What's in a Name?

Daniela Marisol Nichols

Daniela Marisol Nichols - Puerto Rican (mother); African American (father); Sensitive, introspective, and bright, Daniela is a youthful girl at heart who prefers to observe her natural environment rather than actively participate in it. She is a calm, smart, upbeat, and kind optimist with the best intentions who always tries to give everyone a fair chance, despite how cruel, outlandish, or sneaky some of the people she encounters may be. Described by many as the "girl-next-door" type, she sees and refers to herself as a relatively average girl and is identifiable for her sweet nature, as well as her positive, genial attitude and sensible approach to life. She can never resist finding a way to offer someone an encouraging word and often uses her creativity and empathy to better understand those around her. Daniela will often remain steadfast, as well as unfaltering and loyal to those whom are closest to her even during the most difficult times. She never loses hope that things will change and almost always holds onto the belief that life will get better, even as she is experiencing her darkest moments. She might struggle at times to listen to someone if she is personally in crisis, as she will be a bit too distracted by her intense emotions to listen to others fully. Even so, she is seen as dependable and has a love of reading, which leads her to be classified by many of her classmates as responsible, studious, and a bit quirky. While she is generally patient and considerate, Daniela does not sugarcoat her message however and rarely allows anyone to walk over her. She is almost never outright mean, but she is passionate about friendship, which leads her to defend her friends fiercely. She feels happiest when everyone is getting along and enjoys maintaining harmonious relationships with the people around her. She is a diplomatic mediator to her friends' disputes and enjoys exchanging ideas and perspectives with other people. 

Daniela identifies as a biromantic demisexual, having had something of a platonic romance with her childhood best friend Bianca Rutelli and gains romantic feelings for Jorge Ortega after interacting with and finding a common ground with him. Her friends often call her a "prude" due to her inability to understand hookup culture and desire to pursue a meaningful connection before wanting to get physically intimate. She has a large family, although they are extended family rather than an immediate family, and her mother is the most important person to her, with their occasionally co-sleeping in the same bed together. She puts a lot of pressure on first dates and emphasizes having an emotional connection over looks, rarely finding people physically attractive at first glance but claiming she'd rather have someone make love to her mind than her body. Daniela's friends describe her as "the type of person who always seems to be hiding a part of herself", noting her self-forgetting nature and tendency to radiate a polite reserve about her demeanor. She tends to be almost uncomfortably quiet in public, making others perceive her as somewhat odd, yet has a small, close-knit social circle, which includes her friend Shelby Baird. She says that she is "a sucker for brown eyes" and is not very hard to please, as she believes the most attractive trait a person can have is their laugh. This causes her to not necessarily be aware of when a guy is flirting with her or giving her undivided attention until a friend points it out. Described as being nurturing and magnanimous, Daniela has an altruistic outlook on life, as well as a strong humanitarian streak and desire to do good in the world. She has a calm, serene energy about her and shares many of Jorge's humanitarian tendencies, with her interest in community health and desire to improve the living environment of those around her. 

She had harbored a secret crush on him for several years but had never come to terms with confessing her feelings to him due to his involvement with someone else at the time. He instantly finds her attractive once they first interact in turn and finds her soft, sensitive personality endearing, causing him to gradually develop a sense of closeness toward her. While she can be very sweet and endearing, Daniela has a razor-sharp mind hidden beneath many layers of humility and passive behavior. She enjoys going on solitary walks, not only to take in her surroundings but to get a chance to run away and daydream. She tends to be congenial and laidback around her friends yet has trouble letting things go, which can cause her to appear quite hardheaded in this case. She is simultaneously strong-willed and independent and often prefers to keep to herself, seeing much but saying little. Daniela is keen on staying true to herself and her personal values and refuses to compromise her beliefs or authenticity to satisfy others or seek a personal gain, such as popularity or social advancement. She feels called upon to render service to humanity and has a near-psychic awareness of the unspoken dynamics between people. She judges people for their character and is often good at discerning other people's intentions, often reaching solid conclusions as to who a person truly is upon first meeting, but still maintaining an open mind and seeing the potential in those around her. She will help her classmates stand up for what they want, say no to what they don't, and be present with them when they feel confused or ambivalent. Daniela opens her ears fully and takes the time to hear what others have to say, although she admits she has better listening skills than patience. She is quite tolerant towards people whom may hold opinions and views on life that are different from her own, yet can still be plagued with uncertainty.