Meet Selena Liu: Grieve Leave's Summer Intern

At Grieve Leave, we're always excited to welcome fresh perspectives on grief and bereavement. This summer, we're thrilled to have Selena Liu joining our team as an intern through the Standout Connect program! We know it takes a special kind of person to want to focus on grief during their summer break, so we sat down with Selena to learn more about her, what drew her to Grieve Leave, and what she hopes to accomplish during her time with us.

Here's a peek into Selena's world and her thoughts on joining the Grieve Leave team:

1. Tell us about yourself! Where do you live? What year are you in school? And tell us a little bit about your family!
   
   My name’s Selena, I’m really excited to work with Grieve Leave! I live in Sammamish, WA, which is a little east of Seattle, and I'm also a rising senior at my local high school. As for my family, I live with my parents, a 10 year-old little sister, and a seven year-old little brother, so it’s always hectic at my house. Sometimes I find slime on my socks but that’s okay!
   
   
2. How would your friends and family describe you? And how would you describe yourself? Is anything different?
   
   They would probably describe me as patient and understanding, you kind of have to be to live with two (feral) younger siblings. I would also like to think that I’m funny and resourceful! Usually, I carry a huge bag of necessities and knick-knacks, so I’m always the go-to if anyone needs anything.
   
   
3. It takes a special person to want to focus on grief all summer! What interested you about interning with Grieve Leave?
   
   I was really inspired by Grieve Leave’s mission and what it’s been able to accomplish. When I was researching Grieve Leave, it was really eye-opening for someone like me who hasn’t had much exposure to grief research. I also loved how connected Grieve Leave was to the community through social media and outreach, and I was really interested in learning about that. Lastly, Rebecca was so warm and kind, which was the cherry on top.
   
   
4. How will you spend your free time this summer, when you’re not thinking about grief?
   
   I also run my own nonprofit where we teach enrichment camps and classes for children to raise money for students’ health in low-income school districts—so probably working on that. I’ll also be working on college applications, hanging out with friends, painting, and going on walks!
   
   
5. Who’s your biggest inspiration, and why?
   
   It’s really hard to pick, but one of my biggest inspirations is Margaret Atwood. I remember reading her poem, “Half-Hanged Mary,” and being absolutely enthralled by her ability to tell stories and convey emotions. I also love that her work comments on social issues, and I would really love to do something related to that in the future!
   
   
6. What’s something about you that people might not guess?
   
   I'm obsessed with the New York Times games, especially the Crosswords, Strands, and Sudoku! My record for the Crosswords is 15:07, Strands is 0:15, and the hard Sudoku is 1:56. If anyone wants to duke it out over NYT, email me :)
   
   
7. What are some of your hopes for the future?
   
   Going to college for something similar to interdisciplinary business. I hope to have my own organization that’s dedicated to solving social issues one day, similar to what Grieve Leave does. I also hope I can visit my relatives in China soon—I haven’t been back in five years and I’m excited to see what’s changed.
   
   
8. What's one new thing you've learned about grief and grieving since joining the Grieve Leave team?
   
   I did a ton of research on Canadian bereavement leave policies and learned that they have different leaves for different circumstances. Like if your child has been kidnapped, you would be allowed ~52 weeks of unpaid leave. Super interesting topic, super considerate policies. 
   
   
9. What’s one thing you’re excited to learn more about this summer working with Grieve Leave?
   
   Understanding the different ways grief interacts with life, especially how it can affect our physical health. I also really want to learn about the best ways to approach such a heavy topic online. 
   
   
10. Is there anything else you'd like to share with the Grieve Leave community that we haven’t asked you about?
    
    I’ve loved getting to know more about grief, helping out with all sorts of things at Grieve Leave, and I can’t wait to connect with more people and learn more!

–

To our Grieve Leave community: You might see Selena's influence in some of our upcoming projects. And who knows? Maybe her love for NYT games will inspire some grief-related puzzles in our future... (No pressure, Selena – but we're definitely open to creative ideas!)

Welcome aboard, Selena! We're looking forward to a summer of growth, learning, and meaningful conversations about grief and support.

Remember, grief doesn't take a summer vacation, and neither do we. If you're struggling with loss, know that our community is here for you, 24/7, rain or shine.