Writing was always my escape. Growing up an only child in an incredibly dynamic and ever-changing family, I frequently turned to my journals. Elementary school me created alternate realities through character development and story lines that aligned with my life (with slight alterations). When I longed for a sibling or married parents, I wrote about a girl with both. When I fell in love with Justin Bieber, I wrote a duet to his breakout hit “Baby”. Having moved 17 times, imaginative writing was my constant. 

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Since my elementary school years, the purpose of my writing has evolved. After my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in ninth grade, writing became a mechanism for coping and connection. I volunteered for NW Parkinson’s Foundation where I founded a blog to share the niche experiences of being a parent with Parkinson’s. Through interviews and personal stories, I was determined to create a platform for connection and support where there seemingly was none. My writing no longer served as a fantasy, but helped my family find the support system we needed. No longer an escape, writing forced me to confront my reality and embrace it the best I could. 

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Prior to my senior year of high school, I was convinced that I would go on to study business. I expected writing to take a back seat in my soon-to-be corporate lifestyle. However, my AP American Government class, increased political engagement and newly realized passion for social justice forced me to reassess my goals. My involvement with student government exposed me to conversations on the injustices within my own school district and further ignited my interest in law. I always loved the city of Seattle, my hometown, but was beginning to see where it was failing. Studying law meant an opportunity to explore where legal advocacy could help underrepresented voices. 

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After graduation, I made the leap to move across the country to Michigan. Having never set foot in the midwest before, I took the risk with the hope of establishing my own identity. Since then, my plans to attend law school have not wavered. However, the lack of a clear cut path to that outcome has posed confusion. When deciding where I want to focus my studies, I chose to apply to the Minor in Writing. I heard that it offered students a small class setting to write freely and for themselves, which is all I ever wanted to do. My gateway course has become an artistic outlet, which is where my Political Science major tends to fall short. Combining my interests in law and policy with my love for creative expression has been ideal, as the work I hope to do will require both analysis and creativity. 

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I like to think that my Fully Realized Project, “Red Lines That Fail to Fade”, is a perfect example of this blend. My upbringing in Seattle gave me an avenue to begin exploring injustices that every major city in our country faces. The braided essay format allowed me to artistically integrate my personal experience, Seattle’s history, and current initiatives to engage a broader audience.

 

The reason I write continues to change. However, I think its evolving nature is inherently beautiful and, likely, the reason I've never become bored of it.