I turned down the bottle in favor of a sippy cup. My favorite mode of transportation was a kangaroo carrier—strollers were for babies. I used to slide down the stairs astride a big stuffed dog. My comfort toy was a white bunny, now earless, courtesy of my teething adventures.

The youngest of three siblings, I raised my voice (since I couldn’t raise my height) to make myself heard. My signature phrase was, “Look, Mom!” as I showed her my somersaults, drawings, handstands, five-layer sandwiches, hair gel experiments (a whole pot in one go), or bold outfit combos like a floral shirt with plaid shorts. However, I was far quieter when it came to showing her my report card.

Curious by nature, I tried hockey, judo, tennis, hip-hop dance, skateboarding, diabolo, and even flips. I love starting things but rarely finish them—I don’t like the word “The End” at the close of a movie. After school, I would dive straight into snacks and colored pencils. Today, my love for food hasn’t faded, nor has my affection for creativity. While I no longer draw, I now channel my imagination through my canon camera.