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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)💪

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. 😎

04/11/2024

Ever Combined Your Passions?

From Queens, NY, Jacob Grandchamps (‘28) has found opportunities to put together his interests into powerful projects. For example…

“I really like to draw, but I also like to program. So what I’m doing right now is using art pieces to create a game, a story-game, based on another game that I saw about a year ago that was really cool. I’m using that as a template. I have to make a lot of different art pieces, so it might take me about three or four years of my college experience, and hopefully I can publish it after I graduate. It’s been a big hobby: coding plus my interest in art.”

How does he stay motivated with such a long term project?

“You can go through times where you’re really happy with the project, and then like, a week later, not so much. The way I go around that is taking breaks, and also looking at related content and projects for inspiration. Sometimes I’ll go pick up a book that has something related to what I’m thinking about. For example, for the project I’m working on right now, I have to draw a lot of animals and things like that. But sometimes I can’t go to real life to find the inspiration for my designs, so I’ll pick up a book from the bookstore that has a field guide with pictures, and I’ll just page through tha. Or I might go on YouTube, and watch something that’s really interesting and that makes me think about the project again.

Sometimes I also just like doing something I really enjoy that’s completely different, like seeing friends, or relaxing and watching a good show. Then when I come back to the project I start fresh.”

Even during these long projects, Jacob never loses sight of his fundamental connection to the topics that interest him and the connections between them.

“I’ve always been passionate about the environment, but also, I like tech. The advantages in technology are creating a kind of arms race between protecting nature and also getting technology that might help to protect nature, but at the same time that might be pushing against it. So I want to find a balance between the two, because I’m passionate about both of them.”

Amazing, Jacob. Keep going!

17/10/2024

Ever Fought One of Your Siblings?✨⭐️

For Jeanus-Luc Canlapan (27), of Phillipsburg, NJ, his journey is defined by the inspiration he draws from those closest to him.

“My source of inspiration is definitely my family. I have three brothers at home, and like every brother we pick on each other, fight over the little things, but nonetheless drive one another to succeed. My brothers are always there for me, providing guidance and a sense of ease whenever our family faces tough circumstances. They give me the motivation to work hard, while being resilient in the face of adversity. Next, my dad is one of the funniest and if not the corniest person that I know, but at the same time insanely brilliant. Growing up, he was my Bill Nye, and he’s one of the reasons that I’m drawn to biology and biomedical engineering.

Finally, there’s the cornerstone of the family, my mom. She’s undoubtedly the most hard-working person in the entire family, working as a full-time nurse in New York, and part-time at our local nursing home in Jersey. I’ve never seen anyone else match her sheer willingness and determination, and likewise, she’s a true role model for me. Despite being at college, I always try to make the time to check-in with all of them as they are truly my biggest supporters and the engine behind everything that I strive to accomplish.”

It has not always been easy for Jeanus to strive towards his goals.

“Growing up, I was often hesitant to ask for help, especially as I was surrounded by peers who seemed to excel effortlessly in school and extracurriculars. This left me feeling discouraged from trying new clubs or pushing myself academically. However, after witnessing my family face financial and social challenges, I realized I needed to work harder in my studies to better support them in the future. I found that my determination and tenacity allowed me to push through, including reaching out for help when I need it. I learned that seeking guidance is a strength, not a weakness, and it played a crucial role in my growth. Overall, seeking help and support has been vital to my growth, and I believe it can be equally beneficial for others.”

Amazing, Jeanus! Keep it up!

10/10/2024

Ever Been on Medical Leave?

An Urban Studies and Engineering concentrator, Eliana Hornbuckle (’25) has had a variety of mental and physical obstacles during her time at Brown, including returning from medical leave, and she’s overcome each of them. She speaks about the lessons picked up along the way:
"I’ve learned so much in the past three years at Brown and away from Brown on medical leave. Most of these lessons came from my challenges with mental health (depression, anxiety) while starting college online at Brown in Spring 2021. I’ve learned that mental health is just as important as physical health and it’s normal to struggle.

Likewise, I’ve picked up lessons through various physical injuries, most recently pneumonia. I’ve learned to respect rest and that I can be adaptable. My health and well-being, both physical and mental, are my top priority. If I am not a whole, healthy being then I will not be a successful student."

Two communities on campus help Eliana stay healthy. She enjoys playing alto saxophone with the Brown University Band and organizing various community-building events as a leader for Rural Students @ Brown. Eliana also shared a little about one of her idols, Allie Ostrander:

“One of my biggest inspirations is Allie Ostrander, an elite runner who has struggled with an eating disorder and other mental health challenges. She is very open about her struggles on her YouTube channel. She and others who advocate for mental health awareness inspire me to be open about my own struggles in the hopes that it will help others.”

Eliana’s words fit well with one of her favorite quotes, from Morgan Harper Nichols: “As you learn to fly, may you also learn to rest. For both will prepare you for the journey ahead.” With a mind for resilience and openness, this Nevada, Iowa resident leaves us with a few final words of encouragement:

“It’s okay and normal to drop a class. It’s okay and normal to ask for help. It’s okay and normal to struggle with your mental health. It’s okay and normal to take leave or take a break. You are on your own timeline; don’t compare your journey to others.”

Inspirational, Eliana! Keep it up!

03/10/2024

Ever Landed On Your Feet? ⛸️

Porter Culp (‘28), from La Crosse WI, is no stranger to balance. Which comes in handy, considering he’s a talented figure skater!

“I’ve been skating for over 10 years, and in that time I feel like I’ve come to understand the challenges of burnout in skating, but also in many other parts of life. There’s always something more to work towards in figure skating, whether it’s your next competition, skating skills test, or jump you’re trying to learn. You’re never really at a settled point, there’s always a new thing to do.

Throughout all of this, there’s also the challenge of staying focused on the sport while dealing with all the other things life throws at you. I spent a lot of time in high school figuring out how to balance my time between these things. All of that experience in my skating with staying focused and finding a healthy balance has given me a better understanding of the importance of not overworking myself and finding time for self-care. It’s so easy to burn out with how busy our lives are, so I encourage mindfulness and finding time for rest and relaxation even if it feels like there’s so much else going on around you.”

Even while impressive on his own, Porter never fails to stop to look at those around him, with all their motivating passions and goals.

“I get most of my inspiration from my friends and their passions. Everyone around me has such different interests and they all pursue them in such different ways. For example, one of my best friends from high school only recently learned of her love for film and since then she has dived deep into the subject and is studying it in college now. I find it really inspiring how she found something she was very passionate about and then strongly pursued it. These first few weeks at Brown have been really amazing because everyone is so driven and passionate about what they do, and that attitude is really contagious.

I’m not sure what path I’ll end up on by the time I’ve graduated, but I can’t wait to get involved in all the opportunities Brown and Providence have to offer!”

Amazing, Porter! Keep going! ❄️✨

19/09/2024

Ever Been Self-Motivated?🤩🤩

For Cinnaminson, New Jersey native Nicholas Olson (‘27) self-motivation has helped him to find a great deal of success thus far on his journey. Nicholas will be honest though about some of the challenges he faced growing up.

“I grew up in a low-income household. My mom had multiple sclerosis, my dad worked as a car mechanic, and one of my two sisters had cerebral palsy. As the oldest of three siblings, I quickly realized how our paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle diminished the quality of our lives. I recognized this unfortunate circumstance and worked my way to create a better life for myself. In doing so, I ended up leaving my parents and sisters to live with my grandparents because I believed they could better support me. However, my grandfather soon passed away, but then my friend’s family offered to take me in.”

While many may have caved under the immense pressures Nicholas faced, his determination and willpower pushed him through.

“My dream has forever been to transcend my circumstances and enjoy life as much as I can. I want to be a psychiatrist, father, husband, friend, and fitness enthusiast. I want to be the best human I can be and change my family’s trajectory by achieving a life of financial comfort in which finances will not stress me, my partner, or my children. I know I can achieve these goals of mine because my many struggles and blessings have equipped me with the tools, lessons, and mindset necessary to do so. This drives me to achieve them.”

With these experiences, Nicholas maintains a gracious attitude toward all of the moments in his life.

“I am inspired by the endless beauty and opportunity I see in being alive and healthy. I know that I can achieve the life of my dreams with dedication, grit, and passion, and I am constantly reverent of the great blessing of being alive. I try to approach every day and all its moments, mundane or extraordinary, with a sense of grateful awe because I know that one day I will die. I do not want to look back on my life with the regret that I did not appreciate it enough.”

Amazing, Nicholas! Keep it up.

29/08/2024

Ever Overcome Olympic Adversity?

Vincent Zhou (’25.5) has won an array of medals at major figure skating competitions — including the Olympics. But success didn’t just fall into Vincent’s lap. As he shares, success comes through adversity.

“Fresh off the high of a breakout performance at the 2018 Winter Olympics, I was on track to achieving my childhood dream of being one of the greatest figure skaters ever. But, as the year progressed, I saw failure after failure at big competitions. I learned quickly that attaining greatness was anything but linear, and I never again took success and fortune for granted. To this day, that season’s lessons help me keep the peaks of my career in perspective and remind myself that success is transient at best.”

Several years later, this Palo Alto, California native encountered an extraordinary setback at the Olympics:

"At the 2022 Olympics, after winning gold in the team event, I tested positive for COVID the night before the much more important individual event, something I had trained my entire life for. I was transported into isolation and spent the rest of my Olympics alone in a dark hotel room, watching others realize the dream I could not reach. I fell into a dark place. The World Championships, which could very well be the final competition of my career, was coming up in just a few weeks, but I failed to see the purpose of trying when I had done so at 110% for 16 years only to have my one dream taken away.

However, with just a few days until Worlds, underneath the agony I realized that I would never forgive myself for giving up. So when it mattered most, my mindset did not fail me. The simple act of picking up my skates and boarding that plane freed me. I was free of my usual fear of failure, from the pressure of a World Championships, because those things were nothing compared to what I had just overcome.

By not giving up, I already won my hardest battle. Despite having gone nearly six weeks without training, I was performing better than ever before. No amount of talent or training could have made that possible — it was 100% my mindset."

Exceptional, Vincent! Keep up your amazing performances!

22/08/2024

Ever Heard of the GaoKao?📚

For Ari Wang (‘27), hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado, with roots that stretch from Rochester, New York, to rural China, his journey to Brown University is shaped by cultural diversity and determination.

“My father is the person who inspires me the most. Born on a sweet potato farm in rural China, he grew up without any of the luxuries we have today. Our family was incredibly poor, and barely had enough money to even send him to school. Nonetheless, with the few resources he had, he was committed to getting an education, and after years of hard work, he became the first person in our family to pass the ruthless GaoKao Chinese entrance exam and attend college. This eventually culminated into him immigrating to the US to work toward a PhD in organic chemistry. Fun fact: the glowing and color-changing inks on Glowberry PRIME bottles and Coors Light cans are something he worked on.”

Ari may not be leaning towards chemistry like his father, but the same grit drives him forward, especially in the academic side of his passion.
“While I don’t think I’ll ever take a chemistry class during my time here at Brown, my dad’s diligence motivates me to persist in my own studies in mathematics, no matter how challenging it becomes. I hope one day to get my own PhD in mathematics and work in academia. I’ve always enjoyed learning and teaching math, and working as a professor combines these two passions.

Furthermore, Ari has something unique pushing him towards his goals.

“I know the route to this goal is going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m driven by the thought of naming a new theorem I potentially discover someday.”

Amazing, Ari! Keep Going.

15/08/2024

Ever Embraced Your Boredom? 🥱💡

Christina Wang (‘26) is a RISD student who often brings her creativity to Brown’s campus through awesome endeavors like the Brown Journal of Healthcare Advancement and her startup, .connect . Originally from Toronto, Canada, she grew up in Shangxi, China with someone who instilled determination in her:

“I find inspiration in the unconditional love my grandmother has quietly provided me. Her sacrifice and unwavering trust in me have translated into my work—I’ve learned to have unwavering trust in building a big idea. I am inspired when I work on problems larger than myself, in which my ego is diminished to the pure pursuit of building. Love for the people around me drives me to problem-solve, work around restrictions, and embrace the impossible.”

Christina notes that she’s often built her biggest ideas from an unexpected source: boredom.

“I want to encourage people to embrace their boredom, especially in an attention economy when sitting with our feelings and thoughts seems scary. Boredom has sparked some of the most pivotal moments of my life, pushing my thinking and creativity forward.

In first grade, I got bored and made a bank simulation game inspired by my grandmother who was the first female bank manager of her town. In grade 5, I asked a classmate if she wanted to make a song during recess, and now she’s one of my best friends. In middle school with time to spare during lunch, I wrote and published a book that later had me invited to a panel.

Slowly, I began to see boredom as an opportunity. I unintentionally gained a repository of skills and mindsets that helped with my next project. And the creativity feels fresh because I build something out of the pure joy of it.”

So, using this unique philosophy, what’s Christina’s next big idea?

“I deeply care about using industrial design to innovate biomedical products that practice Human-Centered Design Thinking. I want to use illustrations combined with digital technology to revolutionize scientific communications to be representative, effective, and accessible.”

Inspiring, Christina! 🎉🎉🎉

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