My American Day

  It’s  February  24 ,  and  guess  what?  Today’s  the  day  the  world  got  a  little  brighter  — ’cause  it’s  Emily’s  birthday !  🎉🎂 Em,  babe,  I’m  writing  this  with  my  third  cup  of  DC  coffee  in  hand,  staring  out  at  the  city  and  thinking:  “Damn,  I’m  so  lucky  to  have  this  human  in  my  life.”  💖 Like,  for  real  — you’re  the  kind  of  friend  who: shows  up  with  brunch  and  emotional  support  at  10  a.m.  on  a  Monday, knows  exactly  which  Taylor  Swift  bop  to  put  on  when  I’m  having  a  “why  is  life ...

 Hi, friends! This is Barbara Ferguson, and I'm from Washington, D.C. Today I want to share with you what a typical Tuesday looks like for a 14-year-old girl in the capital of the United States. Let's get started! The morning starts early. My alarm goes off at 6:30—yes, it's brutal, but there's no other way! First thing I do is check social media: a couple of likes on yesterday's photo, messages from friends. Then it's a quick shower, choosing an outfit (today it's high-waisted jeans and a hoodie with my favorite band's logo), and styling my hair. I usually straighten my hair—it's quicker. We have a family breakfast: Mom makes avocado toast, Dad makes coffee, and I pour myself some orange juice. We discuss our plans for the day—I have three tests today, a choir performance after school, and a meeting with friends in the park in the evening. School: Lessons, Friends, and Lunch At 7:45, Emily, my best friend, picks me up. We drive to school together in...