I’ve been lucky enough to be a Big Sis to my Little Sis Frida for the past 5 years. We were matched when she was finishing 7th grade, and this year she will graduate high school! She is one of the most thoughtful, kind people I know. She takes an interest in how others are doing and is also aware and conscientious of what is happening in the world around her. I know she will contribute to our world in her own special way. Some of my favorite moments with Frida are sharing my love of baking with her as we have made many treats together.
My name is Frida. I am currently a senior in high school and will be graduating in May! During my free time, I love to read books, listen to music, and spend time with my family. Over the past few years, I was involved with the Students in
Action club at my school where we orchestrated hygiene drives and worked with elementary students. I was also part of the Domestic Violence Network (DVN). During my time with DVN, I was educated about domestic violence and raised awareness. I am excited about graduation and ready for my next chapter in life.
Being a teenager in America right now comes with many obstacles. Through social media, we have witnessed all of what’s been happening in America – which includes school shootings, protests, Covid-19, and much more. Though times have been hard, my generation of teenagers is strong, we are outspoken, and we fight for what we believe in.
During Covid-19, I realized the importance of mental health, mostly my own. It was something I never thought could be affected until we transitioned from in-person school to virtual school. Not being able to see friends and be around kids my age was difficult. With Covid-19, many teenagers were isolated from their friends and even family members. On top of that, many of us were finding it difficult to adapt virtual school. According to research, this generation of teenager’s mental health has worsened over the past year. Mental health was never a topic that was discussed much, but I am glad more people are becoming aware of how important it actually is. Over the duration of virtual school, a lot of teens have developed depression and anxiety, and social media was a way for students to cope.
Through social media I was able to relate to many kids my age and how they were feeling. It was eye-opening to see a huge number of kids (like me) struggle with their mental health. With social media, I was able to find a supportive community open to this topic. I was able to learn about the importance of self-care and spending time with family and friends. Many teens never knew how to care for their mental health or realized how it can affect their everyday lives, which brings me a great amount of sadness. I am glad many people are becoming more aware of what is happening and that more resources are becoming available to those who are struggling with their mental health.
Frida
Age 17
Little Sister