Hi, I’m Solangel Reyes. I’m a Psychology and Criminal Justice major at Florida State University, originally from Miami. Moving to Tallahassee was a big change—quieter, slower, and definitely less city energy—but it’s helped me focus and figure out what I’m really interested in.
This summer, I’m volunteering at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute. I’m helping with non-clinical tasks, supporting patients during their visits, and observing how care is delivered. More than anything, I’m using this time to explore something I’ve been thinking about a lot: the psychology of cancer.
I’ve always been drawn to how people think and feel, especially in hard moments. Lately, I’ve been curious about how a cancer diagnosis impacts someone mentally and emotionally—how it affects their identity, their stress levels, even how they see themselves. I’m also interested in the science behind it, like how the brain responds to illness or how stress might influence recovery.
Volunteering gives me a chance to see what that looks like in real life. It’s one thing to learn about these topics in class, but it’s another to see how patients are supported emotionally and how much that can matter. I want to understand where psychology fits into care—not just in theory, but in practice.
I know some moments will be tough, and I’m not sure exactly how I’ll feel. But I’m going into this with an open mind, ready to learn from the patients, the staff, and the experience as a whole.
By the end of the summer, I’m hoping to come away with a clearer idea of how I want to contribute in the future—whether that’s through medicine, research, or another path that connects people, psychology, and care.
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