About Me

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About:

Born and raised in Beaumont, Texas (Gushin’ with fun since 1901), my life has been an adventure since the beginning. Being one of seven kids, anything the Oxford Family does is a humorous spectacle, which is something I have come to find incredibly endearing. A recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and a current law student, I am incredibly blessed by unique friends and family who are confident in being themselves and in dreaming big.

“Live to the point of tears,” is the motto I have strived to live my life by. This mindset has transformed my small world into a captivating cultural mosaic, bubbling over with infinite adventures and possibilities. I am twenty-two years old and have traveled to over twenty-six different countries, experiencing some incredible things along the way. I have studied and lived abroad in Spain and in Italy, roamed the halls of Buckingham Palace, danced in a Flamenco show, and biked through the cobblestone streets of Berlin. I have been attacked by monkeys in Gibraltar, traced the footsteps of Anne Frank, and escaped from being sold for twenty camels in Morocco. I have devoured pizza and spoken Italian on the ancient streets of Rome, explored the fortresses of Portugal, trekked through the canyons of Austria and Switzerland, chased ghosts in Prague, been kicked off a train in rural Slovakia, and enjoyed a pint in an Irish pub. I have dived with the South African great whites, bungeed beside Victoria Falls, farmed rice alongside Thai trafficking victims, explored the ancient ruins of Petra, and sailed on the Sea of Galilee. While all these experiences were absolutely grand and romantic, I finally realized that despite all its brilliance, the world is an incredibly broken place. My voyages left me shocked at the unbelievably inequitable conditions that a majority of the human race endures daily, not excluding our own backyard. Oppression and destitution actually exist in the world, and I am determined to do something about it.

People are my passion. I love the idea of heels, but am a sneakers girl to the core. Musicals make me giddy partly due to the fact that I used to strive to be Little Orphan Annie. I am a nerd at heart, and get ridiculously excited at the prospect of a new book. I speak four languages and want to learn more because I love connecting with people. The best kiss I ever received was from an elephant, and I like spreading joy on rainy days by putting rubber ducks in puddles. The word colorful is an understatement when speaking of my wardrobe, and I thrive on new experiences, which is probably why I am an adrenaline junkie. Waterfalls are my favourite, and I dream about being a rafting guide one day. I am a wandering adventurer, a justice seeker, a lover of Jesus, a fisher of men, and a lion chaser. I am inspired, curious, confident, passionate, joyful, and infinitely hopeful. I believe beauty exists in every circumstance and am determined to encounter it. Most importantly, I strive daily to actually be the change that I so desperately wish to see in the world.

Why I Ride

Cancer. Many people are crippled by the word. It manifests itself not only in the body, but in the soul, attacking anywhere, spreading rapidly, and destroying body, mind and spirit. While cancer is often associated with devastation, I do not fear cancer, but rather embrace the hope offered by its survivors and potential cure.

When my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, my entire world was shattered. Everything I knew and everything I believed in changed instantly. The strongest, most intelligent man I knew was trapped, a victim to his own body. I was powerless and scared, unable to do anything but wait and watch the disease take its course. Fortunately, unlike so many others, my father survived and is living proof that cancer can be defeated, living proof to not lose hope.

I now realize that we are not as powerless as we think. No battle has a predetermined outcome. The victory is eventually won by the individual who makes the best strategic moves, and who has the will to win. We must persistently outwit and out battle the disease through promoting knowledge and awareness, spreading hope and encouragement to our warriors, and ultimately by raising funds for research towards a cure. Edmund Burke once said, “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Now, is the time for us to take a stand against cancer. We are all capable of doing small things that can spark incredible change. Let’s do something huge together!