Meet Taylor!

Who I am:
I am spending this summer on the road with TWLOHA, traveling across the United States. I come from a little city called Perth, Australia, so I am about as far away from home as I can get without an oxygen supply. This is my first time in the U.S., and I’m excited to make new friends, see the Rocky Mountains, enjoy some new music, and eat everything this country has to offer. I can’t wait to meet some of you on the road this summer. Make sure you come say “g’day!” (I promise, I don’t really say that.)

Stuff I love:
When it comes to my hobbies, I feel like I am a little un-Australian; I don’t know how to surf, and I really can’t stand Australian Football. My passion is in music. Right now, like every other time I travel, I am listening to four artists: Dashboard Confessional, Jack’s Mannequin, The Rocket Summer, and some friends of mine from home, The Calling of Levi. I essentially listen to music 24 hours a day. I spend most of my evenings at venues either watching local talent or organizing events of my own. Outside of that, I enjoy playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater a little too much. I am at a bit of a loss at the moment as my favorite TV shows (Community, New Girl, The Office and Modern Family) have all finished up for the year. This means I’m back to reruns of Seinfeld—not that there’s anything wrong with that. I thought I had favorite foods until I arrived in the U.S. The food here is so much better than anything I have experienced back home. So far Chili’s has taken the crown, but I am open to being convinced otherwise.

Why I’m here:
I’m here because I believe in the power of the words “you are not alone.” I’m here because those words have saved me and continue to save me. I’m here because I want to see a change, and I want to see people find hope.

My favorite moment working with TWLOHA involves two conversations I had at Easterfest in Toowoomba, Australia. First, I spoke with a lady who had lost hope in her daughter’s recovery and did not know what else she could do to see her daughter pull through. Honestly, this was hard to see. I told the lady what I believed: that her daughter’s story is not over, recovery takes time, and I had no doubt she could find help. Soon after this conversation, an older man approached the table in tears to thank us because he believed we played an integral part in his own daughter’s recovery. It was proof of everything I had said before, that there is hope for that lady’s daughter. It further encouraged me to believe the words we say have power, and we as individuals have the opportunity to change someone’s life.