A Real Human Being, or a Grade Machine?
Caitlyn Wang’s wonderful article, besides managing to alleviate my anxiety about not taking enough AP courses, also brought up another thought in mind. In her article, there was this quote “Nothing is more fragile than a child who only knows how to chase accolades. Let’s help them learn who they are when the trophies are […]
How We Mapped the Digital Battlefield: Creating Categories to Combat Cyberbullying
Creating Categories to Combat Cyberbullying A journey through 40+ research papers, heated debates, and yellow sticky notes The Search That Started It All Picture this: A group of Impact Fellows, armed with laptops and determination, diving into the murky waters of cyberbullying research. Our mission? To create a framework that could help AI systems recognize […]
If I’m Not a 4.0, Who Am I?
“Kids are so occupied with not disappointing anyone that they don’t have the luxury to find out who they really are.”— Caitlyn Wang, founder of the nonprofit curaJOY Asian tweens and teens—whether in the U.S. or abroad—are exposing themselves to mental health risk factors with lifelong consequences, often hidden behind perfect GPAs and polished college […]
Anxiety 101
Anxiety can be really debilitating. It’s all in your head, but you know what your head controls? Literally everything else. Want to know more about
The Reality I Lived: Seven Years in NYC Special Education
After seven years as both a general and special education teacher in the New York City Department of Education, I’ve lived the impossible equation that defines our profession: provide individualized, evidence-based support to 25+ students with complex needs, document every intervention, coordinate with families across diverse cultural contexts, and find time for actual teaching and […]
Check In. Learn to See. Live Better.
To kick off the summer, I took my daughters to explore sprawling underground caves and dive into cenotes on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. The wildlife and natural beauty were surreal—hypnotic limestone caverns connected by clear underground rivers that Batman would envy—the eerie stillness of magnificence formed from meteorites when dinosaurs still walked the earth. But even […]
Understanding Behavioral Health for Learning
Behavioral health encompasses our emotional, social, and psychological well-being, significantly influencing our thoughts, actions, and interactions. For students, good behavioral health is essential—not just for their happiness but for their ability to learn, achieve academically, manage stress, and build positive relationships. Importance of Behavioral Health for Students Supporting Behavioral Health Students can foster behavioral wellness […]
When and Why Are Functional Behavior Assessments Done?
In our last post, we broke down what a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is—a systematic process for identifying the underlying reasons behind challenging behaviors. But when exactly should an FBA be conducted, and why is it so important? When Is an FBA Needed? FBAs are typically conducted when a person’s behavior significantly interferes with their […]
Peer pressured into academic pressure
At the beginning of the second semester of my sophomore year of highschool, I made the decision to take AP Chemistry instead of a free period. And just like that, I was on track to have the hardest, most tiring semester I’ve ever had. It’s not as though it wasn’t obvious to me at the […]
Youth Voice in Youth-Centered Technology
In a world fueled by rapid technological advancements, it’s more important than ever for kids to have a say in youth-focused technology. Why? Because our voices in this space are severely limited. Just as products are designed with a specific audience in mind—like cancer treatments for those battling cancer or glasses tailored to people with […]
Over Twenty Years of Struggling with Unnecessary Guilt
In July, the midnight sun of Northern Europe stretches the beauty of the city into 20 hours everyday. Enamored with such a summer, I often wander aimlessly around the city even at 11 p.m. One day during one of these leisurely walks, I received a rejection letter for a job I had previously applied for. […]
I love you. How Asian Parents Express Love.
One of our volunteers thanked me for believing in her and “I love you.” I was taken aback for a moment because she’s Asian, and we Asians don’t tell each other, “I love you!” ???? Only Westerners and movies do that mushy emotional stuff. We only dream about it. Asian parents give kids food […]