This was my last semester at VAYLA New Orleans, and I am absolutely devastated to leave. I became a reproductive justice intern with VAYLA in the second semester of my sophomore year, and it has been one of my favorite things that I have ever done at Tulane. When my co-host and dear friend Syna Pal and I started this internship, we were a little lost—just two students trying to follow in the footsteps of the incredible folks who came before us. We had so many questions and spent the early days just trying to find our footing, and more importantly, our own voices in the world of activism and advocacy. One of our first big undertakings was taking over the Our Bodies, Our Stories podcast. What started as a daunting project became something we’re both incredibly proud of—a space to amplify community voices, engage in real conversations, and create something meaningful that will stay with me far beyond college and well into my healthcare career. If you are interested in listening, follow this link!
After we concluded our work with the podcast, we both switched to focusing on more coalition and community. We each took to doing book clubs, making posts about current events, and helping/hosting different events with our parent organization. We focused on voting information, election results, mental health, and overall community building during difficult times. It wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it.
Leaving VAYLA feels like leaving a piece of my heart behind—but if this internship has taught me anything, it’s that the work doesn’t end just because a chapter does. Reproductive justice isn’t just about policies or rights—it’s about people, community, and care. It’s about creating space for everyone to feel seen, safe, and supported. I’ve learned that advocacy can look like a podcast episode, a book club discussion, a voter information post, or simply showing up for your community in quiet, consistent ways. While I’m incredibly sad to be leaving, I know I’m taking everything I’ve learned with me. VAYLA helped me find my voice, and more than that, it reminded me why I want to go into healthcare in the first place—to fight for a world where care is accessible, compassionate, and just. I may be closing this chapter, but the story’s far from over. I’ll carry this work forward in every space I enter.
