MEET OUR INTERNS
MEET OUR INTERNS // Abigail, Alexis, Connie, Kristina, Lauren, Margaryta, & Natalia
Name, age, location: Abigail (Abbie) Thigpen, 20, North Carolina U.S.
What’s one item on your bucket list?
To swim with dolphins in the wild.
How would you describe yourself in five words?
Curious, caring, amazed, creative, open.
If you could have a conversation with anyone in the world, who would it be?
My Grandmother, Monga, who I never met but who I’ve always thought of as a mystical and magical woman.
Name, age, location: Alexis Williams, 15, New Jersey
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for the number of opportunities I have been given in my life. From meeting special people like Sharon Robinson and a number of my favourite authors and artists, taking part in amazing projects like Relay for Life and writing for magazines like this one, and going to my favorite places like Puerto Rico and Florida.
If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
If I had the chance to go anywhere at the moment I’d have difficulty choosing between Havana, Cuba, because that is where my mom’s side of the family is from and I have never been, and a third world country, where I could bring materials that are lacking to help a community.
If you could wake up with a new talent, what would it be?
If I could wake up with any talent, I would love to be able to express myself eloquently effortlessly. Often times I stumble over my words and I get lost in what I am saying; I would love for every word that comes out of my mouth to flow elegantly with ease.
Name, age, location: Connie Tran, 19, Adelaide, Australia
What do you love about being a girl?
The unique—both romantic and platonic—bonds that form between females, the sense of unity and support we provide to each other in times of hardship. And of course, when girls compliment each other’s outfits and make up. <3
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Initially I would say “to control the element of air”, but heck—I’m going to be greedy and say to control all four elemental powers (fire, water, earth and air). But without the responsibility of saving the world, as it would inevitably befall me if this were a teen dystopian novel.
What’s your favourite place that you’ve been?
I haven’t been to many places but so far Melbourne, Australia is top of the list! It has a modern, trendy vibe to it, the shopping is great, and there’s always a funky café or cute store selling handmade items hidden around every corner!
Name, age, location: Kristina Nazariyan (I also spell it ‘Christina’), 17, Luxembourg.
List three of your favorite things.
My laptop, my school sweatshirt, and a blanket with little superheroes on them from Zara Kids I got as a surprise gift from my friends at summer camp after I was too proud to buy it myself.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
To take every opportunity. Honestly, I still don’t, often because I don’t have enough time. However, I do make an effort to take more opportunities, to travel, to try new things, to challenge myself, and so far I have very few regrets.
What is something not many people know about you?
That I loved theatre and performing when I was younger. I’m quite shy and nervous in front of crowds, but I used to be in a drama club in lower school, as well as in multiple films and theatre productions at my summer camp. I even won a medal at one point. I was nervous then, too, but I overcame that to do things like sing a solo in front of 300 people.
Name, age, location: Lauren Beanland, 18, Melbourne
What’s your favorite personal quality?
Personally I think that I am pretty diligent. I’ve always had a one track mind with things I want to achieve—and will do whatever I can do get it done! Hard work is just that—hard—but super rewarding. You can always find me trying to achieve ten things at once.
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
I’m desperate to go to Japan. I think it would be like another world! I adore the culture, the people, and also the food! My dream would be to go skiing in Japan with people I love.
What’s your favourite book?
My favourite book is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson. It’s absolutely insane, a little bit scary, and definitely not for the faint-hearted, but I love the journey it takes me on every time. I also love Hunter S. Thompson’s writing style; absolutely fearless and a very ridiculous.
Name, age, location: Margaryta Golovchenko, 19, Toronto
What’s your favorite quote?
“Do you know the legend about cicadas? They say they are the souls of poets who cannot keep quiet because, when they were alive, they never wrote the poems they wanted to.” – John Berger
It’s one of the two quotes I aim to live my life by as it reminds me that sitting around isn’t going lead to anything exciting, and taking risks is the only way to continue moving. It also captures the highs and lows I feel during writing, the highs being when I write, while the lows are the days, sometimes weeks, of silence when I cannot produce anything. It’s motivation to never be silent.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Be patient and pace yourself. I’m known to frequently bite off more than I can chew and challenge myself with things that I might not be capable of accomplishing at a specific moment. Now I work to pace myself and take gradual steps rather than trying to accomplish something big all at once.
What are five things that fascinate you?
1) Words.
2) A certain aesthetical touch in things, like a coffee shop with an adorable name, or jam jars, or cute business cards from a small gallery.
3) A sense of continuity between new things and something that I already know
4) Handmade things.
5) Hedgehogs, stars, and matadors, possibly even all combined together.
Name, age, location: Natalia Santis, 23, Aberdeen, Scotland
Do you collect anything?
I collect crystals. I love all the colours, shapes and meanings behind each one.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Waste Of Time by Box Of Light.
What do you wish you could change about the world?
Social inequality between genders.
