Love Yourself Foundation

My name is Stephanie Valente, I am a third year at UNLV that just completed my internship as a Research Intern at the Love Yourself Foundation.

The Love Yourself Foundation (LYF) is a mental health-based organization that is extremely close to my major, Psychology. The way LYF tries to seek solutions to promote self-love and love for each other and the planet. This is done through blog posts, literature, and organizing campaigns to reach as many people as possible.

My internship allowed me to gain knowledge on how to complete a meta-analysis as well as be a part of a research paper where my name will be recognized as a co-author. I can apply what I've learned at LYF to future research opportunities I would like to pursue. My overall career goal is to become a child psychologist and publish further research on adverse childhood experiences. This internship was just the beginning, it allowed me to get my feet wet in this field of research.

Being organized in this organization is a MUST because you'll be reading so many articles it will make your head spin haha. But overall I believe you must be at least a sophomore/junior with AT LEAST some psychology courses to be successful in this internship. It can contribute a lot to their mission and will also help you understand what it is they are trying to research.

I decided to continue with LYF over the summer because I helped create something that can benefit a lot of people with depression and anxiety, or those trying to research ways how to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Helping others has always been one of my passion so I am interested in the mental health field.

One piece of advice I have for incoming interns is to apply!! Don't be overwhelmed or anxious about applying and interviewing, if you don't get it then oh well it's not the end of the world. Apply for others until you get what you are looking for, good luck!!