I was a bit worried that I would experience extreme culture shock, coming from Compton. To my surprise, my transition into Bishop and the Inyo National Forest has been smooth. Culturally, the town has a lot of Spanish speaking people who have made feel right at home. During my free time, I like to go on walks at the local park or go play basketball at the Bishop Paiute - Shoshone Reservation.

As a Recreation Technician, I have the opportunity to not only learn a lot of cool technical skills that involve power tools and gasoline tools, but also engage with the public outdoors. I have especially found it super rewarding when I encounter Spanish speaking people in the forest. I hope to be someone that the community finds comfort in when being outside especially because these spaces have not always been the most inclusive. As my responsibilities shift with the season, I am looking forward to helping increase outdoor access and visitor center engagement to the Spanish speaking people in Bishop through interpretive sign translations. I am equally excited to experience California’s Fall and Winter seasons in an area that is spectacular in every direction.