Born and raised in Southern California, I have been passionate about technology and the arts throughout my life. Growing up in public education, I had limited access to classes in these fields, which led me at a young age to disassemble toys and electronics to satisfy my curiosity about how things work. This early drive eventually earned me a full scholarship to California College of the Arts and Architecture, where I completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts. I continued my studies at Tyler School of Art and Architecture, earning a Master of Fine Arts and a certificate in higher education teaching. During my time there, I also taught arts and technology to underprivileged students, fostering creativity and technical skills in communities with limited resources.