Written by Jason Gray, a 10th grader at Hueneme High School.

I’m overwhelmed, and it’s no secret.

I do too much, and it’s hard to deal with.

Take up my time, and get no rest.

End the week crazy stressed.

Don’t have a breather for myself.

I think I might need some help.

Plan my future way too early.

Life on pre-order, crazy surly.

Going through my mind at mach ten.

It’s hard to sleep a...

Written by a senior at CU Boulder.

Three years ago, I started my first semester at the University of Colorado Boulder. Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. So, you can imagine how popular it is here.

Most people who I met smoked weed. It truly was, no big deal. I saw the casual attitudes towards marijuana, and I saw my friends imbibe regularly, seemingly...

By Janette, a senior at CLU.

Mental health is something I’ve learned to prioritize over the years, and I’ve found that talking about my feelings is one of the most helpful ways to cope. When I’m struggling, opening up to trusted friends or family members helps me feel less alone and more understood. Sometimes, just saying things out loud relieves the weight I’m carrying. I also believe profession...

Written by an Ventura County college student. 

Bullying is a widespread issue that many individuals face during different stages of their lives. It can happen in school, workplaces, online, or even in social settings. Being bullied not only affects one's mental health but can also shape personality, self-perception, and overall development. I will share my experiences discussing how bullying affe...

Written by Madison Jaffe.

Fashion magazines, beauty products, and diet campaigns bombard us every day with messages telling us that we aren’t good enough. They project messages saying we should be thinner, more stylish, or have softer skin. We are told that we aren’t enough, but can fix that with the swipe of a credit card to purchase their goods. However, these products change yearly and the bod...

Written by Lucy, age 17, a Ventura County high school student.

An educated school girl like me carries a backpack that holds all of the knowledge she owns which forces her spine down to the ground. An educated school girl like me carries books, pretty pencils and highlighters that mean nothing but for some reason it matters that they are pretty, an iPad, the clothing that she contemplates over an...

Written by Adriana Campos, a CSUCI student.

I hope you’re well wherever you are in this world that we live in together, for some of your life can be light and you may have never doubted anything for a second, but for some of you it could be a place of overwhelming darkness. There is a thin line between the two when you experience both, and that’s me. I had never questioned life and its purpose fo...

Written by Madison Jaffe.

It feels like just yesterday that I was a high school freshman – unsure of where I belonged, who my true friends were, if I was enough, or what my life would be like at the end of my high school career. It wasn’t until I discovered positive psychology – the science of happiness – that I began answering these questions and accepting myself amidst the overwhelming pressure...

Written by a CSUCI student.

Growing up I had very low self-esteem. I believe this came from school bullies and family always picking on me about anything I would do. My mom was always comparing me to others, especially her friend’s daughters because we were all the same age, yet they always had better grades and stayed slim due to sports. I don’t think my mom realized that the more she would comp...

The following letter was written by Israel Lozano during our 2020 weekly writing group, The Green Walls Writer’s Project, in response to a prompt to write a letter to our feelings. 

Dear Disappointment,

It’s been six years since we’ve first met. Knowing you, you’re probably planning to surprise me with something soon. Maybe some seasonal depression, anxiety during my annual speeches, you might e...

Written by Sofia Noriega, a Ventura County high school student, featuring artwork by Sophie Kadan.

I can’t smile,

I think about homework 24/7,

When I am supposed to be having fun.

I can’t smile,

I think about the past,

When I should be thinking about the present.

I can’t smile,

I think about my exhausted feelings,

When I should bring out my happy side.

I can’t smile because ...

Content warning: This post includes mentions of child abuse, trauma, and mental health issues.

Written by a CSUCI student.

Every day since I was born seemed to be toxic and filled with worry. My family was extremely broken from a very young age. My earliest memories are of being 2 or 3 years old. It’s funny how our greatest memories are usually the worst. I recall punishments that included being...