One of my favorite things to do on a lazy Saturday morning is to hop in my car and drive. Anytime there is a fork or a stop sign, my wife or I simply choose whatever direction feels right until something makes us pause and explore. If you haven’t tried this, you should—we found some lovely coffee shops this way.

This approach mirrors my career journey: guided by curiosity, but always with a sense of direction. As a social worker I quickly learned how to communicate and plan with people overwhelmed by problems— breaking through communication barriers to untangle complex issues, helping clients feel safe, understood, and supported. 

While working for an edtech nonprofit, I honed my research and data synthesis skills, managing internal and external member data and identifying key metrics around retention, payment, and industry trends.

Later, supporting a human development organization, I joined a design team tasked with rebranding a contraceptive technology website. Despite having limited design experience, I saw the communication gap between our internal team and external developers. To bridge it, I created wireframes that visualized our ideas — streamlining communication and avoiding excess financial burden. Watching those ideas come to life on screen was eye-opening; it was my first introduction to UX design theory, and I realized I’d found the name for the career I’d unknowingly been building.

UX design is where data, design, and communication meet — a space where I can build on years of experience while constantly learning and adapting. As I grow in this field, I’m excited to bring these skills to freelance projects, edtech, or healthcare — anywhere I can help create intuitive, inclusive, and meaningful digital experiences. In this ever-evolving digital world, I can’t wait to see where curiosity leads me next.