my community ...
After the hard transition of moving away from home to college, I found a home away from home in my sorority Delta Gamma. We are a cohesive group of women all working to better our campus, community, and one another! As cliche as it seems my sorority "sisters" are like sisters I never had. I am grateful they make up my community as they are all strong individuals who inspire me, challenge me, and push me to be the best version of myself.
Working out has been a huge passion of mine since I got to college, mostly because it is a huge stress reliever that lets me escape for an hour. It is always nice to get away from the hustle of campus and just focus on myself. Orangetheory has been a great community of people who strive for health and wellness. Everyone is looking to support one another in their goals and create a positive environment full of healthy competition.
I have been a dancer since the age of 8 and thus the dance world has been my life for many years. The dance studio is a second home to me and my teachers and teammates are family. Dance has shaped the person I am today and developed me sense of strong work ethic, self-discipline, and independence. My team has shown me what it means to be a team player and support those around you in your highs and lows. There is no better feeling than being on stage, knowing you have worked endless hours to be where you are. The dance community is small and I see familiar faces from my years of competitive dance even on Chapman campus. It is the best feeling to know my teammates and I share a bond like no other.
my identity ...
While each community I am apart of makes up the person I am and have become. Likewise, there are certain aspects of my identity that have influenced the communities I have wanted to join. Growing up in Southern California my whole life I have had the luxury of living in the best weather conditions. When I tell people I am from So Cal the following question is often, "Do you surf?" Living by the beach, I surprisingly do not surf but does not mean I am not an avid beach goer. I love riding bikes by the water, running on the beach, and of course spending as many summer days in the water with friends. I will say I hate the snow, rain, or any cold weather for that matter as I find the best days to be spent in the warm sunshine. I may be biased but I believe San Diego is one of the best cities. As a blonde girl from California many people give into biases that I am ditsy or unintelligent. I have learned not to think twice about it though at times I used to take it to heart. After all, physical appearance should not define or determine one's abilities or who they are.
Growing up with divorced parents has definitely impacted the person I am today as enduring this hardship at a young age was difficult. Although I was able to overcome any challenges and I believe it has made me a stronger individual who is equipped to face adversity. I have a strong sense of independence because of it and luckily am very close with both sides of my family. It has allowed me to form a tight knit bond with each of my parents and therefore family is something I deeply value.
As cheesy as it is fashion is my passion! (Thanks to my mom). I grew up with millions of fashion catalogs and magazines around the house and I love reading them so much I want to pursue a career in the fashion industry. It has also contributed to an adverse shopping addiction that drives my parents crazy, but I claim it is for my future. I think it is such a great way to express yourself and develop a personal style that suits yourself. I love designing and creating looks in my free time.
Volunteering has been instilled in me from a young age as my parents make giving back a priority. Over the years I have gotten to volunteer with several organizations, working with disabled children, senior citizens, and the homeless. It is an important aspect I enjoy doing in my free time because seeing the small sacrifice of time I am making has such a powerful impact on those in need. There is no better feeling than serving others and knowing your work makes their day or even week. In college I now get to do philanthropy through my sorority and help out the local community. I think everyone should try to give up their time to help others as it really makes you grateful for all you have. It gives you perspective and personally has made me appreciate and recognize the differences in our diverse world.
