I'm 17 and a junior at Grand Junction High School, and I'm currently learning to love... well, learning. I've found a great interest in art history, the Spanish language, literature, and many other subjects where I can explore the world's culture and history. I've been on the school's academic team since my freshman year, which has been tough but really rewarding, and it's the place where I finally feel like I fit in with others. I'm also involved with the art and Spanish clubs; I've been learning Spanish for around 4 years and I'm taking classes to speak at a professional level by the end of high school.

Grand Junction hasn't always been my home- I hail from the Seattle area in Washington state, and moved with my mom to be near family in 2020 for my freshman year of school. With the beginning COVID pandemic, moving to a smaller town and overall just being the new kid, it wasn't an easy adjustment. I've never been a perfect student, but I've worked really hard to make connections and get on top of my grades. I genuinely enjoy learning, and I'm always open to new experiences.

A long-time interest of mine is drawing, and I hope to someday build my life around creating art. Being an artist has taught me to trust myself in the tedious process of creation. I'm usually my own biggest critic, but making art shows me that consistent work will pay off in a way I can really be proud of. I get a lot of inspiration from music and pop culture, and I will always want to talk about Lord of the Rings.