TAM Youth Advisory Board

Audrey is a junior from the Bay Area, California. Her favorite social media app is Instagram where she can connect with her friends through a collage of photos and reels. She hopes to weave her unique perspective on coding, ethics, and algorithmic biases from her technology background as well as confidence and inclusion from her mental health advocacy to accelerate TAM's adolescent social media and mental wellness research. Her favorite self-care activities include writing calligraphy, journaling, or hiking in nature.

Edward is entering 8th grade. He is very fascinated about careers in healthcare, mental health, and STEM fields. During this difficult time in the pandemic, his interest has sprung to learn more about a person’s well-being mentally and physically, especially when the use of technology plays such a critical role in students’ day-to-day learning. As a son of a psychologist and a child growing up as a bilingual learner, he is excited to learn more from renowned researchers and his fellow peers at TAM and share his experiences. He hopes that when he grows up, he will enter a profession that will benefit other people.

Jessica is entering 11th grade. She's excited to learn more about psychology and mental health, but is open open and receptive to anything presented at the colloquium! To be surrounded by many well-knowledged people with similar or different interests and opinions will be a great experience, and she looks forward to meeting everyone virtually. Jessica is a daughter of Canadian immigrants whose parents also immigrated.

Mia (She/Her) is a rising Sophomore at B. Reed Henderson High School in West Chester, PA. She is very interested in engineering, health care and other STEM related disciplines and hopes to eventually gain research experience in a STEM related area. She is an avid supporter of girls and women’s rights and loves drawing and creating. She put these two passions together to create her own small business where she uses her original artwork depicting women in a positive light to sell tees, mugs and other items. The proceeds from her business goes to support various charities, one of which is the No More Secrets period poverty organization, which works to end period poverty by providing free menstrual products and education on health and hygiene for women and girls. Through her support of this charity, Mia learned about the significant mental health issues that period poverty can cause and how technology is an important tool in helping connect those in need to services and resources. She is excited to participate as a TAM youth advisor to share her experiences with technology and how it can benefit teen mental health in many different ways.

Natasha (she/her) is entering her senior year in high school. Her favorite form of social media is Instagram because it is a chronicle of pictures, videos, and memories from the past few years and a way to connect with her friends during the pandemic. Natasha is excited to combine her backgrounds in mental and behavioral health research and algorithmic justice and ethical technology advocacy at TAM and hopes to explore the positive impacts tech can have on adolescent mental health. She also hurdles and runs track & field and enjoys photography and travel.

My name is Neo Hou, and I’m a senior in high school. My favorite social media is BeReal because of its casualness. My hobbies include listening to podcasts, video editing, research, and reading. Currently, I’m interested in mental health, mental illnesses, and human disease processes, and I aspire to pursue a career in medicine. I’m excited to work on the TAM YAB alongside like-minded people from around the country, and I hope to learn about the nuances of mental health and technology from my peers and mentors.

Shreya is a junior from Austin, Texas. Her favorite social media app is BeReal because it gives her an authentic glimpse of her friends' lives without stimulating a compulsive need to refresh. Shreya hopes to utilize her experiences serving on the IDRA's YAB and her love of the written word to contribute to conducive conversations on the relationship between technology and adolescent mental health. Her favorite ways to practice self-care include painting, making jewelry, writing, baking, and reorganizing an extensive sticker collection.

My name is Soleil and I am currently a junior at Flower Mound High School in Texas. I am a cheerleader and love cheering at late night football games! I also enjoy volunteering with the American Red Cross and local food pantries! I am so excited to be a part of the TAM YAB this year and make an impact on mental wellness in youth! I look forward to being a part of research on adolescent technology use and mental wellness and gaining more research skills! An aspiration of mine is to become a Pediatric Neurologist and I believe doctors should be researchers, so I plan to carry the research skills I gain into med school and eventually pediatric neurology!

Vakayla is entering 10th grade. Her favorite social media platform is instagram. She likes the fact she can stay in touch with people no matter where they are and see what her friends post. Vakayla wanted to be a part of this program because mental health is very import to her, and she likes how diverse the program is. She’s excited to hear the different point of views on technology and social media from everyone else involved.

My name is Varsha and I am currently a sophomore at Verona High School in Wisconsin. My favorite social media app is Pinterest because it makes it easy to express yourself with your interests and connect with others who have similar interests. I like to volunteer at my local hospital, read a lot, and play cello. I am interested in psychology and oncology and I want to pursue a career in medicine. So far I really like the advisory board and love to hear different opinions about mental health!

Yeva is entering 11th grade. Her favorite social media is Snapchat, as it helps her stay connected with people from different communities. She is excited to learn more about mental health on a psychological level. She enjoys playing multiple sports such as dance and golf. She is very excited to be part of the program and looks forward to getting to know everyone.