Following my high school graduation, I spent the summer in Ghana, West Africa with a small group of graduated seniors. We were led by our Calculus professor, who spent two years teaching in Ghana through the Peace Corps.
Barack Obama had just won the 2008 United States Presidential Election, and we were welcomed with open arms. It was an incredible feeling, and my first brush with home-stay living. My personal takeaway from the experience was discovering a love for photography, cultural immersion and exchange.
Little did I know the trip would provoke me to make a dramatic life change and take a year off to immerse myself in philanthropic work in developing areas before attending the University of Oregon; a radical decision and one of the best of my life... so far.
Fine Art
Art has always been a very important part of my life because it allows me to experiment with different ideas and feelings visually. I don't have a favorite medium; I enjoy woodwork, painting, linoleum block carving, pencil and pen drawing, and pottery. I love to doodle and always keep sketch books with me. Art transcends voice. It enables audiences to engage with the artist, and with themselves, in a unique way. I love wandering through museum exhibits, both for personal inspiration and new ways to connect and understand the world.
