Essay

The dining room waits in reverent silence as the afternoon light spills through the west-facing windows, illuminating dust specks that dance above the space’s centerpiece: a massive table that has served four generations of my family.

TikTok’s “nonchalance” trend is taking over social media, and teens have adopted the word in the past year as the viral idea has been spreading in popularity since 2024. Nonchalant people project a low-effort presence, and they don’t talk much.

To adults, we’re just kids with phones. To us, those phones are the only way we’re ever heard. 

Today, I was in class, and my friend asked, If you could play any sport, what would you play? 

I’m an expert at knowing, my mother tells me I’m wise beyond my years, and she said I’m emotionally intelligent-but she and I both know that’s not true, she’s telling me this so I don’t have to burden her by telling her my problems.

Octopuses have three hearts. I’ve been told that I do too. Is it the way I look at you or the way I listen? Is it how I place my hand on your shoulder or how I smile?

The air was thick with heat and sunscreen. Our cleats kicked up dust as we ran onto the field already tired from two earlier games.  Summer felt like nonstop softball tournaments weekend after weekend.

I don't read the Bible. I lie a lot, tell people I've read Genesis--can one even read Genesis? The beginning of things, written--but I've really just perused it.

In my history class we are doing a unit on: why to study history. I am very interested in the subject and chose to write an essay for my final project. Please enjoy...

I want you to kiss me until my lips bruise and pucker and purple and all I can taste is the inside of your mouth.

Every July 4th, I wonder why we do this. Why we stand on the sides of the streets, watching little children hold their arms out for candy, gazing at the police cars and fire trucks rolling by in tandem.

Last night at work, I had a bit of a panic attack. Something like that, something similar. You don’t really know while you’re in it, why it happens, but the reasons were there, and I know them now.