Malaysia

I grew up in the hood, but I never grew up broke. That’s the part people don’t know how to understand. My parents made good money, worked hard, and kept us comfortable—but the neighborhood still shaped me. I learned how to move smart, read people fast, and never let anybody play with me. Money doesn’t erase where you come from. It just changes how people expect you to act.College felt like the first place where both sides of me existed without explanation. I didn’t have to hide my upbringing or downplay my lifestyle. I was allowed to be soft and sharp, curious and confident. And when it came to attraction, I stopped pretending I fit into one lane. Boys, girls—it wasn’t confusion. It was honesty.