By Kai Yi Wang, a BRITE youth spokesperson.

“I’m gonna hang out with a few friends this Friday and smoke a little weed.”

I ignored him, working on my global paper in front of me, mumbling to myself about what I would write. I never really paid much attention to comments like these because jokes about drugs and sex were rampant at school. Despite only being in the 8th grade, it was common to hear...

Written by Xienna Yepez, a CSUCI Service Learning student in Fall of 2020.

I’m a wealthy girl 

Living in a spoiled world 

Who’d pay anything

To wear your promise ring.

I miss your ribboned gifts

Sealed with a special kiss

And it’s funny, because all the money

Couldn’t buy it in a store. 

I bought a diamond pool 

To collect the tears you stole,

Sometimes I swim in it

Because memories of...

Written by Xienna Yepez, a CSUCI Service Learning student in Fall of 2020.

Confined to the elements,

I yield to nature, 

Accepting my gifts

And thankful for the power

That lives in me.

I am a daughter of the river

With water flowing

Through my veins.

It breathes life into me 

And washes over me like a wave 

I swim against the current 

And battle the tide   

I’ve learned how to hold my...

Written by Xienna Yepez, a CSUCI Service Learning student in Fall of 2020.

Poetry is significant and can play a major role in identity. As a woman of color, identity is a big part of my life and I look for new ways every day to express that through different forms of art. Being a creative girl with the support of my family and teachers, I’ve grown to know what suits me the best and how I can conv...

Written by Madison Jaffe.

It feels like just yesterday that I was a high school freshman – unsure of where I belonged, who my true friends were, if I was enough, or what my life would be like at the end of my high school career. It wasn’t until I discovered positive psychology – the science of happiness – that I began answering these questions and accepting myself amidst the overwhelming pressure...

Written by Mackenzie Billotti, a CSUCI student.

For privacy purposes the name of my interviewee will be changed. The interview with David was conducted May 2nd, 2021 on Zoom. We discussed his background and history with prescription drug abuse.

David suffered from a rare spinal disease called Scheuermann's Kyphosis. This is a condition that affects the upper part of the back and causes it to cur...

This post is from our community partners, Natural High, who provide drug prevention tools and resources to help kids thrive. You can find their website here.

Parent With Hope and Honesty, Not Fear and Image Boosting

Author Wendy Mogel, suggests parenting with hope and not fear. She notes that hope is so much more productive than fear, and yet fear is so easy to revert to. And many of our fears d...

Written by a CSUCI student.

Consuming alcohol is a common thing in today’s culture, but it's not a topic that everyone talks about comfortably. Many people use drinking alcohol to escape from their daily lives and relax without thinking about the ramifications. No one thinks about the long-term effects of drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol while participating in night life activ...

Content warning: this post contains a brief mention of domestic violence as well as drug use.

Written by a Ventura County young adult.

Throughout my life I always told myself I would never try or be peer pressured into using any type of drugs or alcohol. My story began when I met an ex of mine. I was super head over heels, and in that moment I would have done just about anything for that person....

Written by a CSUCI student.

Many of us have someone close to us who is abusing alcohol and not even realizing it. It turns out that alcohol is the most common substance people turn to for fast relief. Alcohol provides temporary relief for some who suffer from low self-esteem and look for coping mechanisms. Peer pressure and feeling “lesser than others” can cause someone to over-consume alcohol. P...

Written by a CSUCI student.

Being a first-generation student is something to take pride in. Being the first person in your family to obtain a higher degree such as a bachelor’s or master’s is phenomenal. I never thought I would go to college after graduating high school. I had decided I wanted to work, and I wanted something quick that would make me money. I didn’t go to school for my first year ...