I was born and raised in Tennessee and spent the majority of my younger years in a tiny town in the mountains. Here, I learned to create my own fun. I got on my bike in the morning and was gone until dinner. I spent my days building forts in the woods and my nights playing tag with my friends in the community gardens. There, the sacredness of community meant I was safe to explore. It was nothing short of idyllic, fostering an independence and creativity that guides me still.