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Story time: From fear to confidence
Farah was a reserved but calm girl, who was always timid when talking to anyone at school. Because of her withdrawn nature, her family had changed her school four times in a row.
Farah was now studying in a semi-government school, which she had initially opposed because she wanted to attend a more elite school. Although she had been studying in this new school for almost two months, her anxious habits made it difficult for her to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings.
At the start of the ninth week of the first term, while wearing the crisp, pristine white uniform of her school, a deep sense of isolation and unease unsettled her from within. Despite the weight of the books causing pain on her shoulders, she still went to school to acquire knowledge. Little did she know what was yet to face her.
When she entered the classroom, she clenched and unclenched her fists as a source of relief from stress. The class was filled with chatter and loud noise, while she sat in the last seat of the room. She felt she didn’t belong there.
The first period was the maths class. The teacher, Miss Tahira, was the pupils’ favourite, but Farah’s least favourite.
“Today’s topic is geometry!” instructed Miss Tahira. “Open page number 131, and try to solve the first question.”
“But Miss, we have just started this chapter. How can we solve this exercise?” timid Zayan protested.
“Silence. This exercise is too easy. I expected you to know the basics of maths. Haven’t you studied this in your previous classes? Start solving now. And I do not need any more queries,” ordered Miss Tahira in a stern voice.
Farah did not even know the format for maintaining the maths notebook, because the teacher had not taken regular classes and had explained it on a day when Farah was absent.
She wanted to ask the question that had been troubling her, but she grew even more frightened when Miss Tahira announced, “This lesson is 45 minutes long, out of which 15 minutes have passed. At the end of the lesson, I will collect your notebooks, and those who have not completed anything will have their notebooks sent to the Section Head.”
Terrified yet hesitant, she raised her hand. “Miss, I have a question.”
“Yes!”
“What is the format for maintaining the maths notebook?”
“What? Are you in your senses? Is this even a question? Oh, I see. You must have bunked the class in which I explained that. Now start doing your work silently and collect your notebook from Ma’am Bushra, the Section Head. Learn something from Misha. Every teacher, including Ma’am Bushra, praises her.”
Farah was unaware that asking such a simple question would lead to such a reprimand. Her classmates quietly laughed and ridiculed her.
After recess, when she went to the Section Head’s office, she was surprised by the kindness of Ma’am Bushra, whom the whole school considered strict.
“Good morning, ma’am,” said Farah in a feeble voice.
“Good morning, dear. From your notebook, I can tell you are a new student. And even if you aren’t, mistakes are made by humans, right? I will give you and your classmates a chance to improve and present it again. Now go and enjoy your break,” she said kindly.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Farah felt relieved, but when she returned to class, her classmates bullied her and called her names she could hardly bear. The rest of her day passed heavily, both at school and at home. That night, she sobbed, thinking about the humiliation she had faced.
Time passed quickly, and soon only a week remained for the first-term exams. Farah had been preparing well since the beginning of the term.
On the first exam day, everyone felt anxious, including Misha, the so-called star student. During the exam, it became clear that Misha was cheating from her best friend in the MCQs.
After the exams, when the papers were checked, Miss Tahira noticed that Farah, the girl she had mistreated, had topped the maths exam. When the results were announced, Miss Tahira appreciated Farah for everything, from her notebook to her outstanding performance. Deep inside, however, she felt regret for how she had treated her. Misha’s misconduct also came to light.
Farah was still quiet, but she was slowly becoming more confident in herself and her abilities. She worked hard every day, improving gradually. Her classmates began to respect her dedication, and her teachers noticed her determination.
Ma’am Bushra felt proud of her growth and reminded the teachers that every student, whether struggling or excelling, should be treated with kindness, not harshness.
Life had taught Farah that mistakes can be made not only by children, but by adults too, and that forgiving others is the key to building confidence and achieving success.
Published in Dawn, Young World, March 28th, 2026
New Lilo & Stitch anthology comic series
Lilo and Stitch 626 is a new anthology comic from Dynamite Entertainment featuring stories from the Lilo & Stitch universe.
Written by Daniel Kibblesmith and illustrated by Elisa Pochetta, the series explores character origins and adventures beyond the main storyline. The first issue will reveal a new perspective on the backstory of Cobra Bubbles and include a sci-fi western-style story of Captain Gantu stranded on a distant planet.
The anthology will also spotlight characters such as Lilo Pelekai, Nani Pelekai, Jumba Jookiba and Pleakley. The comic celebrates “626 Day” on June 26, referencing Stitch’s Experiment 626 origin, though the first issue is set for release in May. Future issues will feature additional creators including George Kambadais.
Sony is developing an animated Venom movie
Sony Pictures Entertainment is developing an animated film based on the Venom (film franchise). The project will be directed and produced by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film is still in early development and may take years to complete due to animation production time. Tom Hardy is reportedly involved in some capacity, though it is unclear whether he will voice Venom again.
Producers may include Amy Pascal, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. Meanwhile, Marvel Studios is also reportedly planning its own version of the Venom symbiote character.
Winds and Waves coming to Switch 2 in 2027
Pokémon Winds and Waves will be released in 2027 for the next-generation console from Nintendo, according to The Pokémon Company.
The new open-world game, developed by Game Freak, introduces the 10th generation of Pokémon (franchise). Players will choose from three new starter creatures: grass-type Browt, fire-type Pombon and water-type Gecqua.
The game is set across tropical islands with expanded underwater exploration and will be the first mainline Pokémon title exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2.
Published in Dawn, Young World, March 28th, 2026
The relentless pace of the modern world leaves parents with so much to juggle. Many find smartphones useful for keeping their children busy, playing and even learning.
It is not uncommon to see a toddler swiping through cartoon videos or a child sitting quietly with a phone in one hand at dinner time. Sadly, along this modern path, something has quietly changed. Questions like “Why is the sky so blue today?” or “Why do birds fly in flocks?” have started to fade.
In this age of instant gratification and endless scrolling, children ask fewer questions — not because they know more, but because they are not used to wondering. Smartphones have replaced critical thinking with instant answers, leaving no room for exploration.
The emotional cost
Depression and anxiety are on the rise. This is not anyone’s fault; it is simply a result of overstimulation. Children often struggle to handle their feelings and may have a lower emotional quotient (EQ). Their emotional growth can be stunted due to a lack of in-person communication.
When watching something on a screen, people often express an emotion with a simple “like” or an emoji before they have actually felt it deeply. Children do not learn to read facial expressions or understand different tones of voice. Smartphones can rob them of these crucial life skills that are best picked up during face-to-face interaction.
We live in an age of instant answers and endless scrolling. While technology helps us learn, there is a hidden cost of being always connected
Growing dependence
Ask yourself: “Have I ever created something new?” “Have I thought about the real world?” “Do I know how to handle my emotions?”
A child who opens YouTube the moment they feel bored doesn’t do any of those things. They get so much dopamine from the screen that everything else seems boring. They don’t learn to handle frustration or quiet time.
Smartphones cannot teach us resilience or self-regulation.
Is social intelligence being ignored?
How can we expect a child to have a conversation when the only thing they know is texting? Empathy and cooperation are important social skills that get lost in impersonal social media chats.
Many teenagers struggle with eye contact, listening and patience in real-time conversations. In the past, face-to-face interactions helped people pick up social cues and learn how to behave in different settings.
Shrinking attention spans
Short videos, such as Reels and TikToks, train our brains to crave quick hits of excitement. Students surrounded by this content find it hard to focus, read long texts or even write long messages.
This is why “short forms” are so common now. Using terms like “W8” or “TLDR” (Too Long Didn’t Read) is proof of a rising sense of impatience.
Lead by example
The dopamine boost affects adults too. After a long day at work, parents often turn to screens for relaxation. Children mimic this behaviour, scrolling through dinner or checking phones during conversations.
This can lead to “emotional absence,” where parents are physically in the room, but not truly present. This can hurt the parent-child relationship.
Outsourcing our memory
Using Google Maps to find a friend’s house, a calculator for simple maths or a digital calendar for everything is now normal. But while it seems harmless, it can be a problem. When the brain is not used, it forms weaker connections.
While our own memory fades, the smartphone becomes our only memory bank.
Delayed development
Studies show that too much screen time can delay language development and impulse control. Even if educational apps are used, children may lose the ability to think for themselves.
Self-worth and social media
Comparing yourself to others on social media can damage self-esteem and body image. Many teenagers develop a fragile sense of identity based on “likes” and comments. This leads to mental health issues and affects how they get along with others.
The irony: smart devices, duller minds?
Smartphones are advertised as tools for connecting, but using them too much can produce a generation that is distracted and less social.
Smartphones are powerful tools, but only when we stay in control. It is time to draw a line between using them and depending on them. Let’s remind ourselves that the greatest connection doesn’t need Wi-Fi; it needs us to be present.
Published in Dawn, Young World, March 28th, 2026
The trailer of the new Spider-Man film is out, and like most people out there, you might also be wondering who the new characters are. Are they good guys who help Spider-Man, or are they bad guys who don’t want Spider-Man to exist?
Don’t worry. We have a handy pocket-size guide for you that will make you an instant expert on all things Spider-Man.
All the facts you need to know about Spider-Man’s friends and foes are in Spider-Man: Pocket Expert, and since the book is literally pocket-sized, you can carry it around easily. Why is it the best thing to read in the wake of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will be evident to you once you go through it.
Each page covers a different character, regardless of whether it’s good, bad or neutral. There is a short introduction of each character, followed by a rating for all these characters — fighting skills, speed and strength — and accompanied by their key abilities and a Spidey Secret about them.
The information flow doesn’t stop there as a box item mentions something new about the characters, making this pocket guide to the Spider-Verse your one-stop source of amazing facts to wow your friends with! If you didn’t know that Spidey and Captain Marvel often team up in the New Avengers or that Sandman is one of the few Spider-Man characters who are neutral, then you are in for a treat.
Hence, if you are a young Marvel fan and want to update yourself ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, look no further. How is Spider-Man Noir different from the other Spider-Men in the Spider-Verse, who were Peter Parker’s parents, why does J Jonah Jameson hate Spider-Man and who is Spider-Girl, answers to such questions can be found in these pages.
With this Pocket Expert in hand, you are bound to win any schoolyard debate about character superpowers, origin stories, key foes and gadgets. Don’t wait for the new Spider-Man flick’s release in July; become an expert as early as you can.
Published in Dawn, Young World, March 28th, 2026
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