Allowing students the freedom to be themselves in school is essential. Sometimes a student can be bullied and socially isolated in school for expressing themselves. As an adoptee and as a queer youth, I’ve seen the repercussions of self-expression in the classroom firsthand. Fostering...
The pandemic fueled a rise in xenophobia towards the AAPI community. Every day, more news covered stories about verbal and physical assaults. As a Teen Board member of Beyond Differences, I heard about an opportunity to share my story at a rally to bring awareness to this issue and elevate youth...
Since the start of the pandemic, teens around the world have faced a myriad of new challenges that impact their mental health and well-being. They’ve also had a unique opportunity to reflect and grow. To celebrate Know Your Classmates® Day, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy sat down with...
Better Magazine is a lifestyle publication that focuses on creating positive connections that inspires readers to live a greater purpose. In their article, “Mental Health and Kids: How Parents Can Recognize Anxiety and Depression Signs in Children” by Donna Berry Class, Better brings to light how...
Anyone who knew Amy Hayes when she was growing up in Nashville would characterize her as outgoing and an extrovert. They also would say she was sensitive with regards to other people’s feelings and tuned in to children who didn’t always fit in. “Even as a child, I was highly aware of kids who...
Our Hello Friendship initiative inspires friendships but requires a secret ingredient: YOU! Inspiring friendships, disrupting social isolation, and creating cultures of belonging – these are the fundamental ingredients that make up the Beyond Differences mission. We believe that our...
“He yelled hate at me and my grandma and no one did anything. I have to ride that bus tomorrow. My mom tells me to be safe, but how am I supposed to NOT be Asian?” The young man’s tearful rage made the Zoom classroom fall silent. As I looked out at my students, every single one was looking away...
As I get ready to jump into this school year and finalize content for Beyond Differences National Educator Cohorts, I reflect on a social and emotional learning (SEL) workshop Beyond Differences hosted in partnership with Marin County Office of Education for 5th- 8th-grade educators, counselors,...
This week, JAMA Pediatrics released a review of 29 studies from around the world that shows a 25 percent spike in anxiety depression and 20 percent rise in anxiety for children and teens since the pandemic began. The meta-analysis included more than 80,000 youth ages 4-17 with a...
Guest Author: Lucy HaysBeyond Differences Teen Board Member Every day in middle school I would eat lunch with my group of friends. In the earlier, sunnier part of the school year, we would eat in the courtyard. One day, I was sitting with our other friends, eating my sandwich. However, two of our...
Guest Author: Danika Clifford Beyond Differences Teen Board Leader Have you ever noticed how many kids sit alone at lunch or walk by themselves between classes, while other groups of kids happily walk around flaunting their connections and friendships? Why do kids feel compelled to ignore others...
Today’s teenagers average over 6.5 hours per day of screen time. Being connected is literally a full-time job for them, possibly explaining why the number of teens holding a part-time job has dropped dramatically. They have more leisure time and 24/7 social access. But is it making them happy?...