I’m a woman who learned early how to find her own light in places that didn’t offer much of it. Growing up in foster care and later being raised by a single mom meant adapting fast, growing up too soon, and relying on myself in ways most kids never have to. Those years taught me resilience, but they also kept me in survival mode—always bracing, always pushing, always trying to make it through the next day. For the last 14 years, I’ve worked as a waitress, sometimes juggling three jobs at once, to pay my way through college and support myself, all while staying an active member in my community and showing up where I could make a difference. Now I’m doing it not just to stay afloat, but to build a business worthy of helping others. I’m finally learning what it feels like to pause, breathe, and create a life that’s more than just getting by. My own mental health struggles—and the loss of a childhood friend—showed me how deeply people need real support and genuine understanding. I didn’t have that growing up, so healing for me has meant becoming that person for myself first, and now for anyone who sees their story reflected in mine.