I was five years old when I truly understood the art of storytelling. I eagerly walked into my local Cinemark theater at Memorial City Mall in Houston with my sister, mum, and dad. Sitting with my pre-packed movie snacks in a seat that felt ginormous for my tiny body, I heard the opening line, “Speed. I am speed.” Cars, the Disney Pixar film released in 2006, became my favorite childhood movie not only for the amazing characters, soundtrack, and animation but also because it taught me key elements of storytelling. Understanding a hero’s journey, how main characters can have flaws, and the importance of dialogue led me to love the art of storytelling and writing.
Films like Cars fueled my passion for film, television, and writing. I would educate myself within the world of film and television through award season, foreign media, indie films, and, of course, blockbuster films. Although I would write short stories for my own entertainment, I realized that I was a strong writer regardless of creative writing or journalism, one of my majors in undergrad. I love stories that achieve a diverse perspective like Ladybird, Sound of Metal, of 500 Days of Summer, all of which have fueled my love for writing. Yet, storytelling is not the only thing about me that fuels me as a person nor does it solely make me unique.
My passion for the entertainment industry—specifically in sports—fueled my competitiveness in all other areas of my life as I grew up a swimmer and sports fanatic. From competitive swimming since I was 11 until now, to growing up in a household where tennis reigned supreme, sports have always consumed my life. Some of my favorite activities are exploring new fitness realms as well as watching various sporting competitions like the Olympics, the Grand Slam tournaments for tennis, the World Cup, and more.
I also grew a love for fashion from film and television, understanding how instrumental clothing can be to an individual’s personality. Examples like Clueless, Hannah Montana, or any James Bond film helped me understand the art of storytelling and how it can diversify a character. I believe that my understanding of not only the fashion industry but sports and the entertainment industry makes me a force within the world of storytelling and public relations as a whole.
I genuinely believe that one must enter the workplace with an understanding of who they are. I got to understand who I am and what is important to me throughout the pandemic, seeing various movements come into the mainstream and influencing not only myself but others to think differently. I understood then how passionate I am about activism, influencing individuals’ perspectives on voting matters, as well as how I could impact people’s lives within non-profits and sports.
My diverse background in sports, fashion, and activism put me in a unique position as I enter the workplace. My goals and aspirations as I complete my Master’s in Public Relations and Advertising at the University of Southern California are to work for a sports or fashion organization but through their activism/non-profit side. I want to help brands I support and align with to impact communities for the better. All brands can do their part in leaving communities and the world better than how they found it, and I believe a big part of that is through public relations, specifically civic engagement. I hope to help brands and organizations impact others outside of their norm, whether that be sporting events or selling clothes.