitate learning. Which is fine, but it can be hard for a lot of kids to reach out during class times. Difficult assignments, uncomfortable seating arrangements, and long lectures are all factors contributing to this. So it can be really beneficial for students to have other avenues to explore social

It can be a lot easier to recognize and put emphasis on the problems and complications in our lives, as opposed to the positives and happy coincidences. It’s harder to recognize when you’re actually not having a problem that you used to have. A few weeks ago, I dropped a massive weight on my right ring finger, and it caused a really painful and abnormal-looking bruise to appear. I was really worried because it didn’t look like a typical wound and it hurt quite a bit. But eve

This month, I want to talk about sports. There are plenty of people who will flat-out tell you they don't care much for playing them. They might have friends who do, or they watch soccer and football on TV, but they have no interest in participating themselves. And that's totally OK — I personally ran cross-country for all four years of high school, and I won't pretend the actual running part was easy. But here's the thing: I don't really remember much of the running itself.

When one thinks of the word “volunteering”, what comes to mind is probably an image of a soup kitchen, or a homeless shelter, or something similar. But there are lots of unconventional ways to volunteer your time to better your community. You can participate in a large-scale public cleanup event, sure, but you can also get some friends and do a smaller cleanup in an area right next to your house. You can coach a youth team, or give blood, or assist the elderly. The possibilit

March is a busy month. There’s Women’s History Month, Music in Our Schools Month, Ramadan, and Irish-American Heritage Month, among other things. It’s a great time for self-reflection; to ask yourself “what kind of person am I?”. But for some of us, that question doesn’t have a clear answer. It can be frustrating to not seem to know what you want at all when other people are so focused on their paths. Determining your place in the world and desired future aren’t things you

February is here, and if the decorations and commercials are to be believed, then love is in the air. Romantic love, obviously, but also platonic love, and many other forms. It can be easy to get caught up in the commotion of it all, but taking a quick moment to stop and consider some things never hurts. Namely, how can we express that love? It can be tricky to actually pinpoint and name the kinds of emotions we feel, whether that’s affection, empathy, apathy, stagnation, or

Welcome to the New Year! Many people use this time of the year as a fresh start of sorts. The new years’ resolution is a popular semi-tradition for many. Ultimately, though, a lot of people end up falling behind on their resolutions. It’s certainly happened to me. As we get caught up with new responsibilities and obligations, we can start to realize that the goals we’ve set were unrealistic, overly time-consuming, or aren’t sustainable. But I’d like to take this opportunity

It often happens out of nowhere. You come across an old game, see a forgotten picture, smell a familiar scent, taste homemade food, or hear a song you haven’t heard in years. Before you know it, you’re swept into a soft flashback that isn’t necessarily a single memory, but a whole feeling from a past version of yourself. You see what’s beautiful in things that are ephemeral. It’s love in a piece of time, and you can’t help but fall in love again. You blink, and the feeling is

As the year slowly draws to a close, the days begin to shrink sooner than most of us are ready for. By 5 o’clock, the sun's already set, leaving ourselves to wonder, “Is it already bedtime or has the day just slipped away too quickly?” Leaves that once clung to their branches drift to the ground, shedding their silky green coats for shades of rust orange, amber, and crimson, leaving us to find a crunch beneath our feet. The air grows crispier with each passing day. Pumpkins,

Mental health is still often a stigmatized and polarized topic. Depending on how you grew up - how much or how little you talked about your feelings, whether emotions were met with support or silence, or whether seeking guidance was seen as a strength or a weakness - everyone’s view of mental health looks different. The more you grow and change, the more you may start to feel the pressure of always needing to perform well academically, socially, or even physically. You may st

Waking up early in the morning can be hard. Especially after a summer of sleeping in, spending your days how you want, and not worrying...

Sleigh bells jingling …wait, no, that’s not quite right. It’s school bells ringing. The weather’s cooling down, backpacks are getting...

Think back to your childhood. How many adults did you meet along the way? Teachers, neighbors, coaches, family friends. As we grow, we’re...

You never forget the big firsts. You cherish every milestone your baby makes. Their first step, their first word, the first time they...

When I was a teenager, I seriously struggled with confidence. I second-guessed everything I said, compared myself to everyone around me,...

Theater and drama programs offer unique benefits that help students develop important life skills. When students participate in these...

I still remember my first day in high school band class. With limited musical experience, I was assigned the triangle, just one small...

Wow, it’s February already. The second month of the new year has arrived, just as we were getting used to the first one. Time keeps...

When I was growing up, I was lucky enough to have multiple mentors to play crucial roles in my upbringing. Most were coaches and...