I transferred to Scripps in my junior year to study ecology, art, and environmental justice. My emphasis was on the role of public art and public spaces in cities, focusing on reclaimed public parks. My senior thesis explored the relative impact or success of public parks in Los Angeles, which often depended on whether the community nearest the park was consulted on their needs.

I earned a master's degree in English: Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Coursework involved literature, creative nonfiction, poetry workshops, teaching seminars, and more. Critical thinking, literary analysis, and the craft of writing were three key pillars of the program.

For a six-week summer program, I took two courses: "Irish History through Film" taught by three professors and "Creative Writing" with Kevin Higgins, a beloved Irish poet. My final paper looked at the misrepresentation and "authenticity" of Irish identity on the Aran islands.