Office Assistant
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Hometown
Co. Wicklow, Ireland
What was the most valuable lesson you learned as a child, and how has it influenced your life today?
Be yourself! I was one of the weird kids growing up, so I tried everything I could to fit in for a while. But as I started to embrace my personality and express myself more authentically, I got a lot happier. This still influences my life today, as I am very visibly unique with purple hair and lots of jewellery. Being true to myself makes me so much more confident.
What was your favorite hobby or extracurricular activity as a child, and did you pursue it further later in life?
I played ukulele, taking after my Hawaiian great grandmother. I was so enamoured by it and loved learning it so much that my teacher eventually told me I'd surpassed him in skill! I don't play now very much, so I might need to relearn it!
What was your favorite toy or game to play with as a child?
I loved my Nintendo DSi. I had the hot pink one and loved showing it off to all my friends. I loved playing Super Mario and NeoPets! I still have it in my apartment and play the games sometimes to indulge in the nostalgia.
What was your favorite thing about being a child, and do you try to hold onto that spirit as an adult?
The amount of time you get to spend with friends! The lack of responsibilities really freed up my calendar haha! I try to see my friends now as often as I can and hold onto that spirit, whenever our busy schedules allow it.
What was your favorite meal or dish that your family would make, and do you still enjoy it today?
My mom makes pesto salmon and then shreds it and mixes it with peas and bowtie pasta, and I always loved it as a kid. While I was waiting for dinner, she would even give me a ramekin of frozen peas as a snack. I still love it now, I always get excited when I have dinner with my parents and my mom makes it.
What was the most challenging experience you faced as a child, and how did you overcome it?
I think probably moving from Ireland to the US so young. Back then people saw being foreign as weird, so people picked on me a lot. It took me a long time to do it, but I overcame it by leaning more into my authentic self later in life. But as I've grown people ask me a lot about Ireland when I mention where I'm from, which I love to talk about.
What advice would you give to your younger self, based on what you've learned throughout your life so far?
Don't wish your life away! As a kid I always just wanted to grow up. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to enjoy being a kid and savour the memories being made. You don't have to grow up so fast, life is long. There are so many things you're going to wish you hadn't taken for granted.
Biography
Ari joined Voices in 2024 as an intern and stepped into working closely with the Board in 2025. A University of Utah graduate, they earned a BS in Marketing with minors in Design and Strategic Communications. In their role, Ari acts as a go-to collaborator for the Board of Directors, keeping volunteer leadership connected, organized, and set up for success behind the scenes. They love bringing people and details together so board members can focus their energy where it matters most: championing Utah’s kids. When they aren’t untangling to-do lists, Ari is an avid thrifter and crafter who is rarely spotted without their dog, Luna: an honorary office buddy with a bright purple tail.
