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This personal essay series features stories by high school students taking part in Chalkbeat’s fellowship program.

The botched FAFSA rollout hurt families like mine

The botched FAFSA rollout hurt families like mine

By

Miriam Galicia

Bereaved students like me are more likely to struggle in school. Here’s what we need to thrive.

Bereaved students like me are more likely to struggle in school. Here’s what we need to thrive.

By

Alexa Brown-Hill

My father gave me his name. I thought it was a curse but realized it was a blessing.

My father gave me his name. I thought it was a curse but realized it was a blessing.

By

David Malakai Allen

Struggling during COVID, I helped my school develop a class about mental health

Struggling during COVID, I helped my school develop a class about mental health

By

Dashawn Sheffield

Student Voices: All about our teen fellowship

Student Voices: All about our teen fellowship

By

Gabrielle Birkner

En Español

La implementación fallida de la FAFSA perjudicó a familias como la mía

La implementación fallida de la FAFSA perjudicó a familias como la mía

By

Miriam Galicia

Las familias como la mía necesitan más libros bilingües para niños

Las familias como la mía necesitan más libros bilingües para niños

By

Daniela Palacios

Perder mi español es como perder parte de quien soy

Perder mi español es como perder parte de quien soy

By

Ashally De La Cruz

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As a high school senior, I tried out teaching. It was harder — and more rewarding — than I expected.

As a high school senior, I tried out teaching. It was harder — and more rewarding — than I expected.

I traveled to Malaysia to teach kids about photography. Here’s what I learned.

By

Miriam Galicia

Diverse representation matters. Without it, I doubted success was possible for me.

Diverse representation matters. Without it, I doubted success was possible for me.

I rarely saw faces like mine in school books or on TV. It fueled my imposter syndrome.

By

Shamima Ahmed

My dad loved all living things. I hope he is watching Animal Planet in heaven.

My dad loved all living things. I hope he is watching Animal Planet in heaven.

I am one of the thousands of NYC children who lost a parent to COVID. Here’s what I want you to know about my dad.

By

Shamima Ahmed

Without housing, we were out of options. COVID quarantine offered my family a path forward.

Without housing, we were out of options. COVID quarantine offered my family a path forward.

After months of homelessness and despair, my family found a safe haven in Newark.

By

Alexa Brown-Hill

Student Voices: All about our teen fellowship

Student Voices: All about our teen fellowship

High school students learn journalism basics and publish their work on Chalkbeat.

By

Gabrielle Birkner