Learning Network: What’s the biggest mistake you ever made?

Deep sea exploring

View in browser|nytimes.com May 20, 2025 Dear Reader, How much do you worry about your health? What do young people need to help them thrive? What's the biggest mistake you ever made? Do you want to be an explorer? These are just a few of the questions we posed recently in our writing prompts. We'd love to read your students' answers. Sincerely, The Learning Network WRITING PROMPTS Getty Images Student Opinion What Do Young People Need to Help Them Thrive? A study of more than 200,000 people between the ages of 18 and 29 in over 20 countries found that many were struggling. What can be done to help? By Shannon Doyne U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Student Opinion Do You Want to Be an Explorer? How about going to the deep sea, where there's still a lot to investigate? In fact, 99.999 percent of it remains unknown! By Jeremy Engle Rune Fisker Picture Prompts Robot and Paper What do you think this image is communicating? By The Learning Network Tony Luong for The New York Times Student Opinion How Much Do You Worry About Your Health? A recent article describes the rise of teenage wellness influencers. Do you think young people today are too fixated on their health? By Natalie Proulx Richard A. Chance Picture Prompts Travel Tales Tell us a story, real or made up, that is inspired by any of these images from an article about travel mishaps. By The Learning Network Holly LaFavers, via Associated Press Student Opinion What's the Biggest Mistake You've Ever Made? An 8-year-old boy accidentally ordered nearly 70,000 lollipops on Amazon! What's your greatest gaffe, blunder or epic fail? By Jeremy Engle Getty Images Picture Prompts Shoes On or Shoes Off? Do people leave their shoes on in your home — or do you and your family prefer them off? By The Learning Network Andrew Medichini/Associated Press Student Opinion What Role Do You Hope the New Pope Will Play in Our World? Do you think spiritual leaders can be effective voices in our lives, even if we are not members of their faith? If so, what issues should the new pope, Leo XIV, focus on? By Katherine Schulten Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. VOCABULARY RESOURCES Word of the day Word of the Day: vibrant This word has appeared in 929 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network Word of the day Word of the Day: impolitic This word has appeared in seven articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network Word of the day Word of the Day: scrupulously This word has appeared in 38 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network Word of the day Word of the Day: proscenium This word has appeared in 30 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network Word of the day Word of the Day: askance This word has appeared in 24 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? By The Learning Network How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to LNfeedback@nytimes.com. If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Learning Network from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Learning Network, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018