As a kid in school, I wrote a bunch of essays where I was asked to express an opinion on pretty serious topics like endangered animals, climate change and social justice. I remember reading back over those papers and thinking about how cold and assertive my words felt. I remember thinking, is this what writing is supposed to feel like? Of course not, but for lots of people, language can feel like a cold and complex tool, especially if you're a kid who's just starting to figure things out.

The comics in these pictures are from students I've worked with. They are about serious things like peer pressure, education and health. They express serious opinions, but they are also warm, inviting and hopeful.

For some of us, our words are strongest when they have drawings holding them up.