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December, 2016
What health topics would you choose to educate other people about?
Meet Madison Gibbs. She's Miss Black USA 2015, and she uses her platform to raise awareness about health topics that matter to her. Top on her list is mental health. She wants to help people understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. And if you need help dealing with a mental health condition, that's okay. Read our interview with Madison to learn how she's starting more open and positive conversations about mental health. Read our interview with Madison
October, 2016
Reading books can be an exciting escape. You can learn about far-off places and take part in wonderful adventures. But what if none of the characters in your books were like you? How would that make you feel?
For Marley Dias, it is frustrating. She has noticed that the books she reads in school are rarely about black girls like her. She wants this to change. She wants students to read about all types of people — not just one type. To make a change, she started by setting a goal to collect 1,000 books with black girls as the main character. Read our interview with Marley to see if she met her goal and what she's learned along the way.
August, 2016
Have you ever wondered what a job in STEM might look like? STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Choosing a career in STEM can be really exciting, but it can also be tough, especially as a woman in a male-dominated field. Just ask Ridhi Tariyal.
Ridhi is an engineer who wants to help other women and girls stay healthy. She patented a "smart tampon" that works like a computer that will potentially detect diseases! Read our interview with Ridhi to learn about why she chose to be an engineer, and what it’s like being a woman in STEM.
June, 2016
Computers, smartphones, tablets, and social media — they can all be great. But what happens when someone uses their phone to send mean text messages or post an embarrassing picture of someone else? These are examples of cyberbullying, and it's never OK.
In 2013, Trisha Prabhu heard about an 11-year-old girl who committed suicide because she was being cyberbullied. Heartbroken, Trisha decided to use her computer skills to do something positive that could help stop cyberbullying. At 13, Trisha created ReThink. It's a free app that recognizes when users type messages that could be hurtful. When the app detects a hurtful message, it asks the user to reconsider sending the message. Pretty amazing, right? Read how Trisha is working to prevent cyberbullying before it starts and how you can make better decisions when you're online.
May, 2016
What is a healthy relationship, and how do you know if you're in one? In healthy relationships, you and the other person talk honestly, listen well, and trust and respect each other. This includes respecting a person's decisions about his or her body and the right to say "no." You should always feel safe in a relationship.
Graciela Padilla knows what healthy relationships look like. She's a peer advocate at loveisrespect, where she offers support and advice to girls on their dating relationships. See what Graciela has to say about building healthy relationships, what to do if you're in an unhealthy relationship, and how you can help a friend who is in an abusive relationship.
March, 2016
When she was 15, Ieshia Scott found out she was born with HIV. Learning about her status wasn't easy. She struggled with depression, and she wanted to escape being labeled as "the girl with HIV" in her community. Now, more than 10 years later, Ieshia talks openly about living with HIV, HIV prevention, and what she has learned along the way about relationships and self-love.
In honor of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day — celebrated March 10 — Ieshia talks about what it's like growing up with HIV. She also shares what she thinks all girls should know about healthy relationships and HIV and AIDS.
January, 2016
The start of a new year is always a good time to set goals for yourself. Setting goals helps you work toward your dreams. Plus, achieving a goal, whether it's big or small, feels great. It makes you proud and builds your confidence.
A few years ago, Jasmine Twitty decided she wanted to become a judge. She achieved her goal when she was 25. She's the youngest judge in Easley, South Carolina. Super impressive, right? Read about Jasmine's journey and the importance of working hard to meet your goals.
Content last reviewed June 8, 2016
Page last updated June 8, 2016
