Kristina Puga

“Mama Ines” is a fictional character with a significant role in Cuban culture. Do you know of her? She is a voluptuous African slave, wearing a red handkerchief on her head, who was brought to the tropical island of Cuba during the slave trade that spanned three centuries. She exudes joy, through rhythm and dance, wherever she goes. In one hand she holds a cigar, and in the other, a cup of café Cubano negro. Does this ring a bell? Do you know the story of Mama Ines?


There’s a world-renowned t...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Olympic fencer Kat Holmes. It has been edited for length and clarity.Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a fencer and a doctor.Now, I'm 30, and I've fenced on a world championship-winning team and been to the Olympics twice. I'm currently preparing for the Paris Olympics in July. Two weeks after I return, I plan to continue my studies at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.People often ask me how I have time...

I recently told someone that I had no regrets in life. I attributed it to the fact that I always took on opportunities and challenges as they came to me, thanks in large part to my dad’s advice.“Life goes so fast,” he would always tell me. “Never waste time.”  I didn’t fully comprehend the significance of those words as a kid, but as an adult, I see them as a gift branded into my mind. Those few words have helped me make choices toward living life to its fullest.But shortly after I made the comm...

Generation Alpha — the kids born between 2010 and 2024 — is the first not to know a world without AI or social media.The oldest members of this group are currently 14, and the youngest are about to be born. According to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children in this generation already spend four to six hours a day watching screens — and most aren't even teenagers yet.Meanwhile, social media companies, like TikTok, have been in the hot seat regarding their negative effe...

There might not be a more challenging role on this planet than parent. The hours are endless, and the sleepless nights are countless. Raising high-achieving children to be successful adults can be even harder.Three parents whose kids grew up to be impressive adults say parents should do three things to raise successful children.Esther Wojcicki, an educator who wrote the book "How to Raise Successful People" and founded the Palo Alto High School Media Arts Program, raised three girls: Susan, the...