Profile

About: I was born in 1992 in Washington, DC. My parents have been involved in politics and more especially giving back to the local community, and they have always encouraged me to be intellectually curious, compassionate and hardworking. I was blessed to have a childhood filled with traveling and adventure, and while my parents were fortunate enough to be able to provide me with an incredible youth, they made sure that I was always aware of how lucky we were. That gratefulness and understanding was fostered and furthered by volunteering and working hard in school.

I have one younger brother who is fifteen and special needs. Growing up with an emotionally disabled sibling was definitely one of the defining hardships of my life, and as a child I dealt with the stress by emotional over-eating. I was obese until 17, when I decided I needed to change my life. I lost forty pounds, and ever since I’ve fallen in love with the outdoors, especially hiking, kayaking, and biking. I try to live every day thankful for the blessing of being alive, and I try to live life to the fullest.

If you told me in high school that I'd be going to college in Texas, I would've laughed. Never in a million years did I actually think I'd end up here (I envisioned myself at school in New York or Boston), but taking the leap of faith was the best decision I've ever made. I chose UT out of a sense of adventure--I wanted to see a part of the country I'd never seen, meet people different from the ones I'd grown up with, etc. At first, adjusting to UT was a challenge. However, after three years, succeeding in studies that I love, joining the Texas 4000 family, and countless other amazing experiences, I feel like UT has really helped me start to become the young woman I've always wanted to be. I've been so lucky in life so far, and I can't wait to take advantage of all the adventure and excitement that lies ahead--Texas 4000 is just the beginning.

Why I Ride

Cancer and sickness have always been a reality of my life. All of my grandparents passed away by the time I was 15, and two of them battled cancer. Several members of my extended family have had cancer, and my mother has been afflicted all her life with a rare genetic disease called Ehlers Danlos, which has forced her into multiple serious back surgeries. Having so much illness around me as a child, I thought that I had become numb to it. That was until I found out that my mother had breast cancer two years ago.

When she told me I didn't cry or even have much of an emotional response. Looking back I was probably just stunned, but as she survived numerous surgeries with fantastic success and her trademark optimism, the reality of her disease took a hold of me. I know that countless people around the world have stories much like mine, but I didn't realize until cancer affected me how important it is that it matters to everyone. Right now we are the luckiest people in the history of humanity--we have extraordinary healthcare, impossibly wonderful technology, and a compassionate society. That means that it is inexcusable for us to ignore cancer, and mandatory that we put all of humanity's firepower behind defeating it. My mother showed me it was possible. I hope that I can show the rest of the world that it is, too.

My mom always told me I should make the goal of my life "to leave the world better than I found it." I'm trying. I hope you'll join me in my quest to spread hope, impart knowledge, and embody charity in everything I do.

Finally, I dedicate my ride to:
my generation, the generation that will come after us, and all future generations, with the hope that we will become a people compassionate enough to fight cancer with the dedication it deserves. I ride for the survivors, like my mother, whose bravery and resilience shows the best that humanity has to offer. I ride for the families of survivors, for bearing the extraordinary emotional weight that cancer places on your shoulders. Lastly, I ride for all those who've already left this world, and I hope that somehow it matters now that I'm doing my part to end the disease that took them unjustly.