The news cycle is fast and furious—which is why we shifted through the recent noise and found a few articles we believe matter. These thoughts and ideas made us pause, think and, most importantly, consider what is happening in the world. We hope they do the same for you.

The student walk-out, in photos: “Organizers said as many as 3,000 walkouts were planned, as young people gathered outside their schools, gave speeches, or took to the streets, increasing pressure on lawmakers to tighten gun control and increase school safety.” (The Atlantic)

A physicist’s farewell to Stephen Hawking: “May his example continue to inspire young people to beat the odds, and to ask big, ungainly questions about the universe.” (The New Yorker)

Rethinking work-life balance for women of color: “But this wave can’t ignore the unique circumstances of women of color nor the socioeconomic dynamics of how white women came to even begin to have the conversation about work-life balance in the first place.” (Slate)

Picture a leader. Is she a woman?: “Most people will draw a man. Researchers investigate the consequences.” (The New York Times)

‘I think we have a leadership problem’: They all said they wanted GOP leadership to address gun violence in a meaningful way. It’s not possible to have conversations, they told me, if there’s nothing on the table to talk about. (The Atlantic)

Why demonstrating is good for kids: Remarkably, they found that civic activity linked to better academic and financial outcomes regardless of early school performance and parental education levels, two factors that usually drive later success. (The New York Times)

Who is Conor Lamb?: “And now, with his victory in a district so Republican that Democrats did not even field a candidate in the last two elections, Mr. Lamb, 33, has offered a template that will be studied in congressional races where Democratic candidates need to win over voters who supported President Trump.” (The New York Times)