As an educator and mother of two teenagers, I have worked with many young people as they struggle to overcome fears, find their place in the world, and share their stories. I write as a way to share my own experiences of different cultures and overcoming fears and insecurities. My hope is that my stories inspire others to find fun ways to own their stories, especially those who have different cultural experiences.

I spent my childhood in Panama, overcoming childish fears, making friends, communicating in a different language, laughing at my brother’s parrot named Squirt, and most importantly learning that “different” doesn’t mean “bad.”

Being the kid that felt like they didn’t belong was a struggle, but one that I was able to overcome. Because of my own experiences, I learned to watch for others who seemed like they needed encouragement to be themselves and shine and find their voice.

In college, I majored Deaf Ministry and Intercultural Studies. After graduating, my husband and I moved to Uganda where we worked for eight years: me as a coordinator for the Deaf at a local college, and my husband in an audio/video studio that taught nationals how to create their own culturally relevant media.

Currently my family is settled in Longmont, Colorado, but I keep everyone’s passports current, and we travel a lot. (Our goldendoodle, Koda joins in as many adventures as he can.)