A FEATURED ARTIST INTERVIEW WITH SONJA XIE
“Next time, ask ‘What’s the worst that will happen?’ Then push yourself a little further than you dare.” – Audre Lorde
By Debra Hopkins, BTCF President/Founder
Debra: At such a young age, you are the founder and executive director of the non-profit Brain Waves for Change. What inspired you to create your non-profit?
Sonja: Brain Waves for Change was born out of my passion for neuroscience, art, and most importantly, the stigma I saw surrounding mental and neurological illness in my community. At school, I felt the pressure so many students carry: the constant push to excel, the expectations to succeed, and the stress, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions during test season. For me, there’d be times when schoolwork, college applications, and extracurricular activities just kept on piling up, and everything suddenly feels too much to handle. Yet despite how common these experiences are, there is very little conversation surrounding mental health among peers, because students fear being seen as “less capable” under the eyes of family, peers, and teachers who hold certain expectations. I felt this stigma at home too. Growing up in an Asian American family, we rarely have conversations about mental health because these topics have historically been viewed as taboo, only creating a more isolating environment for anyone struggling with neurological or mental conditions. As I continued noticing stigma everywhere, even in social media posts that casually used terms like “schizo” or other diagnoses as jokes, I became increasingly drawn to brain health, advocacy, and neuroscience. I began thinking about how education, outreach, and storytelling could be used to challenge these harmful narratives, and about the potential of combining them all to create lasting change. There was no doubt that I wanted to bring these topics to my community, but also in a way that felt fresh, memorable, and less intimidating. That’s why I chose to pursue our mission through art, a lifelong love of mine, because creativity truly creates such special opportunities for connection and understanding, especially when feelings may be difficult to communicate through words. Brain Waves for Change truly aims to confront the stigma around brain illness by inspiring moments of connection, dialogue, and understanding between people of all ages.
Debra: Could you tell us a little bit more about Brain Waves for Change and the programming you focus on?
Sonja: Sure! Brain Waves for Change is a student-led, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on dismantling the stigma surrounding neurological and mental illness through art. Our programming has two main pillars: education and community engagement. On the education side, we host brain health workshops for children, families, and adults at local libraries, health fairs, and schools. Whether it’s creating pipe-cleaner neurons or Play-Doh brains with younger students or leading myth versus fact activities for older audiences, our goal is to teach others about neuroscience and mental health concepts in a creative, accessible way. We’ve covered topics ranging from concussions and dementia to cognitive flexibility and brain stress. But to address the deeper stigma that persists, we work directly within the community. By leading art-workshops for groups such as seniors living with dementia or individuals with developmental disabilities, we create opportunities for high school volunteers to connect with people from all different walks of life. And during these creative activities, we often create such special moments of laughter and connection, which is what makes face-to-face connection so meaningful. Through these arts & crafts events, each participant is reminded that they are more than any diagnosis or limitation placed on them by their health or circumstances. Since our founding in 2024, we’ve held over 35 events, reached students nationwide, and worked with a network of organization partners in the brain health and wellness space who’ve been instrumental to our growth!
Debra: As a visual artist, what are your favorite art mediums, and how old were you when you first found an interest in the arts?
Sonja: I tell people that I probably started drawing before I even knew how to write. When I was four years old, I’d sit in my pink-walled basement for hours on end, doodling away, creating family portraits that would later fill the walls of my living room and designing all the purses and dresses I wish I could have in real life. But I think what made me love art the most was being able to bring anything I wanted to life— if it was in my imagination, then all I needed was some crayons and markers to bring it into real life too— and then pouring all my time and creativity and heart into creating something special to give to others as a way to show my care. While I still like to create hand-made gifts and birthday paintings for friends and family, I’ve been able to explore the more technical side of art, now that I’m older. My favorite mediums are oil painting, which makes blending colors and creating deep, rich visuals effortless, and any type of 3D work – whether it’s working with paper, beads, plastic, or clay – I love all of it.
Debra: Can you please share what some of the main benefits of combining the arts and brain health?
Sonja: Absolutely; the arts truly have such a profound impact on brain health, even despite being such different fields at surface level. For one, creative activities can help people express emotions they might not have the words for or feel ready to communicate verbally. Even just painting or drawing can help someone release any built up feelings or simply enjoy a moment of mindfulness. Art itself is also such a powerful therapy. There are a variety of studies that have shown how art engages multiple brain systems at once, such as the prefrontal cortex, limbic system, sensory-motor networks, and as a result, creating strengthened memory, attention, and even problem-solving. In fact, one of the other forms of art BWC has been exploring is music, which interestingly, has transformative effects for seniors living with dementia and their memory. Even education-wise, arts & crafts help transform complex neuroscience topics into something that is hands-on, less-intimidating, and more memorable, particularly for children. For me, art’s been such a powerful tool for taking care of my mental well-being, and through BWC ‘s brain health workshops, I hope that others too, find some kind of safe haven in simply creating.
Debra: As a published author in Schizophrenia Research, what are the areas of interest in this topic that prompted you to take such deep interest and how may it help others?
Sonja: Interestingly, my interest in the brain originated in an Intro to Psychology summer course I took the summer before 9th grade. As part of the curriculum, we’d watched the movie A Beautiful Mind, which tells the incredible story of John Nash, a Nobel Prize-winning mathematician, and his experience living with schizophrenia. I was so moved by how deeply impacted he was by the illness, on his career, his mental state, his relationship with loved ones – it was incredibly raw, heart-wrenching, and eye-opening for me. That was the first time I’d learned about schizophrenia, and from there, I became increasingly invested in both the complex neural mechanisms that underlie hallucinations and delusions and also the undeniable social stigma that persists about schizophrenia, continuing to complicate living for those with the illness and hinder access to treatment. My published work in Schizophrenia Research focused on the disparity in clozapine use (an antipsychotic) among African American schizophrenia patients by examining their white blood cell counts. In finding that certain benign variations in these counts have historically led to unnecessary treatment restrictions, I hope to highlight how important it is to consider population-level biological variation when developing treatment guidelines, so that care is both safe and equitable for all patients.
Debra: You have won numerous gallery awards as a multimedia artist. Could you share a couple of your favorite ones and explain why?
Sonja: One of my favorite pieces, which I created last year, is titled “Our Closeness”. It’s a multi-media installation (that’s still on my living room wall) that explores the crowded, chaotic, yet deeply close bond I share with my twin brother. I used painted rubber ribbons and strings that loop and slice in between charcoal portraits of our younger selves, with teal and pink to symbolizing each of us. While the composition may look chaotic at first glance, this piece means a lot to me because it captures the tension and ever-changing nature of siblinghood, the way we’ll inevitably be pulled in different directions as we grow older, yet have comfort in knowing we’ll be eternally connected by strings of love and shared memory. I love the feeling of nostalgia this piece brings, and the process of constructing the tangles of string and rubber was a blast. Another favorite of mine is “My Mind’s Mirror,” a surrealist work where I sculpted folds of a clay brain and placed small figures of myself within them to represent layers of introspection. I’m also proud of “Strangled Breath,” a soft-pastel piece critiquing the devastating impact of water pollution, with real-string glued across the surface to bring a feel of suffocation. It won 2nd place in the NY-16 2025 Congressional Art Competition and is currently displayed in my congressman’s office, which is an incredible honor!
Our Closeness, 2025, Charcoal on paper, acrylic-painted rubber, and string mounted on wall, 24″ x 34″ x 0.5″
My Mind’s Mirror, 2024, Oil, clay, and foil on cardboard, 24″ x 32″ x 1″
Strangled Breath, 2024, Soft pastel and string on paper, 24″ x 18″
Debra: BTCF uses the power of all forms of art and expression to foster creativity, build connections, and help communities thrive on their overall wellness journeys. How has your forms of art personally helped you on your wellness journey?
Sonja: Art has been such an important part of my wellness journey. Life can get incredibly busy as a senior in high school, and I cherish the moments where I can sit down, put on some of my favorite music, pick up a paintbrush, and just let my mind wander. Even simple things like drawing a card for a friend or creating digital art for my school’s magazine, help me slow down because they incorporate creativity in other parts of my everyday life. When I’m drawing or painting, I can distract my mind from any of the stress and anxiety I’m feeling and focus entirely on the process of creating. Art’s taught me how grounding it can feel to stay present, and that self-expression and mindfulness matter just as much as productivity.
Debra: Who are 3 people in your life that inspire you and why?
Sonja: I’m lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life, but the first is definitely my mom. She’s dedicated tremendous amounts of time, energy, and effort into raising my twin brother and me (my Dad too!), and her courage, whether it’s immigrating to the U.S. alone at 18 or taking on difficult tasks it seems as though most people would avoid, inspires me greatly. Second, my first research mentor, Dr. Deanna L. Kelly at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, continues to inspire me through her incredible work in schizophrenia treatment and metabolic psychiatry. The initial trust she had in me, despite only being a sophomore in high-school, is a huge part of why I’ve continued pursuing research to this day and why I care so deeply about addressing the socioeconomic disparities embedded into schizophrenia care. And lastly, while this isn’t one single person, I’m inspired by all the people I’ve met through Brain Waves for Change: the students, volunteers, patients, nonprofit staff, professionals, everyone. The more conversations I have with others, the more I realize how special and unique everyone’s story is – everyone is truly inspiring in their own way!
Debra: As a young teen advocate, what are three tips you can share with other teens about social media usage and navigating the challenging aspects of body image?
Sonja: While I’m certainly still navigating my own relationship with social media, I’ve seen how much it impacts teens’ mental health and believe that it’s important more than ever for us to have tools that protect our wellness. Firstly, it’s important to remember that everything that’s posted online— reels, photos, and even comments— is almost always the highlight reel of someone’s life. It’s not a portrayal of what the ideal lifestyle is, and it’s definitely not a standard you need to measure your own life against. Keeping that in mind can help interrupt the cycle of comparison that so many of us fall into when we see all the picturesque influencers online. Secondly, reminding yourself that YOU are in control; that might mean unfollowing creators who trigger negative body image thoughts, setting goals related to health rather than weight, and practicing self-care that helps you appreciate the parts of yourself that you love. Lastly, I’d say to try turning social media into a tool for self-empowerment and wellness! Connect with other teens who share your passions, and follow creators who feel authentic and make you feel heard.
Debra: Congratulations! You recently were named a 2026 Regeneration Science Talent Search Scholar as part of the Society for Science’s Top 300 selected from over 2,600 applications nationwide. Can you explain what your project was about and what it involved?
Sonja: Thank you! For the Regeneron Science Talent Search, I submitted a research project I’ve been working on for the past year titled “Neurite Degeneration Induced by UK-5099 Inhibition of the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier Reveals Metabolic Thresholds for Neuronal Integrity.” While it may sound complicated at first, in simpler terms, I studied how blocking a key step in cellular respiration, specifically the transport of a molecule called pyruvate, affects the structure of neurons (our brain cells). Because neuronal branches often break down in disease and disrupt cellular signaling, hence leading to a variety of cognitive and motor impairments, I wanted to see whether interfering with this metabolic pathway could trigger similar degeneration and offer any insights into potential therapies.
I’ve always wanted to work hands-on in a wet-lab, so having the opportunity to work with Dr. Elizabeth Jonas at the Yale School of Medicine last summer was such an incredible and rewarding experience. I had the chance to work with cultured cortical neurons, apply treatment solutions using micropipettes, image the cells with an inverted light microscope, and analyze results using a specialized software. I learned so much about not only the scientific process, but also about persisting through challenges and not being afraid to chase ambitious questions, even if they’re topics I feel like I barely have prior knowledge in. This experience has undoubtedly strengthened my passion for neuroscience and my drive for advancing equitable treatment for neurological illness, and I’m always looking for ways to incorporate my research background in the community educational initiatives I lead!
Debra: What advice would you give a teen who has a passion to start a non-profit?
Sonja: To any teen who’s interested in beginning a non-profit, I’d tell them to take things step by step and be okay with stepping out of their comfort-zone. It can be intimidating to envision an established non-profit, but I truly believe that the first step is simply identifying the topic you’re passionate about— the one you can’t go more than a day without thinking about, the one you light up at anytime it’s brought up in a conversation, the one you’ve always felt emotionally connected to — and from there, it’s really your passion and dedication that lead the way. The mentors you meet along the journey and connections you make with other organizations or professionals are such an integral part of growing a non-profit, so don’t be afraid to reach out to those who inspire you! Growing up with a more reserved personality, building Brain Waves for Change has undoubtedly helped me grow my confidence and find my voice in advocating for what I care about. I also think that it’s important to remember that starting a non-profit may not be the solution to every problem. For example, joining an already established non-profit or bringing a new perspective to an existing initiative can create just as much impact on a community. But for anyone who has a vision that doesn’t already exist and feels ready to take on that responsibility, I’d say go for it!
Debra: Ice cream or cupcakes?
Sonja: Definitely ice cream, especially coffee-flavored – perfect on hot summer days.
Debra: Rollercoasters or long walks?
Sonja: Rollercoasters! The thrill of being on one, and the excitement I feel the moment before dropping, are the best.
Debra: Swimming or Yoga?
Sonja: Yoga. It’s such an amazing way to practice mindfulness and stay grounded in a busy week.
Debra: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Sonja: I’d like to thank Debra and Breaking the Chains Foundation for doing such amazing work, and for the opportunity to share my story! I’m continually inspired by everyone I meet through Brain Waves for Change, and hope we can keep building spaces where conversations about brain and mental health are supportive and stigma‑free.
Thank you, Sonja!
Learn more about Brain Waves for Change here:
