Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Woods.
Hi Autumn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was young, I didn’t realize that I was unique for carrying an intimate understanding of my authentic self. I did not question how the choices I made, whether over my hair, clothing, or other forms of self-expression, aligned with those of my peers. I didn’t question what I felt called to do – I just did it. I’ve always been one to listen to the voice of my heart, and as I’ve matured, my ability to discern my desires, fears, and in-betweens has revealed many challenging truths to me.
One of such truths is the pervasiveness of criticism that accompanies our culture. Rather than encouraging individuality, it seems that our culture often challenges something novel with a desire to destroy, tear down, forced to assimilate. Living in the way that I do, in tune to what my soul speaks to me, leaves me vulnerable to receiving such criticism.
I endured bullying throughout my educational career, and even as an adult my stylistic choices, such as my makeup, fashion, and tattoos, tends to attract unsolicited opinions. I’ve decided over the years to use this attention to my advantage – parallel to my passion for self-expression is my passion for supporting the dignity of existence on our planet.
I have my BS in Biology and my Masters in Education – I have worked my whole live in extending information regarding the interconnected webs that connect us all. Human to human, human to animal, animal to environment – we are all a part of the same system and the more that I bring my students and other audiences towards an understanding of how to better support each life, the closer I feel I am growing to my purpose here on earth.
I started this passion in my backyard, then found myself teaching in schools, zoos, giving tours through the jungle and on the ocean – I eventually ended up in the craziest place of all, a High School. In my classroom, we tackle topics that extend past our subject matter, and my students give me so much inspiration every day, so much hope in the future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My road has been anything but smooth. And yet, I do not bemoan a bumpy road as each bump altered me to repairs that needed to be made to prepare myself for the long journey ahead. A few of the most difficult bumps have been instances that my road disappeared altogether and I had to find my new path.
When I was a child in third grade, my youngest brother was born with an extremely rare health condition – this led to my mother and brother spending the first year in the hospital and myself learning how to fill a maternal space at home while she was gone.
During the next few years, my life was increasingly unstable, as my brother and mother were routinely in the hospital for surgeries, illnesses, seizures, and other hardships – there were many moments that I didn’t know if I’d see my brother again. As a way to cope with this, my mother developed an alcohol addiction, which put a level of responsibility on my shoulders that pushed me to exceed in school as a way to find a better future. And I did! I graduated with a 5.0 from High School and Summa Cum Laude in 2 years from UCSD!
After graduating, I had finally achieved my dream job of researching sloths in the jungle of Costa Rica – but a few months into my research I found out that I had lost my mother to suicide, so I had to return home to help my family recover from her loss.
This is when I then stepped into the role of teacher, knowing it would provide stability and give me the chance to reach so many minds. This stability has proven priceless this last year when I started down the path of an extremely messy divorce and custody battle with my abusive ex over our two years old son. There have been many moments during this battle that I have worried I would end up the street due to the manipulation on behalf of my ex/his family, but I’ve been putting even more into sharing my story and spreading my energy wide in the hopes that the universe will return the kindness I’ve shown to those around me and keep my son and I safe and healthy.
I hope that my story provides inspiration to any who might have gone through something similar – I currently have General Anxiety and PTSD from my experiences and I share with those around me ways that I have been able to find meaning in my life’s journey so it serves me while I serve others.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have often had individuals ask me how I’ve curated my aesthetic, how I choose what I wear, how I decide on my look for the day among all the different options I’ve curated. I always respond with the same answer – I just wear what makes me happy! I’ve found that the moments that I feel the most secure in my skin is when I am wearing something that caught my eye for no reason other than it delighted me! It could be the color, the cut, the pattern – I love finding pieces that are unique and incorporating it into outfits of my own.
Over the years of surveying thrift stores and vintage shops, I’ve amassed a collection of pieces that each speak on their own, and finding ways to give these items voice is a challenge I love to work through in every outfit.
To follow are my hair and makeup – this is where my individuality has really shown. I have always enjoyed experimenting with my appearance, and one year this led me to shave my head. That choice opened up so many opportunities – I’ve found myself enjoying hair painting, in which I paint designs into my buzz cut using semi-permanent colors. This allows me to play with shape and color, to go simple or bold, graphic or subtle – there have been weeks that I’ve bleached my hair three times because I was so excited to wear a new style!
Makeup is the love that helps bring the look all together! I like to incorporate colors from my outfits and use it to try something new, whether a new style of graphic eyeliner or a fun eyeshadow blend – every day is a chance to try a new trick! And I get a lot of feedback that my looks inspire those around me to explore their own forms of self-expression, which keeps me motivated to keep trying to push the boundaries of who I know myself to be!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The enneagram is a personality test, similar to the Myers Briggs. On this test, I identify as a seven – the enthusiast. My motivations come from a desire to escape the monotony of daily life and instead exist within experiences – whether I am trying to master a new skill, learn a new topic, or explore a new space, I do it with a ravenous desire to take all that is enjoyable and keep it with me. However, this constant search for experiences and growth has led me to some decisions that some might consider brash – I see it more as seizing the moment! For example, deciding to fly to Italy to work as an Au Pair right after graduating from high school – some would think that risky, but I saw it as a chance to explore a new culture, work with children, and get paid to eat delicious home-cooked Italian meals! Some would consider it a risk to push myself through my undergraduate degree in two years, but I had faith in my ability to make it through the coursework //the job // the internship // everything else I had on my plate because I wanted to see what was on the other side of the degree!
Many around me considered it risky for me to shave my head and get covered in tattoos, especially considering my traditionally conservative career choice – but I don’t take myself too seriously and instead allow my body to be a vessel I enjoy occupying! Besides, I wear a wig and long sleeves to school every day anyways, so nobody needs to know!
Risks are there for the taking – I take risks because I know that I am strong enough to handle whatever waits for me on the other side!
Contact Info:
- Email: autumnwoods.bio@gmail.com
- Website: https://autumnwoodsbio.wixsite.com/home
- Instagram: autumn.w00ds
Image Credits:
Gabriel Conover
