Collage by Beth Hoeckel.

Collage by Beth Hoeckel.

Black Boy
Richard Wright
1945, Harper

I was assigned to read this autobiography my sophomore year of high school, and it was one of the first required readings that I felt a connection to. In the schools I go to, we rarely read books by black authors. Black Boy is the story of Richard Wright and documents his childhood in the South and young adulthood in the North. It illustrates the black experience of his time and captivated me. Black Boy was the book that ignited my love for black literature. ($10, Powell’s) —Ogechi Egonu

cupocoffeeLush Cup o’ Coffee Face & Body Mask
Sometimes the best thing to wake up to is a little self-love and pampering. This Cup o’ Coffee face mask from Lush Cosmetics will give you a boost and make you feel like a goddess before you start your day. The mask has coffee and caffeine powder, so it even smells perky. Keep it on for about 10 minutes while you go about your morning activities. When you scrub it off, your skin will feel refreshed and super soft! ($11–$20; Lush Cosmetics) —Ugochi Egonu

gurustickersBe My Guru Sticker Pack
This sticker pack reads like a dream team of epiphany evokers, including Deepak Chopra and the Dalai Lama. Honestly, Oprah was the one that really sold me. Add these enlightening faces to your binders to make every homework assignment a reminder of your inner potential. Or paste one on your phone so selfie sessions won’t have to be an existential crisis. They also work as conversation starters. These stickers are a cute way to keep your spirit healthy or, at the very least, make you smile. ($9, Etsy) —Danny Gurung ♦