Dear Readers,

It’s been a wild two months. Today’s Teen went from being an empty bit of space to being a genuine forum for teens, with hundreds of readers every day, to having a staff of 80+ writers, to putting together a crazy amazing photo shoot, to being in the midst of planning another crazy amazing photo shoot, to interviewing some of the top names in pop culture, to—to—

I’m ready for a nap.

I wanted to kick off this blog by talking about the spirit of rebirth. Not in a hippy way. Just in a getting shot down and getting back up again way. It’s kind of what Today’s Teen has gone through and its certainly what I’ve gone through.

On the heels of being fired from my first grown-up job, founder and previous Gweditor-in-Chief, Gwen Cohen, called me up and asked me to take over the company. When she called, I was literally weeping beneath my covers over my lack of employment. It took hitting rock bottom in my new-found career to give me the push I needed to risk my savings, time, and resume to start from scratch.

I think a lot of teens can relate to this experience– especially with school coming back around next month. Summer is a chance to cleanse and to return for a new year as an entirely different person. It’s a chance to accept that maybe things didn’t exactly go down the way you wanted last year, but this year can be different. This year can be better.

When you go back to school this year remember that you always have the opportunity to change and grow, to succeed where you once failed, and to get out of bed, wipe the snot off your face and start a new life.

Do what you love. Be who you are. And you’ll find the support you need from the people who love you most along the way.

Ready for this crazy adventure with me?

XOXO

Ilana Jacqueline

Remember–You can always ask me questions here.