Longhorn Wellness Peer Educators Profiles
Alexia Schwartz
she/her
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Major: Health Promotion and Behavioral Science
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness means taking care of yourself and being mindful of what you need!
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I love doing pilates and I always try to be mindful of my nutrition.
Paola Perez
she/her
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Psychology
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness, to me, means being able to show up in my life with clarity, balance, and compassion for myself. It’s feeling emotionally grounded, physically cared for, and mentally at peace even when everything around me is stressful or uncertain. Wellness is having the space to breathe, the support to keep going, and the strength to honor what I need without feeling guilty for it.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I take care of myself by slowing down and checking in with how I’m really feeling, not just how I think I should feel. I create moments of quiet walking outside, journaling, or simply stepping away from the noise to reconnect with myself. I lean on the people I trust, let myself rest when life feels heavy, and remind myself that taking care of my mind and heart is just as important as taking care of everyone else.
Radhika Rao
she/her
Hometown: Katy, TX
Major: Public Health
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness means taking care of your physical and mental health and practicing habits that prioritize your health. It means understanding your emotions and focusing on the activities that make you the happiest.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I love spending time with my family and friends, watching shows, and taking naps!
Crystal Lerner
she/her
Hometown: Keller, TX
Major: Public Health (BS)/Plan II Honors (BA)
What does wellness mean to you?
To me, wellness is about being physically and mentally healthy enough to live life to the fullest. It requires discipline in developing good habits, resilience when dealing with challenging situations, and grounding your behavior in self-love.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I love talking to my friends, reading, listening to music, and stretching. I also really like writing/journaling as a way to decompress.
Aniyah Shephard
she/her
Hometown: Katy,TX
Major: Biology
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness is essentially taking care of your body in a way it actively satisfies the state of good health and improvement of quality of life.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I love to workout such as doing f45, pilates, cycling anything active! It allows me to not only relieve any stress from school but it also helps me better myself and become stronger mentally and physically!
Amanda Agu
she/her
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Health and Society
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness to me means being in the right mental, physical, and spiritual state, regardless of external hardships/situations.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I like to read my bible and pray, while also going outside once in awhile.
Isabella Serrao
she/her
Hometown: Corpus Christi, TX
Major: Public Health
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness means finding a sustainable balance in everyday life while intentionally prioritizing both physical and mental health. For me, this looks like incorporating movement or breathing exercises into a busy schedule to reset and destress, as well as leaning on social connections for support during challenging times.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I take care of myself by scheduling time to talk with my parents, friends, and family. Additionally, I love to cook for myself and others, listen to music, and engage in my favorite hobbies like vinyl collecting, pickleball, and exploring new restaurants and cafes in Austin!
Vaishnavi Joshi
she/her
Hometown: Plano, TX
Major: Psychology
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness is feeling confident and good in your body and your ability to function at your best consistently by taking care of yourself and prioritizing self care in your day to day life.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I make sure to get enough sleep and taking a moment to do something that makes me happy like seeing my friends!
Kayla Nguyen
she/her
Hometown: League City, TX
Major: Biology
What does wellness mean to you?
To me, wellness means devoting time in your schedule to yourself. Living a healthy balanced life keeps you energized for the goals you plan to achieve!
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I take care of myself by balancing my hobbies, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, and making time for friends and family.
Huy Huynh
he/him
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Major: Human Biology
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness is the practice of returning to the present to find happiness and clarity within myself. It creates the mental space to respond to life with grit and intention.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I take care of myself by walking, preparing high-fiber meals, and surrounding myself with supportive peers and mentors. I also prioritize immersing myself in each activity like eating and showering to live with intention instead of rushing.
Jett Smith
he/him
Hometown: Kingwood, TX
Major: Public Health
What does wellness mean to you?
To me, wellness doesn't mean happiness. It means finding joy in the good times as well as the bad.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I take care of myself through practicing yoga, staying connected with friends and family, and by prioritizing sleep.
Santo Maharaj - Riddell
he/him
Hometown: London, UK
Major: Psychology (BS)
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness for me is about staying present and caring for my emotional and physical health so that I can engage fully with the world and show up as the best version of myself.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I take care of myself by spending time with family and friends, playing soccer, listening to live music and watching old movies.
Sofia Skaria
she/her
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Public Health
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness means always prioritizing your mental and physical health by incorporating healthy habits in your daily routines. This can also mean simply listening to your body’s needs to avoid burnout and to live a fulfilling life.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I practice mindfulness meditation daily as a form of stress relief. I also love crocheting in my free-time. To keep my body active, I play tennis and workout!
Lizbeth Valencia
she/her
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Applied Movement Science
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness, to me, is adopting and maintaining habits that improves ones mental and physical well-being. It's also realizing current habits/lifestyle that are preventing one from improving their well-being.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I try to take care of myself by taking evening walks around campus. If I'm feeling really down, I get on call with friends and binge watch series/movies.
Abby Yook
she/her
Hometown: Flower Mound, TX
Major: Public Health
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness is listening to your body and making decisions that enhance your physical and mental health. Balancing life with activities that refuel yourself can be difficult. However, it’s important to remember that wellness is a continuous practice, not perfection. Self-care doesn’t have to be extravagant to be valuable.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
You can almost always find me taking a nap sometime during the day. I also love reading, running, journaling, and drinking hot chocolate (no matter the season).
Christeena Thomas
she/her
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Public Health
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness means thriving in all the ways that important to me.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
Reading and spending time meditating are two things that help me feel taken care of.
Hannah Gan
she/her
Hometown: Plano, TX
Major: Biochemistry
What does wellness mean to you?
To me, wellness means paying attention to your body so that you can balance your physical, mental, and emotional health to maintain a stable, fulfilling life.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I take care of myself by spending time with the people I love, staying active (I love pilates), and unwinding at the end of a difficult day or week by doing something I enjoy, like reading a book, cooking/baking, journaling, listening to music, or watching a movie.
Kripa Kohli
she/her
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Major: Biology
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness means being healthy and feeling good in my own skin!
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I like to make sure I get enough sleep, eat a good breakfast, and I make sure to meet my friends to maintain a social connection to take care of myself. I make sure to take breaks throughout the day while studying or after class!
Ria Manchanda
she/her
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Public Health
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness to me means taking care of yourself and listening to your body, especially when life gets busy.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I like to go on walks outside, do hot yoga, and spend time with my friends and family.
Maddyn Hartzog
she/her
Hometown: Lufkin, TX
Major: Health and Society
What does wellness mean to you?
Being forgiving to yourself, and make healthy choices that make you feel good.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I make sure to make time for art!
Zeeyad Anwar
he/him
Hometown: Plano, TX
Major: Neuroscience
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness to me means holistic fulfillment of the body’s needs.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I love listening to music, going on walks, and trying new foods across Austin.
Victoria Acosta
she/her
Hometown: Weslaco, TX
Major: Biology
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness to me is about more than just being physically healthy, it’s about feeling balanced in every part of my life. It’s making time for my mental, emotional, and spiritual health and recognizing when I need to slow down, recharge, or ask for support. Wellness means being intentional about how I live each day, staying connected to the people and activities that bring me joy, and learning how to manage stress in ways that work for me.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I take care of myself in a variety of ways. Some days that looks like exercising or being active, other days it’s journaling, meditating, or simply taking a quiet moment for myself. Spending time with friends and family, pursuing hobbies I enjoy, and setting healthy boundaries are all part of my wellness routine. I’ve learned that even small, consistent actions can have a big impact on how I feel physically and mentally. For me, wellness is about listening to my body and mind, finding balance, and making choices that help me feel energized, grounded, and happy.