What Shaped My Perspective
The Foundation
Many of the values that guide my education, work, and community involvement can be traced back to my grandmother, who helped raise me. She was an artist, feminist, volunteer, and lifelong learner who encouraged me to approach the world with curiosity, compassion, and an appreciation for people from different backgrounds and experiences.
Through countless conversations, museum visits, creative projects, and community service efforts, she taught me the importance of fairness, empathy, and standing up for others. Her influence sparked my interest in social issues long before I formally studied leadership, diversity, sociology, psychology, and women's studies at the University of Central Florida.
Although she passed away in 2022, her example continues to shape the way I approach learning, work, and service. Many of the projects featured throughout this portfolio reflect values she helped instill in me: curiosity, lifelong learning, creativity, community engagement, and respect for human dignity.
Turning Values Into Action
One of the most meaningful projects I completed during college was supporting Days for Girls, an organization that helps improve menstrual health and educational access for girls around the world.
This project held special significance because my grandmother previously volunteered with the organization by sewing reusable cloth pads for menstrual hygiene kits. As a child, she taught me to sew and I learned firsthand how community service can create meaningful change for others.
Completing my own Days for Girls service-learning project allowed me to continue a small part of that legacy. By coordinating donations, researching global menstrual health challenges, and supporting an organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for girls, I gained a deeper appreciation for how individual actions can contribute to larger social goals.
The experience reinforced a lesson my grandmother taught me throughout my life: meaningful change often begins with simple acts of service and a willingness to help others.
One of the art quilts my grandmother and I worked on together
Looking Forward
My interdisciplinary education taught me that complex problems rarely have simple solutions. Whether studying implicit bias, educational equity, media representation, historical memory, or community service, I learned the value of examining issues from multiple perspectives and working across traditional boundaries.
As I begin the next chapter of my career, I hope to bring the same curiosity, adaptability, empathy, and problem-solving mindset to whatever role I pursue. While my professional path is still developing, my commitment to continuous learning, thoughtful collaboration, and helping people remains constant.
This portfolio represents more than a collection of academic projects. It reflects the experiences, values, and people who shaped my perspective and continue to influence the way I approach both work and life.