Teens in Print
  • About Us
    • About Teens in Print
    • Meet the Staff
  • Browse Writing
    • By Topic
      • Cultural Criticism
      • Life During COVID-19
      • School and Career
      • Arts, Entertainment & Food
      • Science, Health & Technology
      • National and Global Issues
      • Local Issues
    • By Genre
      • Reviews & Listicles
      • Creative Writing
      • Opinion Writing
      • News
      • Personal Essays
      • Advocacy Letters
      • Multimedia
    • By Author
      • Cimmaron Holman Jr.
      • Ella Verinder
      • Gloria Ekechukwu
      • Graham Martin-Wilson
      • Isaiah Roseau
      • Ketura Joseph
      • Lily Castello
      • Shaniece Clarke
      • More authors
  • For Teachers
  • Get Involved
    • Join Teens in Print
    • Collaborate
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
Teens in Print

Type and hit Enter to search

Teens in Print
  • About Us
    • About Teens in Print

    We’re a writing program for Boston students. Learn about our approach and what we offer.

    • Meet The Staff
    Get to know the writing mentors behind Teens in Print.
  • Browse Writing
    • By Topic
    • Cultural Criticism
    • Life During COVID-19
    • School and Career
    • Arts, Entertainment & Food
    • Science, Health & Technology
    • National and Global Issues
    • Local Issues
    • By Genre
    • Reviews & Listicles
    • Creative Writing
    • Opinion Writing
    • News
    • Personal Essays
    • Advocacy Letters
    • Multimedia
    • Teens in Print Magazine
    • By Author
    • Cimmaron Holman Jr.
    • Ella Verinder
    • Gloria Ekechukwu
    • Graham Martin-Wilson
    • Isaiah Roseau
    • Ketura Joseph
    • Lily Castello
    • Shaniece Clarke
    • More authors
  • For Teachers
    • Use TiP in your classroom

    Model skills or genres using mentor texts by students.

  • Get Involved
    • Join Teens in Print

    We’re always looking for new voices. Boston students from grades 8 – 12 are welcome to apply.

    • Collaborate
    We offer workshops for educators and community organizations. Drop us a line to partner with Teens in Print.
    • Volunteer
    Lend your expertise to Teens in Print as an editor, writing mentor, guest speaker, or more.
    • Contact Us
    Reach out to Teens in Print.

Type and hit Enter to search

Teens in Print
  • About Us
    • About Teens in Print

    We’re a writing program for Boston students. Learn about our approach and what we offer.

    • Meet The Staff
    Get to know the writing mentors behind Teens in Print.
  • Browse Writing
    • By Topic
    • Cultural Criticism
    • Life During COVID-19
    • School and Career
    • Arts, Entertainment & Food
    • Science, Health & Technology
    • National and Global Issues
    • Local Issues
    • By Genre
    • Reviews & Listicles
    • Creative Writing
    • Opinion Writing
    • News
    • Personal Essays
    • Advocacy Letters
    • Multimedia
    • Teens in Print Magazine
    • By Author
    • Cimmaron Holman Jr.
    • Ella Verinder
    • Gloria Ekechukwu
    • Graham Martin-Wilson
    • Isaiah Roseau
    • Ketura Joseph
    • Lily Castello
    • Shaniece Clarke
    • More authors
  • For Teachers
    • Use TiP in your classroom

    Model skills or genres using mentor texts by students.

  • Get Involved
    • Join Teens in Print

    We’re always looking for new voices. Boston students from grades 8 – 12 are welcome to apply.

    • Collaborate
    We offer workshops for educators and community organizations. Drop us a line to partner with Teens in Print.
    • Volunteer
    Lend your expertise to Teens in Print as an editor, writing mentor, guest speaker, or more.
    • Contact Us
    Reach out to Teens in Print.
Creative Writing

Our personal dictionary

Mabel Chen
June 8, 2021 3 Mins Read
270 Views
0 Comments

Boop:

The light affection of tapping someone (typically) on the nose & saying the word.

Example: I touched your nose as you slowly went cross-eyed and said “boop!”

It’s a weird word, isn’t it? I’ve often found myself using this word more. Oh, how I remembered being introduced to this word. I couldn’t stop using it, and at some point, it was incorporated into my vernacular. Even thinking of this word makes me feel fuzzy inside. Do you remember when you said it was such a “me” word? I can’t either… 

Purple:

The mix of blue and red.

Example: I love purple too!‍

You wondered why I always sent blue hearts instead of red ones like you did. I mentioned that since we both liked purple, the mix of red & blue hearts would turn it purple. You called me cute for doing something like this. Your laughter, and the sound of genuine affection, caught me off guard. I couldn’t help but smile and say the words, “no, you,” to which you retorted that we both could be cute and that I had to take the compromise. We both put purple hearts.‍

‍

Tether:‍

Connecting two objects.

Example: You should tether me to you.

I’ve always thought of this word when it comes to rock climbing. However, I could remember when you’d scream this word to me whenever I supported you. You being so cheesy, saying that this tether was between just us. We had an invisible tether. I had to tell you to quit being so sweet to me. You didn’t want to listen to me, and I didn’t mind.

Tank:

A support class in “Dungeons and Dragons” that takes all the damage of the team.

Example: Go tank class; we need a tank.

Ever since the mage class was nerfed, you always said that you wanted to go tank. I never understood why, and at first, I hated you playing tank. I didn’t like your choice. However, your charming words convinced me otherwise. I would constantly tell you that I wasn’t so fragile; that I could hold my own in those dungeon runs. You gently said to me that it wasn’t that I couldn’t take care of myself, but that I shouldn’t. I would always be protected by you, in any way possible. 

Healer:

A support class in Dungeons that is responsible for reviving and healing the team.

Example: Go healer, everyone is too squishy.

I played healer for all my time within dungeons. I’ve always told you that you were so reckless. You wouldn’t listen to me, nor did you want me to heal you. I pressed you in saying that it was the least I could do for you risking your life for the team. The words you said etched in my head when I told you that I was insignificant to play the class. “You’ll always be my healer. I will have no one else.”

Bean:

A meaningful nickname

Example: You’re such a cute bean.

I originally wanted to be a potato, however, I found it quite generic and common. I wanted to be a bean. You took it with you, and now I find you calling me your bean quite often. You wouldn’t stop calling me a “beautiful bean” and I always deny it, saying that you were quite incorrect. You ignored me and proceeded to call me your cute bean. At some point, I had to stop fighting you on it.

Koala:

Another meaningful nickname.

Example: You’re the most amazing koala.

Since you wanted to call me a bean, I called you a koala. The cute koala plush you had strengthened this nickname, and it stuck. I found it quite fitting as you were always so gentle and cute. This was a wonder that always mesmerized me on how lucky I was to have you in my life. You told me you would always cling onto me like a koala, and I didn’t mind as long as you would let me care for you.

Love:

The intense feeling of deep affection

Example: I love you.

This word is indescribable. Even though we mutter it every night before we sleep and text it every time we wake up, I can’t help but find that its meaning always grows stronger. I feel my heart swell in happiness that I couldn’t seem to find in anything else, making you seem like a personal drug. We may be young, but it doesn’t mean the love isn’t as intense, real, meaningful, or genuine as others’. God, I love you so much.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Tags:

cultural criticismMabel Chen

Share Article

Read more by this author Written By

Mabel Chen

Next
June 14, 2021

Why the phrase “#NotAllMen” is harmful and problematic

Previous
June 7, 2021

Two simple recipes

You might also like

Red siren

Holland Tech Vignette: Episode 3

Raesha Rivera
January 29, 2025
Raised fist, a symbol of Black power

Unapologetically Black Thriving in Spaces That Weren’t Built for Us

Arianna Murphy
January 24, 2025
Image of Jason Talbot sitting on grass with painting behind him

Artist For Humanity alumni mentors the next generation of artists

Jazlynn Truong
August 14, 2023
Image of comics courtesy of Joel Muniz on Unsplash

The decline of quality Marvel movies

Jacob Tucker
August 3, 2023

Subscribe to our newsletter and get student writing delivered to your inbox.

Sign me up
Teens in Print
We’re a writing program and publication for Boston students.

2025 © Teens in Print All rights reserved.

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Browse Articles
  • Join Teens in Print
  • Contact Us
  • About our parent organization, WriteBoston
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Keep up with TiP

Instagram Twitter Youtube