About Me
Hello, I'm Grace Alto, currently a third-year student at Lehigh University, pursuing a double major in Journalism and Theatre with a minor in Marketing.
From a young age, my parents encouraged me to explore new activities and hobbies, leading me to discover two enduring passions: writing and sewing.
My writing skills were first noticed at 5 years old when one of my short stories was showcased to incoming kindergarten parents as an example of exemplary work. This recognition fueled my creativity, resulting in numerous stories, including a 30-page "short story" for the final assignment in my 7th-grade English class and my first (never published) novel in 8th grade.
Although they may not have been masterpieces, I take pride in my 14-year-old self's dedication to completing them.
Currently, I am editing my third novel, with aspirations of future publication, and working on my first full-length screenplay.
My interest in sewing blossomed early when my mom introduced me to arts and crafts, including hand sewing. This led me to join a summer program in my town that taught sewing to kids entering third grade.
For three years, I eagerly anticipated enrolling in "So, You Wanna Sew?," finally participating in 2012. During that program, I developed a deep love for creating my own items, from scrunchies and tote bags to a pillow as tall as me.
For my birthday that year, my parents gifted me a sewing machine, and they supported my passion by financing sewing classes at the local fabric store. These classes equipped me with the skills to sew clothes and undertake more complex projects.
With my growing skillset, I delighted friends and family with homemade gifts and clothing alterations, cherishing the opportunities to share my creations with those I held dear.
Although my sewing activities took a backseat due to increased commitments in school, work, and other extracurriculars, my love for sewing reignited in 2020 after discovering a YouTube creator who inspired me to start sewing again, this time without a pattern.
Beyond writing and sewing, I engaged in a plethora of different activities both in and out of school.
At 2 1/2 years old, my parents enrolled me in ballet classes at a local studio, where I remained a student at Gotta-Dance for 16 years. I also participated in their company teams, including the inaugural year of the "Edge Dance Crew," performed with the Moscow Ballet (now The Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet), and served as an "InTurn" teacher's assistant for five years.
From 4th to 12th grade, I played the violin in my school's orchestra, performing in winter and spring concerts, as well as in the pit for "Fiddler on the Roof" during my freshman year.
In high school, I joined the color guard as the sole new member during my freshman year, which demanded dedicated effort to match the expertise of seasoned members. By the end of the season, I performed at the same level as my peers.
During the winter, I joined the women’s fencing team as the only freshman sabre, eventually earning a four-year varsity award and becoming saber captain during my junior and senior years. Despite never attending a fencing club, I learned from my peers and achieved considerable success in my senior year.
In my sophomore year, I joined the women’s golf team with no prior experience. Unfortunately, the pandemic cut short the season, but I returned my junior year as a vastly improved golfer, eventually becoming a co-captain during my senior year.
Apart from sports, I wrote for my high school’s student newspaper, contributed to the school’s literary magazine, served as a peer leader in my junior and senior years, and earned the Seal of Biliteracy in French and English.
Among other activities, I enjoy cooking Italian dishes and desserts. Throughout the pandemic, I regularly baked sugar cookies to share with my family and friends. Additionally, I possess a knack for organizing and hosting events to entertain those close to me.
During my leisure time, I enjoy watching Formula 1 (a fan of Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren) and golf on television. I have a keen interest in fashion and have been learning Italian for fun. I also have a slight obsession with freshly squeezed orange juice. I love spending summers at Cape May down the shore with my friends and family whenever I can.
I've encountered no obstacle in life that deterred me from pursuing my passions, and I eagerly anticipate embarking on new adventures!
Featured On:
Formula 1
My love of Formula 1 started with a mistake. Accidentally followed the McLaren F1 account (@McLaren) instead of the @McLarenAutomotive on Instagram in 2021 when my interest in cars was just starting. More and more posts about the Grand Prix's were popping up in my feed, and before I knew it I was a fan. Though now I find it hard to choose between Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren being my favorite teams, McLaren will always have a special place in my heart for introducing me to the sport. I was fortunate enough to attend the Canadian Grand Prix in June of 2024.
Golf
What started as a sport I wanted to participate in to get out of gym class in high school soon became a huge part of my life. It was something my Dad always loved; he had clubs he hadn't touched since before I was adopted, and it was something he could coach me in. Though I don't want to talk about my game, it is something I love to do, and I try to get out, at least to the range, when I am home. I played for two years on my High School's varsity team and also worked as a caddy for one summer but spent a summer working as a Golf Valet and another as the women's locker room attendant.
Sewing
When I was in 2nd grade, I took a summer course in sewing and fell in love. My Mom always encouraged the arts and came up with different fun crafts as a kid but this was different. I love to create, and to be able to help friends and family who might need altetrations done to their clothes.My love of sewing was also strongly influenced by my grandparents, who helped pay for sewing lessons and always encouraged me to do what made me happy. It is a dream come true to be working with Brother in the Summer of 2025. My most recent projects can be seen here.
Photography
My PopPop was always taking pictures of our family, and when he passed in 2022, I received his camera. It was something I always had an interest in, but I wish I had asked him more about when I could have; I didn't use the camera for two years until I had to take a photography class for my Journalism major and have worked alongside my boss at Lehigh Sustainability who is a photographer to learn how to use the camera and edit photos. Taking pictures reminds me of my PopPop and keeps him close in my heart, even when he isn't around, and I hope to hone my skills more.
Writing
The first story I wrote in Kindergarten about a tooth was chosen to be shown to the incoming parent's class as an example of "exemplary work by a current student", and sometimes I fear that I will never live up to that bar that was set for me at five years old. Kidding aside, I love writing stories. I work on creative writing daily, switching between scriptwriting and novel writing, though most recently I have been focusing on scriptwriting. I am deeply passionate about Asian American experiences and adoptees with the hope of sharing these stories with the world one day.
Broadway
Something that I wasn't interested in much when I was younger, despite always participating in dance. I saw my first Broadway show when I was 15 and didn't see another one until I was 20. In 2024, I was fortunate enough to see six shows and have plans to see more in 2025! My all-time favorite show has to be The Great Gatsby (which I have seen once at the Paper Mill Playhouse and twice on Broadway), The Book of Mormon comes in a close second place overall, and I also love Newsies, though I have only seen the pro-shot and did not see it on stage.
