Being raised in middle Tennessee next door to a Japanese-American family was a very impactful experience for me. I was able to be exposed to authentic Japanese culture. This in turn drove me to want to learn as much as I could about Japanese culture and language. 

Although I had been exposed to the Japanese language since I was a very young child, I began my formal studies in 2008 while in university. I was fortunate to participate in a short-term study abroad program in 2010 where I focused on Japanese art history, linguistics, and contemporary society. Upon graduation in 2012 and moving to Japan in 2013 for work, I continued my studies privately and expanded into various areas ranging from classical Japanese/Chinese poetry, philosophy, various religious studies, and multimedia. 

As a translator, I have worked on manga, video games, public speaking events, corporate YouTube channels, art exhibitions, and music classrooms. 

I cherish any opportunity to improve my understanding of things around me and to be a service to all those I can.