College Degree?
YES! Chirp, Chirp, Cardinal fans (not to be confused with my hometown Illinois State Redbirds). I crossed the border into the neighboring state of Indiana for a degree from Ball State University. While Ball is not a state, I had a ball transforming into the adult you get today in the tropical town of Muncie (many moments sipping monster margs at Puerta). On a serious note, I felt called to a journalism degree like Ball State alumnus, David Letterman, because of my obsessive typing disorder that began to show after high school. I was impressed by the university’s provision and drive for entrepreneurial learning, the unofficial C’s get degrees motto, and the incredible historical aspects of the Ball family along with national sociological research performed in the area such as The Middletown Studies.
Employment & Volunteer
Central Catholic High School
Director of Alumni Relations & Special Events
Would you go back to high school? I was fortunate to get a position fresh out of college in my hometown with a familiar family-centered and faith based atmosphere. I have learned how to manage my time as a professional, structure virtual and in-person events, and build relationships with volunteers.
Ancho and Agave
Server
I could eat chicken asada tacos everyday for the rest of my life. I describe the Tex-Mex restaurant I serve at to guests as authentic Mexican with a twist. Every shift, I rave about then sell multiple triple chocolate fudge brownies, and I love it when tables trust me to pick their beverages and food. The bougie tequila and skull themed attraction appeals to people all over Illinois. With 10 years of food industry experience, I have always appreciated the fun friends the restaurant atmosphere brings.
Central Catholic High School Softball
Assistant Coach
John Fogerty’s Put Me in Coach is on repeat from March to June. Switching positions from player to assistant coach at Central Catholic High School is a rewarding experience. I love sharing my passion for the game and building young athletes up physically and mentally.
Activities
Powerlifting
I’d rather be at the gym. Really! I think about working out all of the time. It is an exhilarating experience to feel my mind and body strengthening during and after different forms of exercise.
While I used to be an avid recreational runner (I am talking the jogging pace of a 3 year old passing me on a scooter), two years ago I quit cardio to see what a power lifting style of training would do to my body.
Gonzo’s Barbell is my second home (or first) where Coach Gonzo builds my block program around the three main lifts: squat, bench, deadlift. The close-knit crew of athletes at the gym is a fun team to train alongside. I plan to compete in my first competition this summer.
Total = 570lbs (I have long way to go!)
Lift ATX in Austin is my favorite gym! I can't wait to visit more gym destinations.Fashion + Makeup
Aside from working out, buying or browsing stylish attire and applying wild eye shadow with a bold lip are my favorite pass times. I love the limited but challenging canvas of a face and working with what I got in my closet to express a mood through fabric colors. You can find me walking into stores for art inspiration or a conversation (salespeople are so eager to talk to me). There is just something about the aesthetic of stores that makes me feel alive.
Caffeine + Socializing
Starbucks, Local Coffee Shop, Red Bull, Monster, High Ball, Tea. If it’s caffeinated, I want it! And prefer it be sugar free.
And what pairs well with energy? Engaging with people! Starting and holding conversations is comes naturally to me. I am curious person who connects to individuals often – hence why I pursued a journalism and sociology degree. Contrarily, it is hysterically hard for me to sit and pay attention to a movie or Netflix series. It’s not that I dislike these formats, I would rather be interacting with people outside of my home or working on a creative project or jumping among random videos and apps on my phone.
Still here? I can talk and write for hours. Here’s some more random points about my life for ya to digest!
God did not give me the ability to sing because He knew I’d choose to become a rock star over a podcast host if my vocals would let me.
For Career Day in Kindergarten, I dressed up as a pet store owner. I believed Maggie’s Pets would be the place to be with my custom shaped dog treats. Unfortunately, I lost my admiration for animals when I realized I was allergic and asthmatic to cats and dogs. Somehow, I have developed an immunity to my family’s pup over time and do not mind risking a couple hives for the occasional animal snuggle.
I skipped 4th grade. And was made fun of relentlessly for it by my peers until I graduated high school.
In junior high, travel softball was life. I swung into a tight pitch that broke my left knuckle – often called a boxer’s fracture for people who are fighters or enjoy hitting brick walls. Well, not only did I hit a double on my second attempt with an injured knuckle, I also proved the doctor who cut off my cast wrong. He said I would never be able to be a hand model, and I have appeared in two different publications in photos featuring my hands. Checkout my first blogpost written in 2014 that made me think to pursue writing.
A cruise ship I boarded at age 17 hosts my favorite memories. It’s no Titanic love story, but young me forged friendships and formed the Crypt Crew (the name of the cruise’s “”nightclub was Crypt, oh smh). I ran on the ship’s large track under a full fledged rainbow, witnessed my ginger skin turn a shade of bronze unknown by my pale toned limbs, and ate unlimited food, which helped me discover my taste for seafood. Plus, my soul sets on fire for opportunities to travel to warmer climates and experience various cultures.
