Interview with Allie Wornell
Allie Wornell, Grace Bida
Allie Wornell, Grace Bida
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Grace: What does mental health mean to you?
Allie: Mental health means basically everything to me. It’s essential to being well as a human, because not only physically you have to be well but mentally, to me, that’s like your approach of life, everything, and just being able to focus on yourself and growing...it benefits everyone, so. Grace: Great, thank you! What are some coping mechanisms you’ve been using during this time of coronavirus? Allie: I’ve been doing a lot of journaling, and taking a lot of walks to get out of my house. I’ve been dancing around a little bit, and watching a lot of stand-up comedy, and avoiding the news and Johns Hopkins maps, and all the numbers. Um, and I facetime my friends a lot. Grace: Nice, what do you journal about? Allie: I journal about how I’m feeling that day, or if something came up, like how that’s going for me, and usually-- yeah it’s usually about my relationships with people, and reflecting on how everything’s gone, yeah. |
Image of Allie Wornell
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Grace: Nice, that’s great. How has coronavirus affected your mental health, and do you feel pressured to perform at the same level as normal despite being in the middle of a traumatic pandemic, and how do you deal with that?
Allie: COVID’s definitely taken a toll on me, especially in terms of how much I think about things. I find myself overthinking all the time, and the best way I deal with that is by distracting myself. Like, escapism I think is a very healthy thing to do, like reading, I read a lot now, and talking to friends especially. Even when you have nothing to talk about, just to hang out with people is nice, always. And in terms of pressure, I don’t have any pressure with school because as a senior, I can’t really mess up, that much! You know, my grades are my grades, oh well! And my AP’s, I mean, they can’t do anything for me, so that’s great. But um I feel a lot of pressure to be a way better person, and like do something big, but for now, you know, I’m trying to--I try to post on my Live-friendlier account, and like making a coloring book with some of my friends, and I’m painting a mural in response to corona, but other than that it’s all about learning how to be kinder to yourself, and accepting, like, you know what sometimes I’m just gonna watch Netflix all day.
Grace: What’s the mural that you’re doing?
Allie: The mural is with a professional artist, Alexander [?], and it’s supposed to be my senior project with two of my other friends, [?] and [?], and essentially our idea is animals doing human things, so animals doing what we would do in quarantine. And it’s supposed to be something lively and warm to look at, it’s the Linden square mural.
Grace: Could you talk a little bit about the Live-friendlier thing, your instagram page, and how you started that, and where you’re planning on taking it, I guess?
Allie: Yeah, so I started it one day because I was like, you know what, I post a lot on my regular account, *distorted* I really wanna bring together all of my, I guess, ideas from instagram into one place, so I was like, you know what, I’ve made so many accounts, why not? And I started off with just like posting about I guess mental health and other things that were going on in the world. And now, it’s a hobby, I’d like to say, because I just love researching random things, like going to the research hall and just, yeah, learning all about it and collecting it into a paragraph. And hopefully people are reading it, I think they are. And for going forwards, I’m gonna say I definitely wanna go into deeper topics, that are more personal to me, but also just very sensitive that we don’t talk about in school truly, like race, and mental health more, but it’s--it’ll definitely be a challenge to present that material in a friendly way.
Grace: Nice! What are you studying in college? Does it have anything to do with this? And where are you going to college?
Allie: I’m going to Smith College, and I applied as a psych major. But I don’t think so! I mean, I really like psychology, I love learning about it, but I can’t really imagine myself as a therapist. I think I’d cry a bit too much, um, yeah! I really don’t know. I think my idea going into college is that I’ll try out all the classes I can. Right now I’m really interested in an environmental science and biotech and personal genetics, so I’ll explore those areas. And also early education, for children, and I don’t know, just all over the place! And it’ll lead me somewhere.
Grace: That’s great! How has coronavirus affected the Live-friendlier initiative? How has it changed with the quarantine and all that?
Allie: Well, I’ve been able to post a lot more on it, which is really nice. But, it definitely makes me aware of what people are focusing their time on, like right now I know a lot of people are of course thinking about health and their family and their friends and staying connected with those around them, but it’s also to me I wanna make like a Live-friendlier account where it can be a distraction, almost. Because to me, researching is a way I can just, like, I learn and I become aware, but it’s also fun for me. And I hope that it can be, like, entertaining for other people.
Grace: That’s great. What is it like sharing space with others? Who do you live with at home?
Allie: Okay, my house, we call it like an animal farm, because, well, it’s my Mom, it’s my dad, it’s my brother who’s the same age, who’s also going to college hopefully next fall, um, I don’t think my parents could survive with us still being in the house another year. But then it’s our three cats, our two dogs, and our two rabbits! So it’s pretty chaotic, I definitely spend a lot of time in my room. But I’ve always enjoyed talking to my parents and just being with them, and sometimes with my brother. So we always have dinner together and we play games and watch movies, which is really nice. But it can be a tiny bit claustrophobic, of course.
Grace: What are some new activities you’ve been doing over quarantine?
Allie: The only main new activity is online drawing. I’m drawing on a kid app, but it’s definitely new. It’s very weird. I like it, though!
Grace: What is something this time period has taught you about yourself?
Allie: Well, I love learning. I thought I loved learning, but now I need it in my life. And also that I’ve gotten to the point where I’m really comfortable with myself! I believed I was before, and everything, and that I was comfortable and confident in who I was, and that I was glad who I was, but now I’m just like genuinely if I wasn’t I don’t think I could survive the quarantine. Yes. So, I’m very glad about that. Of course, a lot of growth to come, but yeah.
Grace: You kind of already talked about this, but is there a form of art that has been particularly meaningful to you during this time period, or that expresses how you’ve felt?
Allie: Well, I haven’t actually been drawing drawing that much, but um right now it’s stressing me out for some reason, because I feel I should make something really great, but for now I’m gonna stick with online drawings and focusing on the mural.
Grace: What are some experiences you have not been able to partake in because of COVID, how has it affected your academic experiences I guess?
Allie: Well, academically as I’ve said before, not much left for me! So I think I’m okay, unless we’re talking next year. Which, I just really hope so, knock on wood, that it'll happen, but I think, I mean, of course I’m missing prom and graduation, and the end of the school year, but I should definitely be more sad about this. I don’t know, I’m personally just like “Oh well! I don’t have to sit in the sun for four hours!” I mean it’ll definitely--I’m sad that I won’t be able to say goodbye to my teachers and my friends properly, but we do have the internet, so, very lucky that we can email them, so it’s okay. And the main thing I think, is Rosie’s Place. Because I can’t--I’m so sad I can’t volunteer anymore, and it really--throughout my whole school career I felt like, Oh this is so useless, you know I’m only learning for myself, it’s only benefiting me, but then when I started going to Rosie’s place, at least I’m helping someone other than myself! But, for now, yeah, can’t do that.
Allie: COVID’s definitely taken a toll on me, especially in terms of how much I think about things. I find myself overthinking all the time, and the best way I deal with that is by distracting myself. Like, escapism I think is a very healthy thing to do, like reading, I read a lot now, and talking to friends especially. Even when you have nothing to talk about, just to hang out with people is nice, always. And in terms of pressure, I don’t have any pressure with school because as a senior, I can’t really mess up, that much! You know, my grades are my grades, oh well! And my AP’s, I mean, they can’t do anything for me, so that’s great. But um I feel a lot of pressure to be a way better person, and like do something big, but for now, you know, I’m trying to--I try to post on my Live-friendlier account, and like making a coloring book with some of my friends, and I’m painting a mural in response to corona, but other than that it’s all about learning how to be kinder to yourself, and accepting, like, you know what sometimes I’m just gonna watch Netflix all day.
Grace: What’s the mural that you’re doing?
Allie: The mural is with a professional artist, Alexander [?], and it’s supposed to be my senior project with two of my other friends, [?] and [?], and essentially our idea is animals doing human things, so animals doing what we would do in quarantine. And it’s supposed to be something lively and warm to look at, it’s the Linden square mural.
Grace: Could you talk a little bit about the Live-friendlier thing, your instagram page, and how you started that, and where you’re planning on taking it, I guess?
Allie: Yeah, so I started it one day because I was like, you know what, I post a lot on my regular account, *distorted* I really wanna bring together all of my, I guess, ideas from instagram into one place, so I was like, you know what, I’ve made so many accounts, why not? And I started off with just like posting about I guess mental health and other things that were going on in the world. And now, it’s a hobby, I’d like to say, because I just love researching random things, like going to the research hall and just, yeah, learning all about it and collecting it into a paragraph. And hopefully people are reading it, I think they are. And for going forwards, I’m gonna say I definitely wanna go into deeper topics, that are more personal to me, but also just very sensitive that we don’t talk about in school truly, like race, and mental health more, but it’s--it’ll definitely be a challenge to present that material in a friendly way.
Grace: Nice! What are you studying in college? Does it have anything to do with this? And where are you going to college?
Allie: I’m going to Smith College, and I applied as a psych major. But I don’t think so! I mean, I really like psychology, I love learning about it, but I can’t really imagine myself as a therapist. I think I’d cry a bit too much, um, yeah! I really don’t know. I think my idea going into college is that I’ll try out all the classes I can. Right now I’m really interested in an environmental science and biotech and personal genetics, so I’ll explore those areas. And also early education, for children, and I don’t know, just all over the place! And it’ll lead me somewhere.
Grace: That’s great! How has coronavirus affected the Live-friendlier initiative? How has it changed with the quarantine and all that?
Allie: Well, I’ve been able to post a lot more on it, which is really nice. But, it definitely makes me aware of what people are focusing their time on, like right now I know a lot of people are of course thinking about health and their family and their friends and staying connected with those around them, but it’s also to me I wanna make like a Live-friendlier account where it can be a distraction, almost. Because to me, researching is a way I can just, like, I learn and I become aware, but it’s also fun for me. And I hope that it can be, like, entertaining for other people.
Grace: That’s great. What is it like sharing space with others? Who do you live with at home?
Allie: Okay, my house, we call it like an animal farm, because, well, it’s my Mom, it’s my dad, it’s my brother who’s the same age, who’s also going to college hopefully next fall, um, I don’t think my parents could survive with us still being in the house another year. But then it’s our three cats, our two dogs, and our two rabbits! So it’s pretty chaotic, I definitely spend a lot of time in my room. But I’ve always enjoyed talking to my parents and just being with them, and sometimes with my brother. So we always have dinner together and we play games and watch movies, which is really nice. But it can be a tiny bit claustrophobic, of course.
Grace: What are some new activities you’ve been doing over quarantine?
Allie: The only main new activity is online drawing. I’m drawing on a kid app, but it’s definitely new. It’s very weird. I like it, though!
Grace: What is something this time period has taught you about yourself?
Allie: Well, I love learning. I thought I loved learning, but now I need it in my life. And also that I’ve gotten to the point where I’m really comfortable with myself! I believed I was before, and everything, and that I was comfortable and confident in who I was, and that I was glad who I was, but now I’m just like genuinely if I wasn’t I don’t think I could survive the quarantine. Yes. So, I’m very glad about that. Of course, a lot of growth to come, but yeah.
Grace: You kind of already talked about this, but is there a form of art that has been particularly meaningful to you during this time period, or that expresses how you’ve felt?
Allie: Well, I haven’t actually been drawing drawing that much, but um right now it’s stressing me out for some reason, because I feel I should make something really great, but for now I’m gonna stick with online drawings and focusing on the mural.
Grace: What are some experiences you have not been able to partake in because of COVID, how has it affected your academic experiences I guess?
Allie: Well, academically as I’ve said before, not much left for me! So I think I’m okay, unless we’re talking next year. Which, I just really hope so, knock on wood, that it'll happen, but I think, I mean, of course I’m missing prom and graduation, and the end of the school year, but I should definitely be more sad about this. I don’t know, I’m personally just like “Oh well! I don’t have to sit in the sun for four hours!” I mean it’ll definitely--I’m sad that I won’t be able to say goodbye to my teachers and my friends properly, but we do have the internet, so, very lucky that we can email them, so it’s okay. And the main thing I think, is Rosie’s Place. Because I can’t--I’m so sad I can’t volunteer anymore, and it really--throughout my whole school career I felt like, Oh this is so useless, you know I’m only learning for myself, it’s only benefiting me, but then when I started going to Rosie’s place, at least I’m helping someone other than myself! But, for now, yeah, can’t do that.
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On behalf of It’s Real, we would like to thank Allie Wornell for her vulnerability and for taking the time to chat with us. You can find her on Instagram @livefriendlier
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Artwork by Allie Wornell
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