My StoryOpening: Framing the Journey

• “If you had asked me years ago where I would end up, I never would have imagined myself as a professor at UC Berkeley.”
• [Write 2–3 sentences about your current role and the big idea: journeys are rarely linear, and yours is no exception.]

Early Life & Roots

• “I grew up [insert where/describe background briefly], in a family that taught me [insert values, experiences, or challenges that shaped you].”
• [Optional: highlight being first-generation academic/U.S. citizen, working-class background, etc.]
• “These early experiences gave me [insert lesson/drive], even though I didn’t know at the time where it would lead.”

First Steps Into Education/Academia

• “My path into education and research didn’t follow a straight line.”
• [Describe your first interests, early jobs, or detours—what you thought you’d do, how your goals shifted.]
• “Each twist and turn added another layer to my perspective.”

Turning Points & Challenges

• “Along the way, there were moments that made me question whether this was the right path.”
• [Share a challenge, setback, or time you doubted yourself. Mention how you learned from it.]
• “Those experiences taught me resilience and shaped the way I now mentor and teach.”

Arriving at Berkeley

• “Eventually, all of those nonlinear steps brought me to where I am today.”
• [Describe how you ended up at Berkeley, perhaps including any “surprising” or “lucky” breaks, support networks, or persistence that mattered.]
• “It wasn’t a straight shot, but each step mattered.”

Closing Message: Takeaway for the Reader

• “My story is a reminder that you never know where you’ll end up, and that most paths—mine included—are anything but linear.”
• [Optional: add a personal note to students, young scholars, or visitors about embracing uncertainty and valuing growth over perfection.]