“Tell me about yourself.” “What do you do in your free time?” “Tell me about your strengths?” “Where are you from?” I know. These are the questions we all dread, but we have to answer them anyway. Whether it’s the first day of class, or a big job interview, people expect you to have an answer. It can feel repetitive at times, but these questions are extremely important.

For the longest time, I never felt like I had a good answer to any of these questions. So with my increasing presence on social media platforms, it is no surprise that I am (finally) creating an all about me blog. I’m sure you don’t want to read this intro forever, so I’ll cut right to the chase.

1. I am a big advocate for mental health. 

When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with depression and bulimia. When I was younger, I was very quiet about my mental illnesses. As I went through treatment, and found ways to cope with my illness, I felt more confident sharing my story with others. I began sharing my story on Instagram in 2014, not knowing how my friends and family would react. They reacted very positively, and ever since then I have been using my Instagram and Facebook platforms as a “safe space” where I can be open and vulnerable about my own struggles, as well as connect with others who may be struggling.

2. I love to travel, so I am always on the go.

Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, Philadelphia, Beijing and Shanghai… These are just a few places I have been to. I have always had a huge sense of wonder, which is what has lead me to travel to some of the places I have been to. I believe that having the chance to experience these different places has helped to shape me into the person I am today.

3. My dream job is to work in the realm of social media and events.

I have always felt that I have been good at social media and events. (I will touch on how much I love events below.) My dream job would be to bring my skills to the real world and do social media and events in a nonprofit or a corporate setting.

4. I have celiac’s disease, so no gluten for me.

There’s always that one person at a restaurant who asks, “Is this gluten free?” … I am one of those people. When I was a freshman in high school, I had an endoscopy done and I found out that I had celiac’s disease. I am usually very careful with the foods I consume, but every once and a while I cheat and have a sub from Subway. Hey, we’re not all perfect.

5. I do not like cake (I know, crazy).

I have never liked cake. Don’t get me wrong, I have definitely eaten cake in my life. As I grew up, however, I found myself opting out of cake at birthday parties. I don’t know what it is, I just don’t like cake. (I’m sorry to all you cake lovers out there).

6. I gave the farewell speech at my high school graduation.

All throughout high school, I knew how important it was to work hard and keep up a good GPA. In high school, I even took it a step further and decided to enroll in Minnesota’s Post Secondary Enrollment Option. With the Post Secondary Enrollment option (or PSEO), I was able to take classes at a local community college and get high school and college credits for the courses I was taking. I was able to maintain a 3.8 GPA throughout this program and I was able to graduate in the top five of my class and give the farewell speech at my high school graduation.

7. When I was younger, I wanted to be an actress.

It’s every young girl’s dream. They look at their favorite actresses on television or movies and they think to themselves, “I want to be like them.” Growing up, I wanted to be famous so I spent a majority of my childhood begging my parents to bring me to auditions for everything from local theatrical productions to open casting calls for Disney Channel. I even spent the first semester of my junior year of high school at Perpich Center for the Arts Education in Golden Valley, MN. My dreams of being an actress lead me to be cast as an extra in two indie movies, which allowed me to gain my own IMDB page, but as I grew up I realized my passion was public relations.

8. I have always loved planning events.

Whether it was my 14th birthday party, which included 30 of my classmates and a bouncy house, or my high school graduation party that included 2 bouncy houses, a snow cone machine and a photo booth – I have always loved to plan events. I think that’s where my passion for public relations comes into play too.

9. I am a libra.

Charming, indecisive and impatient. That’s me. I am a full-fledged libra and I sometimes have trouble telling people “no.” I often have to get advice from friends or family before I make a big life decision, but I don’t think that is necessarily a bad trait to have. I really do value the opinions of my loved ones and sometimes it is important to get a second opinion.

10. I love writing.

I have kept journals by my side since I was in elementary school. I will write anything and everything. I have written everything from poems, to songs. I have shared some of my writing on my Instagram, but for the most part I like to keep it to myself.