State Representative, First Hampshire District; Age 38
Education: Wellesley College (AB), University of Edinburgh (MSc)

How do you define success? Success is not settling into complacency but constantly striving to do better, try new things, and keep learning. We are all works in progress, but recognizing the need for evolution and leaning into the new and the uncomfortable keep life interesting and fresh.

Whom do you look up to, and why? I look up to the women who have spent their entire lives as activists and organizers and who have kept their finger on the pulse of social-justice movements, evolving as the movement evolves and welcoming in people of all ages. People like Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis, and Dolores Huerta, who understand the importance of intersectional, intergenerational organizing as the sole way to fight against social and economic inequities.

What goal do you set for yourself at the start of each day? To balance the need for patience with the need to be demanding, to balance diplomacy with passion and drive, and to give my all to my work while still making time for family and friends. Also, every day, I make a commitment to get enough sleep, drink enough water, and exercise, so that I have some semblance of internal balance.

What person, past or present, would you like to have lunch with, and why? I would like to have lunch with my grandparents, who passed away when I was 11. My grandfather was the first person who told me to run for office, so I would love to hear what he thinks now that I am elected. They were both more conservative, so it would be an interesting conversation because we are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. I wonder if they would still be conservative in our current political climate and where (and if) we would find common ground.

What fictional character do you relate to most, and why? The answer to this question has changed at different times in my life, but the fictional character I would most like to emulate is Miss Rumphius, the titular character in a children’s book who decides to do three things in life: travel the world, live by the sea, and make the world a more beautiful place. This was one of my favorite books to read to my daughter when she was little because it emphasized the components of a life well-lived: learning, feeding the soul, and serving others.

 

Photography by Leah Martin Photography