By Macey-Marie Hobson

UAB students are staying busy this summer! 

Even when University of Alabama at Birmingham students are off campus and their plans are changed, they stay productive and proactive. Whether in their online classes, remote internships or personal hobbies, these UAB students are not letting this time of self-isolation slow them down. 

Benignie Dorsainvil “The Multitasker”

Hometown- Tampa, Fla. 

Major- Biomedical Science and Public Health

Minor- Chemistry and Art Studio 

Dorsainvil is a rising senior at UAB. She serves as the School of Health Professions senator in the Undergraduate Student Government Association, a member of Blazer Spirit Council and president of the Trio Student Advisory Council. She is taking summer classes, working and peacefully protesting to create change in the #BlackLivesMatter movement with Alabama Rally Against Injustice. Dorsainvil is tutoring virtually for social sciences and biomedical sciences. 

“Since I’m working virtually right now because COVID-19, I am able to manage my time better,” she said. 

Dorsainvil is taking 18 credit hours this summer. She is successful with her busy workload by creating block schedules on what she will tackle each hour throughout the day. 

“Everything I am involved in has meaning,” Dorsainvil said, “and that motivates me to keep going.” 

Helen Zhou “The Problem-Solver”

Hometown- Birmingham, Ala. 

Major- Economics 

Minor- Math and International Business

Zhou is a rising junior at UAB. She is a second-year UAB Ambassador and serves as the vice president of education. Zhou is part of the UAB International Mentor Program and is looking forward to connecting this summer via Zoom through events, such as Netflix parties as they get to know one another. Zhou has been fortunate to intern this summer with the Tennessee Valley Authority remotely. 

“I was originally going to move to Tennessee for the summer for my internship in Chattanooga,” Zhou said. “But thankfully they were able to change everything to an online format so that I would still be able to intern.” 

Zhou works with a mentor and an economics forecasting team to accomplish her daily tasks. During her free time, she has made it a point to learn how to solve a rubix cube and achieved her goal for the first-time during quarantine. 

To stay connected over the summer visit Engage or follow @UABStudents and @ExploreUAB for the latest university events.