I’m grateful to have grown up with immigrant parents who supported the fact that I would, in one way or another, end up on a creative career path. Because to be honest, I don’t think I would’ve gotten by in this industry without their encouragement. There were so few fellow POC writers around me back in film school, and when you narrow it down to female Southeast Asian American writers? It felt like such a lonely and intimidating journey, where I felt my voice would be stifled by a looming, white male-dominated industry. However, the company I kept played a huge role in helping me realize that my identity did not disqualify me from having a voice worth listening to. And because of this, I grew more confident in my storytelling, and more excited because with every person my partner and I reached through our writing, the more we could create opportunity for other minorities to be seen and heard. In the present, even with the title of COO and co-creator of Tubby Nugget, I still find my position questioned or overlooked sometimes by those who aren’t used to seeing a woman of color in a place of leadership. But I’m happy to say that now, it only drives me even more to keep creating a future that champions diversity, love, and compassion.