About me
My chief personality traits are – empathetic, ambitious, easygoing, elegant, kind, pragmatic, curious, and adventurous. My guiding principles in life - which come directly from my upbringing - are honesty, hard work, and kindness. Here are the 3 Fs that are central to my life – faith, family and function. In that order. The first two speak for themselves. By function, I mean one’s purpose in life. My strengths include creative thinking, problem-solving, building capacity, building meaningful relationships, and facilitating progress. Also, I can be tenacious when I want to be.  I never stay down for too long even after having taken WAY too many punches. My weaknesses include ruminating and feeling anxious when dealing with unfamiliar situations. I sometimes go through analysis-paralysis when the outcome of a decision matters a lot to me. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking complex recipes and failing to get them right, going on esteemed hikes at National Parks, reading fantastical fiction and historical accounts, and writing poetry to make sense of it all.

Religiosity
I am moderately religious. During my early twenties, I practiced Islam as an inherited obligation; however, I have since then become more intentional about my faith. I prioritize learning about Islam, and I am looking to grow in grace, albeit at my own pace. 

Cultural bent
I am a third-culture person. I was born and raised in Kuwait to Indian parents. I moved to the US during my formative years of late teenagerhood when I was still quite impressionable. I do not fully own any one cultural identity. It might be more accurate to describe me as a melting pot of the three cultures – Indian, American, and Middle-Eastern. 

Education
I completed my Bachelors in Genetics and Cell Biology and my Masters in Environmental Health. I do plan on going back to grad school for a PhD.    

Career
I am currently working for a non-profit in public health. As a Project Coordinator, my work is primarily focused on building programs and relationships with federal partners such as CDC and EPA with the collective goal of providing a healthful environment for all. I enjoy working and see that as a central part of my being.