Almost 29
I find it hard to believe that I’ve been alive for almost 29 years. That’s crazy. 29 years and I still feel so unsure in my existence. 29 years and I still feel like a fawn learning how to walk. The past nine months have carved in me the importance of perspective, gratitude, and resilience.…
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One day at a time
I used to live years ahead.Now I’m just trying to make it through today. When you’ve spent your whole life planning…school, career, moves…how do you suddenly let it all go? How do you take things one day at a time when you’ve trained your brain to stay ten steps ahead? How do you unlearn? It…
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This wasn’t the plan
I’m a planner. I map everything down to the smallest details—spreadsheets for trips, checklists for just about everything. My sisters might say I have a control problem. Lollll. Lordtttt. But man, when shit goes sideways, it really goes sideways. All the way. I went to the ER on a random Sunday night at 10 p.m.,…
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Resigning from the PD’s Office
I officially resigned from the Public Defender’s Office—a decision that comes with mixed emotions, deep reflection, and acceptance. I honestly enjoyed my time as APD. I cherished the opportunity to guide people through a system that often felt overwhelming and unforgiving. I strived to show that a person is so much more than the mistakes…
Unpacking sexual crimes in Samoa
Where do I even begin? I’m confronted with cases that leave me asking questions I can’t easily answer: Why? How? Why does this happen so often? Why is it normalized or excused in certain circles? How do we begin to make sense of it? These aren’t rhetorical questions—I really want to understand. In American Samoa,…
Sacrifice pt. 2
I didn’t expect my post about staying in Samoa to resonate so deeply with others. I’ve gotten a lot of messages—encouraging me to go home, to be strong, to choose myself. People telling me to think beyond family. All of this has made me reflect even more. Lately, the question that keeps coming to mind…
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Dine's Ethos 