Adolescent Appreciation Month – Alana Curry
Alana Mykel Curry | Hopewell High School
Alana Curry (right) and her friend Alyssa Hamm are students at UNC Charlotte. They both participated in Teen Health Connection’s Leadership Summits and are still using skills they learned to be successful in college.
Years You Were Involved with Teen Health Connection?
2023 – 2024
School Attending Now?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
What is your major?
I am currently majoring in Pre-Professional Exercise Science
What are your future plans?
I am currently on track to Physical Therapy School to be a Pediatric Physical Therapist, but I am also exploring careers in social work.
What Teen Health Connection programs and services did you participate in?
My first introduction to Teen Health Connection was through a mentor who invited several of her mentees to the Teen Leadership Summit in 2023. I attended the Summit a bit nervous because there were so many people I didn’t know and a program I was unfamiliar with. I quickly bonded with some of the older and younger leaders and began to truly enjoy my time. By the end of the Summit, I didn’t want to leave. I’ll cherish the memories I made there every day. After the Summit, I engaged with the Teen Advisory Board, attending weekly meetings and engaging with the members. I learned many skills such as emotional regulation, substance abuse awareness, and recognizing the many signs of prominent issues teens are facing.
How did Teen Health Connection help you?
Teen Health Connection allowed me to get to know people from the surrounding communities and recognize that I am not alone in some of the ways I feel and the things we as youth go through each day. I was also able to meet and connect with mentors and adult staff who provide perspective and can help you navigate challenges and provide resources that may not be accessible to teens on their own. I have been able to share the resources Teen Health Connection provides with friends and peers. Lastly, I have been able to network and make connections that will benefit me throughout my college and adult life and career.
