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ESSAYS

Lessons learnt from a broken heart
Chalkmagazine

Lessons learnt from a broken heart

  • Anna Bohlmann
  • May 11, 2022
  • Comments

After ending a relationship with her first love, CHALK writer Anna Bohlmann learned the hard way to love herself and others. 

+2
The fall from glory of a big-time athlete

The fall from glory of a big-time athlete

  • Miranda Horn
  • Apr 20, 2022
  • Comments

CHALK writer Miranda Horn reflects on her experience as a member of the KU rowing team, and how one intense injury shifted her thinking. 

Preventing transient friendships

Preventing transient friendships

  • Sam Kricsfeld | @SammyGKricsfeld
  • Apr 26, 2021
  • Comments

In a personal essay, CHALK writer Sam Kricsfeld talks about the friendships he's loved and lost throughout the years, and how he's determined not to lose any more. 

+2
To my hometown: I'm sorry

To my hometown: I'm sorry

  • Lucie Krisman | @Luciek
  • Apr 19, 2021
  • Comments

CHALK writer Lucie Krisman writes about her time growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and how she came to appreciate her hometown during quarantine. 

+2
Coping with the loss of my dad

Coping with the loss of my dad

  • Catherine Brierton | @catnoelle0212
  • Apr 15, 2021
  • Comments

We all deal with grief in different ways. CHALK writer Catherine Brierton shares her experience coping with the loss of her father. 

+2
Feeling connected through disconnecting

Feeling connected through disconnecting

  • Page Cramer | @pagecramer
  • Mar 10, 2021
  • Comments

Spending too much time on our phones can keep us from living our lives to the fullest. Page Cramer shares her story of how she realized she needed to make a change and be more present in the moment. 

+5
Lessons learned from an abnormal freshman year

Lessons learned from an abnormal freshman year

  • Abby McCoy | @AbigailLMcCoy
  • Nov 13, 2020
  • Comments

CHALK writer Abby McCoy talks about her unconventional first year experience and how she has learned to treat herself with kindness when "school feels like a task rather than an experience."

The time between memory and reality

The time between memory and reality

  • Faith Maddox | @Faith_Maddox
  • Sep 11, 2020
  • Comments

In a personal essay, CHALK writer Faith Maddox writes about the impacts of time and memory on her relationship with her father.

+3
I came to KU on a whim – now it’s a place I call home

I came to KU on a whim – now it’s a place I call home

  • Terrell Henderson | @kickmove_
  • May 13, 2020
  • Comments

CHALK writer Terrell Henderson, a University of Kansas senior from Bowie, Maryland, knew nothing about Kansas when he applied to KU. Now he considers it a second home. 

An abortion taught me how to love myself

An abortion taught me how to love myself

  • DeAsia Paige | @deasia_paige
  • May 11, 2020
  • Comments

In her personal essay, CHALK writer DeAsia Paige writes about her decision to have an abortion and what she learned from the experience.

The grace of the sun

The grace of the sun

  • Grant Heiman | @grantheiman
  • May 9, 2020
  • Comments

In his personal essay, CHALK writer Grant Heiman writes about his experiences with grief, religion, and his ritual of watching the sunset when things get tough.  

+2
Why I waited to say 'I love you'

Why I waited to say 'I love you'

  • Samantha Travis | @sammytravvv
  • May 7, 2020
  • Comments

CHALK writer Samantha Travis didn't tell her boyfriend she loved him the first time she knew. She says it was worth the wait. 

If you’re thinking about cutting your hair, do it

If you’re thinking about cutting your hair, do it

  • Alana Washington | @askalanalovely
  • May 5, 2020
  • Comments

CHALK writer Alana Washington writes about her relationship with her hair over the years. 

+3
A life of gratitude with spina bifida

A life of gratitude with spina bifida

  • Austin Fitzgerald | @AFitzgerald23
  • Apr 14, 2020
  • Comments

CHALK writer Austin Fitzgerald writes about his life with Spina Bifida and the miracles that he has experienced along the way.

My parents are anything but ordinary – and I’ve learned to love it

My parents are anything but ordinary – and I’ve learned to love it

  • Lindley Lund | @LindleyLund
  • Apr 3, 2020
  • Comments

CHALK writer Lindley Lund writes about her experience growing up with embarrassing parents, and how it ended up teaching her a valuable life lesson.

The path to success, or not

The path to success, or not

  • Ryan Dinsdale | @thelastdinsdale
  • Apr 1, 2020
  • Comments

In his personal essay, CHALK writer Ryan Dinsdale says not to miss an opportunity in the present by worrying about the past.

An open thank you letter to my parents

An open thank you letter to my parents

  • Riley Wilson | @ChalkMagazine
  • Mar 3, 2020
  • Comments

CHALK writer Riley Wilson thanks her parents for all they've taught her. 

I (tried) confronting the guy who ghosted me twice

I (tried) confronting the guy who ghosted me twice

  • Emerson Karsh | @EmersonKarsh
  • Feb 18, 2020
  • Comments

CHALK contributor Emerson Karsh tried to confront the guy who ghosted her. It didn't go to plan – but she learned from it. 

+2
Realizing chicken was chicken

Realizing chicken was chicken

  • Emily Beckman | @emilybeckman7
  • Dec 2, 2019
  • Comments

Chalk reporter Emily Beckman reflects on her decision to become a vegetarian and her internal conflict to cut out animal products altogether. 

+2
I paint my nudes

I paint my nudes

  • Nichola McDowell | @journichola
  • Nov 19, 2019
  • Comments

Chalk reporter Nichola McDowell opens up about anorexia and how painting brought her back to a healthy mindset.

Experiencing an epileptic dream

Experiencing an epileptic dream

  • Tianna Witmer | @tiannajwitmer
  • Nov 4, 2019
  • Comments

Guest Chalk reporter Tianna Witmer puts you in the shoes of a bystander during one of her epileptic dreams.

From 10 to 21

From 10 to 21

  • Jasmine Pankratz | @jas15_pankratz
  • Oct 21, 2019
  • Comments

Chalk reporter Jasmine Pankratz wonders what her 10-year-old self would think of her current place in life.

Thank you, Dad

Thank you, Dad

  • Riley Wood | @TheRileyWood
  • Oct 16, 2019
  • Comments

Riley Wood's father has been there for him since the beginning. Riley just wanted to say thank you.

What my eating disorder taught me about life

What my eating disorder taught me about life

  • Gracen Gueldner | @ggueldner
  • Oct 2, 2019
  • Comments

Chalk reporter Gracen Gueldner recounts her time at an eating recovery center and how it changed her life for the better.

What rats taught me about humanity

What rats taught me about humanity

  • Courtney Bierman | @courtbierman
  • Apr 16, 2019
  • Comments

It’s a running joke in my family that Pepper the rat was homicidal.

A hateful letter taught me to love myself

A hateful letter taught me to love myself

  • Rebekah Swank | @SwankyMamma
  • Apr 8, 2019
  • Comments

Rebekah Swank studied in Germany with a host family before college, but her host sister, Jule, wasn't as welcoming as Swank had hoped. Jule left Swank an unpleasant surprise on the day she left — a surprise that changed Swank's view of herself. 

The time I finally got out of bed

The time I finally got out of bed

  • Lara Korte | @lara_korte
  • Apr 5, 2019
  • Comments

You don’t realize it until you see the dishes.

Here's to the K-pop band that got me through high school

Here's to the K-pop band that got me through high school

  • Emma Fotovich | @awesomenessem18
  • Mar 27, 2019
  • Comments

When times are hard I look to SHINee. No, I didn't misspell shiny, nor am I talking about something that a child would like because they have short attention spans. I mean the K-pop group, SHINee.

I got jumped on my way from Planned Parenthood

I got jumped on my way from Planned Parenthood

  • Olivia Schmidt | @livgabbing
  • Mar 25, 2019
  • Comments

In junior high, my best friend and I are in the throes of falling in love for the first time. We decide the most responsible way to deal with our hormonal impulses is to find a way to get birth control.

The birth control implant that ruined my life

The birth control implant that ruined my life

  • Mary Kate Moloney | @chalk__mag
  • Mar 7, 2019
  • Comments

Everyone is looking for a quick birth control fix. I’m too irresponsible to take the pill — I skip days at a time, then take three at once to catch up. Can you feel my mood swings from your screen? Naturally, I ask my gynecologist for other options.

How I averted a cultural crisis

How I averted a cultural crisis

  • Angel Tran | @angel_tran22
  • Mar 6, 2019
  • Comments

Because my grandfather is the eldest, the whole family — about 25 people spanning three generations — assembles at his house in Wichita to celebrate the Lunar New Year and pay our respects.


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