A FEW THINGS TO KNOW
Podcast style?
I have Boomer tendencies.
I have regularly maintained a checkbook since the seventh grade, continually listened to the same radio stations since purchasing my car back in high school, and I am notorious for responding to friends' texts by calling. While my parents are the real Boomers, I mention these antiquated behaviors because I honestly prefer introducing myself the old-fashioned way. However, until we can make that happen and learn more about one another over a caffeinated beverage (not a fan of coffee, but tea is delightful), I suppose a few paragraphs shall suffice.
9.15.2018 - Texas Football v. USC
I was raised in beer.
After being adopted from China when I was six months old, I spent the rest of my adolescence brewing in Shiner, Texas. [Insert every Shinerite's prepared speech here: "Yes, that's right...just like the beer! Shiner Bock is indeed brewed in our little town!"] Growing up, my small community had proud Czech and German heritage, a friendly population of 2069, and a single stoplight. All resulted in a safe, special, and supportive childhood.
7.17.2019 - Mount Sanqing, Jinagxi, China
I live in a candy store.
Sort of. Perhaps that is the metaphor that best sums up the lens through which I view life. Like the kid in the candy store, I like a lot of options. I have creative passions for design, writing, and art. I love sports, musical theory, and theatrical performance. I am interested in neuroscience, astronomy, and zoology. What finally pushed me into communications rather than medicine was the fact that an Advertising degree could become my ideal cross-section within my Venn diagram of many interests. Specifically, within the creative advertising industry, I could make meaningful pieces of communication about a variety of interesting topics, brands, organizations, and causes.
9.9.2017 - World Adoption Day
I am a human being, not a human doing.
While this candy store lens encourages childlike curiosity and an insatiable desire to never stop learning, I realized that when left unchecked, it can lead to persistent indecisiveness and rose-colored glasses. The belief that "I can have and/or do it all" is a dangerous, prideful motivator that has led me, and I am sure many others, to fall into a non-sustainable state of constant busyness and emotionless work. I had to learn that the most loving thing you can do for yourself and for others is to simply receive life and not achieve it. That is when I have discovered my most creative self and experienced my most authentic identity.
