Buoy, Warwick, RI (2026)

04/02/2026

After six years of partnering with the Office of Campus Life to support student well-being and belonging, our journey is coming to an unexpected end.

Due to university “financial constraints,” our partnership has been discontinued. Despite our best efforts to advocate for the continued need for this space—particularly during this sensitive time of healing for the Brown community—we have not been able to gain traction with the administration. Consequently, Buoy at Brown will sunset at the conclusion of this academic year.

While we are deeply saddened by this decision, we are remarkably grateful for the thousands of subscribers and the many students who shared their voices with us over the years. You made this mission possible.

With gratitude,
a.evans (‘14)
Founder, Buoy

04/02/2026

Ever Contemplated Your Place in the Universe?
Brought up in Connecticut, Alice Xu (‘28) is still figuring out which pathways she wants to undertake at Brown. Along the way, she highlights the impact of strong social networks and close relationships in offering her constant reassurance through their presence. In terms of who inspires her most, she replied:

“The people I love! Maybe I am biased, but either way. And perhaps it is less so that they are doing particularly inspirational things, though of course they are, but that I know they are human and can see where they struggle and so the fact of them simply meeting every day is inspirational.”

In particular, contemplating the vastness of the cosmos and our place in it from a metaphysical standpoint is what grounds her external philosophy:

“This sounds maybe a bit “woo-woo”, but I think the most humbling thing to me is the knowledge of how infinitesimal we are in the grand scheme of all that is out there and all that is undiscovered. I sometimes think about the fact that, at every moment, we are moving to a new position in space and will never again come to exactly the one before. It feels simultaneously suffocating and freeing to think of myself in the context of this vast, ever-expanding universe . . . It is the sort of feeling which makes me want to appreciate every leaf crunching beneath my feet in the fall, before every last one is swept out by the winter, and care far less about that question I missed on that exam that one time (many times). When I follow this (albeit a bit convoluted) thought process, I feel more clarity with regards to what is truly important to me, which is mainly to just be a help to others and increase the net ‘good’.”

In terms of her future, she had this to say: “Very generally, I would like to live a life where I feel joy and give joy, a life I am proud of, however that pans out.”

This pithy statement very much reflects the candid, open-minded attitude she approaches her day-to-day affairs with, whether that be the affinity dance group Moli, or her job as a Community Coordinator (RA).

Lovely to see how you take on what the world has to offer, Alice! 🌍🎉

03/12/2026

Ever Made a Lasting Impact?

An international student from Kampala, Uganda, Krystal Mwesige (‘29) touches on the significance of faith as a guiding mechanism for attaining clarity and reassurance in her daily life. Her favorite quote is from Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”

Currently, she finds that she is “inspired by this message to Zerubbabel, the Governor of Judah, as he faced the monumental task of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. It reminds him, and me, that human strength/intellect/aspiration can only go so far, but the Lord’s spirit can help us accomplish far more than we can on our own.”

Indeed, Krystal has been forced to grapple with a number of emotional, medical, and physical hurdles from a young age. From life-threatening health risks from COVID and malaria, to attending high school alone in a foreign country, Krystal admits that her journey: “has been far from linear (as I’m sure no one’s is). Life has brought very low lows and very high highs. But as you navigate life’s turbulence, your perspective begins to shift. You start to focus on the things that truly matter. Success becomes less about accomplishments or traditional markers, and more about the impact you leave on the world, on friends and family, and on the environment. You realize that life is fragile, and you strive to create a lasting impact and leave a meaningful legacy. That’s what I’m striving for, here at Brown and beyond. Impact that transcends my own lifetime.”

Down the line, she dreams of applying her STEM education to give back to global communities as an advocate and changemaker:

“I want to become an electrical engineer and design affordable, clean energy solutions for low-income communities and countries. I also want to work in peace and conflict transformation. I want to teach, to speak, to facilitate, and to inspire young people to believe that no dream is too big. I also hope to lead teams and unite people to solve problems that matter. The list goes on, but at the core of everything I do is a hope to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Let your spirit take you farther and farther, Krystal! 🧑‍🔬💡

03/05/2026

Ever given up something you love?

Kiele Morgan (‘27), hailing from New York, NY, is currently co-captain of the Women’s Club Soccer Team at Brown. However, her time as a soccer player at Brown has had its fair share of ups and downs.

“Sophomore year of college I had a muscle sprain in my back. In short, I was out for that season. It was a challenging period for me but it helped me realize truly how difficult injuries and chronic pain are for those dealing with them. Since the injury, I have tried to always lead with empathy and patience when interacting with those on my team who are going through tough physical challenges.”

On top of being a co-captain and also mentoring upcoming BOLT Leaders as a mentor, Kiele values the importance of human connection. When asked what inspires them, Kiele replied with, “I am inspired by my friends and family! They go above and beyond for others, as well as their own drive and work ethic, and their kindness and thoughtfulness is amazing. Everyone around me has so many unique perspectives and beautiful attributes that I hope to understand and learn from. I am inspired by these people to continue to grow into a better person.”

With this strong, unwavering belief in herself, Kiele continues to make sure that everyone around her is supported: “I love running, reading, playing guitar and taking long walks. However, it’s always better when I get to do it with friends.”

With her neuroscience concentration, Kiele wants to extend this kindness to her ultimate goal of helping others! “I want to make a positive impact on the world working with some sort of global health organization. I don’t exactly know what I want to do, but doing health or education outreach is what I am leaning towards!”

Kiele’s adaptable mindset is all the more supported by her favorite quote: “Be the change you want to see.”

Can’t wait to see where you go from here, Kiele! ⚽️🏟️✨

02/19/2026

Ever Been Saved by a Snack?

Born and bred in Charlotte, NC, Evan Li (‘28) finds himself guided by a diverse array of passions and miscellaneous interests, from gender studies to East Asian history to public policy.

At Brown, he’s felt grateful to have been given the breadth to dabble in an abundance of challenging and intellectually stimulating opportunities. Unlike his peers and educators, however, Evan feels empowered not by a specific cause or subject, but rather the journey of self-discovery:

“I’m not sure exactly what inspires me, but I do know who I want to be. There are some people I’ve met — a guy selling antique cameras at the Providence flea market, my friends who are really into Kpop, and most of my Brown professors — who I immediately know are passionate about something. Not just ‘haha this is a side hobby’, passionate. Passionate in the sense that I have to be careful about mentioning Kpop artists or else I’ll get dragged into a three hour long rant about the newest Twitter discourse. I want to have that fire for something in my life. Finding that pursuit is what drives and inspires me.”

His friends have been central to supporting his pursuit of self-improvement. Hee recalls a fond instance from his freshman year when a friend swung by to offer some support during a hectic finals week:

“When I was slogging through a 20-page paper at the end of last semester, my friend brought me yogurt and a Nutri-grain bar. It really lit up the depressing, dingy atmosphere of the 13th floor of the Sci-Li. He also still had exams to study for, but the fact that he was able to take time out of his equally pressing study session to give me some food really showed me that having my own problems shouldn’t limit my encouragement of others.”

Looking forward, although his career aspirations have yet to fully crystalize, Evan had this to say about his goals for the near future:

“My current aspiration is to finally, successfully print a photograph on a leaf. I tried and failed in high school, but I’ll get it one day.”

Such a creative and inspiring approach to finding yourself, Evan – manifesting lots of successful leaf photos to come! 📷🍃

02/12/2026

Ever felt left behind by your peers? 📚📙📕

Hailing from Sitka, AK, Mia Anderson (‘26) experienced some challenges transitioning from her high school to learning at Brown.

“I attended a boarding high school that served students from across the state. As a result, classes were designed to accommodate a wide range of academic backgrounds. By the time I graduated, I had not taken physics or completed a calculus course because the curriculum did not allow all the material to be covered. When I arrived at Brown, I felt behind many of my peers and experienced significant imposter syndrome. Many of the friends I made were in classes one or two levels above me and, in the courses we shared, were performing much better. I struggled to adjust my learning style to not only learn the material being taught, but also to fill in the background knowledge that was often assumed.”

In the face of these challenges, Mia was grateful to receive mentorship and encouragement from classmates and faculty along the way: “They helped me learn how to succeed in my classes, encouraged me to ask questions, and made me feel supported. This support has inspired me to want to help others, especially those who may be navigating similar challenges.”

Mia is now studying Biomedical Engineering and Data Fluency at Brown, a career that she wants to pursue after two big setbacks in her life.

“Growing up, I was always involved in sports, dance, and outdoor activities like hiking. However, in high school, I suffered a knee injury that kept me away from these activities for several months and it took a toll on my mental health. Around the same time that I injured my knee, my grandfather suffered a heart attack that left him partially paralyzed. It was clear that he was still the same person mentally, but he was physically restricted in ways he could do very little about. The contrast between our experiences made me realize that I want to pursue a career that allows me to help others live their lives to the fullest, regardless of their situation. This realization ultimately led me to pursue a career in biomedical engineering.”

Way to go, Mia! You’re doing amazing! 🤩 🙌

01/29/2026

Ever Been a Fish Out of Water?

A proud Oklahoma native, Brown-RISD student Olivia Wang (‘28) has always found value in “hearing stories of artists, doctors, or writers discovering their passion or purpose later in life.”

In particular, a quote that has stuck with her encapsulates this desire to stay open and receptive to life’s possibilities:

“‘Every day is all there is,’ Joan Didion said once in response to a reporter to explain why she uses her good silver. I think it’s easy to think that our life will really only begin when xyz happens, but the truth is that our entire life really just comes down to what happens every day. It’s a big but comforting thought, because it helps me just focus on taking it one day at a time.

She describes how embracing self-reliance was key to facilitating her adjustment from a small town to a large, prestigious college in New England:

“My whole life, I only ever went to small schools where everyone knew everyone, which felt safe and familiar. I had a big whiplash in university. This is not meant to sound cynical, but the truth is nobody can really look out for you as well as you can for yourself. You gotta build self-trust and always have your own back. But the good news is that nobody’s really looking at you, so it doesn’t matter if you change your major 3x, ditch or make new friends, or become a whole different person. Change is inevitable — and this is a comforting thing.”

Right now, Olivia revels in the small pleasures of life on campus, balancing academics with friendships and hobbies. Long term, she aspires to be a medical professional who dabbles in artistic pursuits:

“Since every day is all there is — my dream day is sleeping in from a late night shift, stretching or working out, making breakfast, studying and working productively for a bit, listening to music I like, checking in with some friends, and falling asleep rather quickly. In general, I’m working on becoming an EMT right now, but I’ll see where that takes me. I’m interested in becoming a PA or CNM (certified nurse midwife). I’d like to have a painting studio, too, eventually.”

Keep on tackling the unknown, Olivia – there’s much more to come! 🧑‍🎨🩺

01/22/2026

Ever tried reaching for the stars? ⭐️ ✨

From Dallas, Texas, Elisa Carroll (‘26), who studies English and Applied Mathematics, thought that her dreams might have been out of reach.

“When I was applying to colleges, I didn’t have much confidence in myself. I didn’t push myself to be in an environment where something felt too prestigious for me. I didn’t think I could go to a place like Brown. When I was at a different school my freshman year, even though I made friends and enjoyed my time, I realized that I could shoot for the stars. So I gave it my all, and I was lucky enough to transfer to Brown my sophomore year.”

Elisa continues following this new mindset; she uses it to inspire others.

“When my younger brother and his friends came to me for college advice, I encouraged them to shoot for the stars too. When I’m in different social groups, such as Club Lacrosse or my Consulting Group, I encourage everyone to give it your best and to not limit yourself to what you can accomplish.”

A senior at Brown, Elisa reflects on the how much she has enjoyed campus life over the years:

“I’m inspired by my friends and peers. At Brown, there is a culture where everyone is independent; they pursue and go above and beyond with what they’re passionate about. At the same time, that passion is so genuine, and combined with Brown being an accessible institution, it’s a great learning environment. One of my friends is super knowledgeable about music production, and yet I know nothing about it. But just working with her, I get to learn so much because I’m with her. With these friends and learning about their unique passions, I feel like I’m learning much more.”
Now looking forward to the future, Elisa hopes to work in film!

“I love storytelling, collaboration, and ideas. I want to be in the film industry. I want to work with other people to bring meaningful stories to life. When I was part of the Collegiate Consulting Group, I was lucky enough to lead a project for Letterboxd, an online film cataloging service. I worked with a lovely group of people for that project, and I would love to continue working with others in production.

Can’t wait to see your first film, Elisa! 🎬🎉

01/06/2026

Ever Persevered through Grief?

Raised in Elkhart, IN, Salah Ali (‘28) has aspired to become a physician since he was in fifth grade helping his mother with her preparations to become a lab technician. He vividly recounts a moment from back then that sparked his career aspirations:

“I remember one day–amongst all of the confusing vocabulary and terminology–excitedly telling my mother that I knew what hemoglobins were, mistakenly thinking they were like the hemoglobins from this one video game I played growing up. I remember asking her what ‘this spinny device was,’ learning that it was called a centrifuge, and that its purpose was to separate red blood cells, plasma, and other blood components from whole blood. These reports were what sparked my interest in medicine.”

Indeed, Salah’s a deep believer that: “In medicine, healing doesn’t start from prescriptions or surgeries, it often begins in a conversation, a hand on the shoulder, or simply just being present.”

And over his time at Brown, he’s gained profound insight from the relationships and connections made in the wake of a devastating personal loss:

“Just two weeks into my first semester at Brown, I got a call one night from my brother. That was when the most difficult thing that has ever happened to me began: experiencing and overcoming the grief that came with the passing of my father. After hearing the news that night and attending his funeral a couple days later, I felt completely and utterly devoid of emotion, sense of productivity, and lament.

It took all of my first semester and a majority of my second semester to finally heal from this despair and grasp how to move forward. When dealing with grief, it doesn’t get easier, but it did become more manageable as I learned to accept reality for what it was and live in the moment. The communities I found myself a part of at Brown supported me in this realization, and that’s where I have learned that connection is crucial in encouraging others, especially when providing guidance.”

What a remarkable story of overcoming. Salah – we wish you nothing but the best on your journey! 🧑‍🔬🧬

12/04/2025

Ever almost fail your Latin class? 📕📒

This was the case for Pete Peterson (‘26), from Columbia, SC, who took a Latin class first thing his freshman year. Despite floundering with the ancient language initially, there was some silver lining for him at the end of the road.

“I took the class S/NC, and I firmly believe that I passed out of pity. But! I learned a lot in that class, and only because of Brown’s open curriculum was I able to take it, learn a lot about Roman satire, and not have an awful grade on my transcript. Whenever people ask about taking a class that is out of their league, I always encourage them to go for it — that’s why you went to Brown in the first place!”

Pete now has the mindset to encourage others to confront their own challenges – for instance, through his leadership in on-campus extracurriculars.

“I am a captain of the Brown lacrosse club. I’ve met some of my favorite people through the club. I also am the middle school lacrosse coach at Moses Brown School across the street. I take pride in educating the youth.”

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Pete has found ways to destress and self-care that work for him.

“I love watching chess videos from Eric Rosen as well as the late, great, Danya Naroditsky to relieve stress. Eating Blue Room muffins with my girlfriend, Eileen, is huge for that too. I love listening to Glaive too. That guy gets it.”

With this motivational mindset, he looks forward to accomplishing a few dreams of his own!

“I aspire to be an attorney. Then maybe a writer. Then certainly cap it off by teaching. I really want a snake too. I would name him Bocephus. I think that’s a reference to some country music thing I am unaware of, but I once held a snake when I was little named Bocephus, and that’s where the inspiration comes from.”

Way to go, Pete! Keep at it! 🐍📖

11/27/2025

Ever Felt Compelled by New Discoveries?

A native New-Englander from Somerset, NJ, Brandon Montoya (‘28) cites the close-knit bonds with his family and friends as a principal driver behind his daily pursuits and the maintenance of interpersonal relationships long-term:

“My family provides me a network that I can rely on and inspires me to pursue my passions; they are always there as a support network that I can rely on whenever I need. Their support for me inspires me to reciprocate that encouragement to those around me, whether it be a friend in need or a stranger I just met. Being with other people and having new experiences together has been fun and enjoyable to me . . . Moments like these inspire me to encourage others and be there for those around me.”

One of the many ways that he hopes to advocate for his classmates and community members is through advancing technological discoveries in an era of rapidly-accelerating cross-sector growth:

“I’m hoping to find new ways to help people using technology. Whether it’s developing a new medical imaging device, discovering a new way to prevent a disease, or finding a more accessible way to do something, I want to find new ways to use technology to help others. With how quickly technology is advancing in our modern world, there’s a plethora of undiscovered benefits waiting to be found.”

Outside of more professional endeavors, Brandon also wants to re-immerse himself in a beloved pastime:

“As a more personal goal, I hope to start rowing more. Rowing is one of the many activities I was introduced to in high school that I found myself enjoying to this day. The sport has taught me to push what I thought I was capable of through its rigor and has made me into someone physically and mentally stronger as a result. I grew alongside my teammates as we became better together.”

Looking forward to seeing you make more gains, Brandon, both in and out of the classroom! 🧑‍💻🚣

11/13/2025

Ever got to work at your own summer camp? 🏕️ ☀️😎

For Jackson Schwartz (‘26), hailing from Greenwich, CT, he was eager to start working at his childhood camp.

“I was very excited to work there and confident that I’d be able to do everything asked of me well. Most of the job was working in the kitchen to serve meals, childcare, boating, and cleaning/grounds maintenance.”

“However, upon work starting, I realized that I had overestimated how easily I’d be able to just “pick up” the skills and knowledge necessary to do my job. Every aspect of the job, even the ones I had experience in and was most confident about, required new knowledge, adaption, and skills. It showed me that I had really taken for granted service work, childcare, and cleanliness. I came in feeling like a hot shot, and left feeling much more grounded in a world where I know so much less than I could ever know.”

Luckily Jackson has learned from these challenges and now focuses on pursuing his future ambitions.

“My overall dream job is to help provide a comfortable, fulfilling, loving life to a family of my own. Right now, the idea of work or career is secondary to my goals of contentment and cultivating love and happiness in the world around me. My dream is to wake up everyday happy and satisfied with what I have and what I am working towards. There are so many ways to achieve those goals, but as long as they’re met, I’ll be successful.

We wish you the best with your dreams, Jackson! 🤘🎊🎉

Buoy

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