My name is Katrina Alonso.

I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines to a fiery family of performers and activists. I was raised by a village of people who taught me the importance of helping others, raising up the voices of those who have been silenced, and having the courage to demand change.

Their influence is what allowed me to nurture my creativity and use my talents to make the world a better place than I found it.

I had always been a storyteller and a voracious reader, so when I grew up, I chose to pursue writing as a profession. In college, I helmed my university’s newspaper as editor-in-chief and, as the first female Asian-American editor in recent history, devoted my time towards publishing stories that uplifted the diverse members of the Pace University community. I also interned at Out and Interview magazines, where I covered LGBTQ+ news and entertainment and interviewed rising stars in music. Throughout my work as a journalist, even in the magazine industry, I wanted to make a difference and lend a voice to those who may not have had a chance otherwise.

Now, I’m learning to use my empathy for others and my talent for storytelling in different ways, both as a budding UX Designer and as an editorial assistant at Scholastic, where I contribute to the creation of resources for teachers and parents to help kids around the world become better readers.