Miranda Nelson

Miranda’s life was filled with a deep passion for animals, which started at a young age. Her love for pets led her to become a certified pet care technician at the age of 12, and she took her first job as a neighborhood dog walker. As a teenager, Miranda adopted an ethically driven vegetarian lifestyle, which she upheld throughout her life.

Her interest in horses grew over time, and she joined the intern program at Horseplay Rentals at the age of 14, where she learned to care for horses. By 16, she was a hired wrangler at Horseplay, a job she maintained throughout high school. Miranda became active in gymkhana race competitions, winning numerous ribbons that she was incredibly proud of.

Miranda was a fun-loving person who cherished her yearly visits with friends to Knott’s Scary Farm and loved dance parties. She had a great sense of humor and a love for satire. Her strong relationships with each of her boyfriends lasted a long time, and she kept many of them as very close friends for the rest of her life. During college, she volunteered with the Orange County Council on Aging and worked at Subway.

Miranda had a strong interest in psychology, which stemmed from her own struggles with mental illness. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the Psychology program at Cal State Fullerton, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree with a minor in Human Services in December of 2018.

The last couple of years were challenging for Miranda, as she struggled to find work in the psychology field. She took a part-time job as an administrator at a Prometric Testing Center, but the political division and social unrest in the country, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, took a toll on her mental health. Miranda suffered from generalized depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, insomnia, and mood swings.

On May 28, 2021, Miranda tragically took her own life through an overdose of her own prescription medications at her family’s home in Huntington Beach. Despite her struggles, she will be remembered for her kindness, her passion for animals, and her love for life.