Government
Grade 8

Pedestrian Safety

Have you ever felt unsafe while walking or biking? In DC, drivers are constantly running red lights, blocking crosswalks, speeding, and being distracted by their phones, exposing pedestrians and cyclists to danger. Many people are getting injured and dying because the government has failed to implement measures to stop it. The government needs to invest […]

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Education
Grade 5

More School Counselors! Less Student Stress!

Imagine yourself as a student a week before exams. You have a test to study for, essays to complete, and a house to clean. Your hands are shaking. You start to get tired and forget things. The effect of stress on students is a pertinent issue that can affect our youth’s mental and physical health. […]

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Education
Grade 10

The School-To-Prison-Pipeline

The school-to-prison pipeline refers to the policies and practices that perpetuate the unjust criminalization of students, particularly those from marginalized communities. Harsh disciplinary policies, zero-tolerance approaches, and the over-policing of schools fuel this pipeline. Teachers need to step up, as they play a crucial role in creating a fair and inclusive learning environment where all […]

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Education
Grade 11

Effects of Parental Pressure on Students

In the relentless pursuit of perfection and parental approval, many students find themselves entangled in a web of parental pressure. In this essay, we will further explore the harm parental pressure can do to a child’s mental and emotional well-being. Parental pressure is very common around the world. It involves the expectations, guidance, and sometimes […]

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Gun Control
Grade 10

End Gun Violence Now

Did you know that in Washington, DC, just this year, over 200 people have passed away due to gun violence? The problem with gun violence has been going on for far too long, and I believe that we, as the families of victims and as people, should come together and put a stop to gun […]

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Justice System
Grade 6

Mass Incarceration

About five years ago, my favorite person was taken away from me. When I was seven years old, my father went to jail. I felt like the world was over. In the beginning, it was always, “He’s at work.” I remember when my mother first informed me where he actually was. I was devastated. I […]

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Domestic and Sexual Violence
Grade 8

End Child Abuse

When I was younger, I was abused. No one gets to choose who they are born to, and who I was born to was a horrible person. My mother didn’t want another kid, so she called me her mistake. I was physically and mentally abused for years. No kid wants to be abused, and yes, […]

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Food and Nutrition
Grade 7

Start the Fight Against Price Gouging

$2.30…$3.65…$4.23…$5.83. Have you ever been to the store and seen that the price of your favorite was higher than it was last month? For the last five years, companies such as Tysons Food and Pepsi C.O. have been raising their prices more than is considered fair. This is called price gouging, a prominent issue in […]

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Education
Grade 10

Fear of Falling Short in an Immigrant Household

Aarthi Muthukumar once wrote, “No matter how hard I work, the pressure of being successful by my parents’ standards is never going to disappear.” Aarthi Muthukumar is just one example of a kid who is afraid of letting her immigrant parents down. During Muthukumar’s high school life, she developed stress, anxiety, and panic attacks because […]

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Environment
Grade 11

All States Need Right-to-Repair Acts

Did you know that it’s impossible to replace displays and batteries in the iPhone 15 without losing features, all because of built-in software locks? Today, repairs of electronic devices are made artificially harder and more expensive by companies preventing the repair of devices by third parties. This is commonly done through proprietary screws to open […]

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Education
Grade 6

Affirmative Action in Schools

When I grow up, I want to go to college, such as Harvard, Yale, or Cornell. I haven’t decided which one yet since I’ve got a long way to go, but I know that one day, I’ll be in college getting the best education I can. However, for minority students like me, that dream is […]

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Bullying
Grade 8

Building Inclusive Environments to Combat Audism

A deaf woman named Barbara told the following story: “During conversations at work, my colleagues who know sign language communicate with each other using their voice, even when I am there.” She says that when she asks what they were walking about, “They often say, ‘I will tell you later.’ Then, I always get very […]

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