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Buoy is a social impact startup focused on enabling Brown University students to inspire one another through authentic student-centered testimonials.

*Plus a touch of crazy fun college humor😜 ! It was the winter break of my freshman year at Brown University and I found out I FAILED Principles of Economics...‼️

Never in my life had I experienced that much stress, anxiety, and depression. Fortunat

ely, I had my peers and teammates who picked me up with motivational and encouraging words that gave me the confidence that I could make it...and I DID! 🙂

After reflecting on my experience I wanted to create a resource for Brown students to inspire, motivate, and encourage one another on a regular basis.

Today that resource is an authentic, fun, and encouraging monthly email newsletter with 700+ Brown student subscribers. - Jordan Evans '14 (Founder)💪

18/07/2025

Ever been humbled by the great outdoors? ⛅️

For Ray Mandel-Mueller (‘26), a native of Somers, New York, the natural world has motivated them from a young age to be thankful for their friends and family.

“Growing up, my parents would take us to different national parks every summer. I think that being confronted with the enormity that exists around you, and the enormity of the natural world, makes me appreciate the connections that I have, as well as just the vastness of how interconnected everything is from an ecological perspective. If you’re gonna be hiking for miles and you’re out in the wilderness, it’s just limited contact with others. It’s humbling to understand that you’re a part of something bigger, rather than often the human focus, and being in spaces that aren’t necessarily designed for you.”

Ray’s reflection on these parks has inspired their interests in intimate communication, especially while studying Biology and Music at Brown.

“I am very much inspired by intimacy, music and art. I study communication in the biology research I do at Brown, and I think a lot about how you can get information from one person to another that isn’t just talking to someone. I am trying to explore intimacy in live performance as well as its relationship to electronic music or recorded music. I want to try out this larger group improvisation idea. I want to have a couple people in the situation know the songs I conduct and then a lot of people who don’t know what the songs are or how they’re played. That communication between musicians of not knowing what’s gonna happen or not having everything planned out can inspire new ideas.”

When asked about their plans, Ray responded with certainty about being productive in the moment.

“I tend to lean more so into whatever I’m making at the time, because that’s a concrete and immediate thing. I’m not typically thinking far out into the future like, “Oh, 10 years down the line, I want this to happen.” There’s no real way to know what’s gonna happen. So it’s just about what you can control now and immediately.”

Keep up the stellar work, Ray!

03/07/2025

Ever Pretended Like You ‘Have it All Together’?🤔

Whether at a social networking event or even just scrolling on social media the unrealistic goal of ‘having it all together’ impacts so many. Ask Manchester-by-the Sea, MA native Marco Kaper(Alpert Med School ‘28) about his journey and he will be honest about what he has learned along the way.

“Going through personal mental health struggles while being perceived as having everything opened my eyes to the stark reality that people live mostly in their heads. From this, I learned about the importance of supporting people, regardless of what I might perceive their external situation to be.”

For Marco this clarity and wisdom for handling personal mental health obstacles didn’t come overnight.

“Junior and Senior year of high school, as well as the freshman fall of college. Day-to-day, it took a toll socially. I felt disconnected from friends and peers. The key was identifying the root cause and finding solutions. This meant taking ownership of deficiencies to change how I interacted with people, how I held myself, and where I spent my energy. Of course, initially it’s hard. Change always is. With time and commitment, my perspective changed for the better.”

Looking ahead, this soon to be physician has big dreams. For Marco, the goal of becoming a physician can be summed up quite simply.

“My goal of becoming a physician stems from a deep desire to help people with what they’ll always have to live with. Their body and mind.”

Congrats Marco! Keep Going. 💪

30/06/2025

The Buoy at Brown newsletter team is looking to bring on a ✍️writer/content creator. With 900+ Brown U undergrad and grad subscribers, we’re pumped to be working with the University to expand Buoy’s reach even further on campus.

Important deets about the role:

💰Earn $35 per written article (Don’t worry if you don’t have journalism experience we’ll coach you up). You too will support publishing your content via our popular newsletters and social media handles
Support our fun on campus(or virtual events)
Who we’re looking for:

Brown Undergrad, Grad, or recent alum
Lover of the Buoy newsletter
A people person who is passionate about the Brown community
*Note: You do NOT have to be an English concentrator, avid writer, or journalist to apply.

If you’re interested simply send us a DM

26/06/2025

Ever Been the First Doctor in Your Family?👩🏾‍⚕️

Wilmington, Delaware native Kalyn Nix (Alpert Medical Student 2026) is on the path to make a major impact not only within her family but her community and beyond.

“My family inspires me! I will be the first doctor in my family, and growing up in a community with limited health literacy or access to care I am so grateful for the opportunity to eventually care for communities like my own.”

Ask Kalyn about the journey thus far and she will be honest about some of the challenges along the way.

“I think a life experience that has really kept me motivated towards helping others is supporting family members battling with very challenging illnesses during medical school. I couldn’t always attend every event or take on every project I wanted. But I learned a way more valuable lesson which is that you never know what someone else is carrying, so it can profoundly help someone else to just take a small portion of the load off. I have tried to apply this understanding to my leadership roles - really working to build teams that are supportive and understanding that life is always happening while we are doing life. I really look forward to getting to help carry some of the weight that my future patients carry and walk with them through their difficult times to hopefully make it just a little easier.”

Wise beyond her years, it’s evident that Kalyn’s favorite quote has fueled her desire to live a purpose filled life.

“Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” which is a guiding principle in my life - everything is going to work out exactly how it should!”

Congrats Kalyn! Keep going 💪

18/04/2025

Ever Made Change Through Kindness? 💕

From Seattle, WA, Kamya Raman (‘27) .raman knows that she has to be the change she wants to see in the world. This is clear to anyone who discusses her mindset and aspirations with her.

Her favorite quote, for example, comes from Dr. Seuss, and reads, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” She explains why this resonates with her so much: “I like that quote because it reminds me that change happens through concerted effort. It takes dedication and persistence to make a difference!”

Other inspirations in Kamya’s life include...

“Strong independent women. I am especially inspired by Alexandra Ocasio Cortez, Kamala Harris, and Ida Rhodes.”

It’s not just public figures like these from whom Kamya gains motivation, though. She also looks to those closest to her.

“Seeing my friends and family support me every step of the way encourages me to do the same for others. I would not be where I am without the love of my support systems.”

While Kamya might not know exactly what comes next, she knows it will involve leaving her mark on the world in a positive way.

“As a personal goal I want to contribute what I can to making the world a kinder, more welcoming place! As a professional goal I want to make a concrete contribution to my field, as soon as I figure out what that field is :).”

Amazing, Kamya! Keep doing you. 🎉🎉

28/02/2025

Ever Had To Learn Something the Hard Way?

Molly Ibrahim (‘27) is originally from Giza, Egypt, but discusses moving to New York City in middle school.

“I moved to New York a couple of days before my first day of 6th grade. As if middle school is not notorious enough for being challenging, it was my first day in any SCHOOL in the US. In Egyptian schools, if a teacher calls your name you have to stand up and respond out of respect. In my first class, the teacher called my name for attendance and in the middle of 35 judgy 11-year-olds I stood up and said ‘present’ and everyone burst out laughing. I think about that, like, maybe once a year honestly.”

Molly recovered from this experience, however, and discusses her current inspirations and goals.

“My parents inspire me more than anything. Their unconditional love and support has motivated me to pursue my passions whether that be academic or not.”

What are these passions of hers?

“I want to run a marathon at least once in my life, preferably the NYC marathon. Career wise, I would like to be a surgeon. I originally thought about pursuing orthopedics, but after seeing some of those surgical tools, I have become a little weary.”

Molly’s diverse set of aspirations is fitting with her favorite quote, from author Sylvia Plath:

“I can never read all the books I want; I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life. And I am horribly limited.”

Amazing, Molly! Keep it up.

06/02/2025

Ever Learned a Language? 🗣️

Emily Mansfield (‘27), from Brooklyn, NY, discusses the immersive experience of learning a language—both its challenges and the new perspective it offers.

“I spent last summer at an immersion program at Middlebury College, where I was only allowed to speak Mandarin for 8 weeks. Without a full vocabulary to express myself, I struggled to keep up both academically and socially. However, leaving the program, I gained a greater understanding of myself and a greater respect for those around me who are learning English as their second language. This experience demonstrated to me how language learning is a deeply rewarding avenue for connection with others, and I encourage all language learning enthusiasts to continue their journey, even (and especially!) when it is not easy.”

It’s no wonder language inspires Emily, with its potential to create lasting bonds between people:

“I am inspired by how powerful human connection is. I think life is about connection, in all its vastness and depth. Whether waving to an acquaintance, making a new friend at a party, or learning something new and surprising about an old friend, I am constantly surprised by how connection, in all its forms, teaches me joy.”

So, how does Emily hope to use this powerful tool?

“I hope to find a way to combine my deep interest in connecting with others and my passion for advancing equity as I seek to find my place in this world! I am excited to find a direction to achieve this at Brown and beyond.”

Emily’s favorite quote comes from Nikki Giovanni: “I share with the painters the desire/ To put a three-dimensional picture/ On a one-dimensional surface.”

Incredible, Emily. Keep going! 🎉🎉

23/01/2025

Ever Found Community Where You Didn’t Expect?🌎

For Owen Fick (‘27) from Reading, Pennsylvania, he did not have a standard path to finding his community as a result of the COVID pandemic.

“The pandemic was rough for everyone, and I really struggled during this time. I found it hard to maintain connections with friends after seeing them in person almost every day for years. Schoolwork was even more challenging without me being able to engage with my teachers in a way that supported my educational needs. However, I found ways to find joy during the pandemic. I talked with friends online and played video games where I met many new people that I value to this day. While it seemed like COVID closed a lot of doors at the time, it also opened new ones that I couldn’t imagine living without today. Even during a really difficult time in my life, I was still able to find communities where I was able to be myself and find new friends.”

For Owen, the pandemic brought not only community, but also a cause to enact change.

“During the COVID-19 Pandemic, misinformation about the disease spread across social media platforms and hindered efforts made by the government to contain Covid. I want to help reestablish the public’s trust in the scientific and medical communities because their work is vitally important in keeping the public healthy and safe. Researchers must always keep the people they intend to help in mind so they can truly offer productive solutions to the world’s problems.”

With his goals and ambitions in mind, Owen learned to appreciate those around him.

“My family and friends have always supported me both inside and outside of school and inspired me to work hard and have fun. My parents were extremely helpful and encouraging when applying to schools, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I also work at a local Montessori school where my kids inspire me every single day to love learning and helping others. Working in education has taught me a lot of life lessons, and I want to leave a positive impact on my students so they can continue to grow and learn about things they are passionate about.”

Amazing, Owen! Keep it up.

02/01/2025

Ever Set Your Sights on Changing Lives?💜

For Shunsake Sakagami (‘27) who hails from Livermore, California, inspiration has always come from those closest to them: their mom and high school friends.

“My mom and my high school friends have been my biggest inspirations in encouraging me, and I am very grateful for their support. My mom has worked multiple jobs, gotten up early to drive me to school, and so many more things to keep me learning. And in the end, she also helped me with my application to Brown! She has been my role model my whole life, and I push myself daily to make her proud. My friends have also been like a second family to me. We have pushed through to college together, and I couldn’t have made it through high school without them. Suffering through AP tests was fun in their company!”

Without the support of those around him, Shunsake may not have been able to work through the challenges in his path.

“Organic chemistry has been the most humbling experience at Brown. When I got my first test score back, I was super dejected. But I asked my friends for help, and they gave me plenty of support and I kept on improving my exam grades, all the way up to the final! Looking back, I don’t regret taking that class at all, because it taught me so much more than chemistry: it also taught me that even if things don’t work out at first, I should just try again and keep on improving.”
With the backing of those closest to him, it is no surprise that Shunsake has, and will, continue to progress towards his professional and personal goals.

“My goal in life right now is to get into the biotech industry and make life-saving medicine for people. When the pandemic hit, I watched the doctors and scientists on the news work tirelessly to make vaccines for us. Because of their efforts, we were able to return to our normal lives. I found that so inspiring that I decided that I wanted to join in as well so that when the world faces another pandemic or disaster, I can help save the world.”

Amazing, Shunsake! Keep it up.🌟

20/12/2024

Ever Worked In A Museum? 🖼️ 🎨

From Newton, MA, Toby Otting (‘27) says he gets much inspiration from an internship that allows him to put two of his interests together—art history and education.

“I’d like to go into the art world—I just got my concentration approved in art history today. And if I don’t like that, I might like to go into education. I’m enjoying an educational internship that I have right now.

I work as an Educational Fellow at the RISD Museum, giving educational tours through the museum for K-12 students, based on pre-visits and lesson plan building. I study some of the artworks, and then I go around and do activities depending on the age of the students I get to work with. I find the students’ willingness to be really open minded about artwork to be really inspiring.”

Toby has had to use open-mindedness to adapt to life at Brown University, coming from a nontraditional high school experience.

“I went to a non-testing High School, and now I feel like there are a lot of things I don’t know how to do here. I didn’t really do any standardized testing in high school and hadn’t ever really written any critical art-historical papers. I got here and I was having a hard time with testing. I found that to be really difficult. My class sizes were pretty set in high school at like 17 people, and all of my classes here are either seven people or like 100 people, so I find it sort of hard on both sides.”

So, how does Toby stay motivated to persevere?

“I’m inspired by the drive to be able to look back at what I’m doing right now from the future and be proud of what I’ve done.”

Fitting for his interest in art, Toby cites this Frida Kahlo quote as his favorite: “I never painted dreams. I painted my reality.”

Incredible, Toby. Keep going! 🎨

06/12/2024

Ever Surrounded Yourself With Inspiring Figures?☄️

For Bruno Solano (‘27) who hails from McAllen, Texas, his parents and siblings have always played an important role in his life.

“I have always been inspired by my family, especially my parents. Day in and day out, my dad has always been working, just so that the rest of his family can be comfortable at home. Similarly, my mom, as a stay-at-home parent, is working endlessly throughout the day just so that my brothers and I can focus on our academics and build a future for ourselves. Together, my parents have taught me that sacrifices must be made in order to be successful and build my future. Next, my older brother has also inspired me to be the best version of myself in my academics and professional pursuits. Growing up, he has always been a role model for me, often being the pioneer for countless new experiences and professional pursuits that no one in my family has done before. Even though we are studying completely different fields of science, I hope to be as successful (if not more) as he is.”

This inspiration has followed Bruno throughout his life, especially during his first semester at college, where he faced an entirely new and challenging environment.

“Growing up, I was naturally smart and excelled in most of my classes. This continued all the way to my first semester at Brown, where I got humbled really quickly. I thought I could get away with minimal studying like I did in high school, but that was not the case. Thankfully, I had friends and family to support me, and they did not let me discourage myself. As hard as my schooling has been since then, my support system which consists of my friends and family has not let me down and has kept me motivated throughout the past two years at Brown. To this day, I still plan on pursuing my dream of becoming a pediatrician and changing my family’s status for the better, and I do not plan on slowing down anytime soon.”

With the backing of those closest to him, it is no surprise that Bruno has, and will, continue to succeed through his academic and professional endeavors.

Amazing, Bruno! Keep it up.

21/11/2024

Ever Learned That Rejection Is Part Of The Process? ✨💪

Rebecca Goodman, , a member of the Class of 2027 from Cambridge, MA, has. It’s just one step in the process of achieving her ultimate goal—becoming a published author.

“I want to be a writer, and a big part of that is rejection. I have received countless rejection emails from publications who aren’t interested in my work. While it can be discouraging, every rejection is practice in redirecting and making my work better. And every once in a while, I get a ‘yes.’”

So, where does Rebecca hope to publish her writing?

“My biggest dream is to work at The New York Times or to at least have a story published by them. In general, I want to publish my own books, both fiction and nonfiction novels.”

It is fitting, then, that Rebecca’s favorite quote comes from the celebrated fiction and nonfiction author Joan Didion in her book The White Album: “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.”

It is clear that Rebecca is constantly engaging with the stories all around her, taking from them the inspiration she needs to continue on toward her goals. She’s especially motivated by the many people who are around her own age making waves with their art. She says,

“What inspires me is seeing other people my age be creative. For example, I saw Romeo and Juliet this weekend, and I was amazed to realize actor Kit Connor is my age. Watching someone so young do such amazing work inspires me to do my own.”

Amazing, Rebecca! We can’t wait to see what you create next. 😎

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