Compassionate Advocate and Empathetic Listener Holds Space for Teens in Crisis

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Sophia Manole. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Sophia Manole may not have experienced a mental health crisis personally, but her commitment to helping those who are experiencing such a situation is extraordinary. Serving the youth crisis line Teen Link, Sophia spends two to three shifts each month, each lasting 4.5 hours, answering calls and texts from youth in need.  

Her role as a youth crisis specialist involves providing vital support, resources and de-escalation for high-acuity situations. But her contributions don’t stop there; Sophia is also a key member of Teen Link’s social media outreach team, creating educational posts on mental health topics to further the organization’s reach and impact. 

In addition to her work with Teen Link, Sophia has been tutoring a young boy in English and Math for the past three years. Her commitment to education and mentorship has made a significant difference in his academic journey, providing consistent and reliable support multiple times a week.

Sophia’s compassion further extends across the globe through her involvement with Forgotten Faces, a nonprofit organization run by a group of dedicated teens. This organization focuses on helping underserved children in Romania. Sophia has organized several fundraising events, successfully raising over $10,000. These funds have been used to provide art camps, basic necessities and Christmas gifts for children in Romania, bringing joy and hope to many lives. 

Finally, Sophia is the co-founder of Seeds4HOPE, a nonprofit organization aimed at assisting underserved children in Romania. Through Seeds4HOPE, Sophia has organized two clothing drives, collecting over 200 pounds of clothes. These clothes were sent to a philanthropic organization in Romania to be distributed, ensuring that the children have access to essential clothing. 

Read on to find out more about Sophia’s multifaceted volunteer work and why she champions the causes she does. 

Tell us about your volunteer role. 

I’ve been volunteering with Teen Link for almost two years now. My role there is working as a phone worker. I talk to callers by chat or by phone. I help to deescalate the situation, give resources where I can and listen non-judgmentally. I try to give them the space to talk about whatever they’ve been going through.  

Apart from that, I also volunteer as part of the social media subcommittee, where I create Instagram posts for the Teen Link account promoting mental health and the program in general.  

Why is this issue so important to you? 

I like to remember that everyone is affected by mental health in some way, whether big or small. Since it’s such a common experience, it’s important to support each other through it and continue working to get rid of all the stigma surrounding mental health issues. To be able to do that on the phone line is really important to me. 

What inspired you to get started with this initiative? 

When I was younger, I didn’t have a lot of exposure to mental health issues. Because I didn’t know much about it, it was a little harder for me to understand what was happening when I first saw that some of my friends were dealing with mental health disorders. When I heard about Teen Link and what a great resource it was for people, it seemed important for me to get involved so that I could support my friends. Volunteering with the organization has taught me a lot about mental health and helped me empathize with my friends – so I could be a better resource for them, a better support for them. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work? 

A lot of the time, with Teen Link, it feels like instant gratification. You can hear how the person you’re talking to becomes more relaxed, leaves the call feeling a lot more confident with a plan for the next steps they’re going to take. While this isn’t always the case, it’s definitely fulfilling to know that I was there for a person when they needed help most. 

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer? 

I’ve definitely learned about being a good communicator – learning how to talk to people who have different needs or various communication styles. I’ve also learned to think more quickly and stay calm in higher-stress situations. More importantly, hearing the stories about people who have struggled with mental health has helped me understand it more. It’s helped me become more compassionate and supportive to people in my life, those I personally know who may be struggling with mental health issues. 

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about? 

Volunteering is something that everyone should get involved with. Not only does it help your community, but it helps you grow as a person. It’s even better when you can get involved with organizations that align with your passions. For me, caring about mental health has been a big motivator in continuing to put a lot of time and energy into my work at Teen Link. 

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering? 

It’s really important to just take the first step and explore all the opportunities available to you. Once you find that one thing that you feel is really important to you, dig deeper into it and find out how much of an impact you can have on the issue. 

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Sophia? Find local volunteer opportunities.