Romance, Road Trips, and the Art of Wandering

Hi, I’m Kiia!  I never really thought of myself as a reader—sitting down with a book always felt a bit overwhelming. But then I discovered audiobooks, and now they’re my go-to for long drives and walks. My favorites? Romance! There’s just something about love unfolding in unexpected ways that keeps me hooked.   

Creativity has always been part of my life, though I didn’t fully realize it until recently. Social media has become my playground—a space where I get to experiment, create, and bring ideas to life, both for myself and The Beryl Institute. It’s kind of like digital storytelling, which is pretty cool. On weekends, though, I switch things up with some arts and crafts. I never expected to get into it, but a close friend roped me in, and now I’m cutting, gluing, and painting—mostly while laughing at how much better she is at it than me!   

One of the biggest things that’s shaped me is travel. I was born in Finland and grew up in Dallas, but I spent my summers bouncing between continents. My parents made sure my brother and I saw the world, which sparked my love for adventure. That love took me to study abroad in Shanghai, China and Linköping, Sweden—places that changed me in ways I never expected. Up next? Italy, for my brother’s wedding, and hopefully a road trip while I’m there!   

These days, I travel with the people closest to me—my best friend and my boyfriend. One place I can’t wait to visit is Iraqi Kurdistan, where my boyfriend is from. I want to walk the streets he grew up on, try the food that reminds him of home, and truly experience his culture.   

Whether it’s through stories, creativity, or new adventures, I’m always looking for the next thing to inspire me—and I can’t wait to see where life takes me next! 

About the Spotlight Series:

You know our faces. You know our names and roles. But do you know about our passions outside of The Beryl Institute? Probably not, so we'd like to change that.

Welcome to The Spotlight Series, a monthly series highlighting the team members of The Beryl Institute. Each month, one member of our team will share interesting facts about their life outside the Institute. It is said The Beryl Institute is like "family," and we aim to expand on this sentiment through greater insight into the human beings behind our Institute titles. We hope you enjoy connecting with us in this way. May the power of connection bring us closer together as a community.