I chose the ADAPT internship to help make a positive impact on my community through advocacy and education. I was given the opportunity to use my love of research to help positively impact others and spread the word on certain social issues that our community faces, so I couldn't say no. I have loved every second of working with the team and enjoy collaborating with others toward a common goal.

I have chosen to live a drug free life for multiple reasons. I want my body to stay healthy so I can live a long life, I don't want to become addicted, and I want to take care of my mental health. ADAPT stuck out to me because I want to enter the medical field in the future, and currently, I am leaning towards mental health. Me and my family struggle with anxiety, and because it is such a prevalent issue in our lives, we have had to learn how to deal with it in a healthy way. Because I have had the resources to treat my anxiety and other mental health problems, I want to give other people the same opportunity. ADAPT gives me the opportunity to start this journey and learn about how mental health and substance abuse can create a negative feedback loop, and ways to combat this issue. 

I strive to live a substance free life and think it’s important because of the affect substance use can have on an individual’s life and wellbeing. Many individuals in my extended family have struggled with addiction, and I have seen how it can destroy lives and families. It’s the awful reality and needs to be prevented as early as possible. This also contributes to why I decided to join the ADAPT internship. Not only does substance use affect a persons relationships and present life, it can impact their physical and mental health long-term. Working on preventing substance use is extremely important to me and is very important for the health of the community.

When my dad was 22, his dad was killed by a drunk driver. I was never able to meet my grandfather because of one man’s decision to abuse a substance, endangering both himself and others. Because of this, and the genetically addictive behavior of some members of my family, alcohol has never been present in my household. Though this is the case, I have directly seen the effects of alcoholism throughout my extended family and have observed how it can negatively impact a person’s genuine self. Starting at the foundation of the issue is instrumental in helping people to live happier and healthier lives. The ADAPT Internship has given me the opportunity to start at the foundation and to help my peers navigate through the many transitional periods they are going through, while avoiding substance use. One fact or presentation is all that it takes to spark an interest or understanding. Being able to present to my peers has not only helped me with my public speaking skills and confidence, but it has allowed me to prevent youth substance use at the source. ADAPT has given me a platform where I am able to break down barriers by using my own voice to create change in my community and beyond.

I choose to be substance-free because I don’t want it to affect my mental health. I have always struggled with mental well-being and I know that using substances would only worsen my symptoms and how I feel on a day-to-day basis. I would like to keep my mental state stable.

I chose the ADAPT internship to help myself learn more about the effects and prevalence of substance abuse and mental health issues in my own community. As well as to help educate about, and prevent, substance abuse , and long term effects limiting mental and physical wellbeing. I have also struggled in the past with my own substance use issues and mental health issues and have received support and grown as a person, so I know what it’s like to struggle with those problems and I know there is always a way out of these issues. 

I chose this ADAPT internship because I've seen alcohol and drug use amongst my community and even closer, to my family members. I saw it affect the hispanic and Latine communities and know they needed help.  I even witnessed elementary schoolers experimenting with alcohol and drugs, including kids 15 years and older consuming alcoho. in front of their parents . 

I initially applied for the program called ADAPT (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team) since I have observed firsthand the consequences of illicit substance use, and wanted to provide my peers with more resources to prevent this. The more time I spent with ADAPT, the more I was able to branch out and expand on my initial goals. At the forefront of this program is the idea of collaboration. All of our efforts involve improving our community, as a whole, by working directly with community partners. Through the work I have done over the past year, I have seen incredible development in my problem-solving, collaboration, leadership, and public speaking skills! I am more active in my advocacy efforts, and take every opportunity I can to speak to peers, parents, and policy makers to increase awareness and information around the issue of substance use. ADAPT has allowed me to discover myself through the opportunities I have had, and the people I have had the pleasure of working with! I am incredibly grateful for the experiences I have had through this internship.