Elaine Vilorio, 06/26/12

High school junior in New Jersey

People need to realize that the goodness that comes with speaking out against a collective injustice far outweighs collective opposition. The treatment for bystander syndrome is courage.

Jess Coleman, 06/26/12

Student, New York City Lab School

Our last six presidents have little in common, except that at some point in their political career, they lost an election. Americans want a leader who isn't afraid to be let down every once in a while.

Hung Vo, 06/26/12

High school student in Nebraska

Hard work does not always pay off. Stories of success are too often used to undermine the issues that are prevalent in our society.

Noah Fitzgerel, 06/25/12

Senior Class President, Annandale High School

Passion and music are powerful entities, and together they often have the power to change the world.

Alexis Jane Torre, 06/22/12

18-year-old high school senior

Two years ago, I finally decided to stop hiding my skin disease with jeans and cover-up. I stopped using makeup to disguise my vitiligo and just accepted my body the way that it was.

Matthew Maron, 06/22/12

16-year-old high school junior in New York

Trade professions like plumbing and electrical work may not be the most glorious of professions, but they are the ones that are always in demand and always will be.

Danielle Fox, 06/22/12

High school junior in New Jersey

This is a film that has been sitting on my shelf for years; a film that I have been meaning to watch but have never gotten around to it. Well, I finally watched it, and it was a masterpiece.

Ariana Silvan-Grau, 06/21/12

Freshman at Oberlin College

A smile can mean anything -- excitement, gratitude, forgiveness and fear, and just because this chapter of our lives is ending does not mean the new one will not bring just as many smiles.

Meghan McCullough, 06/21/12

Freshman at Amherst College

Freshman year hit me like a freight truck. It was the hardest, scariest, best thing that has ever happened to me, and I wouldn't change one part of it.

Omar Abreu, 06/21/12

15-year-old student at Hudson High School of Learning Technologies

Everyone was pumped to see all the projects youth have been working on, and the awesome keynotes, from people all over the tech industry. It was time for Emoti-Con! 2012!

Joel Schocker, 06/20/12

Valedictorian, Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School

Our future is an empty book that we have the power to write. Challenging as this may sound, it's marvelous.

Hannah Weintraub, 06/20/12

16-year-old co-president of her school's women's advocacy club

My fear of a regression in women's rights is not unfounded, as the reproductive rights debates have shown. Let's honor the struggle of our grandmothers and mothers and keep working for justice.

Brian Benton, 06/20/12

High school senior in Palo Alto, CA

Political statements in music are at an all-time low. Artists like Lady Gaga and Robyn's promotion of equal rights is a start, but so much more can be done.

Elaine Vilorio, 06/19/12

High school junior in New Jersey

In middle school, one girl, who I considered my enemy at the time, made fun of the way I spoke. She used to say, "You look black and you say you're Hispanic, but you talk like a white person!"