About Me

Profile

About: I am a senior here at UT and am pursuing my bachelor's degree in English. I was born and raised in Sacramento, California and moved to a small town just north of Austin before my sophomore year of high school. If I had to describe myself in one word, it would be passionate. Growing up, I was always found with a book in my hands and possibilities running through my mind. I was always reading during trips to the grocery store and writing stories instead of playing outside! To this day I am very passionate about books, especially young adult novels. Some of my favorite authors include J.K. Rowling, Jodi Picoult, John Green, and Ellen Hopkins. I have always been moved by people's journeys, struggles, and ambitions, even if they weren't real. In my free time I can be found behind a pile of books, drinking tea snuggled with my cat!

One of my most valued accomplishments is being the first college graduate in my family. I plan to use my passion of storytelling to reach out to teens and young adults and express the importance of taking risks, furthering education, and never giving up. There is a world of opportunities that should not be ignored nor forgotten, and reaching out to cancer survivors and their families is one of them. My goal is to help young adults who live in small world but dream of living in a bigger one. I would like to help others make a difference as I continue to write my own story.

I've always known that I wanted to make a difference in peoples lives. Texas4000 is my opportunity to not only change the lives of those affected by cancer, but the lives of those we will meet on the way who have never heard of Texas4000. As a team, we will look back and realize what an incredible opportunity it was to be a part of something much bigger than ourselves, our school, and life as we get closer to ending the battle with cancer.

Why I Ride

As an individual, I am inspired by others, and it is my personal goal in life to inspire people to overcome mental, emotional, and physical challenges. Most importantly, I wish to give back to the world everything it has given me.

I ride for my great-grandmother Louise, who was not given the opportunity to learn to read or write, but gave me every opportunity to believe in miracles after a seven year battle with breast cancer. To my family and me, my granny represented everything positive as she spent her life caring for us, from babysitting grandchildren to making sure everyone had enough food on the table. The same hands that grew a garden for food to give to family members are the same hands that healed countless wounds and prayed countless prayers for everyone else’s life injustices. My granny spent her time and energy preaching the importance of faith, hope, and love in her community and family. I ride to give hope, faith, and love to her memory.

I ride for my great-aunt Colleen, who has struggled with uterine and bladder cancer for the past ten years. I ride because she cannot. I ride to find an answer, because I believe that each and every one of us has the power to find the cure to cancer. I believe that when we come together, we can leave the cruel memories of cancer behind instead of our loved ones. When asked why she was refusing treatment, my aunt said she was tired of fighting. I ride because I am not. I refuse to give up fighting for my family and will not stop searching for a cure for this cruel disease.

I ride for my parents, who are my best friends and most wonderful role models. I ride my for brother Caleb. I ride for my grandparents, and for the hope that their lives remain cancer-free. I ride for the courage, passion, and ambition of my teammates, who have helped make this possible.

I ride for all of the parents, friends, family members, doctors, nurses, teachers, educators, writers, and strangers who have a made an impact in someone's life. I ride for all of those who wish to make a difference in the world.

I ride for those who have hated cancer. I ride for those who have taken care of cancer survivors and who have been affected by cancer in any way. I ride for those who have known love, and those who have experienced loss.
For those who have battled cancer or are battling cancer,

I ride for you.