At the bottom of this page, you’ll find a very short bio written by me, all about me. It won’t tell you much, but it’s there to give you a quick overview of my qualifications to be writing for Among Worlds and any accomplishments I might have. I have always found writing bios like that to be a pain. For some reason it’s crippling and my mind simply cannot figure out what information is important to include. It’s the same kind of brain-blank that happens whenever I get asked questions like “Where are you from?” and “Where do you call home?”
But that’s why this middle part is here. To tell stories that go beyond the facts of the countries we’ve lived in. To more deeply dissect questions like “Where are you from?” To breathe life into the words Third Culture Kid.
In college, there was one day where I took a wrong turn and found myself in the music building (somewhere student athletes rarely venture into on purpose). It was a brief moment and I’ve never been back but by witnessing the life that was being lived in that space, it felt like a whole new world was opened up to me. Suddenly when classmates spoke about staying up late to practice piano or trombone in the music rooms, I could picture both their weary faces and the walls around them. I understood that piece of their world just a little bit more. It led me to begin asking myself a question, one that I now like to ponder whenever I feel stuck or when I’m trying to spark some creativity out of myself.
“What places can I go that I have yet to exist in?”
It’s not a question of big, grand places and experiences. It’s not meant to lead me to pack up and move to another country right this minute. It’s a question of being curious about the things all around at the present moment. It leads to trying to find new ways of looking at the things that have grown familiar. Climbing up the fire escape of the oldest building of my college town to see the small expanse of my college campus from above. Lying on the floor after a difficult soccer training session and noticing the texture of the ceiling. Setting up the Christmas tree in a different corner than usual and getting to see how the lights brighten up that space throughout the Christmas season.
As the new Among Worlds editor, I can’t wait to read and be a part of sharing deeper parts of our lives as TCKs. I’m ready to understand a little more of the pieces of each other’s worlds. But most of all, I’m excited to visit places with you all that we have yet to exist in.
Mika Stone grew up in the Philippines as a missionary kid. She graduated in 2024 with a degree in Writing and Editing from Sterling College in Kansas. She loves the art of storytelling and all the ways people express themselves. All forms of writing have been her outlet to tell her favorite stories. In her free time, you can find Mika playing soccer, hanging out with her friends, or reading a book.
