Starry Kwok is the pen name of Daniel Kwok, who is a 2019 Loyola graduate.
Even as a child, Starry Kwok always felt different from everybody else; a little kid who was wiser than his age but who secretly possessed a whimsical and colorful imagination that would never fade. He has been conjuring stories, doodling, writing, and embodying characters around the same time he learned how to walk. Growing up an only child in a Chinese-American family who ran their own business, it certainly made it much harder for people in his age group to relate to his perspective. Psychologically, Starry always felt like an outsider, or an alien; somebody who dealt with many chaotic situations beyond his control that nobody around could seemingly understand. Besides looking different from everybody else, he also grew up experiencing a unique blend of Hong-Kong and American cultures. The family spoke their native language of Cantonese at home, and Starry was constantly exposed to Chinese entertainment, cuisines, and philosophy. His beloved mother, Sally, would spend hours every day by his bedside since he was a child imparting her wealth of wisdom and having many insightful conversations about life in general; a favorite pastime that would evolve well into adulthood between Starry and his mother. Starry credits all of these conversations over the years and their relationship for developing him into the person he is today. It is from this inseparable bond that Starry acquired all the values, principles, and virtues that made him feel beautiful, powerful, and determined to change the world in a positive manner. Through the wonderful qualities and love of his mother, Starry learned to trust in the incredible power of goodwill and authenticity. To Starry, storytelling is his life; something that is empowering, purposeful, and noble. To Starry, literature, film, writing, acting, comedy, drawing, music, and song are all different mediums of expression to Starry, and he intends to incorporate all of these things to convey captivating stories that will speak to people of all walks of life. After accompanying his mother on her arduous journey with a rare cancer for three years without a moment apart, Starry is committed more than ever to transforming the world through storytelling, as it is not only just his passion in life but also the immortalization of his treasured mother. Through the power of art, Momma Sally’s soul and heart will shine on!