The Gabs

By Gabrielle Reeder

Elle Kubby, St. Petersburg: “I think the important thing is if someone’s sad, we have to sometimes allow people to be sad. So you just allow for them to have space to be able to have their feelings and to validate them. We live in a culture that is always so happy; and when people are feeling sad and everyone wants to be happy, then they don’t get the chance to process their emotions and understand what they’re really going through. And sometimes we just gotta embrace that.”

Troy Drunaksy, St. Petersburg: “Whenever someone is upset, I always try to listen as much as I can, let them know that they’re heard – maybe throw in a dumb joke or two just to cheer them up a little bit.”

Caroline Kothari, Philadelphia: “I give them a hug.”

Connor Hoyt, Seminole: “Try my best to bring them back up.”