Accountability in the New Normal

The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.

As life starts to hopefully return to normal, I’m wondering which “quarantine” activities will stick with me. As someone who has been in grad school for the past 2 years, this was the first true block of time I’ve had to explore some new hobbies and to work on self-improvement. Continue reading Accountability in the New Normal

More Online Resources for Black Mental Health

If you have been online over the past week, you have likely seen Carrd links going around containing masterlists, resources, petitions, donation sites, and information about the Black Lives Matter movement. If you’ve clicked on any of them, you’ll notice how all the information is contained and presented in a way that’s easily accessible and not overwhelming. Continue reading More Online Resources for Black Mental Health

Diversifying Your Instagram Account

The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.

For many people, Instagram can be a place that leads to insecurity. Scrolling though the photos and stories, I have found myself comparing my appearance and lives to others. I have felt jealous and even left out at times. Then, I began to realize that I am in control of my Instagram feed. Why am I continuing to only follow accounts that make me feel insecure? That’s when I began to diversify my Instagram feed and feel better while using the app. Continue reading Diversifying Your Instagram Account

A Reflection on My Biggest Mistake

The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.

Throughout my junior year of high school, I was beyond stressed with things coming up left and right. I had jumped from 2 advanced classes to 5 classes, was an officer of several clubs, and had three different extracurriculars after school. I told myself at the beginning of the year before taking the plunge that I could handle it, “It will all be over in a mere 9 months right?” Big mistake. Continue reading A Reflection on My Biggest Mistake

When You Don’t Feel Supported by Your Dad

The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.

So like many teenage girls, I argue with my parents, but a lot more with my dad and about way more sensitive topics. My dad is a great father , he provides me with food, clothes, and a place to live along with other non essentials. All of that stuff is great, but what I’m looking for from him is something he could never buy me: love. Continue reading When You Don’t Feel Supported by Your Dad

Why I am Grateful for the Quarantine

The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.

With our country finally starting to come out of quarantine and resume our daily life, it has really made me reflect on the past couple months and how they have changed me. Continue reading Why I am Grateful for the Quarantine

Mental Health Resources for Black Youth

We recently posted this post and its resources back in February, but given current events, wanted to share these resources again.

It can be difficult to find resources for mental health resources that feel like they’re targeted to you. This is particularly true for minorities and underprivileged groups. Racial and ethnic minorities have less access to mental health resources and services than white people, and when they do get access, it can be of poorer quality, feeling that the treatment they receive doesn’t fully suit them or that they feel like they’re experiencing discrimination.

Continue reading Mental Health Resources for Black Youth

The Problem with Autoplay and Posting Triggering Images Online

The blog post includes mentions of police brutality and violence on black people. Please read with caution if any of these items triggers or upsets you.

The world can feel bleak and hopeless at times, and our access to news literally anywhere in the world at any time makes this much more obvious. And while this bleakness and hopelessness can be depressing and very easily overwhelming, it can also make us aware of injustices and give us a place to make a change. Continue reading The Problem with Autoplay and Posting Triggering Images Online

Failing Does Not Make You a Failure

The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.

I came really close to failing a class this spring semester. I’ve never failed a class before, so I ended up associating this one small event with being a complete and utter failure. Ever since then, I’ve been doing my best to challenge that thought and overcome it as best I can. Continue reading Failing Does Not Make You a Failure

Pick Three: Being Productive During Bad Days

The SOVA Project is happy to feature this blog post written by one in our team of fantastic SOVA Ambassadors—these are young people who help create meaningful blog posts from adolescents’ perspectives. We hope you can use their post to start a conversation with your adolescent.

If you are like me and have emotional dysregulation, then you know that some days you are going to be better than others. There are days when out of the blue, I decide to rearrange my room, and some where I hardly want to get out of bed. I found a trick that helps me to get up and going on days where I just want to  curl up in bed and sleep. It’s called “Pick Three.” Continue reading Pick Three: Being Productive During Bad Days