Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, a twin by birth and bumped to middle child nine years later by my little sister, I grew up with the words conflict mediator behind my name. In my school years, I was labeled the "come libros" or "book eater" in Spanish. It took me a few years to understand that I suffered from general anxiety disorder. I started writing as a teenager. It became a mechanism to live in another world in which I wouldn't have to live up to society's expectations. Today, I proudly lead a balanced life. It took leaving my island for college in the United States, which has led to a successful adjustment and a lot of studying. I live for the day when my writing becomes a message to the world, not just an outlet for me.