Hello! I grew up in the small town of Stillwater, Oklahoma! Home to rolling plains, cattle ranching, and a rich Native American history. I enjoy volunteering, reading, fly fishing, playing the violin, drawing, baking, and hiking in my free time. Many of my favorite memories are spent speaking different languages over meals with friends and family, sharing stories, laughs, and new recipes.
During my first journey, I lived in the Amazonian town of Bragança, Pará, Brazil. I taught English there to a class of 40 children ranging from 8 to 16. Brazil hosted the World Cup of soccer that year, and we would watch the games together. I taught them English, and they taught me Brazilian Portuguese. In the United States, I went on to study the economics of climate change and human development, such as poverty and inequality, or the distribution of income and resources in societies. I learned how cutting down trees in the jungle affected their communities and my family and friends in the United States.
I joined the Army National Guard to learn more about myself and how to handle difficulty. We learned how to carry heavy weights long distances, live off what we could carry, and how to work as a team with large and diverse groups of people. Living in Guatemala and Chile, I continued to learn about other cultures and ways of living that kept me continually in awe of other people, and how they overcome difficulties and thrive. As a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. Program, I seek to join others in their own endeavors to make the world a better place for everyone and how to equitably share our scarce resources. Join me as I share my adventures and lessons with you all!
