Pacific Sociological Conference - Interview with Isabella Mercado

Questions by Chase Larwin

Q: What kind of event did you attend this weekend?

A: This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend and present at a sociology conference where I got to connect with sociologists from all over, including folks from Toronto, Spokane, and several UNLV grads.

Q: What was the specific topic of your presentation?

A: The specific topic of my presentation was how self- love through community- based arts/music can improve mental health! I actually got to go over one of our affirmations to do with presenters and those listening to join in on one of our interventions and they loved it!

Q: What kind of forms were available at the conference?

A: The event had everything from poster presentations to panel talks, circle discussions about grad school, and even a puppy playtime area to ease conference stress.

Q: What was something that you learned from the conference?

A:  I learned that networking can change the trajectory of what we think is possible. All these incredibly talented scholars are still people, but with just a bit of courage we are simply one conversation away from finding the next path of our dreams!

Q: What was the specific topic of your presentation?

A: The specific topic of my presentation was how self-love through community-based arts/music can improve mental health! I actually got to go over one of our affirmations with presenters and those listening to join in on one of our interventions and they loved it!

Q: So you were interviewed? Who interviewed you? 

A: A group of students from Monterey Community College who were attending their first research conference and were super eager to learn more about how to get involved in the field.

Q: What did you share when you were being interviewed? 

A: I shared what it was like being first-gen going through community college to university, finding internships both during and post-grad, and what it’s like to still feel like an outsider but overcome the barriers of hidden academia that aren’t as accessible to first-gens!

Q: What is a principal researcher?

A: A principal researcher is someone (me lol) who can help oversee how interns or those helping are carrying out research design, intervention analysis, or any projects that are required in our data identification or collection! I can help monitor and give direction to what our interns and volunteers on the research team do!

Q: Would you recommend attending this conference to those outside your field of expertise?

A: Anyone outside of this field of expertise should come with a pen and paper, but also a willing mindset to just connect and hear people! To be a willing listener in a room of speakers will glean at least one useful form of knowledge!

About the Author:

Chase Larwin is currently a content editor and writer for the marketing and blog/newsletter team at the Love Yourself Foundation. Starting as young as eight years old, he would write stories and create movie scripts. At the age of 16, he started writing political satire for an Instagram account and continued this until he was 18 years old. He is currently in his final semester at UNLV and will be graduating in journalism. He plans on attending Law School in the fall.