To start from the beginning, I must take you to Almaty, Kazakhstan, the birthplace of the apple, and me. I was adopted when I was ten months old and moved to Moscow briefly before moving to the suburbs of Detroit. My neighbors consisted of other adoptees that helped to shape my identity and sense of being, but like a lot of adoptees, I didn't recognize it right away.

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My sense of identity shifted and expanded when I began Speech and Debate. Spending time around students discussing issues bigger than ourselves, thinking creatively about how to solve problems, and performing for others sparked my interest in what visual arts and performing arts can do for change. I became a leader from these experiences, choosing to direct and perform pieces that had the potential to spark change and conversations between people of diverse backgrounds.

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I decided to pursue higher education at Colorado College (CC), known for its innovative Block Plan. Students take one class at a time for 3.5 week "blocks" where they get the opportunity to work in depth at an accelerated pace on a single subject. I majored in Film and Media Studies and received a minor in Journalism. I had the opportunity to integrate my major and minor through documentary exploration along with understanding the value of real-world experiences in fiction films. In Prague, I studied filmmaking abroad for a semester at the esteemed FAMU where I got to learn more about the process of creating and collaborating with professionals in the film industry while working with 16mm film.

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During my undergraduate years, I co-founded the CC Adoptees Club to foster community with other students, staff, and faculty who have an adoption or foster care background or experience. I was a writer for the CC Covid-19 Reporting Project where we reported on how Covid-19 was impacting our campus and the Colorado Springs community in a newsletter that came out twice a week. I also worked as an intern for NPR in the Content Development team, assisting in producing interviews and archival research for The Last Cup.

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For my senior thesis, I worked in a group of four and we decided to make our film about my experience visiting my birth mother. During this time, we learned more about the creation process of making a film including producing, casting, and managing a set. Personally, I had the opportunity to explore my identity and think about what it meant to be an adoptee, all while trying to understand: What will this film mean for myself and others?

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Looking into the future, I expect to gain more experience in film and journalism as I continue to create and collaborate with others. My experience in filmmaking and my ability to execute meaningful projects will assist me in every opportunity that comes my way. If you've been intrigued by any part of my story, please feel free to reach out.