Author: Teresa Fang

Mental health is a complicated and often overlooked issue that anybody can have. By increasing education and awareness and being kind, we can dissolve the stigma surrounding mental health, and equip individuals with the tools for self-care and resilience. Sometimes, the best cure is treating each other right from the inside out.

Science must respond to societal needs and global challenges. In order to get individuals on the same page, we must promote science literacy and effective science communication.

All things, STEM and humanities, answer the three questions of life: Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? The humanities clearly answers these; the humanities impact people by telling stories about ourselves and each other. My art and writing are not just hobbies to me, but another platform for ideas.

I once heard that glaciers were ancient, magnificent beasts – dying under climate change. It’s hard thinking how an individual could save the planet, but my work in environmental advocacy offers another perspective: by being educated and aware of our daily contributions, we inspire hope that our green and blue planet is here to stay.

Every youth should have the full ability and opportunity to chase their goals. That opportunity may arise from testing the best of what you can do, or in the voices and hands of people who support you. For me, that’s the spirit behind a gold medal – the ability to be boundlessly supported.

Diversity is the birthright of humanity. My experiences as an Asian American student, journalist, and leader has revealed that cultural diversity is fundamental to life. Positive change, in its purpose to share happiness with all of humanity, is not complete without addressing and representing the full range of lived experiences in a community.

Since interactions make up most of our day-to-day activities, being thoughtful in interacting with others as well as learning from them are essential to being a respectable and kind leader.

By regularly volunteering to help local shelter dogs, native tree and bird species, and children’s sports and education, I contribute to my community as a good citizen.

Our hands create the world we want to see. The beauty of civic engagement is in its ability to transform everyday people into changemakers. Being a journalist, filmmaker, and civically-active student has proven that anybody can foster awareness and participate in action-able initiatives and solutions for social change, combatting large social issues in innovative ways.

The Stentorian is NCSSM’s student-run newspaper, established in 1981. In 2024, I was selected out of 680+ students to serve as the 44th Editor-in-chief. With 40+ years of history in the making, I am honored to make a few contributions to this old-style, STEM newspaper in my two years here.