About Me

Profile

About: I was born and raised in Round Rock, Texas, just thirty minutes north of the eclectic city of Austin. I grew up kayaking on Town Lake, dancing at the Trail of Lights, and being harassed by my older siblings in the stands at Longhorn football games. Nothing relaxes me more than an outing on the lake in my kayak or a sweaty yoga session, followed by a trip to nearly any eatery-on-wheels. I love a good book, from East of Eden to Harry Potter (which I may or may not reread every summer). At some point in my life, I have tried playing nearly every sport, from kickball to soccer to tennis, but found my niche dancing because it involved the least hand-eye coordination and the fewest flying objects. My affinity for dance led me to pursue a career in chemical engineering because, like dance, it allows me to manipulate technical skills and create something artistic and new. If I could be anything in the world, I would be a Mythbuster.

Why I Ride

I ride for my father, who passed away in August of 2013. My father fought cancer twice, beating it once and living a gloriously happy six years before being blindsided again by this terrible disease. Never one to doubt my abilities, he taught me how to use power tools, to build a greenhouse, and to tie nearly anything to the roof of a car. I ride because I have felt the pain and seen the scars, both physical and emotional, that cancer leaves. I ride to bring hope to those scared, those suffering, and those left empty and to educate others so they may not have to experience that heartbreak.
More than anything, my father showed me to find the beauty in what surrounds me. He taught me to care for creatures both slithery and furry, to appreciate a dance with a calm lake and a fight with a rough one. My father was never shy about speaking about his disease, when asked. He didn’t let the stigma of “cancer” distance him from those he loved. With these lessons in mind, I ride for my father, to pass on his wisdom and to appreciate it better myself.