Who I am

The purple and silver pen, a gift from my uncle, leaks so much it’s unusable unless you want to be covered in blue ink. But it would become the most useful trinket I’d ever get my hands on. For the few months before it started leaking, that pen unlocked my voice. In 5th grade, I’d write for hours gripping that pen, anything from journal entries and confessional poems to short stories. Eventually, the pen was lost in the clutter of a bustling household but I never lost my voice.

Actually, that’s a lie. From ages 15 to 17, I did lose my voice. I stopped publishing my writing, the very thing that gave me immense power and impact. This website is my new purple and silver pen.

My name is Siona (she/they). I am a lesbian woman of color, queer in the political sense. I am Indian and Hindu, admittedly more culturally and spiritually than religiously. My safe space is with books, music, or my family. I am constantly seeking opportunities, both to learn and educate, though if I had to choose one, I’d choose learn in a heartbeat. I am emotional and sensitive, which are often seen as negative, but I view them as passageways to empathy and introspection.

One of the most important people in my life was my grandmother. She completed her PhD in Sanskrit while pregnant, an incredible feat for a woman living in India in the 70s. She crushed stereotypes, not batting an eye when my mom (her daughter in law) said she didn’t like to cook. She taught me to value education, to believe in myself, and to cherish my voice. One of the goals closest to my heart is to make my grandmother proud by carrying on her legacy.

Thank you for coming along this journey with me.

As for the elevator pitch stuff, I am currently a freshman in college studying Health & Human Sciences with an emphasis on Health, Gender, and Ethnicity. I hope to become a Clinical Psychologist focusing on the treatment of perinatal mental health issues.