At what some people call pushing 30, I find myself drawn to contrast. I am an Arizona native who prefers rain to heat. I move between connection and solitude, digital noise and quiet moments, the life I plan and the life I end up living.

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In my early twenties, I produced music, traveled, and spent long nights at concerts, guided by the idea that life begins when you step outside your comfort zone. I was searching for joy, even when it did not always find me.

 

These days, my free hours go toward finishing my Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Sociology, with plans to continue into a Master’s in Digital Audience Strategy.

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My interest in communication began with travel and a single book: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. Christopher McCandless’s story stayed with me because it grappled with self-discovery, isolation, and the search for meaning. It raised questions about why people seek connection beyond what they know, and what they hope to find when they do.

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We all grow up inside a limited perspective, shaped by culture, place, and the stories we inherit. Sometimes cultures align. Sometimes they collide. Sociology gave me language for understanding how people make meaning, how communication breaks down or bridges gaps, and how identity forms in a hyper-connected world.

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When I am not writing or studying, I am usually with my two cats, gaming, or awake at 2 am trying to untangle whatever has been sitting in my head. I am learning to accept that most things take time.

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Chatpastel is where all of this comes together. It is a space for cultural reflection, personal writing, and questions that live between the lines. The thoughts we feel but don't always say.

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Thanks for being here. I hope something stays with you.