Lessons into Blessings

At 18 years old, I made a decision that would change the direction of my life. I joined the United States Army. At that age, I couldn't have imagined the experiences I would face, the challenges I would overcome, or the woman I would eventually become.

What I did know was that I wanted to make something of myself.

My journey has been anything but a straight line. I've experienced setbacks, questioned my decisions, started over, and found myself in situations where the only option was to keep moving forward. But through it all, one thing has remained consistent: I've never stopped wanting more for myself.

The military introduced me to discipline, responsibility, and resilience at an early age. But leaving the Army presented a different challenge. I had to figure out what came next and what kind of future I wanted to create.

Rather than waiting until I had everything figured out, I enrolled in college immediately after leaving the military. At the same time, I worked two jobs, held a supervisory position, and commuted approximately an hour to school.

There were long days, early mornings, and plenty of moments when I was physically and mentally exhausted. But I had made a commitment to myself, and I intended to see it through.

I eventually earned my bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies and established a career in the legal field, working in personal injury law.

That experience gave me a different perspective on life. Every day, I encountered individuals whose lives had changed because of circumstances they never anticipated. It reminded me how quickly life can shift and how important it is to advocate for yourself and others.

Still, even as I continued growing professionally, I knew there was another part of me that wanted to explore something different.

Betting on Myself

I didn't grow up knowing that I would become an entrepreneur.

Starting a business wasn't something I had mapped out years in advance. It began with the realization that I wanted to create something of my own, something I could build, develop, and eventually turn into opportunities beyond myself.

That decision led to the creation of Snackarina LLC, my smart vending business.

I entered an industry where I had very little experience. I had to learn about equipment, technology, inventory, business operations, securing locations, and building professional relationships.

And I learned quickly that entrepreneurship looks very different when you're the person responsible for making everything happen.

I've experienced rejected proposals, locations that didn't work out, equipment malfunctions, and situations that required more time, money, and patience than I originally anticipated.

There have been moments when I've had to stop and ask myself, "What did I get myself into?"

But I've also experienced the excitement of securing a location, seeing my machines operating, and realizing that something that once existed only as an idea had become a real business.

Those moments mean something to me because I know what it took to get there.

I'm not going to pretend that entrepreneurship has been easy. It hasn't. And I'm still figuring things out.

But I've learned that being inexperienced doesn't mean you're incapable. Sometimes, you have to be willing to enter rooms where you don't know everything and trust yourself enough to learn.

Success Doesn't Always Look the Way We Imagine

For a long time, I associated success with reaching a particular destination.

Earning the degree. Establishing the career. Starting the business. Achieving the next milestone.

But life has taught me that success is also found in the moments nobody sees.

It's in the decision to try again after being disappointed. It's in showing up when you're exhausted. It's in having difficult conversations, making uncomfortable decisions, and refusing to allow one experience to determine what you're capable of accomplishing.

I've had to learn that changing direction doesn't mean I've failed.

Sometimes, the path you originally imagined for yourself changes, and you have to be willing to adjust without abandoning your ambitions.

I am still pursuing my goals personally, professionally, and academically. Some have taken longer than expected, but I've learned to appreciate the progress I'm making rather than constantly focusing on how far I still have to go.

Why My Journey Is Bigger Than Me

One of the most rewarding experiences I've had was speaking to a group of young athletes about resilience, entrepreneurship, and believing in themselves.

Standing in front of those students, I realized that I wasn't simply talking about running a business. I was talking about the importance of believing that your current circumstances do not have to limit your future.

I wanted them to understand that they could become business owners, professionals, leaders, or whatever else they chose to pursue.

More importantly, I wanted them to understand that they didn't have to be perfect to succeed.

That experience reminded me of the responsibility we have to share what we've learned.

I want other women, especially those who are considering entrepreneurship or starting over in another area of their lives, to understand that uncertainty is part of the process.

You can be educated and still have questions. You can be accomplished and still experience rejection. You can be confident in your abilities and still have moments of doubt.

None of those things disqualify you from achieving something meaningful.

I'm Still Becoming

When I look back at the 18-year-old girl who entered the Army, I think about everything she had yet to experience.

She didn't know she would earn a college degree while balancing two jobs. She didn't know she would build a career helping people navigate difficult situations. She certainly didn't know she would one day own a business.

And she had no idea how many times life would require her to be resilient.

Today, I am proud of the woman I've become, but I don't consider myself a finished product.

I'm still learning. I'm still building. I'm still making mistakes, correcting them, and challenging myself to pursue opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

My goal isn't simply to become a successful entrepreneur. I want to build a life that reflects my values, create opportunities for others, and encourage women to recognize what they're capable of accomplishing.

I don't want my story to suggest that everything works out perfectly if you work hard enough. Life is more complicated than that.

What I do believe is that we owe it to ourselves to keep learning, growing, and pursuing the possibilities in front of us.

One thing I told the students during my presentation is something I carry with me:

"Your brain is the most expensive thing you own. If you keep feeding it information, knowledge, and wisdom, you'll be unstoppable."

And that's the message I hope other women take from my journey.

You don't need to have all the answers. You don't need to follow someone else's timeline. And you certainly don't need to wait until you feel completely ready.

You just have to believe that the woman you're becoming is worth investing in.