A lifelong language enthusiast, I began self-studying German at age 10 and Japanese as a high school student. By the time I was in college, my passion for languages had opened doors to a wide range of interests, including sociology, anthropology, history, psychology, and education theory. Since graduating from UCLA in 2009 with a B.A. in Linguistics and East Asian Languages and Cultures (with a concentration in Modern Japanese), I have continued to keep myself well-informed on a wide variety of subjects.

Soon after graduation, I relocated to Tokushima, Japan to co-found an English Conversation School. Besides putting me in a position to be confronted with the nuances of Japanese and English expression every day, my career as a teacher and entrepreneur has also cultivated my habits of professionalism, accountability, and pride in my work.

My hobbies include language learning, violin performance, video games, art appreciation, and reading.