Citizenship: United States
Growing up on the agricultural outskirts of Los Angeles, culture and diversity were introduced to me at a young age. Though a product of many different communities, home is where the heart is and my heart resides with my family in the small town of Piru, California. After completing my undergraduate degree at UC Santa Barbara with degrees in Global Studies and Spanish, I plan to broaden my network in the globally renowned New York City as I dedicate my time at Columbia to studying the dynamics of climate change in Latin America. During the school year I aim to expand the knowledge I gained during UCSB’s Positive Psychology Certification Program to demonstrate how developing the mind-body connection through mindfulness practice can assist in achieving environmental sustainability: the healing of oneself mirrors the healing of the planet.