Editorial Intern
Grace Langdon is a rising freshman at Colorado College and is finishing her senior year at Episcopal High School, a boarding school in Alexandria, Virginia. Having grown up in Washington, DC, an incredibly diverse city, as the daughter of a second-generation immigrant mother and a Christian Buddhist father has instilled in her a profound appreciation for different perspectives and inclusivity.
When her father left his corporate job behind to pursue a path of spirituality, originally, young Grace was confused as to what it meant. Her father, Nataraj, was very understanding and took extra time to explain his choices to her, which taught Grace the importance of open-mindedness and forging one's own path. From practicing meditation at a young age to traveling to different ashrams throughout the last two years, she has always strived to remain accepting of all the people and experiences she has encountered along the way. This unique upbringing instilled Grace with her own sense of spirituality and understanding, which will allow her to consider differing perspectives and think critically throughout her time with us.
At the age of ten, Grace’s grandfather, Julio Huertematte, moved to the United States from Panama with his family. After learning English by listening to the radio and later attending the prestigious United States Military Academy West Point, Huertematte secured a job as Vice President of the Inter-American Development Bank where he worked on infrastructure and development projects throughout Latin America. Despite being retired by the time his granddaughter was born, Heurtematte's experience in international relations and connection to Hispanic culture inspired Grace.
At seventeen years old, Grace embarked on a month-long study abroad program to Seville, Spain, where she lived with a Spanish family, studied the language, and immersed herself in the culture. Despite being the youngest in her group, Grace’s dedication and tenacity led her to return home with a newfound interest in other cultures and international relations. She plans to take advantage of many more traveling and study-abroad opportunities in the upcoming years.
Grace is not only a leader but also a dedicated servant of her community, as is shown through her work with organizations such as Islamic Relief USA and Special Olympics Virginia. Islamic Relief USA is an Alexandria-based nonprofit that works to assist individuals and communities in need, regardless of race, religion, and gender. Most recently, she and over 400 of her classmates participated in creating thousands of meal packages for people in her areas and overseas. This is just one example of Grace's commitment to uplifting those in need and making a tangible difference in the lives of others.
Throughout her high school career, Grace has strived to make an impact within her school and beyond. Working for the past three years with her school's yearbook, she has been able to showcase her passion for journalism, graphic design, and photography, as well as lead her team to produce an award-winning publication.
After being named Editor-in-Chief in the spring of her junior year, Grace began to work closely with a team of editors to create her senior yearbook: an innovatively personal and customizable experience meant to take the reader back to their high school years. Grace’s experience with the yearbook aligns seamlessly with the mission of The Nahmias Cipher Report, where storytelling and creativity are at the forefront. With her passion for amplifying voices and her commitment to excellence, Grace is well-equipped to contribute to our organization.
Her multifaceted experiences and commitment to social change inspired Grace to join The Nahmias Cipher Report as an Editorial Intern. Over the next month, she will be working closely with Editor-in-Chief, Ayanna Nahmias, to extend our social media presence, and get more articles published. She is looking forward to honing her editorial skills and working for such an important cause.