my story.

As a kid born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I can recall riding the city bus as a toddler while holding my grandma's hand. She was a Chinese immigrant from the Philippines who learned how to maneuver public transportation throughout the city before she could speak English. While my parents worked, she took me everywhere with her. Our adventures took us to Chinatown for pork buns, downtown for Christmas shopping, and to every corner of the city for errands and doctor appointments. By the age of 12, I was a pro at getting around independently. I would look forward to Friday afternoons when my friends and I would rush out of school to catch the train to go shopping. 

Perhaps that's how I became a keen observer of life. Since I could walk and talk, I was immersed in a diverse and busy world: exploring city streets with a homeless man seated to my right, and a businessman to my left. I grew to appreciate the details of those around me. I wondered about who they were, where they were going, and why they were smiling. 

I channeled my curiosity and creativity throughout the years to pursue Visual Communication at UC Davis, and eventually a career using my creativity to serve others in various ways.

In my downtime, you’ll find me sitting on a beach, playing Fantasy Football, painting my daughter's nails, strolling the aisles of Home Goods, or yelling loudly from the sidelines at my son's basketball games. I can sing the lyrics to practically every R&B song from the 80s and 90s, and I've been married to my college sweetheart for 17 years. We now call Sacramento "home," but our beach souls live in Hawaii, where we visit every chance we get. 

Our home is neither neat nor quiet. Laundry gets washed, but rarely ever put away. We laugh at TikTok videos together, have living room dance parties, and eat cereal for dessert. These perfectly imperfect moments make my life beautiful. I love to help others discover that same joy.