Sharing stories is a powerful way to connect with other people. By sharing your own story, you can connect with other teens who are dealing with similar experiences. Your words can provide hope and comfort, or empower them to face their own challenges.

What have you had to deal with or overcome? Write from your personal experiences. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Identify a situation or challenge that changed your life.
• What was it like and how did it make you feel?
• How did you deal with the problem or find a way to live with it?
• What did you learn about yourself and those around you?
• What advice do you have for another teen going through the same thing?

Rosen’s team of editors will select a collection of stories and publish them on Teen Health & Wellness. (All stories are published with the author's first name only.) You’ll need to sign a release form that gives us permission to publish your story. If you are under 18, you’ll also need to ask a parent or guardian to sign this form.

All published authors will receive a certificate of achievement from Rosen Publishing, which can be added to a digital portfolio to use in job, internship, and college applications.

Be sure to follow the Personal Story Project Guidelines to increase the chance that your story will be accepted. Want to see some examples? View the full archive of stories here.

* Required field

Teen Health & Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers is for educational purposes only. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, are in danger, or are feeling suicidal, call 911 immediately. If you have a question or a health or wellness issue, we strongly encourage you to call a hotline to speak to a qualified professional or speak to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, or guidance counselor.