Chibuike “Chibby” Uwakwe is an award-winning teen pianist. He loves classical music, but is also a fan of jazz. However, winning the Omega Psi Phi Piano Award is just one of his many accomplishments. Chibby—a first-generation American born to parents who came to the U.S. from Nigeria—was also part of the International Baccalaureate program and track team for his high school. After applying to 12 prestigious universities, the 18-year-old found himself getting acceptance letters from all of them, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia. Although he is passionate about his music, Chibby has decided to attend Harvard and pursue becoming a surgeon. He says, “Surgery and piano are similar in that you have to use your fingers intricately when you’re doing surgery, right? So, that’s why I’m leaning towards that.” His hope is that his unique abilities as a pianist will help him become a skilled surgeon so he can help people through their medical difficulties.

Teen drivers diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are significantly more likely to crash, be issued traffic and moving violations, and engage in risky driving behaviors than their peers without ADHD.

Despite similar weight loss, teens who had gastric bypass surgery were significantly more likely to have remission of both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, compared to adults who had the same procedure. Previously, no treatment has shown longer-term effectiveness at reversing type 2 diabetes in youth, which tends to advance more quickly than in adults.

A history of eating disorders and body image concerns before or during pregnancy are associated with future depressive symptoms among mothers, finds a new study.

When tragedy strikes, the media is an immediate source of information. You may recently have heard about Kendrick Castillo, the 18-year-old student who died rushing a shooter at his Colorado high school. His actions, along with other students, allowed many to find safety and for the shooter to be apprehended. Learning about Castillo’s heroism can help people feel connected to those who experienced the tragedy and lead to an increase in empathy, community awareness, and involvement. However, it’s important to remember that repeated exposure to reports of tragedy can be a source of stress and anxiety. It’s okay to take care of your own mental health and take a break from the news whenever it feels like too much. You may also want to talk to an adult you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or school counselor.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. schools have significantly increased security measures for emergencies over the last 20 years. At the same time, the Center for Safe and Healthy Schools at John Hopkins University is using research and education on a range of issues—youth suicide, trauma, and bullying—to broaden the conversation about fostering safe and healthy climates. Both organizations say that the narrative on school violence needs to change. Despite the heightened attention in the media, statistics show that about the safest place you can be on any given day in the U.S. is in a school.

In a study of women in Denmark with and without migraines who became pregnant, migraines were associated with an increased risk of pregnancy-associated hypertension disorders in the mother. Also, in newborns, maternal migraine was associated with an increased risk of a variety of adverse outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth, cesarean delivery, respiratory distress syndrome, and febrile seizures.

Postpartum women who have previously or currently struggle with substance abuse are at greater risk of overdosing.

A new study found rates of suicide attempts by self-poisoning among adolescents have more than doubled in the last decade in the United States, and more than tripled for girls and young women.

A study published in 2019 may be the first to offer estimates for the deaths of teenagers due to dating violence in the United States. The study found that out of the more than 2,000 adolescents that died between 2003 and 2016, almost seven percent were killed by their former or current partners. Around 90 percent of the victims were female, with an average age of around 17. In most of the cases, their partner was 18 years old or older.

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages teens to talk about healthy relationships with their doctors. Teens should also go to “safe adults” in their life when they need help with a stressful experience. These adults—parents, teachers, counselors, doctors—provide support and a physical stress buffer from negative situations. There are also programs that teach how to avoid partner abuse that can be found through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced plans to introduce legislation that would raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products in the U.S. from 18 to 21. The proposed bill would cover all tobacco products, including vaping devices. According to McConnell, teen vaping is “the serious threat” his legislation will try to combat.

McConnell made this announcement at the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky in Louisville. He was joined by the CEO of the foundation, former Congressman Ben Chandler. Chandler explained that raising the minimum purchase age is an effective way to reduce smoking rates. The bill even has support from the tobacco industry, including Altria, one of the world’s largest tobacco companies which includes the vaping company Juul. Altria’s Vice President said that putting tobacco on a par with alcohol “makes sense” and could persuade lawmakers to “approach tobacco regulation a bit more reasonably.”

A new study of more than 25 million pregnant women reports on rates of smoking cessation at the start of and during pregnancy and also examines the association of quitting cigarette smoking and the risk of preterm birth.

A simple and brief intervention can provide lasting protection for adolescents against the harmful effects of food marketing. Researchers find that reframing how students view food-marketing campaigns can spur adolescents, particularly boys, to make healthier daily dietary choices for an extended period of time. The method works in part by tapping into teens' natural desire to rebel against authority.

Caroline Marks, a 17-year-old surfer from Florida, made history on April 8 in Queensland, Australia. Marks won $100,000 for taking first place at the 2019 Mobile Pro Gold Coast surfing finals, beating some of the world’s best female surfers. The contest was the first big event of the year and was staged in conjunction with the men’s Quiksilver Pro competition.

It’s not just the money that made it such a momentous occasion for Marks. This was the first win after the World Surf League had promised to award equal prizes for men and women competing on the elite level. The decision by the league this past September makes pro surfing one of the few professional sports that has implemented such gender equality.

For Marks, it was a great time to debut on the winner’s podium. “I’m really emotional right now,” Marks said in an interview with the World Surf League. “I can’t believe it. I’m speechless. It’s incredible to be a part of this sport. I just want to thank everyone at WSL— I’m so grateful. It’s so amazing to be a part of women’s surfing.”

Children and youth of mothers who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at increased risk of diabetes themselves, according to new research.

Most children inherit both their postal code and their genetic code from their parents. But if genetic factors influence where families are able to live and children's health and educational success, improving neighborhoods may not be enough. Latest research provides new insights into the highly debated question of whether the neighborhoods that children live in influence their health and life chances.

Performance-enhancing steroid use could increase the risk of cocaine use and addiction in teens, according to a new rodent study. The combination of these drugs could also impair fertility in young women.

A group of senior girls in Maryland recently discovered that their male classmates were circulating a list that rated them on their looks. Some of the girls felt shocked and disgusted, while others felt betrayed or disrespected. “I think of these people as friends, and I think of them as peers,” said eighteen-year-old Virginia Brown. “…they don’t see me as a friend, they don’t really respect me for my worth, all they see me for is my physical attractiveness.”

When the student who created the list was punished with just one day in detention, the girls went to the assistant principal’s office and demanded change. As a result, they had a two-and-a half hour meeting with about 80 students where the girls confronted their classmates and talked about their experiences with harassment, objectification, and sexual abuse, both in and out of school. Some students have now formed a group that meets every week to talk about how to prevent similar situations from occurring.

A new, 12-year longitudinal study, which monitored 6,830 children from early childhood into adolescence, has shown that consistent treatment with MPH-based medications during childhood increases the risk of antidepressant use during adolescence. The study is the first of its kind to examine the connection between children diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed MPH between the ages of six and eight, and future dispensed prescriptions of antidepressants.

National discussions on cannabis legalization, along with increased access to medical marijuana, may have encouraged more high school students to consume the drug years before it became legal in Canada.