What’s it really like to be 18 in America right now?

This spring, Matter worked with a class of high school seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area to find the answer to that question. Through a series of projects — some written, others visual — the students told their own stories and captured a vibrant portrait of their lives. Here is the result: A raw, raucous and very real of depiction of what it’s like to be an American teen today.

Below, you’ll find a small selection of the student’s work. Click the images to view examples of each assignment.

Read all of the student’s work by clicking on each assignment button below:

Photographs by Damien Maloney
Illustrations by Jiro Bevis