True Stories by Teens and Lessons for Educators
Since 1980, Youth Communication has published 10,000 true stories written by teens about the most important issues in their lives. Many are about timeless developmental issues; thousands have been reprinted in textbooks, teacher guides, anthologies, and websites.
YC CONNECT brings together this full collection of stories, plus award-winning curricula and lessons in this free, open-access digital platform. The stories originally appeared in YC’s print and digital magazines, where they were eagerly read by teens and widely used in instruction by educators and youth development staff.
The latest on YC Connect
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Teens show how they navigate challenges around identity, mental health, family and peer relations, foster care, relationships, school success, race, gender, and countless other developmental issues Their stories make peers feel less alone and inspire them to take action.
If your goal is to find engaging stories that inform and inspire teens and model effective solutions to difficult problems, you will find helpful stories here. If you are working with teens who are navigating challenges, you will find stories here that inspire reflection and positive action.
In December of 2015, my father was killed by the police. The same day, my mother disappeared. I was 14 years old. I made the decision to leave my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, because the military was looking for me. I crossed many borders and an ocean with relatives and people I didn’t […]
In the fall of 2023, I was in 9th grade, and my TikTok algorithm was set to funny memes and trends like Lebron James, Chipotle girl, the TikTok rizz party, brainrot, popular dances, and boy bands. My friends and I watched the 60-second videos on the bus to school in the morning, during lunch period, […]
Names have been changed. When someone asks if I use AI, I lie. I say, “No” or “Rarely.” Despite the fact that so many use it, there’s still a stigma. Especially if you’re using it as a counselor. I’m not socially inept: I don’t flee to AI because I have no one to talk to. […]
Youth Communication curricula help teachers create meaningful relationships with their students. Using them lays the groundwork for school communities where students feel a sense of belonging and are eager to learn.
YC’s curricula and lessons are based on true stories by teens. They support literacy, social and emotional learning, and positive youth development. They have been tested extensively in schools and youth programs.And they are carefully designed with clear objectives, openings that set a positive tone, reading and discussion, and hands-on activities that reinforce the learning objectives. There are lessons for grades 6 to 12.
Developed using CASEL’s SEL framework and multiple state SEL benchmarks, our programs are engaging and relatable for both students and educators. Our programs are highly customizable and can be adapted for various grade levels to provide support and encouragement for developing teens. For each title, there is an educator Curriculum Guide and an accompanying Youth Anthology.
Founded in 1971, YC’s print magazines have won every major award in educational publishing, including the Golden Lamp—the educational equivalent of the Oscar for Best Picture. The stories in our secondary school magazine, New Youth Connections (later YCteen) provide a unique year-by-year time capsule of teen concerns from 1980 to 2020. The stories in our magazine by youth in foster care (Foster Care Youth United, later Represent) show how youth voices are an essential component of system improvement.
