About

Vanessa feels weird writing about herself in the third person.

I started out as a Physics major. But the 90s were a good time to get paid for knowing the arcane language called HTML. At 19 I started working as an HTML monkey at drDrew.com, Inc. My father was mystified that someone would pay good money for this fad they call internet. 10+ years later I have managed to convince him it’s a full-fledged career. As a web and graphic designer I specialize in creating websites, email and banner ad campaigns. I also do logo design and print work.

But I’ll be honest. I don’t want to sell other people’s products for the rest of my life. After graduating from Cuesta College with an AA in Social & Behavioral Sciences I am pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English at Cal State Los Angeles. I plan to go on to a Master’s program and eventually teach at a community college. I like academia and I like to think I’d be able to help people as a teacher.

Outside of work and school, I love to travel. Since getting my open water SCUBA certification I have been especially interested in the tropics. Favorite place I’ve been yet? At the Long Son Buddhist temple in Nha Trang, Vietnam there is a massive prayer bell under a pagoda. Taped to the inside are notes in Vietnamese and other prayers written in white-out pen. The monk ringing it invited me and my friend to sit inside while he rang and sang over us.