We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shang Da a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shang, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s go back in time to when you were an intern or apprentice – what’s an interesting story you can share from that stage of your career?

During my internship at an online mental health clinic, I had an experience that shaped not only my view of the world, but also my purpose. I met a girl the same age as me, but her life was vastly different from mine. She came from a family living in deep poverty. Her parents and siblings were either seriously ill or had disabilities. Despite this, she worked long hours to support the whole family and still found time to study, hoping for a better future.

Her strength was beyond words. She rarely complained, even though every day was a struggle. As I listened to her story, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I cried after the session—not just because of how hard her life was, but because of how much she kept going with so little. That moment changed me. It made me realize how many people are silently suffering. Life is impermanent and unpredictable, and behind every smile might be a hidden burden. From that day forward, I knew I didn’t want to just “study psychology.” I tried to apply what I learned to provide genuine support to those who are lost in the dark. To listen, to care, to guide them gently back into light. That’s what leadership means to me—not being in charge, but taking responsibility for the well-being of others when I can help.

This experience also inspired me to create an Instagram account focused on teen mental health education. In a fast-paced world where young people are constantly online yet feel more alone than ever, I wanted to create a space of truth, healing, and visibility. Too many teens struggle with depression, anxiety, or identity issues, and they are often dismissed or misunderstood. My goal is to use science-based knowledge, storytelling, and relatable visuals to give mental health the visibility it deserves and to let teens know they’re not alone. To me, this is not just content creation—it’s a form of advocacy. And it all started with one girl who showed me the raw power of human resilience. That one story became my call to action.

Shang, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, my name is ShangDa, and I’m the creator behind Neuroboom by Shang on Instagram. I’m currently a psychology student at a university in the U.S., and I created this account with one main intention: to share basic, fun, and accessible knowledge about mental health, especially for teens and also for people living with Alzheimer’s.

The reason I started this journey is simple but powerful. During my internship at an online mental health clinic, I met a girl my age who came from a very poor family. She had to work to support her entire household while taking care of her sick and disabled family members. Even though she was going through so much, she stayed strong and kept studying. Her story really touched me deeply. I cried after hearing it because it made me realize: so many people are suffering silently in this world, and life is truly full of impermanence. That’s when I decided — if I have the ability to help even a little, I want to use it to benefit others.

I’m also a Buddhist, and I believe in compassion and helping all living beings. I think this field — mental health — is not just my major, but also my path. Especially after COVID, I saw more and more people around me struggling with anxiety, depression, and emotional breakdowns. But the sad part is, many people still feel ashamed or afraid to talk about it. So I want to use this platform to say: mental illness is not scary, and we should never be afraid to understand it or care for those who experience it.

On Neuroboom by Shang, I share mental health fun facts, teen emotional care tips, Alzheimer’s awareness content, mindfulness tools, and small reminders to love yourself more. What makes my work different, I think, is that I don’t want to just teach psychology — I want to connect. I write like I’m talking to a friend, and I always try to speak from the heart.

What I’m most proud of is that some of my followers told me my posts helped them through dark moments, or made them realize they were not alone. That means everything to me.

What I hope people know about me and my work is: I’m not here to be an expert or influencer. I’m just a young person, like many others, trying to make sense of the world and bring a little light into it. I believe healing starts with understanding, and change begins with small actions — like a post, a message, or a simple “You’re not alone.”

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Yes, absolutely. If I could go back, I would still choose the same path. The health field has always been something I truly wanted to be part of. Even though I used to be an art student, I found myself deeply drawn to biopsychology — that’s why I decided to change directions and follow my passion for both biology and psychology.

I’ve always hoped that one day, I could use what I learn to help others. Mental health issues are everywhere, and I’ve seen that pain up close — my sister has been struggling with depression for the past two years. I talk with her often, just to help her release stress, and through that, I realized how powerful and meaningful this field really is.

The things I’ve learned in class aren’t just theories — they actually work, and they can truly make a difference in someone’s life. That’s why, even if I had the chance to start over, I would still choose psychology with no hesitation.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think what helps me succeed in the mental health field is empathy and your real connection with people. For me, studying psychology in school gave me a strong foundation, but what shaped me even more was volunteering at the hospital. I got to listen to people’s real struggles and emotions — not just from books, but in real life. It taught me how important it is to truly understand others, not just diagnose them. That experience made me realize that being successful in this field isn’t just about having degrees — it’s about whether you can make people feel seen, heard, and supported.

So empathy is the key to building real connections between people, and truly caring for others is one of the most important things for success in the healthcare field. In this field, it’s not just about knowledge — it’s about your heart. You have to care for everyone you meet, and you need to have the spirit of wanting to help others. Only then can you succeed, because people can feel whether you’re genuine or not.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: neuroboom_withshang