Chalkbeat - Student Voices Fellowship

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This personal essay series features stories by high school students taking part in Chalkbeat’s fellowship program.

The botched FAFSA rollout hurt families like mine

The botched FAFSA rollout hurt families like mine

By

Miriam Galicia

Bereaved students like me are more likely to struggle in school. Here’s what we need to thrive.

Bereaved students like me are more likely to struggle in school. Here’s what we need to thrive.

By

Alexa Brown-Hill

My father gave me his name. I thought it was a curse but realized it was a blessing.

My father gave me his name. I thought it was a curse but realized it was a blessing.

By

David Malakai Allen

Struggling during COVID, I helped my school develop a class about mental health

Struggling during COVID, I helped my school develop a class about mental health

By

Dashawn Sheffield

Student Voices: All about our teen fellowship

Student Voices: All about our teen fellowship

By

Gabrielle Birkner

En Español

La implementación fallida de la FAFSA perjudicó a familias como la mía

La implementación fallida de la FAFSA perjudicó a familias como la mía

By

Miriam Galicia

Las familias como la mía necesitan más libros bilingües para niños

Las familias como la mía necesitan más libros bilingües para niños

By

Daniela Palacios

Perder mi español es como perder parte de quien soy

Perder mi español es como perder parte de quien soy

By

Ashally De La Cruz

Become a Chalkbeat sponsor

I lived in China until age 5. Returning to the U.S., I got to know my parents for the first time.

I lived in China until age 5. Returning to the U.S., I got to know my parents for the first time.

My grandparents raised me as a ‘satellite baby’ in China. When I returned to NYC at age 5, I got to know my parents for the first time.

By

Ocean Lin

Student Voices: Meet Our 2024-25 Teen Fellows

Student Voices: Meet Our 2024-25 Teen Fellows

These six high school students from Detroit and New York City will be taking part in our signature essay-writing fellowship.

By

Gabrielle Birkner

Here's how to apply to Chalkbeat’s 2024-25 Student Voices Fellowship

Here's how to apply to Chalkbeat’s 2024-25 Student Voices Fellowship

Our paid essay-writing fellowship for teens is returning to NYC and launching in Detroit.

By

Gabrielle Birkner

As a high school senior, I tried out teaching. It was harder — and more rewarding — than I expected.

As a high school senior, I tried out teaching. It was harder — and more rewarding — than I expected.

I traveled to Malaysia to teach kids about photography. Here’s what I learned.

By

Miriam Galicia

Diverse representation matters. Without it, I doubted success was possible for me.

Diverse representation matters. Without it, I doubted success was possible for me.

I rarely saw faces like mine in school books or on TV. It fueled my imposter syndrome.

By

Shamima Ahmed