# data[].attributes.body
I was born in the Bay Area of California on October 1, 2004

# data[].attributes.body
This past summer, I went to a sleep away camp for a creative writing course. This was super impactful for me because I was able to meet other writers and share my work. It really made me feel validated as a writer, because in the past I had never really felt like I could say, "I am a writer."
I was also able to build a community that I felt supported me and my writing, and with whom I'll continue to stay in touch with.

# data[].attributes.body
I moved to Hawaii the summer before freshman year, and this transition shaped a lot of my culture. My mom grew up here, and so we have a lot of family here who already know the history and the culture of this place, so in that way the transition was made a little easier. However, I still struggled with the transition with how the Bay Area always felt like a busy rat-race to Hawaii, which was much slower and laid back. The culture here is also a lot more similar to Asian cultures in a way, with things like filial piety and valuing community, which was a lot different from Silicon Valley.

# data[].attributes.body
When I was in the seventh and eighth grades, I was a part of a robotics team. However, the two teams those years could not have been more different from each other. The first year, most of our teammates were unhelpful and distracted from the task at hand. I stepped up to be a leader and guide the others, but it felt like it was only one other girl and I who were putting any real effort in. This was super discouraging to me as a leader. But the next year, that one teammate and I formed a new team with two other girls. This time, it was much easier to lead, and I didn't feel as much pressure to organize or ideate on my own. This was important because it redefined what being a leader is to me.

# data[].attributes.body
I think the biggest bend in my life was when I moved to Hawaii. It opened my eyes to all the disparities and inequalities in our society, and really redefined my relationship with my race (as it is such an Asian dense place). I also think another bend is when I started thinking more seriously about college and my future. I realized that the hoops students are made to jump through don't equate worth, and (although I'm still jumping through them to get into a "good" college) I hope I can come to terms with the fact that it is a flawed system.

# data[].attributes.body
The water has been relatively smooth for me. There are times when my family can feel overbearing, but I have to remember that they just care about me and want the best for me.

# data[].attributes.body
When I moved to Hawaii, family definitely took on a bigger part of my life. I live 3 minutes walking distance away from both my mom's brother's and sister's families, and about 10 minutes walking is my grandmother's house. All five of my cousins plus my two sisters go to the same school as me.

# data[].attributes.body
Right now I'm at a relatively smooth part of the river. I think next year will be pretty bumpy, since it's Junior year, and I'll have to really push myself to look good for colleges.
I'm not sure what shape my river will take in the future. I know that I definitely don't want to live in Hawaii for the rest of my life, but I'm not sure if I would want to go back to Silicon Valley, either. I would love to get the chance to live abroad in multiple different places, but I'm not sure what I would do there.