What’s your full name? 

Cassia Shiloh-Rose Berger 

Were you named after anyone?

 The name of a spice. In particular my mom saw the name in the Bible.

Do you feel any connection to your name? 

I feel like I’m more unique because of my unique name.

How far away do you live from where you were born? 

 Same place I live now.

What do you consider to be your “home”? (a town, a state, a feeling, etc.)

I live in Gilroy but home is where my close family is.

Is that distance something you think about? Do you have any connection to your place of birth?

 Sometimes I wonder how my life might be if I venture out further.

Are you in touch with anyone from your youth? 

 Yes! My best friend is my friend from middle school. And a few other of my very close friends are from high school. I’m also very close with the two people I grew up across the street from. I consider them family.

Would you change anything about your upbringing, those years from birth through high school? Are they mostly fond or bad memories? 

 I would try and worry less about what other people thought of me. I would also have tried to be more active and eat healthier. I was very self-conscious and painfully shy, and bullied. It made me less confident going thru life.

Is there anything you need with you throughout the day to feel complete? (cellphone, make up, special trinket, jewelry, etc.)

 Yes, I’m addicted to my cellphone and chapstick.

When you look in the mirror, what do you notice first about your appearance?

 Depends on how I’m feeling that day. Usually, negative things though.

If you could change something about your appearance, what would it be?

The wrinkles and bags around my eyes. And cellulite, that stuff is persistent.  

What do you first notice in strangers?

 The expression on their face and overall appearance.

What do think those that know you say about you?

That I’m funny but moody.

What would you hope they would say?

That I’m enjoyable to be around.

What do you think strangers notice first about you?

 My attitude, it varies.

What is your proudest moment? Biggest victory?

When I finally moved out of my parents’ house. Not that I don’t enjoy my parents, I love them very much. But it took me 32 years to move out. I felt a bit embarrassed by that. I also feel proud that I own and raise my own dog, she’s still alive somehow. And that I’m learning to cook and keep myself alive too haha. 

What is your biggest regret? Biggest failure? 

Not finishing my bachelor’s degree. I could have probably been making a lot more money by now.  

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

My mindset. I’m all over the place. I just want to feel stable and motivated. I’m a bit lazy by nature, and I hate that. It could be a bit of depression too, either way, it’s a terrible trait. 

Are you making plans for the future, or are you more spontaneous?

 I’m more spontaneous. But I do make plans, they just aren’t long term. 

When was the last time you cried? 

I don’t cry often. But the other night I cried to a video of a service dog helping their owner thru a crisis. It was so random; I was surprised that I was tearing up. It was a stressful week though, sometimes the smallest things can make you cry when you’re stressed out. 

When was the last time you ever made someone else cry?

I made my younger sister cry when she was really drunk at my bday and I told her to order a water instead of a drink. I make fun of her for it all the time since then. 

If you could know exactly when and how you would die, would you want to know?  

 Nope, makes life seem even more pointless, how depressing. 

What do you do to relieve stress? 

 Drink, lay in bed, eat, watch HGTV, workout, paint, listen to podcasts…I’ve tried to meditate but that doesn’t work, my mind is too active! 

Do you make friends easily? 

Not really, I make friends in the moment sometimes, but we don’t stay in touch or hangout after. 

Have you had mentors in your life? 

My best friends feel like my mentors. 

Have you ever acted as a mentor for someone else? 

My best friends. We talk thru almost everything. 

What is the one rule you try to live by? Do you feel successful at following it? 

I talk about this a lot. I try to enjoy each day, even if it’s just a few moments. I feel successful at it…but I enjoy some days too much and spend lots of money doing it. I could save my money and not go out as much, save for travel and big trips or a new home, but then I’m not sure what to do with my time in between.

I like to live a luxurious life, and though I can’t afford the life of a rich person, I do know how to do certain things that will satisfy my craving for luxury. Such as, wine tasting, hot tubs, mani/pedis, charcuterie boards, wine bars, beautiful local trips to places like Pismo Beach, Sonoma, Paso Robles, etc. So, long story short, my rule is to enjoy myself while I can. But I have also started saving recently, so hopefully I can find a good balance while following my rule.