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How Do Teens Feel About Today's Issues?

Teen Trends - Reports from StageofLife.com

Between 2010 and 2015 (2016 reports pending), StageofLife.com released an exclusive "Teen Trends" report.

The statistics on students and teen trends outlined in the below reports came from the data collected by StageofLife.com during its monthly survey and writing contest for students.

 Teen Trend Report:  Teen Shopping Statistics
Teen TrendsStageofLife.com welcomed over 900,000 teens and teachers each year to its international blogging contests and surveys, and these visits placed us at a unique nexus to poll and talk with a community of teens who used us as a platform to share their thoughts on real life issues important to high school and college students.

Have fun exploring the trend reports about teenagers below.  Thanks to the national media and researchers who use these Stage of Life reports as a benchmark on 21st century teen trends.
--Eric Thiegs
Founder & CEO, StageofLife.com
 Media/Press Contact

November 2015 - May 2016

The winners of these writing contests can be found on our writing contest winner page.  The teen trend reports from the surveys will be posted by the end of 2016.

October 2015

Teen Trends:  Environmental Issues

  • Background: "To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed."  —Theodore Roosevelt.  For the October 2015 writing contest, we want to know your thoughts and feelings about environmental issues.
  • Writing Prompt:  What is the most important environmental issue to you?
  • Winning Student Writer:  Environmental Issues: Life On Pots by TheGreenpaw
  • Participating Teens:  Statistics released in Jan. 2016
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Being written by StageofLife Editors
  • Writing Contest Date:  Oct. 2015
  • Report Release Date:  Jan. 2016
 Environmental Issues - Teen Trends
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September 2015

Teen Trends:  Freedom of Speech

  • Background: "Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other form of freedom." —U.S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo in Palko v. Connecticut.  For this month's writing contest, we want the Stage of Life teen and college writers to think about Freedom Speech.
  • Writing Prompt:  What does the Freedom of Speech mean to you?
  • Winning Student Writer:  Freedom of Speech: The Trolley Problem Edition by j.liu
  • Participating Teens:  Statistics released in Jan. 2016.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Being written by StageofLife.com Editors
  • Writing Contest Date:  Sept. 2015
  • Report Release Date:  Jan. 2016
 Freedom of Speech Essay Contest
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August 2015

Teen Trends:  Family Vacations

  • Background: The Vacation movie, starring Ed Helms, was released this month.  It's the sequel to the 1980's National Lampoon's Vacation, starring Chevy Chase - the story about a Dad who dreams of taking his family on the cross country trip of a lifetime.
  • Writing Prompt:  Share your favorite family vacation story in a 500 word essay.
  • Winning Student Writer:  Family Vacation: The Ride Home by Soni2468
  • Participating Teens:  3,600 student visitors, 194 survey responders, and 60 qualifying essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Being written by StageofLife.com Editors
  • Writing Contest Date: August 2015
  • Report Release Date:  Jan. 2016
 Family Vacation essay contest
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June & July 2015 Teen Trends

Teen Trends:  Teens and Mobile Apps

  • Background: According to Apple's App Store, there are over 1.4 million apps available to download (as of the Jan. 2015).  How do we know which Apps are the best or can help us change the world to make it better?
  • Writing Prompt:  Share your opinion in a 500 word essay about the best (or worst) mobile app in the marketplace.
  • Winning Student Writer:  There’s an App for That: Get it off your chest by Helium
  • Participating Teens:  7,900 student visitors, 325 survey responders, and 68 qualifying essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  To be released
  • Writing Contest Date: June / July 2015
  • Report Release Date:  Fall of 2015
 Mobile App writing contest
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May 2015 Teen Trends

Teen Trends:  Teacher Appreciation

  • Background: We’ve all had that one teacher in our lives who changed the way that we think about who we are and what we are able to accomplish.  He or she inspired us to be our best self by challenging us.
  • Writing Prompt:  Share a story of a teacher who made an impact in your life
  • Winning Student Writer: Teacher Appreciation: Ms. Levin’s Power of Faith by PHILosophical
  • Participating Teens:  5,400 student visitors, 428 survey responders, and 150+ qualifying essays submitted to writing contest
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  98.6% of high school and college students have had a teacher that impacted them in a positive way.  To read all of the student teacher appreciation essays and review the statistics on how teens feel about their teachers, explore our Teens and Teacher Appreciation report.
  • Writing Contest Date: May 2015
  • Report Release Date:  August 2015
 Teacher Appreciation Writing Contest
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April 2015 Teen Trends

Teen Trends:  Teens and Pets / Animals

  • Background: What’s the one thing we have in our lives that we can depend on? A dog or a cat loving us unconditionally every day, very faithfully.
  • Writing Prompt:  Write a personal essay about a pet or animal in your life.
  • Winning Student Writer:  Animals: Duke of all Trades by agrace
  • Participating Teens:  6,400 student visitors, 371 survey responders, and 100+ qualifying essays submitted to writing contest
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  90%+ of teens own or have owned a pet.  Get the full report and read all of the student essays about pets and animals at our Teens and Pets report page.
  • Writing Contest Date: April 2015
  • Report Release Date:  August 2015
 Writing Contest about Pets
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March 2015 Teen Trend Report

Teen Trends:  Teens and Weather

  • Background: Most people have heard the saying 'March comes in like a lion, and March goes out like a lamb.'  We felt this was the perfect month to talk about what we believe is the great equalizer: the weather.
  • Writing Prompt:  "Write a personal essay about a weather story from your life"
  • Winning Student Writer:  Weather: I Don’t Do Small Talk by Quixotica
  • Participating Teens:  8,200 student visitors, 483 survey responders, and 120+ qualifying essays submitted to writing contest
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  How do teens feel about climate change?  90.5% of teens believe in climate change.  Read our exclusive teen trend report on Teens and the Weather.
  • Writing Contest Date: March 2015
  • Report Release Date:  August 2015
 Writing contest about the weather
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Feb. 2015 Teen Trend Report

Teen Trends:  Teens and Self Worth

  • Background: Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  For our February 2015 teen trend report, we explored how teens feel about their self-worth and the idea of inferiority.
  • Writing Prompt:  Write a personal essay sharing how you feel about Eleanor Roosevelt's quotation: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
  • Winning Student Writer:  Eleanor Roosevelt Quotation: Differences Do Not Define Me by morgan.champion.5
  • Participating Teens:  8,100+ teen visitors, 544 survey responders, and 190 qualifying student essays submitted to the writing contest
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teens and Self Worth
  • Writing Contest Date: February 2015
  • Report Release Date:  August 2015
 Elenor Roosevelt Quotation - Teen Trend Report
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Jan. 2015 Teen Trend Report

Teen Trends:  Unsung Heroes

  • Background: Who do teenagers think are the "Unsung Heroes" of their lives?  StageofLife.com asked teens from across the world to share their stories about their unsung heroes.
  • Writing Prompt:  "Share a story about an unsung hero in your life."
  • Winning Student Writer:  Unsung Hero: A Heartfelt Letter to My Father by zainabsiddiqui8  
  • Participating Teens:  5,960 teen visitors, 362 survey responders, 125 submitted essays to writing contest
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teens and Unsung Heroes
  • Writing Contest Date: January 2015
  • Report Release Date:  March 2015
 Teen Trend Report on Heroes
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Dec. 2014 Teen Trend Report

Teen Trends:  Teenagers and Kindness

  • Background: StageofLife.com asked teens from across the world to share stories about random acts of kindness.  You'll be inspired by what we heard.
  • Writing Prompt:  "Share a story about a random act of kindness."
  • Winning Student Writer: Random Acts of Kindness:  The Boy Who Bought Me Lunch by Silverwingedears  
  • Participating Teens:  5,950+ student visitors, 344 survey responders, 135 essay submitters
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Random Acts of Kindness
  • Writing Contest Date: December 2014
  • Report Release Date:  March 2015
 Teen trend report on kindness
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Nov. 2014 Teen Trend Report

Teen Trends:  Teenagers and Food

  • Background: StageofLife.com worked with teens to understand their relationship with food, from the frequency they eat with their families or at restaurants to specific memories students have around food.
  • Writing Prompt:  "Share a food memory"
  • Winning Student Writer: Food for Thought: Five Ways of Talking About Food by zoomthemaster  
  • Participating Teens:  6,160+ visitors, 390 respondents to the teen survey, 119 submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teens and Food
  • Read National Press Release: Pending
  • Writing Contest Date: November 2014
  • Report Release Date:  January 2015
 Teens and Food
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Oct. 2014 Teen Trend Report

Teen Trends:  Teenagers and Their Scars

  • Background: StageofLife.com asked thousands of teens to answer questions about their scars, both physical and emotional, and invited them to tell their scar stories.  The insights and stories shared by teens on StageofLife.com for this month's writing contest and survey were courageous.
  • Writing Prompt:  "Share a story about a physical or emotional scar"
  • Winning Student Writer: Scar: I am my own worst enemy by mandyrox18  
  • Participating Teens:  5,700+ visitors, 465 respondents to the teen survey, 120 submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teen Scars
  • Read National Press Release: Pending
  • Writing Contest Date: October 2014
  • Report Release Date:  January 2015
 Teen Scars - Writing Contest Results
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Sept. 2014 Teen Trend Report

Teen Trends:  Teenagers and Identity

  • Background: With the 30th anniversary of the 1985 classic film, The Breakfast Club, happening in 2015 - StageofLife.com wanted to better understand how teens feel about their identity and asked thousands of students the question...
  • Writing Prompt:  "Who do you think you are?"
  • Winning Student Writer: In Between by madgirl1117 
  • Participating Teens:  4,400+ visitors, 381 respondents to the teen survey, 115 submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teen Identity
  • Read National Press Release: Pending
  • Writing Contest Date: September 2014
  • Report Release Date:  Jan. 2015
 Trend Report about Teen Identity
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August 2014 Teen Trend Report

Teen Trends:  Teenagers and School

  • Background: StageofLife.com asked its teen bloggers to write an essay talking about an important school memory.
  • Writing Prompt:  "What was your favorite (or least favorite) school memory?"
  • Winning Student Writer: School Dave: Nora by KT
  • Participating Teens:  2,600+ visitors, 215+ respondents to the teen survey, 85+ submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teen School Memories
  • Read National Press Release:  Winning Bloggers Announced for International Writing Contests on StageofLife.com
  • Writing Contest Date: August 2014
  • Report Release Date:  Sept. 2014
 Essays about school
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June & July

Teen Trends:  Teenagers and YouTube

Teens and YouTube
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May 2014

Teen Trends:  Teenagers and Graduation

  • Background: During graduation season, StageofLife.com asked its teen writing community to write an essay talking about what they would say to their class if they were the commencement speaker.
  • Writing Prompt:  "What would you say to your class if you were the graduation speaker?"
  • Winning Student Writer: Words to the Grads: Pack Light by ahoynikki
  • Participating Teens:  4,400+ visitors, 315+ respondents to the teen survey, 185+ submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Best Graduation Speeches
  • Read National Press Release:  41.7% of Teens Know Someone Who Dropped out of High School, Reports Teen Blogging Community StageofLife.com
  • Writing Contest Date: May 2014
  • Report Release Date:  August 2014
 What Would Teens Say at Graduation?
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April 2014

Teen Trends:  Teenagers in Love

Teenagers in Love
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March 2014

Teen Trends:  Mental Illness

  • Background: During the 2014 college basketball tournament, March Madness, StageofLife.com asked its teen writing community to talk about a more important topic in its own March Madness writing prompt topic - Mental Illness and Health.
  • Writing Prompt:  "How has mental illness impacted your life?"
  • Winning Student Writer: March Madness: Fibs and Femurs for Dinner by EmilyLouise
  • Participating Teens:  5,100+ visitors, 400+ respondents to the teen survey, 180+ submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teens and Mental Illness
  • Read National Press Release:  86% of Teenagers Know Someone Who Suffers from a Mental Illness, Reports Stageoflife.com
  • Writing Contest Date: March 2014
  • Report Release Date:  April 2014
 Teens and Mental Illness
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February 2014

Teen Trends:  The Olympic Spirit



The Olympic Spirit Writing Contest
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January 2014

Teen Trends:  Hopes & Fears for the New Year
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December 2013

Teen Trends:  Where Has Civility Gone?

Teen Trends - Civility
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November 2013

Teen Trends:  Do We Have Too Much Stuff?

  • Background: With Black Friday starting to overtake the Thanksgiving holiday, StageofLife.com asked teens and college students to consider the concept of consumerism with the question, "Do we have too much stuff?"  You'll be amazed at some of the responses given by our teen bloggers for this month's writing contest.
  • Writing Prompt:  "Do we have too much stuff?"
  • Prize Sponsor:  For this month's writing contest, Stage of Life education sponsors, Papa John's and IHOP, donated gift cards to the winning essay writer.
  • Participating Teens:  7,200+ visitors, 440 respondents to national teen survey, 160+ submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teens and Mass Consumerism
  • Read National Press Release: Teen Shopping Habits and Statistics by StageofLife.com
  • Writing Contest Date: Nov 2013
  • Report Release Date:  Jan 2014
 Teens and Mass Consumerism - Monthly writing contests on StageofLife.com
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October 2013

Teen Trends:  What Scares Teens?


  • Background: With Halloween capping off the end of the month, StageofLife.com asked teens the simple question, "What scares you?"  You'll be drawn in by this month's responses as students shared their fears about bugs, death, the future, and more.
  • Writing Prompt:  "What scares you?"
  • Prize Sponsor:  For this month's writing contest, Stage of Life education sponsor, Papa John's, donated a gift card to the winning essay writer.
  • Participating Teens:  8,190+ visitors, 660+ respondents to national teen survey, 160+ submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  What Scares Teens
  • Read National Press Release: National Teen Writing Contests Reveal High School and College Students Fear Miley Cyrus More Than ObamaCare, Reports StageofLife.com
  • Writing Contest Date: Oct 2013
  • Report Release Date:  Nov 2013
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September 2013

Teen Trends:  Teen Goal Setting


  • Background: StageofLife.com asked teens to share a story about when they either succeeded or failed at accomplishing a personal goal.
  • Writing Prompt:  "When have you succeeded or failed at reaching a goal?"
  • Prize Sponsor:  For this month's writing contest, Stage of Life education sponsor, Lenovo, donated a Series A Tablet to the winning teen essay winner!
  • Participating Teens:  8,500+ visitors, 500+ respondents to national teen survey, 260+ submitted essays.
  • Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Teen Goal Setting
  • Read National Press Release:  Teen Statistics about Goal Setting Released by StageofLife.com
  • Writing Contest Date: Sept 2013
  • Report Release Date:  Oct 2013
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August 2013

Teen Trends:  Moments of Awesomeness


Background: StageofLife.com asked students to share an essay (along with photos, Tweets, and videos) of "moments of awesomeness" from their life.
Writing Prompt:  Share a story about a "Moment of Awesomeness" in your life.
Participating Teens:  6,100+ visitors, 281 respondents to national teen survey, 90+ submitted essays.
Read Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics:  Moments of Awesomeness
Read National Press Release:  Teen Writers Celebrate Life with the “Moments of Awesomeness” Blogging Contest on StageofLife.com
Writing Contest Date: August 2013
Report Release Date:  Sept 2013
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July 2013

Teen Trends:  Patriotism


Background: StageofLife.com wanted to understand how teens feel about their country, and in particular, how they define patriotism.
Writing Prompt:  What does it mean to love your country?
Participating Teens:  5,500+ visitors, 230+ respondents to national teen survey, 64 submitted essays.
Read Full Teen Trend Report, Essays and Statistics: Teens and Patriotism
Read National Press Release:  1 Out of 3 Teens Feel Edward Snowden is a Patriot Reports StageofLife.com
Writing Contest Date: July 2013
Report Release Date:  August 2013
 Teens and Patriotism - Report on StageofLife.com
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June 2013

Teen Trend Report:  Teens and Summer

Background: StageofLife.com asked teens about their summer plans and how they hope to make their summer an unforgettable one.
Writing Prompt:  How will you make this summer one you'll never forget?
Participating Teens:  6,200+ visitors, 124 submitted essays, 434 respondents to the national survey.
Read Full Teen Trend Report and Statistics: Teens and Summer
Read National Press Release:  75% of High School Bloggers Will Volunteer This Summer Reports StageofLife.com
Writing Contest Date: June 2013
Report Release Date:  July 2013
 Trends on Teens and Summer
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May 2013

Teen Trend Report:  Letter to Mom

Background: StageofLife.com asked teens to think about a special woman in their life for Mother's Day.
Writing Prompt:  Share a special memory about your mother, grandmother, or an important woman in your life.
Participating Teens:  6,200+ visitors, 106 submitted essays *No survey data collected
Read Full Report and Statistics:  Teens and Moms
Writing Contest Date:  May 2013
Report Release Date:  July 2013
 Teens and their Moms - Trend Report
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April 2013

Teen Trend Report:  Teens and News

Background: StageofLife.com asked teens to share their feelings about current news events and stories
Writing Prompt:  What Current National or International News Story Do You Think More Teens and College Students Should Care About, and Why?
Participating Teens:  6,000+ visitors, 389 completed survey, 150 submitted essays
Read Full Report and Statistics:  Teens and the News
Read National Press Release:  Gay Marriage, Gun Control, and North Korea Top List as Most Important News Stories to Teenagers According to StageofLife.com National Student Poll
Survey and Writing Contest Date:  April 2013
Report Release Date:  June 2013
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March 2013

Teen Trend Report:  Teens and Fear

Background: StageofLife.com asked teens to talk about their fears
Writing Prompt:  When have you applied the phrase 'No Fear' in your life?
Participating Teens:  5,700+ visitors, 445 completed survey, 176 submitted essays
Read Full Report and Statistics:  Teens and Fear
Read National Press Release:  66% of Teenagers are Afraid of Life After Graduation per Latest StageofLife.com Teen Trends Report
Survey and Writing Contest Date:  March 2013
Report Release Date:  May 2013
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February 2013

Teen Trend Report:  Teens and TV

Background: StageofLife.com asked teens to talk about their TV viewing habits and favorite TV shows
Participating Teens:  4,987 visitors, 566 completed survey, 100 submitted essays
Read Full Report and Statistics:  Teens and TV
Read National Press Release:  StageofLife.com Reports 67% of Teens Have a TV Show They Just Can't Miss
Survey and Writing Contest Date:  February 2013
Report Release Date:  March 2013
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January 2013

Teen Trend Report:  Teens and Guns

Background: StageofLife.com asked teens to talk about their stance on gun laws.
Writing Prompt: Where do we go after the Newtown school shooting?
Participating Teens: 5,700+ visitors, 445 completed survey, 176 submitted essays
Read Full Report and Statistics: Teens and Guns
Read National Press Release: Teens and Guns - National Survey Results Released by StageofLife.com
Survey and Writing Contest Date: January 2013
Report Release Date: February 2013
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Writing Contest Archive - Students

Writing Contests and Teen Trend Reports

StageofLife.com Student Writing Contests

Below you will find all of the monthly writing contests and teen trend reports from the last five years hosted by StageofLife.com.  Our dedication to digital literacy efforts have reached over 1,000,000 students and teachers in the last half decade, received mention on TIME.com, and features in the news.  Feel free to click through and read the top essay submissions from any given month.  StageofLife.com is honored to be one of the most-visited writing contests for students in the world.  We love working with you as we celebrate the journey as life-long readers and writers...

2016 Writing Contests

 Writing Contest for High School Students

2015 Writing Contests

2014 Writing Contests

 2013 Writing Contests

2012 Writing Contests

2011 Writing Contests

 2010 Writing Contests


Stage of Life Mission Statement

How Do Teens Feel About Real World Issues?

Teen Trends, Essay Finalists, and Survey Results - Stage of life Monthly Writing Contest Summary Reports

Writing Contest for Teens

Are you curious about the latest teen trends and how teens feel about real world issues?  We are.  Each month, StageofLife.com asks high school and college students to answer a writing prompt about a real world issue with a 500 word essay.  Below you'll find our menu to the specific teen trend reports Stage of Life has compiled based on the responses that tens of thousands of teens have given us on topics ranging from politics to nature to teen stress to prom to institutional trust to marriage and love.

Our student writing contest effort has yielded:

  • Over 400,000+ unique visits from teenagers and college students to StageofLife.com

  • Over 7,000+ essays from students submitted to StageofLife.com

  • AP English and Language Arts teachers utilizing the writing contest to get students writing more outside the classroom:  View articles about StageofLife.com on SocialTimes.com and StageofLife.com's own Education Resources 

  • Mentions of our teen writers' essays in the media:  TV appearance of several of our teen bloggers on "Mary Talks Money" and a mention by TIME.com

  • Collaborative partnerships with organizations who now utilize StageofLife.com to get the raw pulse on teens' attitudes about various topics:  GetSchooled.com, Mint Education, New York Times Upfront, etc.
  • Research and statistics data (our own) that comes out of the teenagers responding to our monthly surveys and analysis of the teen essay submissions.  Some of this has been compiled into our teen statistics page.

Current teenage trends

At the end of the day, our mission is simple:  To give teens a place to make a difference.  To encourage them to write outside of the classroom and hopefully inspire others.  To make the world a better place, one story at a time. 

We know for a fact that the student essays and blogs submitted to StageofLife.com are making a positive impact as teens read their peers' work right here on the site, while at the same time giving educators and parents raw insight into the attitudes, beliefs and trends of today's teens.  We receive emails from teens thanking us for providing this free teen resource and allowing them an honest, non-corporate environment in which to be...real.

Review the writing contest prompts, essay finalists, and teen trend summary reports:

We welcome you to review StageofLife.com's high school writing contest summary reports below.  These reports feature observations about teen trends based on the poll data and essays collected here on StageofLife.com each month.  Below you'll find our menu of analysis reports on each writing contest, which will provide a lens through which to view the world and life of a teenager.  Get up to speed on current teen trends and see what issues are important to young people!  Plus, each report contains links to the essay finalists from each Stage of Life writing contest

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