Hello! I’m Dayna. I’m a born and raised California girl. I grew up in Northern California, close to the lovely cities of Berkeley and San Francisco and am now just about to graduate from San Diego State University. I know what you are wondering and to answer your question, yes, it has been tough to live minutes from the beach for the past four years but I have somehow managed.
I’m going to graduate with a BA in Psychology and the ominous question of post-grad life haunts me nightly. What I do know, is the my future will initially consist of teaching English abroad in the Dominican Republic and eventually entail more schooling and a career in the teaching profession. I like to take things one step at a time.
I owe my passion for volunteering to my mom. She is a travel agent who has provided me with the fortunate opportunities of exploring new countries, cities, and towns. I have witnessed extreme poverty in cities in Central America, Northern Africa, and living in San Diego I witness it frequently with our neighboring country, Mexico. While I have been able to lend a helping hand in local communities, my outreach has not extended past the California-Mexico border.
My favorite experience with affordable housing was at an orphanage in Mexico. Whereas many parents struggle with the housing issues in America, witnessing parent-less children suffer in extremely impoverished living conditions, was truly eye-opening. Our group was able to improve their living conditions by providing clean water and sturdy floorboards. Currently, it is Americans that are on the brink of homelessness. There is no better time for a cause like Bike & Build, which will provide the opportunity to personally get involved and help with the much needed issue of affordable housing in our country.
My cycling history does not extend beyond bike rides around campus and spin classes at the gym but I do know that whenever I am on a bike, life is a little bit better. The timing of this event could not be more perfect, since I just received my first Trek road bike from a friend leaving the country. One of the biggest challenges I’m expecting to face on this trip will be getting my bike from California to Virginia, all other challenges I’m expecting to conquer with the bliss of being on a bike for two weeks for a great cause!
