I’ve done a lot of things. Some awesome, some less so. One thing I learned from years of waiting tables and working retail, is that one generous tip can make someone’s night and everyone behind a counter has a story to tell. I’ve learned to listen more. I hold a master’s degree in religion and have worked a variety of professional positions from working cross-culturally with refugees and international students, teaching in Central America (where I spent my early childhood) and working at a women’s crisis center as a survivor advocate. I am thankful for these experiences and my constant call to a writing life.