Growing up in Southern California has plenty of advantages. When I say that, most people think I’m talking about sunshine, palm trees, and movie stars – but that’s not what I’m talking about at all. California has vast diversity; most communities are racially and economically diverse, which gave ...
Read moreGrowing up in Southern California has plenty of advantages. When I say that, most people think I’m talking about sunshine, palm trees, and movie stars – but that’s not what I’m talking about at all. California has vast diversity; most communities are racially and economically diverse, which gave me a wide perspective on life. California is like a tossed salad of diversity, rather than a melting pot; we all are in the bowl together but our flavors have yet to blend.\
From a young age, I was able to recognize social disparities and disproportionate opportunities. Whether it be, the homeless runaway teenage who came to California to made it big or the war veteran who stood on freeway ramps asking for change or the old woman who used to play in silent movies but now swept the floors at your corner store – there was always something contradictory to me about palm trees and poverty. Something always intrigued me about coming out of Grauman’s Chinese Movie Theatre at night and seeing homeless people living atop the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is because of this that I decided, as a youth, that my life would be dedicated to help those in need.