I was suggested to get into the Notary Public career path by my family member, but I didn't take it seriously. Especially, since my financial condition wasn't one where I could afford it. About a year after my family member suggested it to me, I was at work as a preschool teacher, a Notary class ad popped up on my social media, and I felt it was a sign for me to get into the field. I did extensive research because I had a fear of paying for everything and then failing. I came to find it to be a career that I felt I could succeed in a and the rest is history!

The decision that shifted my entire direction didn't look dramatic from the outside. I moved from classroom teaching into academic advising. Something that, at the time, felt like a quiet pivot rather than a transformation. But internally, it changed everything. I loved teaching, but I realized that what fulfilled me most wasn't delivering lessons; it was supporting students one-on-one, helping them navigate uncertainty, and watching them grow into their own sense of purpose. Stepping into advising felt aligned with my values in a way I hadn't fully understood until I made the leap. It allowed me to lean into connection, mentorship, and community-building, the parts of the work that lit me up. I faced plenty of fears: Was I giving up something I'd worked hard for? Was this the "right" move? Would I lose part of my identity? But choosing advising opened doors I never expected. It gave me space to expand in every corner of my life. That one choice became the catalyst for so much more. It led me to volunteer with the Bay Area Badgers, where I eventually became copresident. Finding community and joy in bringing alumni together and giving back to a place that shaped me. It allowed me to mentor other student services staff at Stanford, paying forward the support I once needed myself. It even influenced how I show up for my own family and the communities including serving on my local elementary school site council. What looked like a simple career shift turned out to be the moment I said yes to a life built around service, connection, and impact. And that yes quietly, steadily, changed everything.

Every life has pivotal moments. Those unexpected turns that redraw the map of our future. My turning point came the day I shared the beautiful news of my pregnancy… and then was let go from my job not long after. What should have been a joyful season quickly turned into one filled with uncertainty. My husband and I suddenly went from planning for a growing family to facing the reality of living on a single income. Questions flooded my mind: How will we adjust? How will we save? What will this mean for our future and for the baby on the way? It was a moment that shook me. I had always been someone who contributed financially, someone who found security in stability and preparation. Losing my job felt like losing control. The weight of those unknowns pressed heavily on my heart. But in the middle of that fear, I realized I had a choice. I could cling to worry and let anxiety shape my steps… or I could surrender the situation to God and trust that He would guide our family through this unexpected season. So I chose trust. Not the simple, "everything is going to be fine" kind of trust, but the kind where you lay your fears at God's feet because you can't carry them anymore. The kind where you admit you don't know the plan, but you believe wholeheartedly that *He does*. That choice changed everything. As I released control and leaned into faith, God began opening new doors; doors I never would have considered if life had stayed comfortable. I discovered a calling that combined both my strengths and my desire to serve others. I found passion in helping families navigate finances, create stability, and build peace in their homes. Slowly, God led me into my new purpose: What started as a frightening season of loss transformed into a foundation for growth, purpose, and impact. Today, I am a stay at home mom and financial coach, helping families gain clarity and confidence, because I know firsthand what it feels like to face uncertainty, and I know the One who brings us through it. Looking back, losing that job wasn't the end of anything, it was a divine redirection. God used what felt like a setback to reveal a calling I didn't even know was waiting for me. Choosing trust didn't just change my circumstances. It changed my life.