why youth voices?
In today’s world, saturated ever more intensely with artificial intelligence and falsehood, perhaps the most valuable opinion is not necessarily the one expressed with the most sophisticated syntax or philosophical metaphors, but the one containing the boldest confrontation of truth. The writing and publishing industries are dominated by already-established, longstanding writers, and though these voices serve as valuable compasses for the next generation, Wildflower Post believes that the words of young people are among the most candid reflections of our world as it is now and as it will be. Wildflower Post hopes to ensure that no crucial voice is ever scattered in society’s incessant chatter of contradiction by lack of a platform, and that through exchange of truths with their peers, readers and writers alike will feel empowered to develop their personal viewpoints in an organic fashion.
why a newsletter?
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics found that around 14 percent of 13 year olds read for fun “almost every day.” Alarmingly, this percentage was almost half that reported in 2012. With pressures of school, extracurriculars, and college imposing themselves almost constantly upon the lives of many young people, reading for pleasure may often seem an almost extraneous indulgence. However, studies have shown reading to carry countless long-term benefits, such as reducing dementia and building empathy. The convenient and accessible newsletter format of Wildflower Post seeks to help young people discover, rediscover, and maintain a love of reading while navigating their busy daily schedules, enabling them to journey no further than their inboxes in pursuit of a lifelong habit.
about the editor-in-chief
Bonnie Shao is a high-school student in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the published author of The Xia Stories series, and her poetry has been featured in Black Fox and boats against the current. She is an alum of the Kenyon Review Young Writers’ Workshop and GrubStreet’s Teen Writing Fellowship. Outside of writing, she is also passionate about telling stories through historical research and theatre. Visit her at bonnieshaobooks.com!
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