Hello! 

The Clay

 

I grew up in a small, rural town in central Minnesota where I always dreamt of fantastic adventures and grand connections. I felt alive when I thought about the offerings of the world and the impact I could make on it. I read and wrote about all of these dreams, but for the most part, I kept them in my head and heart. 

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When I was 12 years old, I lost my brother to suicide. Grief tears a hole in you and makes your world stop spinning. While my family gathered up our pieces and began to rebuild our lives, I started to search for something to fill that hole in my heart. What I found was my mission and my reason to keep the world spinning: ensure the people I encounter feel seen and experience the joy and love they deserve. 

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As I grew and evolved, depression and anxiety grabbed hold of me as well. I struggled for many years to keep my head above water, and I continue to live with the tides of my mental illness. The journey I took with these diseases reaffirmed my commitment to leaving the world kinder and softer than I found it. 

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When I entered college, I found a world of diversity I never knew in my homogeneous hometown. With these new perspectives and new connections, I found a new pillar to my mission. It isn't enough to recognize the humanness in all of us. We must also recognize the ways in which our systems neglect and exclude certain people. If I'm to leave the world kinder and softer, I must also leave it more equitable and just. 

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The Sculpture

 

So, here I am today. I took my big dreams and moved 1,200 miles away to New York City knowing no one; I took my grief and turned it into purpose; I took my mental illness and used it to fuel my passions; and I took justice and turned it into my mission. 

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My biggest strengths lie in my connection to others, my strategic drive to improve our structures, and my creativity. Whether I'm focused on developing new leadership programs for women in business or writing a poem about the isolation of living with depression, my life centers on humanity. We are nothing without each other, so we must advocate and act for our betterment. 

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The Exhibit

 

Like clay, I am moldable. I do not envision living my life as a single work of art, but rather as an entire exhibit dedicated to my many abilities, passions, and impacts. While I currently work with students, I've molded my future visions around various sculptures including teaching as a college professor, working in social impact for business, publishing my writing and working as a full-time author/poet, and guiding people as a career and life coach. With hard work, dedication, passion, and a little bit of luck, my exhibit will be vast. I look forward to my next sculpture. 

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