Say hello to our wonderful group of fall 2020 interns! We are so excited to learn and grow alongside these passionate and driven mental health advocates.
Abigail Brown
Where do/did you go to school and what do/did you study?
I went to school at Ohio University and graduated with a BS in Graphic Design with a Social Media certificate.
Where is home for you and where are you currently interning from?
Home is Athens, OH, and I am currently interning from Austin.
Which team are you interning for at Active Minds?
Communications and Marketing Team.
What does Active Minds mean to you?
Active Minds means learning how to cope, helping others learn how to cope with their struggles, and knowing that you are never alone.
Why did you want to intern at Active Minds?
I interned with Active Minds in 2018, and I’m interning again because I needed a reminder that I could still help people who are struggling with mental illness, even if I was dealing with my own mental illness.
Favorite way to unplug while working virtually?
I usually unplug from technology and plug in my diffuser to the woodsy scent, Grove, by Vitruvi while cuddling with my cat, Ringo.
What are you currently binge-watching right now?
The last show I binged was Normal People on Hulu.
In my free time you can find me…
In my free time, you can find me strolling along our neighborhood park looking for the turtle who lives in the creek there. My sister and I named him Amadeus, Ami, for short.
Favorite thing to do in your hometown?
My favorite thing to do when I’m in my hometown would be going to the local coffee shop, Donkey Coffee, and ordering a large power chai (also called a dirty chai) with two extra shots of espresso and a giant chewy oatmeal cookie!
Elaina Suraez
Where do/did you go to school and what do/did you study?
I attend the University of Texas at San Antonio, and I am studying psychology and sociology.
Where is home for you and where are you currently interning from?
Home for me is anywhere with family, but I am currently interning from my hometown Pflugerville, Texas.
Which team are you interning for at Active Minds?
Development
What does Active Minds mean to you?
Active Minds, to me, means support, understanding, multiple chances, open-mindedness, love, and community. It means wanting to help others by trying to see what the other person is going through and being able to give them immense love regardless of what they have been through or what they are currently going through.
Why did you want to intern at Active Minds?
Active Minds lets others know they are not alone. If you are struggling, everyone struggles, and to make it better we can talk about it openly. Active Minds interested me because it reassures people that it is okay to not be okay and to seek out help. Everyone has something going on in their life whether, that be depression, anxiety, or stress, and that is completely normal. It doesn’t mean you are “crazy” or “broken,” it just means you are human. As someone who struggles with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, it is very important to me that Active Minds is doing everything they can to take major steps in fighting the negative stigma around mental health. We don’t have to suffer in silence but can fight together loud and proud. To be a part of that is exactly why I wanted to intern so I could be a part of the bigger mission.
Favorite way to unplug while working virtually?
My favorite way to unplug is by hanging out with my cousins, playing games, and singing karaoke. Family is a big part of my life, and they are fundamental to me working virtually.
What are you currently binge-watching right now?
I am currently binge-watching a Youtuber named Cody Ko with my boyfriend, Love it or List it with my mom, and Married at First Sight when I am alone. My favorite show is Supernatural, and it’s their last and final season, so it is only a matter of time before I watch all 15 seasons.
In my free time you can find me…
In my free time, you can find me either journaling about various topics or dancing like nobody’s watching. One of my favorite things to do is choreograph dances.
Favorite thing to do in your hometown?
I love to drive around and go to the lake. It’s so peaceful, especially in the evening. I am given the chance to just be and it is something that I value immensely.
Helen Zhong
Where do/did you go to school and what do/did you study?
I recently graduated from UCLA, and I double majored in Sociology and Gender Studies.
Where is home for you and where are you currently interning from?
I grew up in the Bay Area, which is where I am currently interning.
Which team are you interning for at Active Minds?
Programs
What does Active Minds mean to you?
To me, Active Minds is a reminder that we are never alone, and that it is okay — life-saving, even— to talk about tough topics.
Why did you want to intern at Active Minds?
I wanted to intern at Active Minds because I care deeply about mental health advocacy and suicide prevention. Like many others, I’ve had my own struggles with mental health, and the mission of Active Minds resonates with me so much. I would love to pursue non-profit or social justice work in the future, so I am very excited to join the team and take part in impacting the lives of other young adults. It’s been amazing to meet everyone and to work alongside so many passionate and dedicated individuals!
Favorite way to unplug while working virtually?
I love being outside and spending time with my dogs! It’s still very sunny and warm here in California, so I’ve been trying to squeeze in as much daylight as possible.
What are you currently binge-watching right now?
I’m currently watching the second season of Pose, in between my countless rewatches of Community.
In my free time you can find me…
Painting in my sketchbook and, more recently, rollerblading. One of these days I’ll try and do both at the same time.
Favorite thing to do in your hometown?
Renting a boat and/or watching the geese at Lake Elizabeth!
Kamryn Prince
Where do/did you go to school and what do/did you study?
I attend George Washington University, and I’m studying Human Services and Social Justice with a minor in Journalism and Mass Communications.
Where is home for you and where are you currently interning from?
Home for me is Brooklyn, NY, and I am currently working from DC on campus.
Which team are you interning for at Active Minds?
Communications
What does Active Minds mean to you?
To me, Active Minds means advocating for mental health awareness/education and developing an understanding community that works to positively impact and support people dealing with issues surrounding mental health.
Why did you want to intern at Active Minds?
I wanted to intern with Active Minds because the past couple of years I’ve grown very passionate about mental health awareness, especially in the African American community. Many resources have developed over the years to access communities to help better understand, deal with, and discuss mental health issues. Active Minds, being one of those resources, is so vital to the younger generation. I love that I am a part of a community that strives to push the conversation of mental health forward.
Favorite way to unplug while working virtually?
My favorite way to unplug is by listening to music, cooking, and talking to my family.
What are you currently binge-watching right now?
I am currently binge-watching Girlfriends on Netflix and Nip/Tuck on Hulu!
In my free time you can find me…
Journaling, taking pictures, and visiting art museums.
Favorite thing to do in your hometown?
When I am home, my favorite thing to do is go into the city and roam around Soho and Greenwich Village.
D’Asia Burrell
Where do/did you go to school and what do/did you study?
I am a junior at Howard University, studying Psychology and Biology.
Where is home for you and where are you currently interning from?
Saint Paul, Minnesota!
Which team are you interning for at Active Minds?
Speakers team
What does Active Minds mean to you?
Mental Health is not a prioritized focus for communities of color. Active Minds emphasizes the importance of raising awareness to all individuals in all different aspects. This is the first organization that I have seen work tirelessly to execute changing the conversation about mental health. I am beyond grateful to be a part of a community where mental health isn’t shied away or looked past.
Why did you want to intern at Active Minds?
I’ve been wanting to start a chapter of Active Minds on campus, but organization intake only occurs every so often. I came across the intern post on the Active Minds Instagram page and decided that this would be a great alternative until then.
Favorite way to unplug while working virtually?
Catching up with family and friends.
What are you currently binge-watching right now?
Sadly nothing as of now.
In my free time you can find me…
Volunteering with the Crisis Text Line or planning events with Waves of Change HBCU!
Favorite thing to do in your hometown?
Go to my favorite lakes and eat, of course!