YOUNG VOICES: I dream of getting additional sleep

I grew up learning that getting eight or more hours of sleep was the only pathway to success. Getting less than the doctor-recommended amount of shuteye would apparently lead to an overall lesser amount of productivity, emotional mood swings and an inclination to consume a million unnecessar…

YOUNG VOICES: Boo hoo over flu makes you miss mommy, too

Flu season is miserable for everyone. Even for those lucky enough to stay healthy during this time, a constant fear that our immune season will abruptly weaken always remains.

YOUNG VOICES: Facebook helps take snooping to a new level

The importance of social media has been truly discussed ad nauseum.

YOUNG VOICES: Dating in college isn't like it was in high school

It’s universally realized that college is a world of its own. Fledgling young adults are thrown into an atmosphere where eating pizza for every meal is socially acceptable, going to bed before midnight is abnormal, and skipping class because “my bed is just so much more inviting!” is a commo…

YOUNG VOICES: Are we going backward again in our view of women's roles?

The Feminist Revolution has come a long way. A female who speaks her mind is no longer subjected to being stoned in the village square, and a woman who desires a post-high school education is applauded for having larger aspirations than solely acquiring the title of “housewife.”

YOUNG VOICES: Use of social networking defines my generation

Social networking is the defining characteristic of my generation. Previous age groups were defined by factors such as their parents’ post-war procreation rates or their own collective inclinations for tie-dye and peace signs, but ours is definitely latched with social media.

YOUNG VOICES: Finally being considered cool is, well, cool

In the United States, Asian Americans are typically well-known for several things: our great academic performances, our ability to master classical instruments and our insistence that orange chicken seriously is not a traditional meal from the homeland.

YOUNG VOICES: Live for today, but don't waste your opportunities

The start of a new year always arrives with the exciting anticipation of clean slates and new opportunities. Events from the previous 365 days aren't completely washed away and forgotten, but at the very least, they are slightly dulled by the rush that usually accompanies new beginnings.

YOUNG VOICES: Ready or not, adulthood is here

The taste of freedom is an alluring mix of mostly sweet combined with hints of cautioned irresponsibility. This universal rite of passage for all teenagers entering into the world of adulthood is inevitable and, for a large majority, comes when our adorably loving, but increasingly too invol…

YOUNG VOICES: Appreciate the blessings America bestows on us

The Fourth of July, like most national holidays, is centered on three main things: spending time with family and friends, celebrating with seasonal foods, and participating in traditional holiday activities.

YOUNG VOICES: Take it from a teen, parenting is a challenging sport

If there has been anything I've learned over my past 17 years, it has been this: Parenting is not for the faint-hearted. From the very start, parents must deal with incessant interruptions and countless hours of lost sleep. Of course, most parents realize that raising a child is a challenge,…

YOUNG VOICES: Tiger mother's dedication to her kids is admirable

Chinese parents often have had the reputation of being unrelentingly strict. This stereotype has been emphasized further by the recent publication of Amy Chua's book, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," and her excerpt of it in the Wall Street Journal, "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior."

YOUNG VOICES: Class rank still matters for high school graduates

Beginning with the class of 2014, Crown Point High School will no longer be recognizing the top 10 students of their class. The Distinguished Graduate program will take its place.

YOUNG VOICES: Rite of passage is accompanied by angst

For the most part, a re-evaluation of what is important in life, and the ability to fully appreciate everything one has, requires a near-death experience.

YOUNG VOICES: I'm eager for college, but I'll miss childhood

The beginning of a new school year has come and gone. First day anticipation and the recounting of summer stories are now bleached, faded pages of the past. Instead of the happy, glow of friends reuniting once again in halls, sleepy students walk slowly from class to class.

Music stays with us like a very dear friend

Music is a universal language. From the remote lands of Africa to the skyscraper-laden metropolis of Chicago, it lives with burning vitality in the hearts and souls of its people. It is a unanimous bond that creates an indestructible connection with every single race, community, country and …

Students, don't take education for granted

To many high school students, the mere mention of school conjures torturous images of grueling tests, endless piles of homework and resource-wasting projects.