The Blog

We’ve got an amazing lineup of interns this spring, and we can’t wait for you to meet them!

Name: Peyton Bertram
It’s time to turn healthy goals into long term habits.

Internship Position: Marketing and Social Media Intern
School: University of Texas
Major: Advertising
Graduation Date: May 2019

Why join It’s Time Texas? I want to continue working with non profits, especially one that works with a community that I love and promotes a good cause
Why is this cause important to you? Because my health not only affects me, but everyone around me
What does your typical day look like? Filming Community Challenge videos with Carsen, designing graphics, and writing blog posts!
Favorite quote? “There is no nobility in being superior to your fellow man, true nobility is being superior to your former self” – Ernest Hemingway
Fun fact? This past summer I biked 4,000 miles from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska to raise money for cancer research
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Zocalo
Favorite way to exercise? Running

Name: Sandy Falcon
It’s Time to GET MOVING!

Internship Position: Stronger Austin
School: University of Texas at Austin
Major: Human Development and Family Sciences
Graduation Date: May 2020

Why join It’s Time Texas? To gain experience in health promotion through a community setting.
Why is this cause important to you? It is important to me because I am able to acknowledge the great effect our efforts have on the Austin community.
What does your typical day look like? My day consists of daily office operation for the Stronger Austin program along with monitoring weekly fitness classes.
Favorite quote? “Don’t stop believin’…” – Journey
Fun fact? I have a pet Chihuahua named Chloe.
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Anything from food trucks
Favorite way to exercise? Dancing

Name: Abigail Whyte
It’s Time for me to enhance new skills and learn new things.

Internship Position: Community Challenge and Events
School: St. Edwards University
Major: Kinesiology
Graduation Date: May 2019

Why join It’s Time Texas? Because I knew it will be able to show me different workforces that are still within a health care program.
Why is this cause important to you? I care about health and helping others and this program/company is able to do that in another way other than in a clinical setting.
What does your day look like? My day looks about the same every day. I work on different projects and learn new ways to attack certain projects depending on the level of difficulty and time needed to work on them.
Favorite quote? “If you want something done right, do it yourself”
Fun fact? I am on the St. Edwards women’s basketball team
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Chuy’s
Favorite way to exercise? Basketball

Name: Ana Gonzalez
It’s Time to improve our health!

Internship Position: Stronger Austin Kids
School: Texas State University
Major: Health and Wellness Promotion
Graduation Date: December 2018

Why join It’s Time Texas? I love working with kids and because of all the amazing free tools they provide to the community to help them achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Why is this cause important to you? I believe it’s important to let people know that it’s possible to live a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle
What does your typical day look like? I usually wake up at 5:00am to workout. I am at the office Monday to Thursday 9:30am to 2:30. I’m also a Youth Programs Instructor from 2:45 to 5:30pm Monday to Friday. When not working, I spend time with my family and friends or take naps.
Favorite quote? “Do more of what makes you happy.”
Fun fact? I’ve run 4 marathons, coached a group of middle school girls to run the half marathon. I founded a scholarship my Senior year of High school to help DREAMers with their DACA applications.
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? HopDoddy, sushi, frozen yogurt, pluckers, etc.
Favorite way to exercise? Running

Name: Audrey Atkinson
It’s Time to make getting healthy fun!

Internship Position: Stronger Austin Intern
School: University of Texas Health Science Center
Major: MPH Epidemiology
Graduation Date: January 2020

Why join It’s Time Texas? I wanted be part of an organization that strives for all people to have the opportunity to be healthy!
Why is this cause important to you? This cause is important to me because I believe that in order for us to achieve true equality, everyone needs to have a chance to live a healthy life. The inability to access healthy resources should never be a barrier for one to improve their situation and I want to be a part of removing that barrier.
What does your typical day look like? When I am not being active or coming up with new healthy recipes you can find me analyzing program data and making recommendations, compiling and organizing information about health resources, and coming up with new ideas for how to engage the community.
Favorite quote? “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” -Confucius
Fun fact? In 8th grade, when I was being mischievous, I got stuck between the wheel and the body of a recreational fire truck in a park. Someone had to call the fire department and they had to use power tools to remove me from the fire truck. Two years later I became a volunteer fire fighter with the same fire station that got me out!
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Quack’s Bakery
Favorite way to exercise? I love taking long walks with my dog around Town Lake!

Name: Kristina Brouse
It’s Time to live the happiest and healthiest life we can!

Internship Position: Choose Healthier Intern
School: National University
Major: Master of Healthcare Administration
Graduation Date: June 2019

Why join It’s Time Texas? It’s a great opportunity to meet amazing people and help our communities adopt healthier lifestyles.
Why is this cause important to you? Taking care of yourself in the healthiest way possible is the best thing you do for yourself.
What does your typical day look like? I help manage the Choose Healthier site by adding new health tips, analyzing data and making sure the site is functioning correctly.
Favorite quote? This too shall pass (tattooed on me)!
Fun fact? I’ve lived in Russia and Hawaii!
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Poke Bowl
Favorite way to exercise? Walking and Yoga

Name: Jose Rodriguez
It’s Time for a healthy community.

Internship Position: Stronger Austin Intern
School: Texas State University
Major: Applied Sociology
Graduation Date: May 17th

Why join It’s Time Texas? I’m passionate about improving health
Why is this cause important to you? I love serving the community
What does your typical day look like? Working on Stronger Austin program material
Favorite quote? “Tell no lies, claim no small victories”
Fun fact? I’ve been vegetarian for 15 years
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Food cooked at home
Favorite way to exercise? Play soccer or run/train

Name: Jasmine Foroughi
It’s Time to make healthy fun!

Internship Position: Community Challenge Support Intern
School: Texas State University
Major: Exercise Sports Science
Graduation Date: May 2019

Why join It’s Time Texas? It is a non-profit organization, and the goal is to ultimately help Texas and our nation become healthier.
Why is this cause important to you? This is important to me because the overall health of the US population is not what it used to be. ITT can help get us where we need to be.
What does your day look like? I promote staff competition and provide them with healthy snacks/recipes. I also help with the Community Challenge that is currently going on.

Favorite quote? “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” -John Lennon
Fun fact? I have traveled to half of the states in the US, and I plan to make it to them all!
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Homeslice Pizza!
Favorite way to exercise? Team Sports!

Name: Nashra Javed
It’s Time to walk the walk!

Internship Position: Stronger Austin Intern
School: University of Texas at Austin
Major: Biochemistry BSA, Minor: Spanish, Certificate: Social Inequality, Health & Policy
Graduation Date: May 2019

Why join It’s Time Texas? I interned here the past fall semester and absolutely fell in love with the program that promotes wellness programs to empower the community members. The interdisciplinary programming further attracted me to return to continue learning about the process that has allowed the organization to successfully grow over the course of the years and contribute to its progress.
Why is this cause important to you? All my life, both my personal and professional goals have been to one day travel to the countries of those less fortunate and provide them with the health care and treatment they deserve at little or no cost to them. It’s Time Texas’s goal to empower community members through nutritional education, providing access to health and wellness programs is the foundation towards a healthier culture, which I aspire to promote in disadvantaged communities around the world.
What does your typical day look like? In the office, I have been aiding in research and projects to create a hub that serves as a single outlet to connect community members with various healthcare and social service programs. Outside of the office, I monitor classes offered by Stronger Austin. In the past, I have monitored various Zumba, Mixxed Fit, and yoga classes. More recently, I have started attending the Mixxed Fit classes as a participant, which I absolutely look forward to every week!
Favorite quote? “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
Fun fact? My chemistry professor once pointed me out in a class of 500+ students for telling really bad puns.
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? VIA 313
Favorite way to exercise? HIIT

Name: Ashley Chandra
It’s Time to be the change!

Internship Position: Marketing & Communications Intern
School: University of Texas at Austin
Major: Advertising
Graduation Date: May 2019

Why join It’s Time Texas? It’s Time Texas is a great opportunity to learn more about the non-profit industry while at the same time make an impact on the community.
Why is this cause important to you? There are so many things that need fixing in this world, and health is one of the most important thing on that list. Someone once told me, if not us then who?
What does your typical day look like? I usually come to the office at around 9am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Since I’m in the MarCom department, I spend a lot of time at the office, most of it sitting on a yoga ball instead of a chair because it makes sitting more fun. My work consists of writing blog and email content, taking photos, conducting research, and helping with special projects.
Favorite quote? The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it” – J.M.Barrie
Fun fact? I’m a huge theatre nerd
Favorite things to eat in Austin? Tacos and Poke Bowl
Favorite way to exercise? Walking and Hiking

Name: Elizabeth Kuhlmann
It’s Time to encourage others to live healthy.

Internship Position: Community Programs and Events
School: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Communication and Leadership
Graduation Date: May 2019

Why join It’s Time Texas? Getting active and eating right have so many benefits and I love getting the opportunity to work with a company that promotes this lifestyle. I’m passionate about education, living healthy, and event planning so this is a really unique way to get to combine all of those interests!
Why is this cause important to you? It’s Time Texas supports preventative measures instead of reactive measures.
What does your typical day look like? You can find me working with individual weekly prize winners, keeping tabs on community challenge goals, finding community events for the Austin area, and sorting through community challenge data.
Favorite quote? “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man, true nobility is being superior to your former self” – Ernest Hemingway
Fun fact? I have pet guinea pigs (:
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Gordough’s Gourmet Donuts
Favorite way to exercise? kayaking or weights in the gym

Name: Arlet Polack
It’s Time to get moving!

Internship Position: Living Healthier
School: Texas State University
Major: Health Education
Graduation Date: May 17, 2019

Why join It’s Time Texas? Because you have the ability to work in a collaborative environment of many moving parts while still sharing the same common goal. (Make Texans healthier!)
Why is this cause important to you? Because I am a Texan.
What does your typical day look like? Lots of learning and interacting with community members who want to make healthful changes in their lives.
Favorite quote? You are only free when you realize you belong no place – you belong every place – no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great. – Maya Angelou
Fun fact? I have a Mexican and a Peruvian birth certificate. Where am I from? You may never know!
Favorite thing to eat in Austin? Arepa from Four Brothers
Favorite way to exercise? Bouldering!

Want to be a part of the next cohort of interns at It’s Time Texas? You’re in luck! Applications for Summer 2019 are now being accepted. Check out current openings and apply here today.