About Me

Pictured: Seven-ish year old me thinkning I look just like a sphinx

Greetings! My name is Ayanna, and I've been around for 18 years, though it doesn't really feel like it's been that long. I guess time flies when you're seeing new things all the time. Moving can do that to you. I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but I've lived in Arkansas, Colorado, and Illinois. By far, my favorite state to live in has been Colorado. Other states just honestly can't compare. I'm glad to be back, and I hope to be staying for longer than I did last time.

Along with living in a plethora of different states, I've been incredibly lucky to have been able to travel all over Europe. Since I was four years old, my mom and I have been to a number of different countries, including Spain, France, and India. Speaking of which, I've been dying to go back and see my uncles, aunts, and cousins that live over there. We took a month long trip to India when I was four, and I haven't gone back since, which sucks, because all I remember from that trip are hoards of mosquitos trying to eat me alive.

But I guess I should tell you about my experience with literature. I've been writing stories since I was in second grade. I distinctly remember the very first book series I wrote back in 2007 or so. It was about a girl and her friend, this shadow-y blob creature. I was so proud of myself when I finished it that I copied it all down in my mom's computer. Since then, sadly, the tale has been lost to time, as my mom's computer went kaput a few years after I wrote it all down. But that never stopped me from writing tall tales and stories. In third grade, I picked up poetry and absolutely adored it. I wrote poems for teachers, friends, really anyone who would put up with my terrible poetry; in eighth grade, I started writing my first "novel" (I use that term loosely); and in ninth grade, I managed to get one of my short stories published.

I have always loved expressions of creativity like literature and art, and hope that I can find more time to do things I love through this class. Over the course of the last four years, I feel like I've lost a little bit of the focus I used to have on writing, and I really hope this class can change that.

A Little Bit of My Life in a Series of Photos

The view from a bus window in rainy Bath, England

Seven-ish year old me attempting to eat an entire chocolate muffin in one bite in an airport somewhere

Heathrow at night, circa 2019