Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff (33 page)

Jennifer Deyo
is a student at Mankato State University, Minnesota, and plans to obtain a degree in Elementary and Special Education. She loves helping others and working with children. Her story is dedicated to Sally Tillema and her family for never giving up on her. Her story was written to help other teens who may be in abusive relationships to believe in themselves. She can be reached at
[email protected].

Garrett Drew
is an aspiring freelance writer. His passions include his close friends, music and writing. This story is dedicated to those who mean the most to him: Mom and Dad, Beth, Rachael, David, Jennifer and Donny.

Jessica Dubose
is a junior in high school. She is an introverted dreamer and writer. Her father, who died in March 2000, continues to be her inspiration as he watches and guides her from heaven. She can be reached at
[email protected].

C. S. Dweck
is the author of I.A.M. 4 Teen's “Little Voice” column. His writing has appeared in such publications as
MH-18 Magazine, Real Kids, Real Adventures
#12
and
The Market Guide for Young Writers, 6th Edition.
He aspires and perspires to have his own book published. Reach him by e-mail at
[email protected].

Kari Fiegen
is a sixteen-year-old honor student from Dell Rapids, South Dakota. She enjoys writing poems and short stories, reading and playing sports. She believes that you should live life to your fullest every day and set high goals. Kari dedicates her story in loving memory of Katrina Marie Jenema.

Monique Fields
is a reporter for the
St. Petersburg Times.
She has written about education and children's issues for seven years. She lives with her husband, Kenneth J. Roberts, in Clearwater, Florida.

Kristine Flaherty
is a fifteen-year-old sophomore in high school. She plays basketball for her school team and enjoys writing, reading, listening to music and getting together with friends in her free time. Her story is dedicated to her dad. She can be reached by e-mail at
[email protected].

Bonnie Gainor
is the mother of Ailie Pearson. She can be reached at
[email protected].

Gwynne Garfinkle
lives in Los Angeles. Her poetry, essays, fiction and music reviews have appeared in such publications as
The American Voice, Big Bridge,
Loca
and
The New Times.
She is the author of a book of poetry,
New Year's Eve
(Typical Girls Press). She can be reached at
[email protected].

Zan Gaudioso
is a freelance writer whose stories have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country. She has also contributed stories to
Chicken Soup for the College Soul, Chicken Soup for the Parent's Soul
and
Chicken
Soup for the Teenage Soul III
. Zan's career path has been varied and eclectic, from surgical nurse to business owner, sign-language teacher to publicity coordinator for the Academy Awards. Zan is currently enjoying life as a writer and lives in Pacific Palisades, California with her fiancé Robert and their dog Delilah. She can be reached at
[email protected]
.

Kristy Glassen
is currently a junior at Penn State University majoring in Elementary Education. She looks forward to publishing her book,
Most of the
Questions, Some of the Answers,
about college life in the next couple of months. Her second book,
When Life Comes Our Way,
will follow. All of Kristy's writing is for those who have the courage to keep reaching for their dreams, no matter what the cost. She can be contacted at
[email protected].

Cynthia Marie Hamond
began writing three years ago. Her stories have been published in several books and magazines. This is her sixth in the
Chicken Soup
for the Soul
series. Her story “Goodwill” from
Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul
was seen on the
Chicken Soup for the Soul
TV series. You can reach Cynthia at
[email protected].

Claire Hayenga
was born in Forth Worth, Texas. Since then she has lived with her mother, father and younger sister in four different locations in the area. The arts greatly interest Claire, who is sixteen years old.

Teal Henderson
is no longer with us. She died shortly after her seventeenth birthday. She embraced life fully, almost fearlessly, as if she knew her time here would be short. Her parents say that she was their sunshine and, though they no longer bask in her light, they will always feel the warmth of her love.

Krysteen Hernandez
is a fifteen-year-old sophomore in high school in Redondo Beach, California. She has been writing poems for about a year and has written about various subjects. She can be reached at
[email protected].

Stephanie Maria Hsu
wrote her essay in high school in 1996. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia '01, where she received the Distinguished Student Award and was a Jefferson and Echols Scholar. She is a geographical mutt and plans to continue her wanderlusting ways as she pursues her dream of working in the Third World. She is a management consultant in New York City. She can be reached at
smh2b@
alumni.virginia.edu
.

Bret Anthony Johnston
is currently a Teaching-Writing Fellow at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. His work has twice been honored in the
Atlantic Monthly,
and has appeared in such magazines as
Glamour, Mid-American Review,
Southwest Review
and
Shenandoah,
where one of his stories received the 2000 Jeanne Goodheart Prize for best fiction of the year. His stories have been anthologized in
Patterns of Exposition 16ed
and
Scribner's Best of the Fiction
Workshops 1999
. He can be reached at
[email protected].

James A. Kisner
, author of
Sweet Dreams and Tender Tears,
writes poetic stories based on true-life events. His poetry reflects his life and the lives of those who read his Internet pages and submit their stories to him. For information on his Web pages and books, e-mail him at
[email protected].

Traci Kornhauser
is a high-school student in Melbourne, Florida. She enjoys sketching and would like to make a career in fashion design. This story is her first to be published, and she hopes to continue writing in her spare time. She dedicates this story to M. K.

Jonathan Krasnoff
is a junior at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He is majoring in Public Relations and Print Journalism. Jon hopes to attend law school after graduation. This story is dedicated to the bonds of true friendship. He can be reached at
[email protected]
or by writing to P. O. Box 1415, Manhattan, KS 66505-1415.

Hawon Lee
lives in New Zealand with her parents and two sisters. A writer from an early age, she hopes to become a professional writer one day. Hawon dedicates “Help Me” to all victims of child abuse, especially her friend whom she based this poem on. She can be reached at
[email protected].

Kara MacDonald
has written poetry since the age of eleven. She dreams of publishing her entire book of poems before she sets out for a career as a novelist, playwright and songwriter. Herwriting has never before been published. She would be thrilled to hear from you at
[email protected].

Maggie McCarthy
is currently a senior in high school. Maggie loves to write and gets her inspiration from her family and friends. This story is dedicated to her beloved friends who have always helped her follow her dreams, and to all the people like “Hannah”—may they find the hope, faith and courage to live each day.

Meghan O'Brien
is a high-school student from Lawrence, Massachusetts. Most of her writing, including this story, is dedicated to the memory of her best friend, Dan, who died in a serious car accident in October 1999. She is also published in the book,
In-Between Days,
a compilation of poems from The International Library of Poetry. She can be reached at
[email protected].

Liza Ortego
is a seventeen-year-old high school senior from Tioga, Louisiana, who enjoys cheerleading, student government and participating in service clubs. She is active in her youth group at church and loves writing, reading and playing the piano. Liza can be contacted at
[email protected].

Amanda Parmenter
is a part-time student majoring in Technical Theater. She completed an apprenticeship with the Omaha Community Playhouse, where she still volunteers. She has been fortunate to travel many places and looks forward to many more adventures as she matures. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading and writing. She can be reached at
[email protected].

Susan K. Perry
is a social psychologist and author of
Catch the Spirit: Teen
Volunteers Tell How They Made a Difference,
as well as a bestseller called
Writing in
Flow,
and other books. Her many articles have appeared in such publications as
Seventeen, Teen, USA Today
and
Psychology Today.
Her Web site is
www.BunnyApe.com
.

Tyler Owen Phillips
graduated from Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks, California, and is currently in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. He likes to surf and skateboard and is in a band called “The Six Pack Lady Killers,” which won first place last year in a European Battle of the Bands. Tyler can be reached at
[email protected].

Kate Reder
is an English major at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She wrote her story when she was in high school back home in San Francisco.

Jenny Sharaf
lives in Southern California and is currently a junior in high school. She hopes to one day pursue a career in journalism. She works at I.A.M. 4 Teens, Inc. reading letters that come from teenagers all over the world. She has also worked on
Teen Love: On Friendship.
Her poetry has been published in
Teen Love: A Journal on Friendship,
and she hopes to have more of her poetry published in future books. She would like to thank her friends for making the world a lot more fun. She can be reached at
[email protected].

Caroline Smith
is a writer living in the Midwest.

Lisa Teller
is a writer and mother of three young boys in upstate New York. Her poetry has been published at
www.passionsinpoetry.com
,
under the pseudonym, Lia Fail. Lisa also enjoys writing children's stories that rhyme and aspires to publishes them. She can bed reached at
[email protected].

Phillip Thuss
is currently in his second year of university majoring in business. After college, he would like to work in the business end of the entertainment industry. He has talked about his experience with cancer to many people in hopes that it may help to comfort them in their own time of need. He can be reached by e-mail at
[email protected].

Sara Tylutki
is a public-relations specialist and freelance writer in central New York. She has contributed several human-interest articles to central New York newspapers. “Smiles in My Heart” is dedicated to the memory of her grandmother. Sara can be reached at
[email protected].

Eva Unga
is a writer for
Woman's World
magazine.

Tal Vigderson
lives in Los Angeles and is currently managing director of
Icebox.com
. He previously worked as an entertainment attorney representing talent, production companies and new media clients. He has had past careers in photography, entertainment-marketing research and teaching. Tal likes to travel and enjoys tennis, writing, hiking and photography. He can be reached at
[email protected].

Jackie Waldman
, author of
The Courage to Give,
is the cofounder of Dallas' Random Acts of Kindness Week. An expert on volunteering and service organizations, Jackie has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, including
Oprah
and was profiled by CNN as one of their “Heroes of the Millennium.” She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, three children, and Johnnie and Frankie—their beloved dachshunds.

Cassius Weathersby III
is a recent graduate of Beverly Hills High School and now attends Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California. He has always had a passion for video games, and his career plans include designing new video games and systems. In his first year of college, he discovered his ability to communicate ideas in writing. He can be reached at
[email protected]
or 369 S. Doheny Dr., Box 371, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Andrea Wellman
is a class of 2001 graduate from west Michigan. She will be attending a private college for her undergraduate studies in Journalism, Theater or Education. This story is dedicated to her departed grandmother and the people who have always believed in her. She can be reached at
[email protected].

Jessie Williams
is a Music Performance major at Coe College in Iowa. She is involved in Coe College Women's Tennis, Student Senate, Tri-Delta sorority and Mu Phi Epsilon. Along with writing and music, she enjoys spending time with friends at school and spending summers at home in Colorado with her mom and puppy, Abigail.

Sarah Woo
is a fourteen-year-old high-school student. She has been writing ever since she was seven and also loves singing, acting and playing volleyball. “That Warm Night” was her first poem, written when she was thirteen. Sarah can be reached at
[email protected].