My grandparents play an integral role in my story because their influence formed my personal experiences and life skills. My mom’s parents were homesteaders in Northern California and I grew up visiting their farm and roaming their property. My dad’s mom was a teacher and artist from Southern California and she fostered my love for sketching. As a kid, she mailed me pencils, sketch pads, charcoal sticks and VHS recordings of art instruction. Not till I was an adult and mother, did I discover that Landscape Architecture is a profession that combines nature with art. For me, starting over and going back to school was more about fulfilling a life passion than a career choice. I plan to explore as many opportunities and projects as possible when I graduate always with the goal of connecting others to the inspiring outdoor spaces and stewarding our environment well.