There was still time to get home. We had just taken a week’s vacation from school and were setting off with heavy bags. We sat down in a huddle, waiting for the bus. The bus was silent, except for the sound of car horns on the street. Everyone was busy with their own business, some playing on their phones, others leafing through newspapers.
At one point, two men in their fifties sat down on the benches, talking. Everyone seemed distracted since they got off. I quietly glanced in the direction where the voice was coming from. A woman in the front seat was looking around through the window, thinking, while the man behind her had been talking about something since he got off. She was wearing old, shabby, but apparently well-maintained clothes from the Soviet era. While the sun was shining brightly, this man seemed to never want to take off his warm clothes.
Even though two people got off at each stop, the passengers never seemed to end. The old man in front of me was still talking, laughing and sighing. It seemed that the woman had arrived at her stop, and she began to pack her things carefully. It seemed that all the passengers, who thought that Babajon was talking on the phone, also had the same thought in their minds, and they slowly looked at each other. I didn’t know why, but suddenly I felt like he was talking to himself.
Just like the end of everything, our final destination was approaching. I had asked him himself that the old man didn’t even have any relatives, but I couldn’t even tell my friends about it. As people get older, they become more and more lonely. It was the first time I had met a person who had been ignored, and every time I think about it, my insides go cold.
Erkinjonova Bibisora Elyorbek qizi. Born on January 18, 2012 in Uchkurgan district, Namangan region. Currently, she is an 8th grade student at the Ishoqkhon Ibrat creative school. She can communicate in English, Russian and French. In 2025, she traveled to Dubai.
she must survive where fears lingers like a apocalypse.
she is the sun that eclipse the moon.
fighting everyday for a new dawn.
A Female’s Quiet Battle
To be female
has often meant
to be seen before being known
attention arriving uninvited,
everywhere.
They call me quiet,
an introvert wrapped in silence,
yet even in stillness
eyes find me.
Before I speak,
I am already felt—
like heat on the back of the neck,
like footsteps that never pass.
Silence does not hide me.
It only makes the staring louder
a weight pressing
between my shoulders,
refusing to lift.
I walk with awareness stitched into my skin,
a constant echo of be careful.
For danger wears many faces,
stories whispered
about what could happen
if I am not cautious enough
There are fears I carry
standing to speak,
finding my voice
in rooms too loud,
too watchful.
They say overcome it,
but courage is not simple
when fear has learned your name
They say a woman is fragile
as if strength cannot live
inside trembling hands,
as if breaking is all we know.
And so I shrink sometimes,
not from weakness,
but from knowing
the world does not soften for me.
I cannot choose recklessness
and expect safety in return.
Where others roam without thought,
I measure my steps,
I have learned to fold myself
not small,
but precise
slipping through spaces
without catching
like fabric on a nail.
Even my voice
checks the room before it rises,
testing the air
like something that could burn.
Freedom, for me,
is not careless.
It is the lit path,
the crowded bus,
the seat closest to the door
a quiet math of staying safe.
In those moments,
I am both the one who fears
and the one who guards
holding myself together
with nothing but awareness
They have called me fragile.
But they have not seen
how steady my hands remain
when my heart is running,
how I keep walking
when every instinct says turn back.
Still, I move.
Not freely
but forward.
And if I am watched,
if I am measured,
if I must carry this constant knowing
then I will become
unmissable in another way:
not the girl who shrinks,
not the shadow that passes
but the voice of a woman
that remained
despite the fear.
This is a poem by Hauwa Hassan Haruna, I am an upcoming artist, who fell in love with the literary space and trying to find her own place and voice. I have a post graduate degree in international relations and as an aspiring diplomat, I wish to convey message through writing.
Hauwa Hassan Haruna writes from Minna, Nigeria. She holds a B.A and M.A International studies and diplomacy from Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai. When she is not writing, she travels and loves to cook.
The Rise of Internet Stars and the Reality Behind the Screen
Today, the internet has moved far beyond being a simple means of communication and has become an essential part of human life and a vast information space. With just a phone, a person can become known to the whole world and gain the attention of millions. In the past, it took years of hard work to achieve fame, whereas today even a few seconds of video can turn someone into an internet star.
In this way, a new generation known as “internet stars” has emerged. They are becoming increasingly influential in today’s society. Young people admire their style of dressing, way of speaking, and lifestyle. Social media further enhances this fame by presenting an attractive image: expensive cars, luxurious living, constant smiles, and apparent success draw people in. However, the reality behind the screen is not always visible.
One of the main reasons for the popularity of internet stars is that they appear closer and more relatable to ordinary people than traditional celebrities. Through daily videos, live streams, and posts, followers feel as if they personally know them. This creates a strong emotional connection. As a result, internet influencers can shape opinions, trends, and even people’s dreams.
Internet stars also have a positive side. Some of them encourage people to study, learn languages, and engage in sports. Others raise awareness about social issues such as environmental protection, charity, education, and mental health. Many young people have found motivation and inspiration through online creators who share useful knowledge and life experiences. In this sense, the internet has become a field of great opportunities where talent can be discovered regardless of background or social status.
Moreover, the internet has opened doors for creativity and self-expression. People who once had no opportunity to share their talents can now present their art, music, writing, or ideas to a global audience. This has made the modern world more connected and dynamic. Some internet stars even use their influence to support charitable projects and help communities in need.
Nevertheless, there is another side to the issue. Today, many people consider fame to be the same as success. Some internet stars resort to showing a fake life, creating artificial personas, or using emotions merely to increase followers and views. In many cases, the content people see online is carefully edited and designed to appear perfect. Expensive lifestyles, luxurious vacations, and endless happiness may not reflect reality at all.
What is even more concerning is that young people often perceive this as real life and genuine achievement. They begin comparing themselves with unrealistic standards and may feel dissatisfied with their own lives. Some become obsessed with gaining likes, followers, and online attention instead of focusing on education, personal growth, and real relationships. This can negatively affect confidence, mental health, and values.
As a result, it sometimes seems that a person’s online image has become more important than their inner world and true identity. Many people, instead of preserving their authenticity, try to create an image that pleases others. Artificiality is gradually becoming normal. In the race for popularity, honesty and sincerity are sometimes sacrificed.
Another important issue is that internet fame is often temporary. Trends change quickly, and public attention can disappear overnight. A person who is admired today may be forgotten tomorrow. Therefore, building one’s entire identity around online popularity can be dangerous and unstable. Real success should be based on knowledge, character, kindness, and contribution to society rather than temporary internet attention.
In reality, fame does not make a person great. A person’s true value is measured by their manners, thinking, honesty, and contribution to society. The number of followers is temporary, whereas humanity is an enduring value. A kind and educated person who helps others leaves a far more meaningful impact than someone who is only popular online.
In conclusion, internet stars have become an inseparable part of modern society. They can have both positive and negative effects depending on how they use their influence and how people respond to them. The most important thing is that individuals should not lose their identity while using the internet and should pursue meaning, knowledge, and values rather than appearance alone. Trends pass, fame is forgotten, but a person’s true character and good deeds remain forever.
Hilola Sharipova was born on June 30, 2007, in Urganch, Khorezm region, Uzbekistan. She is a student at Urganch Ranch Technology University, majoring in Economics. She has a strong interest in economics and banking activities.
She is also actively involved in sports, particularly handball. She is the winner of 1st place in the Uzbekistan Championship in handball. In addition to sports, she is interested in poetry and literature. Her book titled “Dadamnı sog‘inib” has been published.
Hilola knows two languages, English and Turkish, and she holds certificates in both languages. She is a very talented and ambitious individual with a wide range of interests and achievements.
In the autumn leaves, they see the grief of parting.
They whisper a tale into the ear of the grass,
The sorrow of the earth that you pass by, unknowing.
Sometimes burning in the fire like Mashrab,
Sometimes awaiting the dawn like Cholpon.
Those who could not speak the truth to the world,
Passed through, swallowing their pain all along.
A poet’s only wealth is a single pen,
One white sheet of paper is their everything.
The agony of the heart transferred into lines,
The lamp of faith, in the darkness, shimmering.
They are reborn only after they die,
Their breath lives on within the pages of books.
A poet is the chain that is called the Truth,
The voice of freedom, no matter how it looks.
My pen trembles too, as I sit and write,
Perhaps it is destiny, or perhaps a sting.
When a poor poet passes from this world,
Their words remain, a bright and glowing thing.
Ozodbek Narzullayev was born in the village of Boston, Koson district, Kashkadarya region. Several of his poems have been published in various anthologies and international journals. He has actively participated in numerous creative competitions, earning honorary titles and prestigious awards. He is the recipient of over 100 diplomas and certificates.
Currently, he serves as the Koson district leader of the “Yuksak Parvozim” (My High Flight) project. He is also the author of the published poetry collection titled “Qalb Kechinmalari” (Experiences of the Soul).
