Justine Bautista is a student at Chapman University. She is a double major in Psychology and Integrated Educational Studies and plans to pursue a career in Developmental Research. Justine is a writer for Free to Dream Magazine and also serves as manager/editor for their blog. Outside of Free to Dream, she works as an SBA for Kaplan Test Prep and helps students in planning their pursuit of a graduate degree. She also works with social media brands and small businesses (ex. Pac

Tara is an interior design student at Tarumanagara University. Living in such a crowded city, makes her exhausted sometimes, but she believes she’ll find a way to have a better life. Although she is such a quiet person to the people, she tries to put herself in art and spread them to the world. Not only that, she fills herself with knowledge about things that are happening around too. She hopes she can inspire and speak to others with her art, and she hopes she can improve he

photo courtesy of Gabrielle Espinet I am watching as extraordinary potential and individuality is slowly drained from my generation. The voices of the older generation’s sardonic influence has grown louder in our heads over time and, as a result, our youth has become accustomed to living with our heads facing the ground and to suppress any passion that grows inside of us. But, it’s time we encourage creativity and the right to self-determination within today's youth. As a tee

Chai is a student at Chapman University. She likes to keep herself busy by writing or listening to music, being with the ones she loves, and shopping (usually at Free People) . She is a pisces obsessed with checking her weekly horoscope and could probably guess your sign after getting to know you in a few hours! According to her friends, she is one of the few genuinely funny and kind people to bless this planet. Chai is ambitious and hopes to inspire and contribute her unique

Lucie Aria Green, a freshman in high school, is a young visionary, artist, and athlete based in Los Angeles. Having received a scholarship for the Georgia O’Keeffe Arts and Leadership Program, she hopes to inspire young women, through social media, to be passionate, intelligent and curious leaders. Although she is a busy-bee from cross country, club volleyball, and track + field, she always takes moments to herself to enjoy the small things in life like the Beatles or a good

Ila B is impassioned by writing, learning, and helping others. She is a full-time Marketing student, and she mentors high school students in Los Angeles once a week. Outside of school and mentoring, she works 2 part time jobs, with a main focus on Real Estate. Her exciting career keeps her motivated, but her passion for writing is a creative outlet amidst her busy schedule. Ila writes to encourage others that their journey is not comparable to anyone else’s, and their progres

The moment seems to move in slow motion. My chest tightens out of fear. An ocean of warmth floods my face. My hands begin to shake, slowly at first, but my brain presses the gas pedal to my extremities as my mind rapidly wanders to what could be happening to me. A heart attack? Am I going to pass out? My vision blurs and all I can focus on is the impending doom of what's to come. The feeling lasts for an hour, maybe two, I've lost track of time. I sit down on the floor beneat

Matilde Heckler is an iced latte obsessed highschool sophmore who enjoys spending her time doing anything and everything creative. She currently plays (A LOT of) violin and hopes to one day attend college in California for music education (and own a pet pig). She writes for Free To Dream with a goal to show that anything is possible, no matter what life throws in the way. When she isn’t busy curating ideas to change the world, she enjoys creating captivating YouTube videos, s

photo courtesy of Sophie Curie Only fools rush in I prefer the smell of things Of hydrangea growing old my sisters bedroom with the ceiling it hovers close in By the pond the little house smells of pine and Amish wood floorboards painted years ago still stand up you lay down flat I feel the world stop spinning My hands stop shaking smell the side of your neck again and again I am rushing though And end up remembering your legs felt mouth tasted And, the feel of

I am writing this to say I’ve been there and to highlight the importance of getting the help you both need and deserve. The thing that is astonishing to me is that there are so many people suffering in silence- whether it’s because they don’t want to feel weird, fear they will be treated differently, or suffer from the many things that come along with admitting your mental health struggles. Depression and anxiety has plagued my entire life. It stems from a need for school suc