Hi, my name is Stasha Malcolm. In high school, my father was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia, and at this same time, my grandmother was re-diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Although my grandmother passed away, my father is now in remission. Their struggles inspired me to chase my dreams and to never give up. I graduated as Salutatorian and was able to honor both of them in my speech. In order to offset my family’s financial burden from medical bills, I began working at local after school programs to pay for my tuition.

After an opportunity to visit Thailand for a short ten days, I have been anxious to return. With great thanks to FEA, I will be able to study abroad in “The Land of Smiles,” (Chiang Mai, Thailand) during the academic year of 2012-2013. I am excited to learn from a culture where tradition is more important than anything else, where people appreciate what they have, and where everyone smiles, regardless of their situation. My major is Graphic Design, and I will be working on my minor in International Relations while abroad. At Chico State, I participate in a choreography collective as a dancer. My other interests include photography, spending time on Oroville Lake, learning about cultural traditions, and working with kids.