Runners-Up

Some of the most ardent defenders of parental rights argue that teenagers need strict parental regulation because teens are confused and easily corruptible. They’re not entirely wrong. But the process of adolescence — developing abstract thinking and fundamental moral values — isn’t complete unless young people are given the freedom to explore the world on…

A Boy Scout troop in Missouri, a horse racing festival in Tibet, a Sichuan restaurant in Queens, a candlelit protest in South Korea: In the photo essays below, the runners-up in our “Where We Are” contest introduce you to nine fascinating, vibrant communities, and show you the places where they gather with others.As always, we…

A look at eight fascinating hometowns around the world, as documented by teenagers there.