05/04/2026
On March 28th, Columbia Synapse representatives—David Gima, Ylan Guo, Trestle James Holton, Claire Liu Zhu, and Jordan Paschall— provided 10th, 11th, and 12th grade Baruch STEP Academy students with an immersive educational experience into the world of brain health.
We began by helping students cultivate empathy towards Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), offering a clear explanation of what TBI is raising awareness of symptoms such as trembling, hesitation with daily activities, and other challenges. Through this discussion, students also gained insight into various career opportunities within the field of brain injury treatment. In our presentation, we helped to deepened the students’ understanding of neuroscience by introducing foundational principles such as neuroplasticity and its role in development across different life stages. Students learned how TBI can affect neuroplasticity and overall brain health, gaining a clearer sense of how the brain shapes behavior and decision-making.
Building on this, we discussed best practices for supporting healthy brain development, and helped students identify positive lifestyle choices that promote long-term brain health and guided them in setting SMART goals to put these habits into practice.
We concluded the workshop with a call to action, encouraging students to use what they learned to become health advocates in their future careers and communities, addressing crucial issues in the field. Thank you so much for having us present!
