Hello, my name is Alicia…

I consider myself to be quite knowledgeable and passionate about various interests, ranging from Star Trek and Doctor Who to my deep love for reading. When I say I love reading, it is quite an understatement. In the year 2018 alone, I managed to read over 200 books, and in 2019, I read more than 150 books. Embracing a minimalist lifestyle, I made the decision in 2017 to sell nearly all of my possessions in order to live as a digital nomad. This led me to embark on an incredible nine-month journey, during which I had the opportunity to witness breathtaking places. If you're curious about my travels and have any questions, feel free to visit the "Travels" section on my page.

In late July 2018, I made the choice to take a break from traveling and return to my hometown in North Carolina to be closer to my family and establish some stability in this phase of my life. My time back in North Carolina has allowed me to embark on a journey of self-discovery in many aspects. Over the past few years, I have deconstructed and rebuilt my life and perspective, gaining a much stronger understanding of myself compared to when I first began. Many aspects that once defined my life have fallen away, leaving me with very little. Hence, I have been discovering the kind of woman I aspire to become.

In August 2019, I unexpectedly received an opportunity to teach. It was a career path I never anticipated pursuing, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the chance to guide and nurture the potential of young students. The events of 2020 undoubtedly changed my teaching perspective. Embracing the challenge of transitioning to remote teaching, both for myself and the students, was an experience I willingly accepted. However, ultimately, I find that teaching in person is my preferred method. Fortunately, I had the chance to return to my classroom for the 2020-2021 school year.

At the start of 2021, while being at home due to COVID-19, I reconnected with a man I had previously met for coffee in July 2019 but lost touch with afterward. Upon reuniting, we quickly realized that we felt at home with each other. When you find your person, it becomes unmistakably evident that it's the right match. Thus, on the two-year anniversary of our initial meeting, July 2nd, we got married! Therefore, in some places, you may come across my name as Alicia Malcomb. That is indeed my real name, but since my maiden name is quite distinctive, and I have established a brand around it, I opted to change my middle name to Zinn. Consequently, I am still Alicia Zinn and will continue conducting business under that name.

Married life has afforded me the opportunity to learn more about myself than I ever imagined. When I first met John, I recognized that he was on the autism spectrum due to my basic understanding of Autism. As I desired to build a life together, I delved deep into reading every autism-related book I could find. Through this reading, I discovered that I not only saw my husband's traits reflected in the pages but also recognized my own experiences in this world as those of someone on the spectrum. It is incredibly empowering to finally feel understood, as the way I perceive the world has never fully aligned with that of neurotypicals or allistics. When I spoke to my mother about suspecting that I might be on the spectrum, she confirmed that I had indeed been tested as a child. However, she chose not to inform me at the time, as she didn't want me to be treated differently, similar to how she decided against putting my brother on medication for ADHD when he was a child. I am grateful for her decision because, during the 90s and early 2000s, the primary option for autism treatment was ABA, which focused largely on masking one's autistic traits. If that had been my foundation, I don't believe it would have resulted favorably. Therefore, undertaking this journey as an adult has been essential for me.

Welcome to my journey. I am currently working on a few projects and venturing into something new with fellow creatives in the Charlotte area. So that is just a little about me!