ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Batoul Sawas, senior psychology major, Honors ambassador, and award‑winning student researcher. Batoul shares how her multicultural background, campus leadership roles, and research experiences shaped her Honors thesis: Beneath the Surface, an in‑depth exploration of how parenting styles, self‑esteem, and the Big Five personality traits intersect in the lives of college students.
Batoul also opens up about her work in mental‑health advocacy, from supporting elderly caregivers through Black Mental Health Village to delivering depression‑prevention interventions through Meharry Medical College’s HBCU wellness project. Together, Robin and Batoul explore what mental‑health resources college students need, what coping strategies actually work, and what it means to “enjoy being in the process of becoming.”
If you're curious about research, psychology, or student well‑being (or just need a dose of encouragement), this episode is for you.
(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)
Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others.
Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors
RESOURCES:
- Subscribe to the SOAR newsletter: urc.mtsu.edu/soarofficers/
- Follow the URC on LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/undergraduate-research-center/posts/?feedView=all
- Counselling Services: counseling.mtsu.edu/services/
- URECA: https://urc.mtsu.edu/ureca-overview/
- Honors College Scholarships: https://honors.mtsu.edu/scholarships/
