Profile

About: Hi!! My name is Maile, and I am a junior biochemistry student with a minor in business. I was born in Austin, but I grew up in Plano most of my life. Being back in Austin for college is a dream come true! This city and its’ people have shaped who I am and allowed me to dream about who I want to become.

I have 4 amazing younger siblings and 2 wonderful parents who have taught me most of what I know about being a leader, being kind, and loving others. My favorite things to do are hang out on the tower lawn, listen to Lauren Daigle, read, listen to podcasts, hang out with my friends and roommates, and dream about things big and small! Outside of T4K, I am a Young Life Leader and a member of Chi Omega.

Why I Ride

I ride for hope. I believe that hope is a powerful emotion that has the power to radically change lives. I believe that hope can endure all things and provide light in the darkest of places. In my own life I have seen how hope has turned dark situations into beautiful celebrations. Whether it is at the beginning, middle, or end of a person’s fight, hope can play a pivotal role. I believe that it can transform loneliness, sadness, and despair into joy, peace, and comfort.

Two summers ago I was part of a cancer research program through the LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes at Dell Medical School. I worked under a cancer researcher at UT and heard from doctors, researchers, and social workers about the disease they have devoted their lives to fighting. Every single day I was inspired by the passion for people that ruled these professionals’ devotion to their career. My exposure to the “cancer fighting world” that summer changed my life in more ways than one. But the most important is the way it has changed my reaction to the word cancer from that of sympathy to action. I was on the outside of a fight that I knew I was called to be on the inside of, and I felt spurred on to act and participate in the battle against cancer.