| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | One of my most memorable childhood experiences was spending summers with my grandmother, who always found creative ways to make simple moments meaningful. We didn’t have much, but she showed me how to see beauty in small things, like turning yard work into art projects or storytelling while we cooked. Those experiences taught me to value resourcefulness and imagination, traits that still guide me today. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I most closely identify with my grandmother because of her strength and quiet resilience. She’s faced difficult circumstances yet never lost her sense of humor or compassion for others. Watching her taught me how to persevere without bitterness and how to lead with empathy even when life isn’t fair. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I deeply admire authenticity, emotional intelligence, and perseverance. I respect people who remain true to themselves while still showing kindness and adaptability toward others. Strength without arrogance and humility without weakness are traits I try to embody in my own life. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | Once, while taking a photography class, I accidentally spent half an hour following and photographing the wrong person because I thought they were my model. When I finally approached them to give direction, they laughed and said they were just out walking their dog. We both ended up laughing so hard that I took their portrait anyway and it turned out to be one of my best shots. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I would travel across Japan, from Tokyo’s bustling art scene to the peaceful countryside of Kyoto. The balance of innovation and tradition fascinates me, and I’d love to capture that harmony through photography. I’d spend time studying their aesthetic principles — simplicity, precision, and beauty in imperfection — which align closely with how I approach my own creative work. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I would want to pass on a sense of empathy, creativity, and self-worth. I want them to understand that their circumstances don’t define them and that resilience can be both soft and strong. I’d teach them to find joy in expression— whether through art, writing, or service — and to always use their gifts to make others feel seen. |
