From Hospitality to Horizons: My Journey of Resilience, Growth, and Girl Power
From Challenges to Growth: How Resilience, Empathy, and Courage Shape My Journey
I grew up in a family shaped by addiction and mental health challenges. Life often felt unpredictable, and stability was something I had to carve out for myself. From a young age, I learned how to read a room, anticipate needs, and navigate chaos with empathy. I learned that resilience isn’t flashy — it’s quiet, steady, and earned through perseverance.
Hospitality became my first classroom. Long shifts, high-pressure nights, and managing teams taught me lessons that would follow me for life: patience, communication, problem-solving, and how to lift others up even when the world felt heavy. I loved the work, the people, and the energy — it shaped me into someone who could thrive in challenging environments. But I also knew I wanted more: to expand my horizons, challenge myself, and grow in new directions.
While pregnant, I earned my Communications degree. Balancing parenthood with schoolwork felt impossible at times, but I discovered something crucial about myself: I am capable of more than I often give myself credit for. That mindset became my compass as I transitioned into healthcare operations — a field that allows me to use the people-first skills I honed in hospitality while building something new.
Living with fibromyalgia and generalized anxiety disorder has added depth to my understanding of resilience. Every day requires awareness, discipline, and self-advocacy. These challenges have taught me that strength isn’t always visible and that leadership means showing up, even on days when it feels impossible. They also remind me to approach others with compassion — everyone carries their own struggles, even when they aren’t apparent.
Looking ahead, my vision is simple but powerful: to continue evolving, learning, and pushing myself into spaces where I can make an impact. I want to explore opportunities that challenge me, tell stories that inspire, and lift up other women along the way. I want my daughter to see that courage and self-belief are the foundation of a meaningful life. She should see her mom modeling persistence, growth, and self-advocacy — being her own biggest fan in a world that doesn’t always notice quiet victories.
I am also a children’s book author — a pursuit that allows me to merge creativity with purpose, shaping narratives that empower the next generation. Writing these stories is part of the life I am building: one where resilience, imagination, and empathy guide both my personal and professional journey.
My past — with all its struggles, lessons, and triumphs — informs the future I am intentionally creating. I’ve learned that growth is never linear, and success isn’t defined by titles or recognition. It’s defined by courage, curiosity, and the willingness to show up for yourself even when the path is unclear.
And that’s exactly the life I intend to keep living.
