Moving to a new school in a different district was pretty hard at the start. I had gone to school with people I’ve known since kindergarten and all of a sudden I felt like I didn’t belong to any where. But one day I worked up enough courage to ask if I could eat lunch with girl in my orchestra class and it was the best decision. So, this is for my best friend who has lit up my world during these past difficult years.
My entry for ‘You Are Never a Bother’ is a piece that is very personal to me. I was able to positively change someone’s life, and I asked that person how it made them feel. Receiving words of encouragement like “you are not a bother” really helped uplift them.
I wrote about the worries of a person in need. I wrote what they think or might be thinking when they ask for help.
No matter what my friend is going through, I am here for them whenever and wherever, and they are never a bother.
My piece depicts the strikes nurses went on in order to protest a shortage of workers in the healthcare industry and the dangers faced by patients as a result of being treated by underpaid, overworked professionals. Strikes can serve as crucial tools for securing fair wages and hours.
My short video portrays the complex relationship I have with my parents as a transgender teenager. The end poem is a direct call out to the fact that my parents fully know that I’m trans, yet every time it is brought up in a conversation, they act as if it’s their first time hearing it. The film is an invitation to a party that I’ve planned for too long – one that only my parents are invited to.
As I’m growing up and becoming more independent, I’ve struggled with being overwhelmed by school, my commitments, and my busy schedule. I know my parents want to help me but don’t always know how. I want them to know that, because of all the things they have taught me and the values they have instilled in me, I don’t necessarily need them to do things for me, hold my hand through everything, and physically fix my problems for me. However, sometimes what would help me the most is for them to listen and understand. Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed, I just want them to let me know that I’m on the right path and that they are proud of me.
Teens need mental health support so they won’t feel alone
As a teen, sometimes it’s hard to be heard. This was a perfect opportunity to get the voices of teens who are often ignored out there.
One message, as simple as it may be, can make a big difference to someone’s day. While it’s important to give yourself hope and find things that can help you get through the day, it’s also equally important to help others.