Lindsay Varquez

My name is Lindsay and my parents named me after Lindsay Wagner—the actress who played the original Bionic Woman.  I was either destined for greatness or my parents were a little zealous with their love for a sci-fi television show. 

I was born in the Los Angeles area and grew up in Chicago and two small towns in Alabama.  By the time I was in high school, I was sick of the rural life and was determined to get out of the South.  I enrolled at Boston College and spent 4 of the most amazing years of my life there.  I started college as a pre-med student (mainly to make my parents happy) but, after a not-so-stellar first semester, I followed my heart and became an English and Communications major. 

2 ½ years after graduating, I am now 24 and currently living in the land of my birth: Los Angeles.  I’m working in the publicity department at a major network—a job that surreptitiously landed in my lap after a month of being unemployed in LA.  I didn’t intend to end up in publicity but I was very lucky to find a job that I enjoyed.  That being said, I’ve been at my assistant-level job for 2 years now with no sign of moving up the corporate ladder.  Needless to say, I’m getting restless in my current position and need a break from Hollywood. 

During college, I passed on studying abroad so I could take on the president position for a student club and chose to go on Spring Breaks with my friends instead of going on service trips.  I usually don’t regret any of my choices but I wish I had taken the chance to see the U.S. and the world in a different light and help those who need it the most. 

Basically I’ve never had a hands-on approach with the Affordable Housing cause.  I’ve been on the outside looking in learning about gentrification in Boston and about Affordable Housing in San Francisco.  I took an Asian American identity and culture class during my senior year that introduced me to the gentrification problem in Boston’s Chinatown.  Low-income families are being kicked out of their apartments and being displaced to make room for yuppies looking for new trendy parts of the city to live in.  We learned that Boston is turning their eye to the problem as Asian American political groups are trying to bring attention to it.

On the one service trip I went on in my life, our group went to San Francisco to immerse ourselves in the Filipino American experience there.  Our guide took us around the city and taught us about the thriving Filipino culture and the general low-income situation in San Francisco.  I learned that the “affordable” housing in San Francisco isn’t really affordable.  The rent was much more than I expected and much more than what I was used to in Boston.  The memory of hearing the exorbitant amount for rent has stayed with me since my trip. 

Overall, I feel like I’ve taken the educational and more passive approach to Affordable Housing.  Now I want to actively do something to help the cause.  Fast forward to the present.  My friend Brad recently returned from his 2 months with Bike and Build and as he recalled his experiences with me, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to do something beneficial for myself and for others.  I may have missed out on making a change before but now I’m determined to make this happen.    

Brad has been a motivating factor in my decision to do Bike and Build.  You can tell he whole-heartedly believes in the program and it’s very refreshing to see and hear when you’re bogged down by the LA life.  I know that he has gotten a lot of insight, memories and friendships from his trip and I want to get the same out of life.  I can only hope that I can have an experience that rivals his. 

My participation in Bike and Build would definitely be a leap of faith.  I’d be leaving my cushy job for the uncertain and I’d be doing something I’ve never done before: biking.  Aside from riding my pink and blue huffy when I was a kid, I haven’t really ridden a bike.  Of course I’m anxious about going from 0 to 60 and getting hurt while on the ride, but I’m excited to challenge myself and prove that I can do it. 

Get ready!  This little half Filipino, half Chinese girl from the South is ready for an adventure! 

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