Our Blog

Passion Over Grief
Megha Siripurapu Beth Tomas Megha Siripurapu Beth Tomas

Passion Over Grief

When I first started figure skating at the age of four, I would’ve never guessed the impact it would have on my life and well-being. Throughout all these years, although I wasn't seen as a figure skating "prodigy," my passion kept me going.

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Girlhood
Amelia Giese Beth Tomas Amelia Giese Beth Tomas

Girlhood

Throughout the past couple of years, I’ve struggled with my femininity. Once I made it to fifth grade or so, I was one hundred percent against pink, dresses, skirts, make-up, anything “girly.” You see, I was a tomboy.

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Dear 2024
Erin Settlemier Beth Tomas Erin Settlemier Beth Tomas

Dear 2024

You have finally arrived and I find myself standing at the edge of a significant transition in my life's journey. You represent not just a year on the calendar to me, but a threshold between the familiarity of my past and the uncertainty of my future. The closing chapter of my high school days will converge with the dawn of college and adulthood.

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Moments
T-Wolf Beth Tomas T-Wolf Beth Tomas

Moments

With every passing day, my memories of my childhood fade a little faster. It’s a thought that I wish could be an exaggeration, but with photos, documents, videos, and all other sorts of digital files keeping intricate records of my personality at every stage of life, I have proof that my life is far larger than I remember it being.

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In Case They Ever Invent a Time Machine
Izel Nava Beth Tomas Izel Nava Beth Tomas

In Case They Ever Invent a Time Machine

Looking down at you makes me feel tall. I forget how small you are till you pretend I can’t keep up. Holding my hand and dragging me to play in between crinkly eyes and obnoxious giggles, screaming in between winded laughs as I chase you, once I catch you, I spin you, with over-dramatic words about how great you are at games. You smile, asking me to pick you up again just because I can.

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Skin
T-Wolf Beth Tomas T-Wolf Beth Tomas

Skin

From peers, mentors, teachers, and friends, I've often gotten comments on how mature I am for my age. I'm logistical when delegating tasks or work, realistic when reflecting on my progress in mental and physical health, determined to fulfill a future career path, and very good at offering advice to those in personal conflicts.

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Growing Pains
Izel Nava Beth Tomas Izel Nava Beth Tomas

Growing Pains

I am a product of years of suffering. A product of men and women who were cut from steel. Men and women made grotesque from their broken dreams. They are all cracked hands worn from labor and hushed whispers directed toward their faith.

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Our Sci-Fi World
E- Coughlin Beth Tomas E- Coughlin Beth Tomas

Our Sci-Fi World

As we continue to advance into our modern age, technology advances at a very fast rate. With only a few simple taps from the small electronic rectangle in our hands, we can talk to anyone we want, as long as we have their contact information.

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Not Just Dolls
Amelia Giese (She/Her) Beth Tomas Amelia Giese (She/Her) Beth Tomas

Not Just Dolls

Every year, for as long as I can remember, my aunt has taken my mom, my sister, and I to the American Girl store in Chicago to go shopping and get lunch for mine and my sisters birthdays, and this year was no exception. You may be wondering, aren’t you a little old for dolls? And yes, I am, I don’t enjoy them like I used to anymore. But, I have a little sister who is nine years old, so I get to keep going until she decides she’s done.

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No Sabo Kid
Bex Beth Tomas Bex Beth Tomas

No Sabo Kid

One of my biggest struggles growing up was knowing who I was. I knew my mom is American, with blonde hair and blue eyes. My dad is Mexican, with black hair and brown eyes. And people always said I took after him.

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My Living Textbook
Brooke Kelley Beth Tomas Brooke Kelley Beth Tomas

My Living Textbook

Just over a year ago, I began writing letters to my great grandfather as often as I could. An ample vessel of knowledge, my 95 year old great-grandfather has lived through war, political turmoil, economic instability, civil rights movements, and other infamous chapters of US history textbooks.

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Artificial Incessancy
T-Wolf Beth Tomas T-Wolf Beth Tomas

Artificial Incessancy

first learned about visual art artificial intelligence programs about a year ago, when I discovered one by the name of Wombo Art online. It was a website that could take word prompts from a browser, combine it with an art style of choosing, and generate a picture based off of both. Though I was skeptical of how effective it’d be at first, I decided to try it out- and the very first prompt I ever put in was my own name, T-Wolf.

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"Pal"entine's Day
Bex Beth Tomas Bex Beth Tomas

"Pal"entine's Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Literally, you see it almost everywhere you go. In fact, some stores begin advertising as soon as late December. To some, this is great, because why wouldn’t you want an extra 1-2 months to prepare?

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A Year of Luck
T-Wolf Beth Tomas T-Wolf Beth Tomas

A Year of Luck

Throughout all my years of living, I’ve been taught that my family, my ancestors, and my people, are always by my side.

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I <3 Math
Amelia Giese (She/Her) Beth Tomas Amelia Giese (She/Her) Beth Tomas

I <3 Math

This may come as a shock, seeing as I do writing and photography for a magazine, but I absolutely love math. Math is my favorite subject. The way that numbers cancel out and simplify, and how everything tends to click in the end, scratches an itch in my brain. I love math so much that I look forward to it everyday, and I always have. Not once have I been bad at math. In fact, I’d consider myself good at every kind of math: Algebra (one and two), Trigonometry, Pre-Calc, and, so far, Calculus. 

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The Beat That Never Stops
T-Wolf Beth Tomas T-Wolf Beth Tomas

The Beat That Never Stops

Some days, when all is too still for time, I can see my heartbeat.Usually it’s right over my chest, in the slight wave of the shirt I’m wearing. It’s almost like a ripple of water, the way the beat expands throughout the fabric, then settles again.

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Not All About Emo
E- Coughlin Beth Tomas E- Coughlin Beth Tomas

Not All About Emo

I’m someone who’s very into fashion. I love putting together clothes and jewelry in ways that make interesting outfits. I never leave the house without an outfit that I think will make me look cool.

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