What are your interests, and what are the things that make you feel more alive?
Since I’ve been doing it my whole life, I harbor an interest in learning, I love being curious. As it can shift from one topic to another, I carry so much passion for botany. Throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded by greenery and plants; simple as it is, the color green is so lively. Knowing that color itself is alive, all around, makes me feel bliss.
How old are you?
16
I am most proud of…
making it where I am, right this moment. Physically and mentally.
What do you think is the biggest challenge, and the best thing, about being your age?
Being a teenager definitely carries a hefty amount of positive and negative aspects, but one of my biggest challenges is belittlement. I fit the look that allows people to think I don’t know what’s best for me, but I do. Frankly, I know more about myself than anyone else, and I’ve spent these last handful of years figuring things out on my own. Following that, the best thing about being sixteen is getting to come into my own, growing into my own person. I will never experience these formative years again, so I'm going to spend them learning about my identity and who I want to be. More importantly, I’m learning who I want to be through genuine relationships that I am able to forge on my own.
How have you grown wiser in the past two years?
I recently moved from the East to the West coast, and that transition has been able to (not so gently) shove me out of my old mindset and has helped me mature. Navigating a less sheltered life has exposed me to some things that I would have never been able to learn firsthand, but here I am! Learning, becoming wise!
What are the best pieces of life advice you have ever received?
Momentum exists, and not everything bears the weight of Sisyphus’s boulder. Basically, not everything is futile, but once you put things into motion, it plays out the way it should. You shouldn’t force something to move in a direction it doesn’t go in.
Who are the women you look up to and why?
I hate to sound so cliche, but I’d have to say I look up to my mother. I can’t claim that I’m purely myself, because she practically built me, the foundations of who I am today. I have very vivid memories of following her around everywhere, clinging onto her leg at countless events, and sitting on her lap while she’s having conversations with strangers. Being her shadow is something I’ll always take pride in. From those experiences, I’ve overheard countless life lessons and priceless stories, I can’t imagine what my life would be like without her being so present. I’ll always cherish the closeness with her, it’s something I’ve always loved.
She Talks Generations celebrates wisdom-sharing among women; and highlights the different perspectives and unique strengths that we bring to the table at every life stage.
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