Over 20 years ago, my dad got into a motorcycle accident in Japan that altered the trajectory of his life forever—only, not in the way you might be thinking. It was at the hospital where he was recovering that he happened to meet my mom, marking the beginning of a love story that would last for years to come. 

This story of how my parents met is the reason why I have come to love storytelling today. So many events had to align for them to experience their fated meeting, and in every retelling of my parents’ meet-cute story, I find myself getting lost in the tragedy of my dad’s accident, but also the beauty in it, leading him to ultimately meet the love of his life. The feeling of getting swept up in a story is unlike any other, and I have always strived to create this feeling for others in the stories I tell. 

Besides being the product of a fated love story, storytelling has been a part of my life from a young age. From competitive dance to high school and college theatre, and now to aerial hoop and silks, I have consistently sought various mediums through which I could convey a story. I believe that my experience across these different outlets, along with navigating my own story of being half Japanese, has shaped me into the interdisciplinary storyteller I am today.

Across my various hobbies, work experiences, and life, I have taught myself about what it means to be an effective storyteller. However, to elevate my craft to the next level, I am currently in pursuit of my graduate degree in Public Relations and Advertising at USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. With the combination of my life experiences and newfound understanding of the fundamentals of communication, I hope to blend the two and tell impactful stories that unite, inspire, and entertain.