TAM Youth Advisory Board

My Name is Alex Mithun, and I am currently a Sophomore in highschool in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My favorite social media platforms are Instagram, Tik Tok, and Snapchat. There is a wide variety to these apps in terms of what you can view/post and how you can communicate with friends. I am a student athlete and believe strongly in using my voice and leadership to promote positive messaging in social media for young people. There is great value in collaboration, and the TAM community has a strong platform with which to share knowledge, messaging and optimism to youth across the nation.

Alexis is a sophomore at James River High School in Midlothian, VA, where she is part of a specialty center consisting of a cohort of fifty students in the Center for Leadership and International Studies. She is an avid member of her school’s Show Choir and Key Club and volunteers at the local library. Her interest in all things related to media, in addition to her personal experiences, inspired her to apply to serve as a TAM YAB member, and she is excited to contribute her voice to discussions about the research, development, and decision-making process to improve services for future youth.

Edward is a sophomore at Tenafly High School, located in Tenafly, NJ. His favorite social media platform is YouTube, as it is both a source of information and entertainment for him. He is interested in STEM and hopes to pursue a profession in healthcare. As the son of a psychologist and college professor, he is excited to learn more from renowned researchers and his fellow peers at TAM and share his experiences with technology and social media. In his free time, Edward enjoys playing tennis with friends, working on coding projects, and practicing the violin.

Grace is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School on Long Island, New York. Her favorite social media app is Snapchat as it allows her to uniquely manage her posts and friends, filtering the content she wants to see while engaging with her peers. As Grace serves as Editor-in-Chief of her school’s newspaper and is currently researching literacy rates across different Long Island schools through Kellenberg’s Research Club, her efforts are equally spent towards advancing her youth literacy organization, MedYouthUnited, and volunteering at a dance studio. Grace’s interests, ranging from clinical psychology to journalism, are rooted within her mission to advance youth literacy and mental health by properly integrating technological advancements. She is excited to join TAM’s team in sharing her knowledge of psychology and writing and to aid in establishing a clearer connection between technology and mental health.

My name is Jaylene Le and I am currently a junior in high school in Warwick, Rhode Island. My favorite social media platform is Instagram because I am able to conveniently interact with my friends and see multiple perspectives on current issues. My hobbies include listening to music, video games, fashion, and makeup. I hope to share my personal experiences as well as my interactions with others as a TAM youth advisor and contribute to the ongoing research regarding adolescence mental health.

My name is Jean-Luc and I am a high school sophomore. I often use the social media platform YouTube for academia and entertainment. I enjoy learning about technology and biology as well as playing cello. I am looking forward to engage in discussions and contribute to this emerging field.

Shreya K. is a high school student from the Bay Area, CA, known for her strong work ethic, excellent organizational skills, and dedication to making a positive impact in her community. Passionate about health and well-being, Shreya actively engages in spreading awareness on various health-related topics, particularly those affecting youth. She is deeply involved in local health boards, collaborating with community leaders and organizations to address pressing issues such as mental health, substance use, and the overall wellness of young people.In addition to her academic pursuits, Shreya enjoys spending her free time outdoors, walking her dog, watching sunsets, and curating Pinterest boards, finding creative ways to express herself. As a member of the TAM Youth Advisory Board, Shreya is excited to use her voice to help guide important conversations for youth well-being. She looks forward to contributing to initiatives that help empower young people to make informed decisions about their health and to continue fostering change in her community.

My name is Shreya R., and I am currently a Sophomore in High School in New Jersey, where I participate in multiple activities such as our Women in STEM club, and our Village Mentors club. Outside of school, I tutor and intern with some youth led organizations. My favorite social media apps up to date are TikTok and Instagram, because I am able to reach so many peers with just a click on a button. It has helped grow my networking abilities and has provided me with the knowledge and opportunity to be working with the TAM YAB. I am super excited to be able to share my insight and collaborate with peers on projects that will contribute to our knowledge on the topic of Mental Health and Technology.

Sonja is a sophomore in high school from Westchester, NY. Her favorite social media app is Pinterest, where she enjoys finding inspiration for fashion and art. Sonja's STEM interests revolve around biology and medicine, researching neurological disorders in her school's science research program. As part of the TAM YAB, she looks forward to using her knowledge of neuroscience and mental health to contribute unique perspectives on both technology's positive and negative impacts on youth. She is excited to learn from researchers and work with like-minded peers. Sonja hopes to pursue medicine in college, but in the meantime, she enjoys listening to music, volunteering at her local hospital, and playing volleyball.

My name is Zara Dawodu and I’m a junior in high school in Pennsylvania. My favorite social media app is Pinterest. I love being able to source creativity from the app. I am President of my school’s National STEM Honors Society and Secretary of my School’s Beyond the Bubble club, our cultural awareness club. I’m super passionate about science, art and learning about different places. My interests in STEM and people encouraged my interest in joining the TAM Youth Advisory board, where I am so excited to contribute to discussions about youth’s mental health and technology.