Welcome our amazing group of summer 2021 interns! We are so thrilled to have these individuals on our team and to advocate for mental health alongside them.
Caroline Klinger
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I go to the University of Delaware, and I am majoring in sociology with a political science minor.
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Newark, Del.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what makes you most excited about your role?
I am interning with the Programs Team, and am so excited to work with the speakers bureau! I once attended an Active Minds Speakers event, and am thrilled to get to help provide similar experiences for other students.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
Apart from wanting internship experience with a non-profit organization, I felt aligned with the mission of Active Minds. Mental health advocacy is something that has always been important to me, so I feel extremely fulfilled by the work I’ve done here so far.
5. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
I’m motivated by wanting to better the communities I’m part of, and wanting to be the best version of myself for the people that I love.
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I’m currently binge-watching “Modern Family.”
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy yoga, meditation and spending time with my friends.
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
I would love to go to dinner with Taylor Swift.
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My favorite vacations have always been spent with my family in Stone Harbor, N.J., but I’ve always wanted to go abroad and visit Greece or Italy as well.
Cassidy Wilkins
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I went to Sacramento City College, as well as Skyline College, where I started an Active Minds Chapter! I spent about five years in community college, and graduated in 2020 with three degrees; AA-T in psychology, AA-T in social justice reform, and an AS-T in cognitive and behavioral sciences. I am currently a community studies major at the University of California, Santa Cruz!
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up partly in the bay area, but most significantly in the Central Valley near Sacramento, Calif.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what makes you most excited about your role?
I am interning for the Chapters Team! I love that I am sending emails to chapters and fielding questions, because I have been on the other end of this exact inbox.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
Because of my previous affiliation and love for Active Minds, I switched from a major in psychology to community studies, which has a built-in component where we intern for a non-profit. Active Minds has opened a new door into working in and around mental health, and I’m in love! I would love to work for Active Minds in the future.
5. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
My sweet dog Willow gets me out of bed in the morning!
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I’m not one for binge-watching, but I re-watch some of my favorite shows often, like “The Office,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Schitt’s Creek.”
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
Living in such a beautiful place in California, I spend as much time as I can among the redwoods or at the beach!
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
I would go to dinner with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I have so many questions!
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My ideal vacation would be spent on a secluded beach, with no worries in the world!
Evan Scheinberg 
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I am a rising senior at the College of Charleston, and I am an English major with focuses in literature and rhetoric/publication.
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Potomac, Md.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what makes you most excited about your role?
I am interning with the Development Team. I am most excited to hear back from all of the chapters I have reached out to about Active Minds’ Spirit Week 2021, as well as continuing to contribute to other external affairs projects.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
When looking for an internship, I knew the two most important things to look for were the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills I have learned in school to a new setting, and to find a company whose message I could buy into and who is making a real impact on the world. Active Minds offered me the opportunity to achieve both of these goals.
5. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
The thought of being able to go out and seize what the day has to offer … and a really loud iPhone alarm.
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I am currently re-watching “Seinfeld” and “Community,” which are my two favorite shows of all-time.
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to read novels, play with my dog, watch sports and hang out with my friends during my free time.
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
It would definitely have to be Jay-Z.
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My ideal vacation would be some time on a nice beach or in the mountains, far away from technology!
Faith Witherspoon
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I went to Ithaca College and studied public and community health with a minor in speech therapy.
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up on the Lower East Side in New York City.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what are you most excited about your role?
I am interning with the Programs Team. I am excited to get to meet new people and learn more about Active Minds, as well as getting to help advocate for something I am passionate about.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I struggle with anxiety and depression and it was very hard for me to be open with myself about it. I want to help advocate for mental health within the youth, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.
5. What makes you get out of bed each morning?
Knowing that there are people looking up to me is what gets me out of bed each morning. There are people that are inspired by my motivation, drive and ambition to keep moving forward no matter the circumstances. I know where I want to go in life, and my drive to achieve my goals gets me out of bed every morning.
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I am currently binge-watching a show called “Manifest.”
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to go shopping, watch YouTube videos and Netflix, go out to eat with friends and family, sleep and play with my dog.
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
I would say Megan Thee Stallion. We both lost our parents and we both love music. I feel that we can connect on both of those topics. I also just love her music in general.
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My ideal vacation would be traveling to the Bahamas, sitting under palm trees, sipping on mimosas, blasting music with my friends and eating amazing food. I would take a lot of pictures, meet new people and do things other people wouldn’t normally do.
Julia Sims
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
Currently, I am a rising senior at Ramapo College of New Jersey and I’m majoring in visual communication design.
2. Where did you grow up?
I was born in Connecticut, but the majority of my life has been spent in a small town called Whitehouse Station, N.J.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what are you most excited about your role?
I’m interning for the Graphic Design Team, and I’m most excited about building my design skills throughout the course of the internship.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I have been a part of the chapter at my school since my freshman year, and this upcoming year I will be the president. Having this internship combines my love for the organization with my career goal as a graphic designer.
5. What makes you get out of bed each morning?
My cats help me get out of bed each morning! My family has five of them.
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
Right now I’m watching “Psych,” a show about a “psychic” detective who works with the local police department. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes comedy and/or detective shows.
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
I really enjoy sewing as well as doing sudoku and crossword puzzles. I’m essentially an old lady trapped in the body of a young adult.
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
That’s a tough one! I think I would choose to go to dinner with Taylor Swift because I love her music and we would probably have fun bonding over our cats.
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My ideal vacation is doing anything relaxing, possibly a spa retreat or even just a staycation at home.
Meghan Nelligan
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I studied English at Syracuse University.
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Montville, N.J.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what makes you most excited about your role?
I have been interning for the Communications Team since January. I am currently most excited for our TikTok to launch. It has been so amazing to be involved in the process and see all of the work that goes into making social media content.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
Active Minds had such an impact on me as an undergraduate student, and taught me how to be there for my own mental health, as well as for others. When I first began interning, I only saw myself as a writer, but since being here I have realized that I have many other skills that are helpful at Active Minds. This internship has really opened my eyes to many paths I can go down, and has reminded me that mental health awareness will always be a priority in my life!
5. What makes you get out of bed each morning?
I really look forward to the little things: seeing my dogs, saying, “Good morning,” to my mom and making an iced coffee. Interning here has also given me a lot of reasons to get up and get going!
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I’ve been binge-watching “The Handmaid’s Tale”! I read the book and just love how they have taken Margaret Atwood’s work and pushed it further. And the acting is phenomenal!
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
I love going to the beach, baking vegan desserts, doing yoga and reading a good book. I also love starting my day off with journaling and writing affirmations; it allows for a peaceful morning!
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
It would have to be Taylor Swift. I would just love to meet her and become best friends! She has been an inspiration for me when it comes to writing. Her lyrics are always so imaginative, vulnerable, and beautiful. I also admire the person she is aside from her art. She deals with personal conflicts with such grace and strength, and it motivates me to do the same.
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My top two places to travel right now are Australia and Taiwan. I have friends in both places and would love to see where they are from and just explore a new culture!
Mia Starvarksi
1. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do you study?
I’m a rising senior at Temple University. I’m majoring in art therapy and minoring in psychology.
2. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Lititz, Pa.
3. Which team are you interning for, and what makes you most excited about your role?
I am part of the Chapters Team. I am most excited about making connections with various chapters across the country.
4. Why did you want to intern for Active Minds?
I wanted to intern for Active Minds because college is a time of change and growth, but many get overwhelmed with transitions and schoolwork and end up neglecting their health. I love this cause and what Active Minds advocates for.
5. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
I get out of bed in the morning because I want to live! I can’t wait to graduate, go to grad school, start a career in art therapy, buy a house, travel and just live my life.
6. What are you currently binge-watching?
I am currently binge-watching “MasterChef”! I love Gordon Ramsey, so I’m also watching the twentieth season of “Hell’s Kitchen” since it’s coming out.
7. What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I like to watch television, cook, walk my dog and make art, among many other things!
8. If you could go to dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
If I could go to dinner with a famous person, it would probably be Frida Kahlo.
9. Describe your ideal vacation.
My ideal vacation is going to a place by the beach that isn’t super crowded. I would also love a bay area to go kayaking or paddleboarding. A nice town with good ice cream places is also ideal!
