Since his first appearance in The Vampire Diaries (TVD) in 2009, viewers have been enamored with Damon Salvatore. His swagger, charm, and complex humanity have earned him a place as one of television’s most beloved anti-heroes. But although there is no denying his appeal, we must ask ourselves: Is it…

Living a healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle is becoming increasingly important as time goes on. With the growing concern over our carbon footprint, it can be difficult to know where to start when considering how to minimize your contribution without sacrificing your beauty routine. Fortunately it is possible to make small…

It was a whirlwind to discover I had Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). From struggling with depression and anxiety without help for what felt like ages, it felt good to have a name for it. In 2021, I was put on Lexapro by my Primary Care Physician (PCP) and instructed to…

A Black femme reflecting on sexual harassment. Trigger Warning. — I was a sophomore in college sitting on the couches by the Mainstreet market in the Tangeman University Center (TUC). The B-boy dance group was using the big study space to pop and lock as they do. I was sitting peacefully on the couch waiting for a friend to text…

A reminder to cherish your friends. — Dear Black Teen, Relationships seem to be the most important thing in our lives right now. We see it all over social media — people posting about their significant others and how happy they are. It can be tough to feel left out or like you’re not good enough when…

A tale of loss, grief, and acceptance. — Saving Zoë by Alyson Noel is a beautiful tale of how fiteen-year-old Echo grieves the loss of her older sister. The story is told from Echo’s point of view, and Zoës diary is used as a narration tool for the audience reading the book. This post contains spoilers. One day…

Erica Sinclair returns with her greatest hits. — This post contains spoilers from Season 4 Part One. Stranger Things Season 4 part 2 releases July 1st with two more episodes of drama, snotty laughs, and stow away kisses. …

Redefine self-care because it is different than the version our society is marketing to us. — The whole point of self-care should be rest. We should be free to rest in a society that urges us to do the opposite. We have been convinced to turn hobbies into side hustles in the name of capitalism. …

As someone who also sat quiet and hardly participated, this hit home. Teachers are supposed to be adaptable, understanding, and intuitive. It is awful how Black kids get treated in schools especially by non Black teachers. It takes a lot of unlearning to realize that there isn't one way to learn or participate in a classroom setting. The idea that there is just one way to be a student is just another ploy society brainwashes us into thinking is necessary. It is how they keep up with their ideals on capitalism and general societal standards. It's how they attempt to keep us in line with the "status quo". I am so sorry you had to go through that as a child. You deserved understanding and gentleness from your teachers.