At 5:27 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2017, I became a middle child. My older brother, Om, and I sat anxiously in a dimly lit Las Colinas Medical Center waiting room crowded by family and friends. We spent that...

I never expected my piano to be an extension of my emotions. When I got my piano in sixth grade, I could only play single chords, playing two notes on the piano at the same time. All I expected from...

Is your favorite color yellow? It is a question I have been asked on a multitude of occasions, usually in response to the clothes I’m wearing, always followed by a chuckle and a “yes.”  I...

I could not imagine my life without my cello. After returning home from school and relaxing, I uncase my instrument, set up my practice nook and get to work, diving into melodies and building muscle...

The soft linens and fabrics envelop me as I get into my bed, making me feel at ease.  Whether it is to do homework, take a nap or just chill, my bed has always been my first choice. I consider...

In any scenario, I would say that I despise needles. However, if my mom had told me she booked an appointment for a helix piercing, I would not complain. Although there are many ways jewelry can be...

Messy room, tangled hair, tear-stained eyes. I sit hunched over my desk in my dimly-lit room feeling hopeless. My grandpa has died, I am moving miles away from my home soon and I have no idea what...

 Whether I am lying on a couch at home, sitting outside the trading post at summer camp or reading in a hotel room in Chicago, one question has always accompanied my evenings for the last year: Connections? My...

I have a strong disconnect between my personality, looks and identity. I look “Black,” my hair is braided and my complexion is light brown. But, I've never been to a cookout, I don’t know all the...

Everyone has different definitions of peace. For some, it is born out of moments spent exercising or in nature; for others, it is the nights spent with friends or alone watching TV. But for...

Two outfits lay on my bed: my “Wednesday Addams” Halloween costume and my pink lehenga. What should I pick? I am an Indian American. I was born and raised in the United States, but I hold my Indian...