In the wise words of Maria von Trapp, “Let us start at the very beginning…” shall we? I was born in Castro Valley, California, in Eden Medical Center; the same hospital where my mom was born and where my grandmother worked as a nurse. I grew up on Kauai with my lovely environmentalist parents (but never learned to surf, because like my mother, I am terrified of big waves). Stereotypically, I’ve played the ukulele since I was in third grade. Life on the garden isle was peaceful, but not always the paradise most people imagine. Don’t get me wrong, the beaches are stunning and I feel blessed to have grown up somewhere that’s managed to escape the world’s incessant need for more skyscrapers. But for a queer, ambitious lady like myself, an island isolated in the middle of the Pacific wasn’t exactly ideal. People had that classic “small town mentality” where if you didn’t fit the mold, you were treated as an outsider.
I eventually found my incredible friends through our local theater program, where we bonded over our shared love of performing and general quirkiness. Throughout high school, I poured myself into my love of public advocacy and did whatever I could to learn about socioeconomic issues and engage in my community. I’m still learning, but I take every chance I can to expand my understanding of other cultures and global issues so I can better serve others. Though I am still in my first month here at Agnes Scott, I already have learned so much about the world and myself. I look forward to continuing my study of history, art, and religion, as I plan to pursue a career in museum curation. I am so excited to continue my academic journey here, and explore all the new opportunities I’ve been presented with!
