Annie

“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”

-Maya Angelou

My birthday falls on June 26th, so June is usually a deeply reflective month for me. It’s a time when I naturally turn inward, thinking about everything I’ve learned over the past year and how I want to carry those lessons forward. I often experience seasons where I feel the need to retreat into myself, and when that feeling arises, I become very intentional about honoring it. I call it my “turtle time.” It’s when I sit quietly with whatever thoughts, feelings, or ideas need to surface. I’m a Cancer, and like many Cancerians, I’m emotional, a deep thinker, and sensitive to the phases of the moon. Ruminating can be one of our flaws, but I’ve learned to lean inward and simply embrace the process.

I grew up on the island of Guam, which exposed me to a lifestyle that was so simple and chill. Tourism kept the island rich in the hospitality culture. My first real job was as a flight attendant, but the path there was anything but direct. Growing up, I was at the top of my class for years, even gunning for valedictorian… until I hit typing class. Typing class meant timed tests and rigid rules, and I don’t do well when restricted by time or rules. I skipped so much of that class that I flunked, which tanked my GPA and cost me my merit scholarship. All because of typing! But this concept still holds true for me - I find I thrive most in situations where I have space to be a free thinker.

Still, I got into medical school at the University of the Philippines to become a pediatrician. But by my second year, I knew this path wasn't for me. So I went back home to Guam.

One day, while lying on the beach, I saw a plane fly overhead, and I thought, “I want to fly.” I didn’t have 20/20 vision, so pilot school was out. A friend said, “Why not be a flight attendant?” And that’s how my hospitality career took off -  quite literally!

Before becoming a flight attendant, I earned a degree in hospitality - an industry that has always resonated with me, because it's rooted in human connection. It's not about spreadsheets or data; it's about people. Being a flight attendant felt like hospitality in its most intense form; you’re confined to a pressurized cabin, and yet it’s entirely liberating. You’re on your own, responsible for others’ safety and comfort, with no manager onboard and the pilots focused on flying.

On one flight, I helped deliver a baby girl we named Sydney, as we were landing in Sydney, Australia. On another, I was the lead during an emergency crash landing on an island. Thankfully, everyone survived, though there were injuries. One of the passengers, the founder of a worldwide shipping company, wrote a letter to our CEO afterward, describing me as “the epitome of grace under pressure.”

His words have always stuck with me, because I think he really described my essence during that emergency. I felt seen. It felt like such strong validation of who I was, in the middle of humanity.

Throughout my life, I’ve explored many belief systems. As different cultures and traditions have flowed into my life, I’ve remained open to them. This past March, I fasted for the entire month in celebration of Ramadan, fully immersing myself in the Muslim community of Princeton and attending iftars at Princeton University. I’ve also gone on Vipassana silent retreats, explored Taoism, and was born and raised Christian Catholic. Through these immersive experiences, I’ve come to see that, at our core, we’re all seeking the same thing: a belief system that helps us make sense of life and guides us in how we show up in the world.

Ultimately, I feel most aligned with Buddhism. The teachings of Buddha center on finding inner peace, discovering your higher self, and understanding what freedom means for you. Freedom is personal, shaped by who you are and how you were raised. For me, freedom is the ability to flow through life with grace, even when under pressured circumstances.

We all have our own versions of how grace plays a role in our lives. I do think it leads us toward the same direction - a steadiness in chaos, a soft strength when things get hard, and a quiet reminder of who we are when everything else is loud. Knowing who we are is our anchor. As we learn to show up for ourselves, we learn to show up for others…with presence, with empathy, and with grace.

I’ve come to believe that being part of a community is essential to our well-being. It’s in connection with others that we find perspective, grounding, and even healing. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by people who are not just well-rounded, but deeply rooted. People who, like me, carry their own struggles but still choose to show up fully for others. That kind of presence is powerful. It creates a ripple effect. When you’re surrounded by a community that leads with presence, grace, and authenticity, it inspires you to do the same. It reminds me of the kind of energy I want to bring into every space I’m in: connected, open, and alive.

The quote I chose for this project resonates with this feeling. It’s by Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”