Maria Irene Volodkevich, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, skydiving instructor, and Division 1 collegiate swimmer, dove into writing with the same passion that she brought to the swimming pool and the open sky.

Her poetry captures the essence of coming of age, crafting verses that resonate with universal truths of growth and transformation as we leave childhood behind. By exploring themes of generational trauma, young heartbreak, and existential dread, Maria’s writing embraces grief as a vital step toward meaningful self-discovery in the transition to adulthood. Her poetry has appeared in The Write Launch, Quillkeepers Press, Poet’s Choice, and Wingless Dreamer literary journals.

Currently, Maria serves as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and is a student at the London School of Economics, pursuing a master’s in marketing. She will continue to use her creative spirit to publish further poetry collections, aiming to positively impact the next generation of women.