Monthly Prompt

Dear Mom and Dad…

|

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.

Pain Has No Age

|

You never know what someone is going through until they tell you, so this film/podcast gave me an opportunity to become closer with teammates, advisors, and friends – they trusted me enough to share their mental health, and I’m hoping other teens will want to share their mental health after watching this.

Teen Talk

|

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.

Anxiety

|

With this PSA we wanted to reach out to adults and guardians in order to raise awareness towards the issues teens face. The PSA covers how teens experience and express anxiety and stress. Parents sometimes do not realize when their child is dealing with something despite the signs they may show.

What I wish my parents knew

|

Our indigenous Latino youth wanted an opportunity to express how they feel about their struggle in school. Being first-generations students means that their parents often don’t know the hurdles their children have to overcome to be successful.

Alienated

|

Something I wish my parents knew is that I often felt isolated and alienated during middle school. I wish my parents understood how difficult it was to fit in and adjust to a new school.

Generational Ignorance

|

Generational Ignorance tells The story of how Parents of Gen-Z will often disregard their child’s mental health needs due to stereotypes. The Stereotype in question that we are “addicted to phones”. In the poem, I explain, yes, phones can be addictive, but more often than not, they can be an emotional outlet in a world with very few of them available for youth. I also wanted to bring awareness of how those in power will often pin the blame on younger generations with sensational news headlines and propaganda about gen-Z, with the sole purpose of profit, feeding into these misconceptions that parents of gen-Z will buy into and use against their children, instead of offering solutions to the declining mental health of the youth.

What I Wish My Parents Knew About Their Daughter & Her Ghost Stickers

|

This piece comes from a moment where I noticed a pattern of keeping things to myself and was able to trace how it’s impacted me since then. Keeping things to yourself without really processing them, talking about them, and working through them can impact your mental health and your relationships with loved ones. Supressing your thoughts and feelings makes healing from things more challenging.