There are so many factors that affect how our lives turn out, but one of the most interesting is how our backgrounds give us unique strengths and perspectives that affect who we are as adults. We asked rising stars from the community to tell us about their background and upbringing and how they feel it’s impacted who they are today.

Xiaodie Huang | Graphic Designer

I was born and raised in Shaoguan, a small city in the northern Guangdong Province of China. Shaoguan is unique to me because the people there collaborate and work together more closely than in other major Chinese cities. As a result of my background, I am able to lead and participate in large-scale events and activities. During my time studying in the United States, I enjoyed art exhibitions and social activities tremendously. These experiences have prepared me to be an independent and productive team member. Read more>>

Sagar Surana | Actor and Writer

It’s weird to answer this question because I almost feel like I had two lives growing up. I grew up in a smaller town called Indore in India until I was 18. I went to a good school and grew up with a very loving, supportive family. I’m still extremely close to my childhood friends; we have all known each other for over a decade now and hold each other real close. Throughout my formative years and my time in India, I was super involved in creative avenues including theatre, art, and debate. I had a great childhood! Read more>>

Michele Wong McSween | Author & Creator of Gordon & Li Li

I’m 4th generation Chinese-American from Sacramento, California. I grew up surrounded by a big Chinese family and an even bigger extended Chinese family, but our neighborhood was predominately White and so were my friends. As a kid, I remember wishing I had blond hair and blue eyes like many of my friends. I wasn’t embarrassed about being Chinese, I just didn’t want to draw attention to it. I was what other Asians referred to as a “Twinkie” or “Bamboo”, Asian on the outside and ‘White’ or hollow in the inside. Read more>>

Priya Mahendra | Actor & Coach | Heart Follower & Possibility Seeker

My family is from India – my parents moved to America before my brother and I were born. Growing up, they exposed us to everything they could from both the East and West – music, food, movies, ideas, holidays, languages, etc. It built a strong sense of perspective in us about the world at large, and gave us the freedom to find ourselves in the intersection of different customs, cultures, and countries. In our upbringing, my brother and I saw our parents valuing acceptance, empathy, generosity, ambition, resilience, and staying true to who you are. It is the biggest impact on the person and artist I am today, and the greatest gift they’ve given me. Read more>>

Alina Ali | Sweet Petit Founder, Dessert Shooter Stylist & Full-Time Registered Nurse

I recently moved to SoCal, from the east coast. My parents first immigrated to New York, the heart of the American Dream, before settling into a quieter lifestyle in Delaware. They left the comfort of their home, their friends and family, and a place of familiarity to give a better life for their little kids whom couldn’t even comprehend the kind of love igniting this sacrifice. Read more>>

Marta Hernani Fernandez | Screenwriter. Book author. Podcaster

I was born and raised in Bilbao (Spain). The Basque Country is a region with a very special storytelling tradition. I grew up surrounded by fantasy books and playing piano and acting in a theater group, so I fell in love with the arts very young. Later on, I moved to Madrid for college, and after that, I lived sometime in Florence (Italy) and in London before making the career leap to Los Angeles, so all those experiences definitely impacted the writer I am today. Speaking different languages has also opened many doors for me to meet extraordinary people from all over the world, which is a wealth of inspiration when creating new characters! Read more>>

Nicolas Rocha | Blind musician

I am originally from a town called Salamanca, Guanajuato in Mexico but I was raised in East Los Angeles and have lived there most of my life. I think being an immigrant to this country brings me a different perspective on most things I have encountered. The most important thing I carry, and have carried with me my whole life, is being able to appreciate the people around me and the opportunities given to me. Being grateful for my family and friends and bandmates has enriched my life and I know I am able to learn from every single person that’s ever taken the time to speak with me or have shared any moment with me. Read more>>

Zehra Ahmed | Founder and Curator Womxn in Windows

I am from Karachi, Pakistan. Growing up in a chaotic city of 23 million people and also being part of a large extended family has largely impacted who I am today. The ability to live with disagreement and still care for the same people is a result of my upbringing. Whatever I do and create is first informed by how it may affect those around me. Growing up in Karachi, teaches you to share with others, it also teaches you to deal with chaos and inefficiency. I ultimately love bringing people together, sharing meals and finding ways to play. Read more>>

Tamar Matossian | Neurodevelopmental Specialist

I am of Armenian descent and was born in Saudi Arabia. My parents are from Lebanon and Jordan where their parents fled during the Armenian Genocide back in 1915. I came to the United States at the age of one, and am the oldest of 3 kids. I was the first person in my family to attend college, so filling out applications, writing essays, and applying for financial aid was all new territory for all of us. Coming from an old school Armenian family into the U.S was a big transition, learning the culture while preserving our own was a fine line. Read more>>

Candi Milo | Actor/Entertainer

I was born in Cathedral City, CA which was on the way to Las Vegas, NV where my Dad was performing at The Frontier Hotel. But I was raised in San Jose, CA. San Jose is the 1960s was a sleepy bucholic city, which one day would become Silicon Valley. BEFORE that, my father left show business to open on of the first ever halfway houses for the developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed. And he didn’t have the funds to get our family our own separate residence, so from the age of 7 to age 9, Read more>>

Steve Cabe | Magician/Mentalist, Storyteller, Mental Health Advocate

I’m originally from Georgia but spent most of my life growing up in Michigan. Looking back it’s interesting to consider how growing up in a southern family in the northern part of the United States contributed to the culture and value system I was raised in. It was often steeped in tradition and faith, but also in ways that led to being unnecessarily critical of myself. Not to mention, I’m the youngest in my family, which often made it hard to find my individuality. When you’re a kid trying to find the unique parts of your identity–talents, hobbies, and the things that make you uniquely yourself–but you’re also the youngest, it can feel like all the good hobbies are already taken. Read more>>

Samera Arkel | Event Space Owner and Interior Designer

I was inspired by my dads story’s … Let me share … I’m first generation American born. My father worked many hard-handling jobs in New York soon after he migrated from our country, Jordan. My father married my mother at 18 and came to California with six bucks in his pocket. His first job in Los Angeles was as a gas station attendant, where he convinced the owner to let him resell the used tires from their customers that usually get tossed out in the trash bins. Read more>>

Abigail Jenson | Business Owner

I am from Salt Lake City, Utah. Most associate Utah with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Which, I am a part of. I mention this because it has completely played a role in my development and identity. Growing up there was a lot of value placed on family relationships, serving in the community, and just living a Christ-centered life. I am the second oldest of 8 children, a family of 10 people. I developed my love for creating and giving from my mother. Growing up I watched my mom draw, cook, sew, bake, etc. and give those things to neighbors, friends, strangers, whoever. Although this sounds like a pretty good home to be in, I will be the first to tell you that we were/are not perfect. Read more>>