PERSONALITY
Astrid is the type of girl who has always marched to the beat of her own drum, and she doesn't particularly care what anyone else may think of her. She is proud of who she is and unafraid to voice her opinions on various matters, regardless of whether or not she expects agreement. At times, she can be confrontational, and Astrid will always speak up in defense of someone or something that she cares for deeply. Her attitude has resulted in a fair number of people disliking her, but Astrid has long ago accepted that she will not be able to please everyone, and should concentrate on living her life on her own terms, rather than anyone else's. She does have a tendency to hold grudges, and can be impulsive, reckless, and stubborn as a rock when the time calls for it. Due to growing up around academics, Astrid is fully prepared to engage in debates about a variety of topics, and she is actually very interested in hearing from those whose views oppose hers, because it gives her a chance to better understand where the other person is coming from and why they have the opinions that they do.

Though nominally Jewish, Astrid does not subscribe to any particular organized religion, preferring her own brand of spirituality. She believes in treating others with kindness, in helping those in need, in the peace of nature, and in generally behaving like a decent human being. Astrid is an incredibly social creature, one who truly loves being surrounded by other people. Her friends are the most important people in her life outside of her family, and she will bend over backwards to assist them in whatever they need. She will always provide an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on, even advice if she is asked for it. Astrid is a very passionate, sensual person, and by some standards leads quite the hedonistic lifestyle. She can be practical when called for, but there is a very creative, romantic side to her that few are privileged to see. A true believer in the power of love, Astrid is confident that someday she will have a romance for the ages. But for right now, she is content with dating around and seeing what the world has to offer her.

BIOGRAPHY
Astrid Eleanor Kleinfeld was born in late October to Dr. Geraldine Halse and her husband, writer Stanley Kleinfeld. They were both nearing forty when their daughter came into the world, so Astrid was their only child. She didn't mind, however. Growing up, Astrid was surrounded by the world of academia and as a result, was much more advanced than many of her peers. Her parents used the city around them to educate their daughter, taking her to museums, Broadway shows, the opera, the ballet, and to the many historical sites that peppered the five boroughs of New York City. Astrid absolutely fell in love with this method of learning, and often questioned the tour guides in order to sate her curiosity. Her parents also brought her along on various summer research trips, allowing her the opportunity to learn about different countries and cultures. Astrid loved these travels, and she treasures the memories of them even today. These working vacations created a wanderlust in Astrid, and even though she is quite happy where she is at the moment, she is eager to explore what else the world has to offer.

In 1997, Astrid's mother was offered a teaching opportunity at Boston University in Massachusetts and accepted it. The Kleinfelds moved to Boston that summer and settled in the city. Astrid was enrolled in a local elementary school, where she met Jude Allen, the son of one of her mother's colleagues in the English department. Within a year of the move, Astrid had fallen quite firmly in love with her adopted city, and she begged her parents to take her around the state to see all that there was to see. Astrid by this time had a positive fascination with history and literature, a fascination that her parents were more than willing to encourage. As she grew older, Astrid began to take more of an interest in social and political issues, and at twelve, she decided that she was going to be a vegetarian, a diet that she is still on to this day. By fourteen, Astrid was noticing that there was something different about her. She could go mad over a boy just as easily as her female friends could, but girls also attracted her interest and were in fact more likely to hold it.

Through middle school and high school, Astrid and Jude remained attached at the hip. More than one person thought that they would be a cliche romantic couple, the girl and boy who've known one another their whole lives and grow up to get married. However, their relationship remained platonic for the first two years of high school, and they both dated other people. One girl in particular, Molly, developed quite an infatuation with Astrid, and the feelings were mutual. With Molly's help, Astrid was able to come out to her parents, and she was pleased to find out that their reaction was a positive one. They wanted their daughter to be happy, and if being with another girl did that, then they were only happy to accept. The relationship between Molly and Astrid didn't last more than a year, but it did give Astrid the confidence that she needed in order to continue with her journey of self-discovery.

During their junior year of high school, Astrid and Jude gave in to the pressure that had been surrounding them since they were young children and started dating. The relationship was a good one, filled with a lot of laughs and adorable moments, and for a while, Astrid started thinking that maybe the cliche wasn't so bad after all. That thought process didn't last long, though. Both sets of parents seemed to be gearing up for the moment when their children's engagement would be announced, but Astrid and Jude weren't ready for that kind of commitment. They were just kids, having fun and doing what came naturally to them. Marriage wasn't even on their radar, and so after three months or so, the two of them decided to go back to being just friends. For some people, this may have been a euphemism, but not for Astrid. She genuinely cared about Jude and valued his friendship. Granted, she was a little surprised when Jude decided to get married in June 2011, but she supported him in his decision to marry Reggie and joked about losing her date to all future weddings.

In 2009, Astrid graduated from high school and was accepted to Harvard University as a proud member of the class of 2014. She had applied to several other schools, but Harvard was her first choice, due in part to the fact that Jude was going there as well. During her freshman year, Astrid established herself as the liberal neo-hippie that many people encounter in college. She became an avid pot smoker and a partier, though she made sure that her extracurricular activities would not hinder her education in any way. She declared a major at the end of her freshman year in both public policy studies and women's studies, in the hopes of someday being able to advocate for those who feel as though they do not have a voice. Astrid feels as though she has taken full control of her life, and she absolutely loves that feeling. Now midway through her junior year, she is excited about all of the experiences the new semester will have to offer.