Our Team

Why did you decide to become a member of the Student Advisory Council?

Author Bernadine Evaristo’s unconventional expression, coined “fusion fiction,” combines poetry and prose. Omitting standard punctuation in favor of line breaks, Evaristo amplifies marginalized voices with nuance and understanding.

Digital media often lacks the ambiguities of experience, which literature or other forms of media encompass, creating “black” and “white” depictions, contributing to the formation of divisive digital echo chambers.

I joined the Digital Wellness Lab’s Student Advisory Council to understand better the barriers this division poses to diverse communities, and the actions teens are taking to actively resist this uniformity. I hope to gain a more comprehensive viewpoint on digital wellness and a modern perspective on how rapid technological changes, particularly in artificial intelligence, are impacting various career fields.

What do you want to do after high school?

After high school I plan to major in psychology and minor in english. I hope to go to graduate school and obtain a PhD to become a rehabilitation psychology; through interdisciplinary learning and my own diverse background I will cater to the multiplicity of identity.

What are you doing online when you feel happiest, most positive?

With the inclusion of unsalted pretzels and spoken word poetry by William Shatner, the Medium Place is situated as “eternal mediocrity.” Part of Michael Schur’s Netflix show, which questions the labeling of “good” and “bad” in an afterlife, the Medium Place is born as a humorous middle ground. I’m fascinated by the idea of an in-between Utopia. To that end, make a list of other “medium” things, for example, someone could eat pasta, but only overcooked Ramen without seasoning.

I am happiest when I consume media where I can engage directly with storytelling and form my own opinion, as seen in my television show obsession. Moreover, as part of a birth defect awareness organization, I conduct interviews with families who have children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. There is something deeply meaningful when engaging with these personal perspectives, and even more so when I speak to these parents face-to-face on Zoom or receive photos of their children for the written spotlight.

Secondarily, online one-and-one messaging friends, and literary critique on Google Docs for English class, never fail to make my day more positive.

Essentially, happiness online for me emerges from the aspects in which I can control.

Advice you’d give your 10-year old self about the internet:

I would inform my 10-year-old self that the Internet offers so many opportunities, and learning to use the tools it offers will allow her to connect with others in new ways.

I would tell my 10-year-old self that the Internet can allow her to develop her interests and hobbies, self-guided.

I would alert my 10-year-old self to the dangers and misleading nature of the Internet, reminding her of the importance and meaning of digital literacy.

I would assure my 10-year-old self to operate authentically and not feel pressured to be constantly “plugged in.”