Who I am Matters

Describe where you come from?

My dad is American and my mother is British. I was born and raised in a neighborhood called Brentwood. It is reminiscent of a beach town, without being on the beach. I have spent a lot of time in London which has shaped me as a person. I, also, lived in NYC for a year. While it was short-lived, it forced me to grow up. London and NYC both have helped me get out of the Brentwood bubble which is so easy to fall into.

Tell me where you're going?

I don’t really know. I would like to pursue career in graphic design after graduation, but thankfully have an extra semester of college to postpone that. I would love to move to London at some point in my life, but I am not sure how feasible that is, and also it rains a lot.

Tell me how you plan to get there?

I am majoring in graphic design and minoring in communication design. I have had a plethora of internships and I am hoping to get an even better one for this summer, that will eventually develop into a job. As far as moving to London, other than being a British citizen, I am not sure how I am going to pull that one off.

How are you LIKE your parents?

My father is a stubborn, intolerant, and argumentative man. I inherited those traits from him. This results in a lot of fights, but they are all short-lived and not personal. My mother is stylish, quiet, and dislikes confrontation, as am I. We bond over our love of fashion and understand each other’s quiet demeanor. I have a true internal struggle, as though I am argumentative, I also dislike confrontation.

How are you UNLIKE your parents?

My father is a lawyer with Yale and University of Chicago degrees. My mother is an organized, thoughtful woman who worked in corporate world. I am a scatter-brained, messy art major. Enough said.

Have you developed your own expectations for yourself, or if you were honest, would you say you're operating under someone else's expectations?

If you read my answer to the question above, I believe it answers this one. I am most definitely pursuing a career that is my own choice. Of course, I want my parents to be proud of me, but I want them to be proud of decisions I make, not ones they make for me.

Who serves as a model for you of someone who lives life with great passion and personal responsibility?

Paula Scher is one of the most famous female graphic designers. She does not stick to conventional design ideas and thinks outside the box. I strive to be like her in my design practice.

Connecting with the ANIMAL WORLD: What wild animal do you feel a special connection with, and why?

I have had an obsession with manatees since I went to Sea World with my grandparents in preschool. They bought me a little manatee stuffed animal and I have loved them since. In fact, I still have that same manatee on my bed…at 22 years old.

Connecting with the NATURE KINGDOMS: Describe a significant childhood encounter with a tree or plant.

When I was younger, there was this little tree near my house. When we were small, my little sister and I thought that it was quite big, obviously. I liked to show off and climb the tree, which I thought to be a great feat at the time. My sister couldn’t do it, so I thought that made me superior to her, as a big sister should.