The Recommendation That Opened a Door

I've experienced both sides; someone who advocated for me when I wasn't in the room, and someone who said they would but didn't. Both taught me an important lesson: real support isn't what we promise another woman; it's what we're willing to do for her when she isn't there to see it.

It started with my high school gym teacher, who saw something in me and invited me to join the dance club. That simple invitation opened a door that changed the trajectory of my life, teaching me that sometimes all it takes is one person seeing your potential and giving you the opportunity to discover it for yourself.

Despite life's trials and tribulations, giving up is never an option. Single handed raising three sons to become men, breast cancer survivor, obtaining 3 degrees in my life time and being fired from a job lets me know that I still can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

When I first came to this country, I spoke less than 10% English. Angela saw my résumé, knew I had been a Controller in the Dominican Republic, and still said, "I want to give her an opportunity." I started as a Staff Accountant, was promoted to Accounting Manager within a month, and four years later, I'm bilingual and leading an accounting department. Sometimes one person believing in you before you can fully find your own voice can change the entire trajectory of your life.

I had the privilege of presenting at the ANNA 2025 and 2026 Symposiums. During my 2026 presentation, one of the event planners was in the audience. She liked my presentation and opened an incredible door for me by presenting me with the opportunity to publish an article on the subject I presented. As soon as I came home, I wrote the article and sent it to her for editing and further processing. As a result, in June 2026, my article: "There is No Difficult Patient" was published in the ANNA journal. It took only one person in the room presenting me with a great opportunity I had not expected. If an opportunity presents itself, take it!

My Distinguished Young Woman Honoree nomination came from two decades of helping young women earn scholarships and build life skills; proof that consistency is its own kind of advocacy. People you invest in for years can become the ones who advocate loudest for you.

We often talk about the professional "doors" that open for us-the planned interviews, the meticulous networking, the hard-earned promotions. But looking back at my own journey to leadership in the home care industry, my door didn't open quietly. It was blown off its hinges by a raging blizzard, a family emergency and a literal trial by fire. At the time my mother was the dedicated on-call coordinator for Interim HealthCare. I had spent hours watching and listening to her manage the endless jigsaw puzzle of home care scheduling. Back then there were no advanced software platforms or automated texting apps, everything was manual. She ran an entire operation from memory, instinct and thick binders of paper logs. Then, crisis struck. In the middle of a massive snowstorm, my brother required emergency surgery. My mother had to drop everything to be at the hospital, leaving a critical staffing gap at a time when vulnerable patients needed care the most. With zero formal preparation, I stood in the kitchen. On one side of the room was a stack of paper scheduling logs and a phone that would not stop ringing. On the other side was my 14-month-old son. My mom called the Area Director, Donna Thomas, explained the situation and asked for permission for me to step in. Donna gave the green light, followed by exactly five minutes of crash-course training over the phone. And just like that, my career began. The next 24 hours were a blur of absolute chaos. The phone rang roughly every ten minutes. Field staff were snowed in, clients needed urgent coverage, and the paper-based system required me to manually trace lines between available hands and open shifts, all while rocking a toddler and keeping him entertained. To say I felt overwhelmed would be a massive understatement. I think I tried to quit at least 50 times during that single shift. Every time the pressure mounted, I called Donna to tell her I couldn't do it, she simply refused to let me walk away. She held the open door for me when I was actively trying to slam it shut. She knew, even if I didn't see it yet, that I had the grit to push through. By the time the shift ended, something fundamental had shifted inside me. I hadn't just survived the night; I had discovered a deep, instinctual problem-solving ability and a passion for a sector that directly impacts human lives when they are at their most fragile. Today as an executive leading organizations in the home care and medical staffing industry, I often think back to that paper-laden kitchen table in the middle of a blizzard. It taught me everything I need to know about resilience, crisis management, and the sheer importance of the coordinators who keep the heartbeat of home care steady. Sometimes, the door to your future doesn't look like an opportunity. It looks like a crisis. But if you have a leader who believes in you enough to literally forbid you from quitting, take a deep breath, pick up the phone and figure it out. You never know where a single shift might take you.

Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to cross paths with many people who have shaped the woman and business owner I am today. Some believed in me, offered advice, shared their knowledge, and opened doors when I needed an opportunity. Others challenged me, doubted my abilities, or tried to discourage me. But I have learned that both experiences have played an important role in my growth. I am deeply grateful for every person who has supported me, recommended my work, or simply reminded me of my potential. Their encouragement has helped me move forward, even during difficult moments. At the same time, the challenges have taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of staying true to my values. I believe that God places people in our lives for a reason. Some come to support us, others to teach us, and some to remind us just how strong we can become. Today, as a business owner, I strive to be the person who opens doors for others. Because sometimes, one recommendation, one encouraging word, or one person believing in you can change the direction of your life. My greatest lesson is that every encounter can teach us something, but what truly defines us is what we choose to do with those lessons.