Monthly Archives: May 2025

Adolescence is one of the most formative stages of life. It’s a time when identity, independence, and self-worth begin to take shape. During the early stages of adolescence (11-12), youth enter a stage of relational impasse or “crisis of connection” where they have to decide whether to be their authentic selves or forgo who they are in order to “fit in.” Amid the emotional highs and lows of this time, one factor stands out as a protective shield against many of life’s challenges: self-esteem.

As the Executive Director of One Circle Foundation and a former teen participant in Girls Circle, watching the FX docuseries Social Studies by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Lauren Greenfield felt like a powerful confirmation that teens still need safe, meaningful spaces to express themselves, and they’re not finding them in their digital worlds.