Sienna Link – 20 Under 40
Education: Episcopal School of Dallas
While working through the challenges of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Episcopal School of Dallas student Sienna Link with her mother, Maria, created a blog called yoooulife.com to share ideas and provide advice for other teens on everything from social/emotional wellness and physical wellness to nutrition and more. An Instagram account for the blog has grown to more than 600 followers.
Link’s passion for helping other teen girls inspired her to organize a holiday gift drive for tween and teen girls at Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center in 2022. Each week, she also volunteers as a tutor at a local elementary school.
“Most of my involvement revolves around working with, and for, girls,” Link said. “The DCAC is definitely one of my favorite nonprofit organizations. … Everyone there is so passionate about the cause.”
After graduation, and thanks to inspiration from one of her chemistry teachers, Link hopes to study science in college, obtain a doctorate, and continue traveling.
“He’s been my teacher for two years now, for both Honors and AP Chemistry, and I can easily say that there is no way I would have become so passionate about science or seeking further education without his influence in my life,” she said of her teacher.
What’s a fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?
The most exciting fun fact about me is that I was born in New York City and grew up in Dubai. I lived abroad for eight years before I moved to Dallas. Living in Dubai has shaped who I am today. It is such a different environment than here. My friends were from all over the world, and the cultures I experienced made me a lot more open-minded.
What’s on your bucket list?
The top of my list is to travel the world. Meeting new people and being in a new environment are exactly how I would love to spend my time. When we lived in Dubai, we traveled to cool places such as Jordan, Thailand, and Vietnam because they were relatively close to us. I hope to one day have been to every country in the world and have at least one friend in each, so I always have a reason to go back.
What is your favorite local store?
I’m not sure if Starbucks counts, but if it does, that’s where I am most days. Other than that, I always find some fun dresses at Bittano for any dances or birthday parties. Honestly, any of the shops on Lovers are amazing. I also love a lot of the shops in (Snider) Plaza, like Dear Hannah or L. Bartlett.
Toughest personal challenge and how you overcame it?
When I was little, I loved gymnastics. I had practice three times a week for a few hours each time and I loved every minute of it. When I found out that I was moving from Dubai back to the U.S., I was most sad to leave my gymnastics team. About a week before I was supposed to move, I was at gymnastics working on a skill to impress my new gym in the U.S., when I fell and shattered the bones in my left arm. I ended up having two surgeries, but the worst part was not being able to use my arm for a whole summer! I couldn’t get in the ocean, no soaking in a hot tub, no getting in the lake at camp, and definitely no gymnastics. I spent my time with my family and friends, and ended up having a lot of fun. I would definitely never want to experience it again, but the bonds that I built with the people who went through it with me made it all worth it.
