About Melissa Tuckman

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Stories by Melissa

	Overcoming the sadness By Melissa Tuckman, 14, Briana Hansen, 14 Christy Burke, 14, knows firsthand what depression is like. It is an "uncontrollable and spontaneous sadness," she said. Here is the story of how she has dealt with this devastating condition. "It really started in fifth grade and progressed from there. I was sexually harassed by someone I was in a relationship with, and I had a real hard time getting out of that. So that probably started it, and
	Children lie when truth is hard to face By Becca Wyrick, 14, Melissa Tuckman, 16 Recently, George O'Leary was forced to resign from his job as head football coach at the University of Notre Dame because he had lied on his resume. Liars often make headlines but usually lose respect in the process. Y-Press recently spoke with several members of a youth group at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in addition to youth volunteers at The Children's Museum about how lies affect their
	Group backs end to all restrictions based on age By Melissa Tuckman, 16 Indiana teens hoping to earn their driver's licenses face many restrictions. They must wait until they are 15 years old to get a learner's permit and then until after they turn 16 to take the test that could give them the right to drive alone. Those rules may appear to be a logical way to prevent accidents, but not everyone supports them. In fact, a nonprofit organization, Americans for a Society
	Indy's mayor takes steps to find out...What kids think By Emily Bloemker, 17, Melissa Tuckman, 14 Mayor Bart Peterson's youth agenda includes topics such as community service, diversity and youth violence and addresses "many of the problems that affect (youth) directly and indirectly.'' As part of its mission to give youths a voice, Y-Press asked several Indianapolis schools to nominate students to interview Peterson regarding their concerns. In the first interview of this kind, the panel of s
	Teens see more diversity, less wealth By Melissa Tuckman, 16, Andrea Phillips, 13 Before fleeing their countries, many refugees had misconceptions about what would become their new home. Nimco Ahmed, 20, originally from Somalia, did not expect the diversity she encountered in the United States. "I thought everyone in America was going to be white," she said. But then "I realized that everybody in America came from different places." Y-Press interviewed 95 young people to learn
	Wealth gap, AIDS trouble South Africa By Melissa Tuckman, 16, Katie Qualkinbush, 14 When Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, 78, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, is interviewed, he speaks with passion and twirls around in his chair. Tutu, who remains energetic and effervescent, recently visited Indianapolis to speak at Butler University's commencement ceremony. For more than 25 years, he has helped unite South Africa and fight against apartheid, its system of racial segregati
	Teenagers get their first taste of working life By Ali Rader, 13, Melissa Tuckman, 17, Kelsey Impicciche, 12 Recent studies suggest that teens who have jobs gain confidence and learn valuable skills, such as budgeting their time and money, which contribute to success in school and in their future careers. But some area teens report benefits that are not quite so long-term. "I've learned how to scoop mashed potatoes," said 18-year-old David Springer, who works on the serving line at MCL Cafeteria. "Now I
	Non-Catholic students pleased with experiences at Brebeuf By Melissa Tuckman, 16 Is it possible for a school to be "Jesuit, Catholic and Interfaith?" That is how Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, a private high school on the Northwestside, defines itself. Founded by the Jesuits, an order of Catholic men, it accepts students from many religious backgrounds. Of 195 freshmen who will be entering Brebeuf this August, only 57 percent identify themselves as Catholic. Last spring, Y
	They're giving higher ed the old college try By Melissa Tuckman, 18 With more than 40 colleges and universities in Indiana alone, simply deciding where to apply to college can be challenging. Visiting campuses, attending interviews, filling out forms and writing a decent essay can be even more daunting. Add to that a search for scholarships and financial aid, and many students decide the admissions process is more trouble than it's worth. Y-Press spoke with seven