User Stories
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Snowballing Problems
The internet is a weird place. You can find pictures of cats, deep dives about a niche franchise older than you are, or in some cases, people talking about their existential crisis/incidents they just emerged from. Things ranging from “I’m 35 years old and after so much burnout and deep depression, I’ve finally found my…
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AI for Good Workshop
RSVP Are you passionate about responsible technology and making a social impact? We’ve got the perfect event for you! Join us for the AI for Good workshop, hosted by Bright Data and curaJOY. This immersive, free workshop is designed to explore the powerful intersection of AI, data science, and tech for good. Mark your calendars…
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Peer pressured into academic pressure
At the beginning of the second semester of my sophomore year of highschool, I made the decision to take AP Chemistry instead of a free period. And just like that, I was on track to have the hardest, most tiring semester I’ve ever had. It’s not as though it wasn’t obvious to me at the…
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Youth Voice in Youth-Centered Technology
In a world fueled by rapid technological advancements, it’s more important than ever for kids to have a say in youth-focused technology. Why? Because our voices in this space are severely limited. Just as products are designed with a specific audience in mind—like cancer treatments for those battling cancer or glasses tailored to people with…
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The Role of Community in Suicide Prevention
It’s often said that you might not fully understand a feeling until it hits close to home. That was true for me when my brother confided in me that he had attempted suicide a couple of times in the past week. I was both shocked and scared, unsure how to process the gravity of what…
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Friends and “Friends”
A few days ago, I had a dream. I dreamed I was in a school building of some sort, talking to my old friend, Cole. He said “Bianca, how come you didn’t respond to my discord messages?” I replied bitterly, “It’s because you never responded back to mine, because you never talked to me unless…
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The Hidden Crisis of Ghost Networks in Mental Health Care
Imagine desperately seeking mental health support, only to find that most listed providers are unreachable. This is the reality of “ghost networks” in U.S. healthcare. With studies showing up to 82% of listed mental health providers unavailable, patients face a frustrating maze of dead ends. How can we transform these ghost networks into genuine lifelines…
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The Circle of Control
In our Youth Ambassador orientation, fellow youth ambassadors and I created a venn diagram of what kids could and couldn’t control. As you can see, the things youth actually can control in their lives is very little. Based on what was written in the “I cannot control” circle, what do you think that says about…
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Cipher in the Snow
I grew up in a little farmhouse, outside a small midwestern town. Being the seventh of eight children, one would think that, in spite of being 10 miles/16km from town, perhaps my socialization did not suffer so much. After all, I was surrounded by seven siblings. Right? … Wrong! The eldest five were born one…
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Over Twenty Years of Struggling with Unnecessary Guilt
In July, the midnight sun of Northern Europe stretches the beauty of the city into 20 hours everyday. Enamored with such a summer, I often wander aimlessly around the city even at 11 p.m. One day during one of these leisurely walks, I received a rejection letter for a job I had previously applied for.…
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Under the Weight of Expectations
Everyone needs help from time to time—even the people who seem to have everything going for them. Sometimes, it is especially the ones who do well at school/work, the ones who don’t make a fuss, the ones who mask their symptoms well who need your time and care. I work with a wonderful and growing…
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If There Is Love
Mrs. Doubtfire, what happens after family separates?
