How I got here

I grew up in the small town of Chehalis, Washington, shaped by a family that taught me kindness, empathy, and how to think critically about the world around me. Creativity was always part of my life—whether I was daydreaming stories on long car rides or writing short fiction with my grandma at the kitchen table. I didn’t know it then, but those early sparks of imagination would eventually pull me toward the world of communication and storytelling.

At sixteen, I started my first fast‑food job during the height of the pandemic. It was a challenging time for everyone, but it was also a defining chapter for me. In the middle of the chaos, I learned to stay resilient, patient, and curious. I became fascinated by the way brands communicated—with warmth, with strategy, with intention—and something clicked. I realized I wanted to understand how messages travel, how they make people feel, and why some ideas stick.

As I continued working through roles in food service, hospitality, and later research, I found myself growing in ways I didn’t expect. Serving tables taught me how to read a room. Bartending taught me to multitask and connect with people quickly. Working as a research technician taught me how to listen without assumptions and approach sensitive topics with empathy. Each job became a different lens into human behavior, and each one strengthened my confidence in pursuing strategic communication.

Even when I briefly switched majors—drawn to the legacy of educators in my family—I kept coming back to what inspires me most: understanding people and telling meaningful stories. Returning to advertising and strategic communication felt like coming home to the blend of creativity and curiosity that has always been part of me.

Now, in my final semester at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, I’m grateful for every experience that led me here. They’ve shaped me into a communicator who values insight, empathy, and intentional storytelling. My work is grounded in the belief that great advertising is more than strategyit’s human. It’s listening. It’s curiosity in action.

And this portfolio is just the beginning of where that curiosity will take me.