In honor of the 30th anniversary of Peace Corps in North Macedonia this June 2026, I find myself reflecting on my time serving there and the unexpected path it set me on. After graduating from the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Media Studies, I felt uncertain about what direction to take next. The clearest thing in my heart was a desire to make a difference, teach children, and create meaningful connection. That calling led me to leave everyone I called home, hop on an international flight for the first time, and serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in North Macedonia. While immersing myself in a new culture, I launched an English language learning program in film and drama for 5th to 8th graders.




















Along the way, I carried this tiny metallic pink point-and-shoot camera everywhere I went. Not because I had a business. Not because I had a plan. But because I was curious about people, their stories, and preserving feelings I didn't yet have words for. This graduation gift from my godmother was something I never imagined would one day hold so much meaning.





















While snapping photos, I was drawn to the moments that made me pause in awe and made me feel alive, the ones that felt significant, even before I understood what they were teaching me.






















The Peace Corps became so much more than an adventure. It became a season of self-discovery. Through the people I met and the places I explored, I started to see the world differently. And somewhere along the way, my photography hobby shifted from simply documenting life to finding purpose and presence through it.






















Those early moments of curiosity eventually became a deeper calling of service behind the lens. As I continued saying yes to adventure, giving back, and storytelling, I had the incredible opportunity to travel on assignment documenting and guiding youth service-learning trips around the globe. With a camera in hand and students by my side, I zip-lined through the forests of Costa Rica, walked among the ancient Mayan Ruins of Tikal in Guatemala, visited a hilltop castle in Southern France, felt pure passion from flamenco dancers in Spain, and built foundations of three schools in solidarity with communities in Haiti and Malawi. Through each journey, I witnessed a simple truth. No matter where we come from or where life takes us, we all want the same thing - to feel part of something greater than ourselves.

After traveling with purpose, taking action, and being open to discovery, I learned that life is ultimately about awakening the power of the heart. It's about sharing your gift with others. It's about connection, belonging, and the people who make us feel at home. Because home isn't simply a place. It's where our heart is held with care.

Since becoming a mom, I understand this truth in a deeper way now. Nearly 20 years after the Peace Corps, I put a pause on a life of international service and adventure to build a cherished family life back where it all began - the Bay Area of California. In many ways, I realized I wasn't leaving my purpose behind. I was bringing it home for my son. Because he has my whole heart, and I have his.

Today, as a Bay Area family photographer, I get to help mothers and their children feel seen, celebrated, and deeply connected while honoring what makes their family uniquely their own. In many ways, my work is rooted in giving others a gift my inner child once wished for: tangible proof of a life well loved. Photographs that preserve the relationships and moments that will one day mean everything to those you call home.

Looking back, it's incredible to think that this chapter began with a metallic pink camera and a collection of imperfect travel snapshots I had nearly forgotten about.




















Seeing these images again has brought back such a flood of memories and gratitude. They remind me that sometimes the things that shape our lives begin quietly. A spark of curiosity, a pull you can't explain, an act of noticing, a small interest, a path that reveals itself one step at a time.

Thank you for taking this walk down memory lane with me. If you would like to learn more about my Peace Corps journey, USF Magazine featured a story.





What’s something you once did “just for fun” that ended up changing your life?