(2021) Tell us about your favorite book, movie or song and why it resonates with you (250 words)

In Right Where I Left It, Cole Swindell sings, “couldn’t wait to get out, had to chase some dreams down.” These lyrics resonate with me as I have always had a sense of adventure and a curiosity for the world outside of Vancouver, Canada. Throughout my childhood, my parents planned vacations that included visiting family in Taipei and assessing my French fluency in Paris. These experiences sparked a passion for exploration that has only grown with time. From moving to Berkeley for college to interning in LA to completing a rotational program that has allowed me to work in Philadelphia and NYC, I have broadened my horizons and built connections with people from a diversity of backgrounds. As much as it is a dream come true to have found a fulfilling job at a great company in my favorite city, the journey to this point has been full of ups and downs. When I first moved to NYC, I felt lost, overwhelmed and at times homesick, but I was able to overcome the adversity as I had childhood friends and family to ground me and remind me of all the hard work I put in to get to where I was. There is an indescribable comfort knowing “that little hometown of mine is right where I left it” and that no matter where my next adventure takes me, I have a support system back home cheering me on, and I am determined to make them proud.