Teenager Submissions

Tell the World Your Story

Hi friends ! Thank you so much for volunteering to write a letter / create a piece of artwork to help with my project. I can’t wait to present all of your stories and uplift your voices. I think it’s so important to showcase individual stories of struggles and accomplishments to society so our community can learn from them.

Please email your pieces to me at thedearsocietyproject@gmail.com or go to the "submit a letter" button below and fill out the google form. 

About my project/ goal:

The overall theme is “Dear Society,” and my project is the creation of a multimedia platform where high school students showcase our stories and get our voice heard across multiple generations. These letters and art pieces will be from you, teenagers, in the community voicing how society has shaped your identity, the struggles you’ve had, the support you've had, and what society needs to change. 

Community member stories make huge issues more personal and easier to understand. This project does that and takes letters from people the community will know and highlight their struggle and victories with identity. It starts the realization and calls attention to how society needs to change its expectations and be more accepting of people. It causes people to think about how they can change or continue to impact others' identity journeys in a positive way. My project creates a community of understanding, compassion and shared experiences. 

Your letters and or art pieces will be printed in a magazine and published on a website. Since these topics can be personal you have the opportunity to stay anonymous and I will not publish your name. 

Instructions for writing your letter/ creating your art piece:

Your piece could focus on anythign with identity; stereotypes, gender, racism, toxic masculinity, comparisons and the negative influence society and societal pressures can have on a teenager exploring their identity. You can write or illustrate about any of these or take it in a different direction. You can educate the larger community on systemic issues that have impacted you growing up. How do you want your community to change and what are you going to use your voice for? 

Something to keep in mind… I would love it if your letter is composed of your personal experiences and own stories. For example, I would write/ illustrate about my experience as an asian american straight woman because that is who I am. I would talk about my experience growing up with model minority expectations and how that needs to stop or the labels that have latched onto me as I grew up a woman, etc. I would not write/ illustrate about being black, queer, etc. because that is not my story to tell or image to portray.  

Your letter doesn’t have to be very long; there is no word limit or specific length. 

Thank you again. You are amazing and your voice matters. Please let me know if you have any questions. You can reach me at thedearsocietyproject@gmail.com, or on instagram @thedearsocietyproject.