Have you ever walked down the halls at Mount Tahoma and wondered what everyone else is actually going through? It’s easy to just see a face and move on. But for my latest The Tower story, I wanted to go deeper. I wanted to see the parts of people that aren't always on the outside. 

I spent time filming and interviewing people all over Tacoma. I saw our favorite local spots and met the people who make this community what it is. My goal was simple: to unite us. I believe that when we truly understand someone’s perspective, we feel more connected. Tacoma is a diverse place with so many different cultures and languages, but we all share the experience of living, dreaming, and making mistakes. 

One of the most powerful parts of my project happens at the very end. I interviewed my father, and he dropped some serious wisdom about how we look at failure. In our community, we are often taught that doing something "wrong" is a bad thing. But my dad has a different view. 

He explains that mistakes aren't inherently 'wrong,' despite what we are often taught to believe. To him, these moments are beautiful because they build strength and provide essential life lessons. He reflects on how 'learning the hard way' wasn't a setback, but rather the very thing that made him who he is today." 

This really connects to our values here at MT, like courage and hope. It takes courage to fail and keep going. It takes hope to believe that a hard lesson will make you a better person. By sharing these "community voices," I hope we can show more empathy and kindness to each other. 

We all have a story that people can't see from the outside. When we listen to those stories, we realize we aren’t as different as we think. Let’s keep building a Tacoma where everyone feels like they belong - mistakes and all. 

Read more stories from The Tower