Category: Essays

  • Finding Words

    Finding Words

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    by

    Mari Magalei
    in , ,

    July.  Words are funny. You know what they mean, but you don’t truly know what they mean. A lot of words are flitting around the house today. Twins. Premature. NICU. Overdose. Accidental.   I didn’t even know my cousin was pregnant. Gwen’s not my cousin exactly. My dad’s cousin’s daughter, but that doesn’t matter. Not now,…

  • Screens and Solitude: The Impact of Media Consumption on Loneliness and Connection

    Screens and Solitude: The Impact of Media Consumption on Loneliness and Connection

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    by

    Zach Halliday
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    During the COVID-19 pandemic, New York Times bestselling author Morgan Jerkins turned to heartwarming films from her childhood. She was “reminded of the power of the imagination and the preciousness of experiencing life as a child. [She is] also reminded that no matter how old one gets, there is still a child in there somewhere”…

  • Coral Reef Adventure

    Coral Reef Adventure

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    by

    in , ,

    Game Setup How the Game Works Turn Sequence On each player’s turn, they will: Winning the Game Players win if they manage to keep the reef healthy (i.e., the Reef Health Meter stays at a high level)by the end of the game. This happens by successfully managing pollution, protecting marine life, and restoring coral. Losing…

  • A Tripaje to Godi’os Interventiones

    A Tripaje to Godi’os Interventiones

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    by

    Emanuel Medori
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  • Writing Matters: Anna’s Story

    Writing Matters: Anna’s Story

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    by

    Avarie Peaden
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    Going home for Anna was like rolling a die, the shiny acrylic clattering on weed-overgrown cobblestones as she walked up the path to her front door. The die rolled as she turned the doorknob, settling on a number as the brass cooled her palm and she breathed in, the mulch smell of the yard invading…

  • The Secret Life of Bleu Packer

    The Secret Life of Bleu Packer

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    by

    Bleu Packer
    in , ,

    A life-changing adventure, a courageous leap onto a helicopter, and a new sense of self-worth. This is everything I thought I would find on my trip to Iceland the summer before my mission. The inspiration for the trip came from my favorite movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In the film, Walter leaves his…

  • The Weight that Stayed

    The Weight that Stayed

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    by

    JJ Beal
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    I have carried weight my whole life. Not just the kind you measure on a scale, but the kind you feel in your chest when the laughter of friends shifts into laughter at you. From an early age, I knew what it felt like to stand out in all the wrong ways. On the basketball…

  • Dear Mom and Dad

    Dear Mom and Dad

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    by

    Lucy Pendergrass
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    I’ve been thinking about my brother Sam lately, and the struggles he’s had. Having ADHD makes his everyday life a lot harder, especially when it comes to focusing, staying calm, and managing his emotional responses. I know how much you guys love him, and how hard you’ve both been working to help him manage his…

  • Taking the Bottle

    Taking the Bottle

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    by

    Joseph Oldham
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    This was the fourth hospital our family had gone to in two weeks. The first was because my dad had to get cancer treatments. The second was my post-surgery check-up. The third and fourth were for my brother and his wife’s daughters, twins that were born about three months early. They had been rushed into…

  • Say “Yes” to NIL

    Say “Yes” to NIL

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    by

    Lily Dietrich
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    Dear Whoopi Goldberg,  As a girl who grew up playing sports, I have so much admiration for you and the fact that you helped found the All Women’s Sports Network. I love that you have created a space for female athletes to be recognized and celebrated. Since your platform promotes female athletes, I thought you…