Trying to raise an informed electorate in institutions void of political discussions is a double-edged sword. — One of the first things I do when I move to a new neighborhood is to join its Nextdoor community. Nextdoor describes itself as a “neighborhood hub for trusted connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods, and services.” While it’s been a great resource to find out about local…

The pandemic made me say such an abrupt farewell to a way of life — Taking a stroll through my town’s main street, you could hardly tell that we’re in the midst of a pandemic. Tables and chairs have migrated from inside restaurants to the sidewalks where fresh air circulates freely. On weekends, crowds struggle to stay distanced while they wait for tables and reservations…

When you’re constantly surrounded by those who have it all, it’s hard not to feel like you have no control — While the pandemic has given me a lot of time to rest at home and enjoy my family, sometimes it feels like it’s given me too much time to dwell. And with all this thinking, I keep feeling a sense of stagnation in my life right now. I want to…

I thought I’d be overwhelmed by nostalgia but I felt anything but that. — My daughter and I carved pumpkins today. I remember the few stray tears that came with a sob she tried to muffle when I told her a few weeks ago that Halloween was unofficially canceled. For her sake, I’ve been trying to cling onto any bit of normalcy that we…

We need to prioritize giving our children a love for literacy now more than ever — With all the extra time I’ve been spending at home, one of the benefits I’ve reaped is being able to read more to my daughter. Being an avid reader came naturally to me when I was her age because it was before the internet was a common household utility. Now…

Nathan Apodaca’s viral video entered our collective conscience when we needed it most. — Imagine you’re on your way to work and your car sputters to a stop on the side of the road a mile away from your workplace. With fifteen minutes left to clock in on time, you’d hardly think that it’s the time to make a TikTok video — but this…

The consuming fear that comes with these attacks is just fueled more by my panic to hide them from everyone — If there’s anything I can be grateful for in terms of having panic attacks, it’s that I become more and more knowledgable each time I have one. I’ve learned to recognize the symptoms. The first time was sheer terror. I remember the feeling of my chest tightening as I frantically…

Some teens have been catapulted to fame online, but are they headed down the road of many child stars before them? — I’m a millennial that became a parent very young, and I never expected that I’d find myself in a situation of feeling like an “old” parent. With the pace of the internet as fast as it is, I feel like I’m trying to swim along with a rapid current that…

The ‘claw is the law’ because it followed some laws of its own — It was during the nationwide shortage when I first heard of the iconic hard seltzer brand — White Claw. Determined to see what all the fuss was about I set about finding a case, but I could indeed see that the nationwide shortage was no exaggeration. …