Book Nook - Mom's in There

When the author learns of her mother’s terminal diagnosis, she returns to the city where she was born. Mother and daughter find, re-find, and lose each other in an intimate, poetic portrayal of the end of a life. Paintings by both women provide dimension and respite as we travel with them on a journey we all know about and yet know nothing about. Mom’s in There is a nudge to perception. It invites the reader to participate in the creative energy that being present can awaken. For anyone caring for someone who is dying or still grieving the loss of a loved one, this book is a reminder to be here, now.

Kirana, Née Karen, grew up in Richmond, Virginia. Her elementary education was at Richmond Montessori, and she graduated from Open High School. She loved writing and at age thirteen won "best book" prize for a contest at the Henrico Public Library for her illustrated book "Nike" about a ten-year-old girl who meets two-inch extra-terrestrials (Nikens) that give birth to their androgynous young by blowing bubbles and lack immunity to chicken pox. At Antioch College, she designed her own major, “World Philosophy,” combining her studies of philosophy and anthropology in a senior thesis about how dreams can be used to solve conflict. After graduating, she wandered for four years in Europe and lived on the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Mallorca. She returned to Richmond in 1991 to become a responsible adult and be near her family. While there, she worked at an early childhood daycare center. Deciding against graduate school, she was certified as a yoga teacher. In 1993, she returned to Spain and has lived there since then in Catalunya, near Barcelona. She shares a home in her “peaceful village” with her partner and young adult son and has been the director of her own yoga center since 2001.

Mealtime Magic - Game Day Celebration

 Celebrity chef and lifestyle expert Chef Jamie Gwen is bringing her playbook to you with expert tips for hosting the ultimate game day celebration. From crowd-pleasing recipes and smart time-saving hacks to creative touches that add big flavor and fun, Jamie shows how to throw a winning party without the stress. Whether it’s a backyard watch party or a living room full of fans, her delicious ideas will help every host score big and keep guests cheering from kickoff to the final whistle.

Chef Jamie Gwen is a former MasterChef judge, a Culinary Institute of America and a Le Cordon Bleu Graduate, a Celebrity Chef & Lifestyle Expert, a Nationally Syndicated Radio Host, a Certified Sommelier, and a 7-time Cookbook Author. She brings the best to radio with her weekly syndicated radio show, heard every weekend on 75 radio stations across the country and in Southern California on Talk Radio 790 KABC. Jamie can be seen every week on L.A.’s #1 morning show on KTLA, on the Home Shopping Network and on national news shows sharing her passion for food.

Money Matters - Family Hobbies Survey

 Hobbies are supposed to make life better, but for many American families, they are becoming too expensive to keep.

CG Trader's new survey shows that rising costs are forcing people to rethink how they spend their free time, and in some cases, abandon favorite activities altogether.

Key findings:

• Florida, Alabama, and Minnesota residents have the most expensive hobbies on average.

• Reading or book clubs and cooking or baking are the top two most popular hobbies in the U.S.

• The average American spends about $94 on their main hobby in a typical month.

• The average American spends about 7 hours a week on their hobby.

• 41% of Americans have had to limit engagement with their hobby because of costs.

• 34% of Americans have had to give up a hobby because it got too expensive.

From cutting back to calling it quits, Americans are redefining what fun looks like right now.

Money Matters - Budget Survey and Tips

 With about 83% of Americans who follow a budget saying rising costs are their biggest challenge, the personal finance company WalletHub today released its report on 2026’s Cities With the Best and Worst Budgeters. The study highlights the places where residents are managing their finances most effectively, while also pointing to areas that have room for improvement.

To identify where the best budgeters live, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 12 key metrics, including average credit scores, debt-to-income ratios, and foreclosure rates.
 

Cities With the Best Budgeters	Cities With the Worst Budgeters
1. Seattle, WA	173. Memphis, TN
2. Boston, MA	174. Mobile, AL
3. Fremont, CA	175. North Las Vegas, NV
4. Honolulu, HI	176. New Orleans, LA
5. South Burlington, VT	177. Montgomery, AL
6. San Jose, CA	178. Huntington, WV
7. Minneapolis, MN	179. Charleston, WV
8. San Francisco, CA	180. Shreveport, LA
9. Worcester, MA	181. Jackson, MS
10. Washington, DC	182. Gulfport, MS

 
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/cities-with-best-worst-budgeters/7666/
 

“Creating a budget is essential because it helps you avoid overspending and enables you to meet your financial goals like paying off debt, building an emergency fund or saving for retirement. Budgeting can also improve your credit score by helping you develop responsible financial habits, and can make it easier to catch fraud.”
 
–
“Seattle has the best budgeters in the U.S., with residents having some of the lowest debt-to-income ratios in the U.S. for credit card debt, student loan debt and car loan debt. Seattle residents also have one of the lowest credit utilization ratios in the country, with residents using around 37% of their credit limits, on average. This is very close to 30%, the recommended maximum credit utilization ratio. Another way people in Seattle show their ability to stick to a budget is the fact that they have one of the lowest 90-day mortgage delinquency rates in the country.”


- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst


Expert Commentary
 
What is the biggest obstacle for consumers trying to stick to their budgets?

“Keeping up with the joneses has always been one of the toughest challenges for disciplined personal finance. As income increases, people tend to proportionally increase spending rather than saving more. The pressure to keep up with peers' visible spending (newer cars, homes, vacations) can derail even well-intentioned budgets. The next obstacle is job loss or other emergencies that can come at someone. However, this is why adhering to a budget and having savings for rainy days matter. However, the psychological difficulty of delaying gratification in a culture built around instant satisfaction does pose a significant challenge, especially now as people live on social media.”
Dr. Suchi Mishra – Professor, Florida International University
 
“Research shows that consumers also regularly underestimate small, unplanned purchases. For example, when going to the grocery store, people almost always pick up a few items that are not on their usual list – such as buying a nicer olive oil for a specific dish or realizing they are out of dishwasher tabs and choosing the largest box to save on cost per tab. Because of this, when budgeting it is important to do what some people call ‘planning for unplanned purchases.’ Just as with large projects, it helps to build in a margin of error. Figure out what a normal grocery bill looks like and budget an extra 10%. Decide how much is reasonable to spend on a day out at an amusement park and add $20. However, people approach it, budgeting for these small, everyday extras makes it much more likely that they will stay within their overall budget, rather than only accounting for large monthly or yearly expenses.”
Helen Colby, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Indiana University
 

How should parents teach children about the importance of budgeting?

“Make teaching budgeting concrete, age-appropriate and fun. Letting them have some consequences is critical. Overspending can lead to losing a privilege whereas savings can result in a nice reward. Let them participate in family spending decisions. Model good behavior openly. Discuss family budgeting decisions in front of children. For example, vacation planning can involve kids in deciding flight vs drive, type of flight, hotel and food etc. They will be excited to participate. Give them responsibility by giving small allowances for discretionary spending, then gradually expand to clothing budgets, phone bills, or car expenses as they prove they can handle it. The goal is to help them understand that money is finite, choices have tradeoffs, and intentional decisions lead to better outcomes than reactive spending. When kids grow into teens they can have a debit card with a limit. Nowadays there are options to get free checking accounts with debit cards and options to lock the card etc.”
Dr. Suchi Mishra – Professor, Florida International University
 
“Parents are children's primary financial educators, yet money remains one of the least discussed topics in many households. Starting financial education early creates lifelong habits. For young children (ages 3-7), use transparent jars instead of piggy banks so they can see money accumulate. Introduce basic concepts like waiting to buy something they want. Teach kids about delayed gratification and the joy that comes from anticipation. Give them small amounts to manage and let them make mistakes with low stakes. For older children (ages 8-12), introduce the concept of earning through age-appropriate chores, distinguishing between expected contributions to the household and extra tasks. Help them divide money into spending, saving, and giving categories. Studies show that children who learn to allocate money to different purposes develop better financial habits as adults. For teenagers, open a checking account together and teach them to track transactions. Involve them in family budgeting discussions, showing how household expenses work. Let them earn larger amounts and make bigger decisions, including mistakes. A teenager who spends their entire summer earnings impulsively learns a more valuable lesson than one whose parents always rescue them. Model healthy financial behavior. Children absorb attitudes about money from watching parents more than from lectures. Discussing family financial goals, demonstrating comparison shopping, and showing contentment with what you have will teach more powerfully than any allowance system.”
Yoav Wachsman – Professor, Coastal Carolina University
 

What tips do you have for consumers looking to make a budget and stick to it?

“First tip is to understand your expenses, what are permanent and which ones are discretionary… Once you have tracked a pattern then you can decide on restrictions based on your goal. Tracking is especially important in an environment where there is a lot of uncertainty in the stock market, and inflationary expectations. Tracking is also important to understand one’s discretionary spending pattern which is typically underestimated. A critical tip is use one of the several apps/software available for tracking expenses automatically and can be exported to a spreadsheet. It may sound stereotypical, but the 50/30/20 rule still helps. 50% needs (housing, utilities, groceries), 30% wants (entertainment, dining out), 20% savings and debt repayment. Adjust these percentages based on your income level and goals… Set up automatic transfers to savings accounts and automatic bill payments. When money moves without requiring constant involvement, it is more likely to stick to a plan… Know your needs and build in some flexibility. Rigid budgets fail quickly. Include a ‘miscellaneous’ category for unexpected expenses and occasional treats. Aim at a positive cash balance in the account no matter how small it is. Quick weekly check-ins (10 minutes) keep you aware without being burdensome. Monthly reviews let you adjust categories that were unrealistic. Once again using a personal finance software/app helps a lot to catch up.”
Dr. Suchi Mishra – Professor, Florida International University


5 Tips for Better Budgeting

1. Start with a plan: You're more likely to succeed and stay on track if you have a solid plan. The budgeting process involves gathering information about your finances, setting goals for what you want to accomplish, allocating money based on how essential each expense is and tracking your progress. Understanding budgeting is important because it can help stop you from overspending, improve your credit score, prepare you for the future and more.
    
2. Use free budgeting tools: You can take advantage of online budgeting tools to build your ideal budget, whether you prefer to micromanage every expense or just create a few general categories.
    
3. Keep your priorities straight: Your monthly debt payoff should be your first priority. Then comes essential expenses, like bills, groceries, and gas, along with saving money for the future. Only after these things are taken care of should you allocate money for “wants.”
    
4. Try out different budgeting methods: There are a variety of budgeting strategies you can use, and the best one may differ from person to person. Some strategies (like the 50/30/20 budget) recommend spending specific percentages of your budget on needs, wants and savings, while others emphasize making sure every dollar is accounted for (zero-based budgeting method) or focus on setting strict spending limits on different spending categories (envelope method). The key is to find out which one works best for you.
    
5. Stick to your budget: Track your spending on a daily basis so you constantly know your progress, or just sync your bank accounts and credit cards with a budgeting app. In addition, keep your long-term budget goals written down in a place where you’ll see them often, and partner with a family member or friend to hold each other accountable.

More From WalletHub

• States With the Best & Worst Budgeters
• Cities Where People Have the Best Money Management Skills
• Most & Least Financially Literate States
• Financial Literacy Statistics

Enriching Education - Host an International Exchange Student or Become One

 This fall, international high school students from around the world will arrive in communities across the United States, eager to experience everyday American life as part of a local family. ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE), a nonprofit public benefit organization, is inviting families to open their homes as volunteer host families for the upcoming academic year or semester and become involved in this unique, deeply personal cultural exchange experience.

For students coming from more than 50 countries, including France, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Australia, the exchange experience is about much more than attending an American high school. It's about sitting down for family dinners, learning local traditions, joining school activities, and becoming part of a community. For host families, it's an opportunity to see their own culture through a new lens while forming relationships that will last a lifetime. Families can learn more about the students participating in the program by visiting Meet ASSE's Exchange Students.

"Students are eager to meet their American host families," said Saphia Lesch, ASSE Midwestern Regional Director. "Start the journey today and create lifelong memories and friendships."

Since its founding by the Swedish Ministry of Education in 1938 and its expanding into the United States in 1976 as the American Scandinavian Student Exchange, ASSE has been working for decades to bridge cultures through education. Today, it is a non-profit organization with its national office in California, regional offices throughout the United States and 38 partner offices in 31 countries worldwide, united in its mission to bring people together through international student exchange.

ASSE's exchange model emphasizes immersion and community involvement. Boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 18 live with volunteer host families and attend local high schools, where they participate in classes, extracurricular activities, sports, and community life. The host families don't just open their doors to the student, but make them a part of their family, sharing everyday experiences that form the foundation of the students' experience living in America.

Persons of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including couples with or without children at home, single parents, and individuals. Previous experience as a host family is not necessary. ASSE exchange students are carefully selected on the basis of academic performance and personal character. Potential hosts may review the student profiles and choose the student whose interests, personality, and background best suit their family.

ASSE exchange students come with their own spending money for personal expenses, as well as health, accident, and liability insurance, which reduces the cost to the host family. LocaL ASSE community representatives are on hand to provide guidance and support to the student and the hosts during the exchange program, which helps ensure the experience is positive and rewarding for all.

The impact of hosting often reaches beyond the home. International students bring global perspectives into classrooms, neighborhoods, and community activities, creating everyday opportunities for cultural learning and connection. These shared experiences help foster empathy, understanding, and curiosity in ways that textbooks alone cannot.

In addition to hosting international students in the United States, ASSE also offers qualified American students the opportunity to study abroad for a semester, a full school year, or shorter-term summer programs. These programs allow students to gain international experience, build independence, and develop valuable language and cultural skills.

Families interested in hosting an international exchange student, or high school students interested in studying abroad, can learn more and begin the application process by calling 1-800-736-1760, emailing asseusamidwest@asse.com or visiting www.asse.com.

Travel Tidbits - Travel Outlook Survey

 Americans are showing few signs of slowing down their travel in 2026.

 

IPX1031’s annual Travel Outlook survey finds 94% of Americans plan to travel this year, with 42% planning to travel more in 2026 than they did in 2025.

 

• 49% prioritize travel in financial planning
• 1 in 10 plan to take on debt in 2026 for travel
• 15% have used Buy Now, Pay Later services to cover travel costs

 

Many Americans will also be turning to AI: 30% plan to use AI to plan trips this year. The top ways they will utilize the technology? Finding restaurants & activities (66%), finding destinations (56%), and building itineraries (55%).

 

While cost remains a concern for many Americans, 20% say fear of travel delays is what’s actually keeping them home.

 

Take a look at the full report for more insights including where Americans plan to stay, their top reasons for traveling, and spring break plans in 2026.

Healthy Habits - Show Love to Your Health, and Your Wallet, with FSA- and HSA-Eligible Purchases from FSA Store® and HSA Store® in time for Valentine’s Day

 Want to make Valentine’s even sweeter this year? Go beyond chocolates and flowers and add a little self-care. Health-E Commerce^®, parent brand to FSA Store^®  and HSA Store^® , is flipping traditional gifting on end with its list of “most-loved staff picks” that can be purchased with flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) funds. It’s the perfect way to show your love by gifting yourself and your eligible dependents trending products that support everyday health and self-care.

 

“Nothing says ‘love’ more than tending to someone’s health and wellbeing, but FSA and HSA users often don’t realize they can use their tax-free funds to give the gift of good health to their eligible dependents or to invest in their own health and self-care,” said Keri Kaiser, chief revenue officer for Health-E Commerce^®. “And if you’re enrolled in an FSA with a March 15 grace period deadline, there’s no better time than now to check your balance and spend those funds to avoid a forfeiture.”

 

Most-loved Products from Health-E Commerce^® Employees

• Therabody Recovery ThermCube. Benefit from ice or heat therapy with this wearable, portable pain relieving device that can be used in multiple areas of the body. Sean from sales loves that there’s no melting or mess, and the strap stays in place! 

• Cure Hydrating Electrolyte Drink Mix Pouches. A convenient way to re-hydrate without adding sugar to your diet. Ideal for workouts, travel, or long days on the go. Cassie from marketing loves all the flavors and would “100%” recommend this product to friends.

• Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50. Prevent skin damage with this invisible, weightless sunscreen that layers seamlessly under makeup and encourages daily SPF use. Mairead from the data team wears it year ‘round and loves that it goes on completely invisible, so it even works as a primer under makeup.

• Chirp XR 3-Pack. Maintain mobility and soothe sore muscles with multiple sizes that deliver relief for back and neck pain. Karly from marketing uses it to alleviate stiff back muscles and maintain healthy movement.

• Revive Heated Massage Gun, Caring Mill™ by Aura, Massages are a Valentine’s Day favorite, and you can up your game with this combination of heat and percussion therapy that targets sore muscles at home or on the go. Ayanna from sales loves the combo of deep tissue massage and heat that makes recovery super easy!

• Sona Hot Stone Therapy System. Bring the spa to your home with therapeutic warmth that relieves muscle tension and eases stress. Jen from marketing uses this product to target back and shoulder pain and to treat herself to a more “luxurious” pain remedy.

• IMAK Pain Relieving Sleep Therapy Eye Pillow. Sleep is a cornerstone of good health, and this eye pillow is an effective way to improve sleep and treat headaches. James from marketing loves this product for its super soft texture and light-blocking qualities. 

• Caring Mill™ Bug Bite Relief Patches. Unless you’ve been bitten by the love bug, keep these bug bite patches on hand for a fast, mess-free way to stop itching and irritation caused by insect bites. Sarah from marketing says it’s the only thing that stops the itch of mosquito bites. “It feels like a magical patch for bug bites!”

• Magic Molecule Hypochlorous Acid Spray. A versatile, healing solution for skin that cleans and treats common ailments like eczema, acne, and rashes. Francel from marketing loves how versatile this product is. It’s gentle enough for skin but effective for everyday disinfecting of cuts, bug bites, and more, without worrying about harsh chemicals. 

• Momcozy Breast Milk Storage Bags. Nursing moms will appreciate these easy-to-use, self-standing breast milk storage bags. Make life easier while giving baby a healthy start. Skylar from sales loves using her FSA funds for this everyday item, because the real costs of parenthood add up quickly with everyday necessities like postnatal recovery products, pumping supplies, and infant-approved medicines. Being able to use her tax-free funds for these essentials is a true relief and has helped remove a lot of financial stress during an already emotional time.

 

To explore even more ways to treat yourself and your dependents to these proven products, check out the eligibility list at FSA Store^® or HSA Store^®. 

 

###

About Health-E Commerce^®

Health-E Commerce^® is the parent brand to FSA Store^® and HSA Store^®, online stores that serve the 70+ million consumers enrolled in pre-tax health and wellness accounts. The company also created Caring Mill^®, a popular private-label line of health products through which a portion of every purchase is donated to the Children’s Health Fund. Since 2010, the Health-E Commerce^® brands have led the direct-to-consumer e-commerce market for exclusively pre-tax health and wellness benefits. Health-E Commerce^® plays an essential role in expanding product eligibility for important new categories within the list of eligible medical expenses.

Movie Minute - He Calls Me Daughter

Tickets are on sale NOW for HE CALLS ME DAUGHTER, a documentary for women who have felt unseen, unsupported, or unsure of their worth. Through intimate, first-person stories, viewers follow women as they begin to name the pain they’ve carried for years: father wound.
Experience the love of a perfect Father who offers peace, belonging, and restoration March 17 & 18 ONLY.
Watch the Trailer now: hecallsmedaughter.org/
#HeCallsMeDaughter #HeCallsMeDaughterMIN @hecallsmedaughterfilm

He Calls Me Daughter is releasing in theaters March 17 & 18 only.

This could be a great healing experience for women, and I encourage you to check it out!

Learn more

• Instagram: @hecallsmedaughterfilm
• Facebook: @hecallsmedaughterfilm

Music Minute - Apple Music's Lost & Found: Time Will Tell

 

Apple Music's Lost & Found, the acclaimed program that puts the spotlight on Nashville songwriters by uncovering standout country tracks that were never released, releases the first demo of the new year today with “Time Will Tell,” written by Trannie Anderson, Lainey Wilson and Dallas Wilson in March 2022. Recorded by Anderson, the track is available exclusively on Apple Music now. The “Found” version, recorded by Lee Brice and produced by Ben Glover, Jerrod Niemann and Brice, will be released this Friday, Feb. 6.   “It came from the first retreat we ever did together in Wickenburg, Arizona,” said Anderson. “We wrote this song in such a special place that bonded us and our writing combo so much, so to get to share some of those songs with a voice like Lee Brice is incredible. After we knew the title was going to be 'Time Will Tell' and we were talking about the concept of time and how it is a tough loving friend, Dallas started playing this walkdown that ended up being the backbone of the whole song. Everything just started falling into place after that.”   “That retreat, I think we wrote three songs on Bell Bottom Country and one song on the recent record [for Lainey Wilson],” continued Dallas Wilson. “This one has always had a special place. I'm so glad it finally found a home, and Lee Brice is just incredible. It's so cool to hear him on it.    We found the angle of it being a bunch of questions you don't have the answer to, the whole chorus being the uncertainty, but then the verse giving that contrast of hope. Saying I don't have to have all the answers right now but time will tell, I'm going to get through this. The vulnerability of that moment is kind of hard, and I feel like Lee encompasses that emotion.”   Lost & Found began season 2 this past fall with “End Of The Night.” The “Lost” demo was written and recorded by Toby Keith alongside Bobby Pinson and David Lee Murphy in 2015, with ERNEST recording the “Found” version. The season continued with “Ol' Stray Dog,” with the “Lost” demo written by Erik Dylan and Jon Randall and the “Found” version recorded by Riley Green. Most recently, “God Again” was released from the batch, written and recorded by HARDY with Jake Mitchell and Jameson Rodgers as co-writers with the “Found” version recorded by Larry Fleet.   Lost & Found offers unprecedented access into the world of country songwriting, releasing the original demo tracks (“Lost”) followed by their newly recorded, star-studded counterparts (“Found”). Every month will bring a new song from the vault. With Lost & Found, Apple Music mines the vaults and pairs tracks with pitch-perfect rising or established artists to record official single releases, in incredible Spatial Audio.   Lost & Found has its own dedicated space on Apple Music where listeners can find playlists for the “Lost” demos, the newfound singles, the Lost & Found Radio show episodes and more playlists from the participating songwriters.   Check out the Lost & Found space HERE.

ABOUT APPLE MUSIC: Apple loves music. Apple revolutionised the music experience with iPod and iTunes. Today, the award-winning Apple Music celebrates musicians, songwriters, producers, and fans with a catalogue of over 100 million songs, expertly curated playlists, and the best artist interviews, conversations, and global premieres with Apple Music Radio. With original content from the most respected and beloved people in music, autoplay, time-synced lyrics, lossless audio, and immersive sound powered by Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, Apple Music offers the world's best listening experience, helping listeners discover new music and enjoy their favourites while empowering the global artist community. Apple Music is available in 167 countries and regions on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, Apple TV, HomePod, CarPlay, and online at music.apple.com, plus popular smart speakers, smart TVs, and Android and Windows devices. Apple Music is ad-free and never shares consumer data with third parties. More information is available at apple.com/apple-music.

Caring Causes - Spin & Learn

Yasiris Ortiz is a professional table tennis champion who appears in two scenes in the film Marty Supreme. Her life reflects the film’s core themes of discipline, belief and dreaming beyond circumstance.

Ortiz was born and raised in Bayaguana, Dominican Republic, where she represented her country internationally before immigrating to New York City in 2016. After navigating language barriers, rebuilding her athletic career, and riding the subway across the city in search of places to train, she found her purpose not only in competition, but in teaching the sport to young people in the South Bronx.

That work became Spin & Learn, an education and wellness organization she founded in 2020 that integrates table tennis with academics, physical fitness, and social-emotional learning. Today, Spin & Learn partners with more than 45 NYC public schools, reaching thousands of K–12 students through in-school enrichment, after-school programs, wellness days, and author visits tied to Ortiz’s children’s book, "Yasi the Champion." Now, as Marty Supreme introduces table tennis to a broader cultural audience, Ortiz is launching the Spin & Learn Foundation, a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to expand access to table tennis and wellness programming beyond schools and into the wider community, particularly for economically disadvantaged youth and families.

I had a chance to interview Ortiz, who speaks candidly about representation paired with access, and why

visibility alone isn’t enough without sustained opportunity. Her story offers a compelling real-life counterpoint to the film, showing what happens when sport becomes a vehicle for education, leadership and long-term community impact.

How did you get involved in table tennis?  

I got into table tennis because of my cousin. I’ve always loved sports and staying active. When I was around 8 years old, I was doing track and field while my cousin played table tennis. For a while, I did both, but after competing in my first table tennis tournament, I felt a strong connection to the sport and decided to focus on it.

Not long after, I was selected as a child to join a table tennis academy in Santo Domingo, where I trained 6–7 days per week. That environment was much more intentional and professional, and it helped me build my technical foundation, discipline, and resilience. There were moments when I thought about quitting, but my mom supported me constantly, even if it was just over the phone. That support made a big difference in my journey.

Why is table tennis a good sport for people from a variety of backgrounds? 

This is one of my favorite topics because it connects to why I want to bring table tennis to more communities. Table tennis has no limits on who can play. It welcomes people of different ages, backgrounds, and athletic abilities.

It’s a sport that can bring multiple generations together. You’ll see kids, parents, and grandparents playing in the same space. It connects people from all walks of life and creates a very diverse and welcoming community.

It’s also highly accessible. People play for fun, fitness, competition, or professionally, and all of those reasons are valid. Everyone deserves a space in the sport and to feel respected as part of the community.

Why are both representation and access important for young people when it comes to sport? Representation matters because table tennis is still not widely known in many communities. If young people don’t see others like them in the sport, they may never realize it’s an option for them.

Access is just as important. Many families can’t afford expensive programs, and without local opportunities, kids get left out. When programs are brought into communities, more young people can participate regardless of their financial situation.

I truly believe that when youth have access to positive programs and sports, they stay more focused on their studies and personal growth, and they’re less likely to get pulled into negative environments. Sports can give them structure, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

How does sport have a positive impact on education and the community? 

Sport has had a direct impact on my own life, and that’s why I believe in its value for education and communities. Through table tennis, I learned discipline, focus, and consistency at a young age. I learned that if you want results, you have to practice, stay committed, and not give up when things get hard. Those lessons shaped how I approach my studies, my career, and my personal life today.

When I work with students, my goal is not for every child to become a champion or a professional athlete. My goal is for them to be part of a supportive community where they feel represented, heard, and seen. A space where they can grow, build confidence, and develop life skills.

Sport brings people together, creates safe and positive environments, and helps young people build habits that support success in school and in life. For many kids, it can be a place where they find belonging and motivation.

For me, sport is not just about competition. It’s about development, community, and opportunity.