I was born and raised a California Girl. For the majority of my life I have been around and immersed in art, and never really felt compelled to do anything else with my life. I chose to come to Biola because when I was in the 5th grade I got a campus tour there and for some reason, I made the connection that I would be going there for college. When senior year of high school rolled around, I didn't apply to any other college but Biola, and got in. I guess it was fate... expensive fate.

I know, I know, Gertchen is a dumb name. Well my name is Gretchen and I started a job with Red Robin Gourmet Cheeseburgers, and was hired for a 2 week period. The book keeper had no intention to keep me for a while, so he didn't really care when I found out my name had been misspelled. Gertchen was the name he had given me. So I lasted through the two weeks and made it onto the regular staff, but by the time I had become a server, no one really cared that all the tickets I printed out said Gertchen for the server. So when I got promoted my manager looked at one of my tickets for the food to be sent out, and said out loud slightly, "whose Gertchen?" and luckily I was close by to be there and witness the laughing stock of my co-workers. So since then, everyone that is close to me has been hooked on saying Gertchen. So at work I'm known as Gertch, Gertrude, Gretel, Gerdy, Gretel Cakes, Grizzle, Gretski, Gretzel, Gretch, and Ricarda. (yes that's my hispanic name)