OK, there’s really no “us.” It’s just “me.” And I’m a 20-something writer and editor who knows that I’m not getting any younger. I figured now was the best time to take a year to see the world, try my hand at more freelance writing, and use my energy to volunteer for causes that interest me.
I grew up in rural Missouri and had a two-hour drive to the nearest mall; as an adult I’ve lived in Los Angeles’ South Bay and worked in East L.A. I’ve also lived a couple of short stints in New York City’s Upper West Side while working in the Bronx and Harlem. I have a Bachelors of Journalism from the University of Missouri, and during my two-year commitment to Teach For America, I completed a Masters of Arts in Secondary Education. I’ve traveled through much of the U.S. — on family vacations, to watch college basketball and football games, and on a 
2005 solo cross-country road trip.
The thrill of traveling, for me, rarely comes from seeing landmarks, bringing back kitschy souvenirs, or even having self-discoveries but much more so from discovering things about other cultures and humans.
