>> I was visiting a friend in Utah, and she was in, I would say maybe like the PhD version
of the master's program that I did here at Cal State Long Beach.
And hearing about her program and I went to a meeting with her professor,
and I was just like I can't believe that this amazing program, like the most perfect program
for me is right in my, you know, hometown, my city of Long Beach.
So I applied instantly, got in, and started that following year.
So I've always been really involved with the community.
After my undergraduate degree, I worked with the homeless for ten years.
And I was in a leadership program, Leadership Long Beach, which is here in the community.
And had one of our days was an arts day.
And so connected with a art center that was starting up and looking for volunteers,
and I had left my previous job and was looking for something different.
And so doing a couple kind of like the consulting thing and connected
with the art center and then was there for four years.