About Me

I've loved telling stories for as long as I can remember. I've developed quite a few creative hobbies that I use to express those stories: primarily writing, but also drawing characters/scenes, putting together costumes for favorite characters, and more. It's taken a while to get here, but I've finally decided to start sharing my work more widely, which is where this blog/webpage comes in.​​​

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's back up a bit.​

I was homeschooled from elementary through high school, which came with pros and cons. It gave me opportunities to explore my interests that I wouldn't have had otherwise, and when I was diagnosed with ADHD we were able to adjust our curriculum to better suit my strengths & challenges, all of which I'm very grateful for. On the other hand, lacking an escape from family issues presented its own set of difficulties. Of the interests I developed during those years, the most prominent were writing, drawing, playing guitar & singing, making Minecraft skins, stage combat, fashion/costume design, and ​physics.​

...If that last one caught you off guard, you're not alone. Then again, given how much I enjoy sci-fi and wanted to be an astronaut as a little kid, perhaps it isn't that surprising after all. 😁💫​

After encountering quantum mechanics & astrophysics partway through high school, I thought I knew what I wanted to do for a career. Unfortunately, my brain just isn't wired for math. Despite how fascinating quantum mechanics is, I couldn't keep up with the sheer volume of math required for a physics major in college without being constantly burned out. Even using every strategy and ADHD accommodation I could find, I was still struggling. I finally pivoted to science communication, which I'm currently studying.

As of now, I'm still figuring out the practicalities of what my life is going to be, but with any luck, that future will involve many more stories, not just in my own head, but in forms I can show the rest of the world. I'm looking forward to ​​​sharing my journey here, and I hope you enjoy seeing my work!

— Riverly ✨