Yufang Guo (Age 14) - based in MA

I woke up to the sound of my alarm ringing. The date was April 11, 2026, and my team and I would be competing against other teams at a regional dance competition. This competition will determine if we get a golden ticket, a ticket given to group dances that the judges believe should dance for nationals, to participate in the World Dance Challenge. I packed my bags and got ready to practice with my group a few times before the competition. On the wall across the room, I saw a painting of five...

Fear is a human emotion that paints itself across the mind. It’s interesting how fear can control our actions, much like a person painting on paper every stroke drawn for a reason. People often believe fear is something they can control, but fear is more like ink. Once a drop hits the paper, it spreads. I stared at my math quiz, the quiz I had convinced myself I understood the day before. I flipped through the pages one by one. Every problem felt like a battle. I skipped questions until I...