First name is Mariah, I just go by Riah. The synopsis is I grew up in a ridiculously small town in Tennessee. I was about as popular as a cross country athlete could be in a school of only 1,000 or so kids. I wasn’t arrogantly popular, or by any means a jock. I was just active, happy and friendly. However, life took quite a turn for me in my Bible Belt town when I came out as lesbian. I lost a lot of friends, and struggled a LOT with myself. I went from decently popular, to eating lunch alone in the library. Yeah. You could say Tennessee is a bit closed minded, nonconforming, and RELIGIOUS. Luckily when I was sixteen my mom, stepdad, and myself moved to California from Tennessee. We’ve been in California for five years as of this year. I’ve grown to LOVE it here.California was the BEST thing that could have happened to me when I was a teenager. It saved my life, literally. As I’ve gotten older I realized the people who matter, are the ones who love me unconditionally. It was one of my biggest hurtles to let go of my old life, but a good decision indeed. For my family and remaining loyal friends, I of course fly home to visit frequently. Everyone tells me I have become such a California girl. I don’t really deny it. Since I’ve been here I’ve discovered more about myself than I ever could in the small ass town of Clarksville, TN. Since being in California, I have been vegan for three years!!! And learned I am a huge animal advocate. Plot twist, I have actually discovered that I am Bisexual, and I have been with my boyfriend for a year as of this past December! I’m the first in my family to go to college, and stay in for longer than a semester. My grandfather was the one who really inspires me to keep going. He passed away when I was nine, and I’ll always remember some of his last words were “I just want everyone in the family to be happy”… So, here I am. Earning my happiness. Earning my happiness by majoring in the talent I got from my grandfather, music. This class is another notch in my general education belt however I actually have come to enjoy philosophy. So I am looking forward to all there is to learn this semester!

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