I have come to realize that waiting for everything to be perfect can quietly become a form of delay. One of the clearest moments for me was in the journey of writing Squiggles Among Squares. As much as I believed in the message, I still wrestled with thoughts like, "Who am I to write this while I am still growing myself?" But through that process, I had to confront a deeper truth that God does not only use us when we feel finished or fully confident. Sometimes He calls us to speak while we are still becoming. Sometimes He asks us to move from the middle, not just from the mountaintop. That realization did not only shape my writing. It reshaped the way I see my life. My journey has included painful and unexpected turns, including disruptions in my educational path and seasons that could have easily caused me to shrink back, second-guess myself, or wait until I felt more secure. But what I have learned is that what looked like setbacks were often the very places where God was building resilience, clarity, compassion, and purpose in me. I did not become who I am by waiting until everything aligned perfectly. I became who I am by continuing to walk, trust, and say yes to what God placed in my hands, even when I was still healing, learning, and growing. That is why this message is so personal to me. Perfection says, "Wait until you are beyond the struggle." But purpose says, "Be faithful in the middle of it." I have learned that imperfect obedience is often more powerful than polished hesitation. Moving forward imperfectly gave me permission to build, lead, write, advocate, and respond to the call from a genuine place. And in many ways, that has made the impact deeper, because people do not just need polished stories; they need living testimony. They need to see what it looks like when someone trusts God enough to move forward, even while still being refined. Today, I can say that moving forward imperfectly has been one of the most powerful lessons of my life. It taught me that while excellence matters, perfection is not the requirement for obedience, but growth, surrender and faithfulness. And when I stopped waiting to get everything right, I made room for God to show me that He can do something beautiful even in process. I no longer see that as weakness. I see it as strength and part of what it truly means to gracefully become her.

There was a point early in my journey where I kept feeling like I needed to have everything fully figured out before I could move forward. I wanted the structure, the clarity, and the confidence to already be in place before I took the next step. But the reality was, I didn't have all of that yet and waiting for it was keeping me stuck. I remember having to take a step back and ask myself what I was really waiting for. That was the moment I realized that progress wasn't going to come from having everything perfectly aligned; it was going to come from taking action and figuring things out along the way. Once I shifted into that mindset, things started to change. I became more willing to try, adjust, and keep moving, even when things weren't perfect. That decision (to choose progress over perfection) is what allowed me to grow into my work, build my business, and gain the clarity I was originally waiting for. Looking back, I realize that clarity doesn't come before you start. It comes because you start.

Everything I went through (every challenge, every loss, every heartbreak) wasn't breaking me… it was building me. Into someone stronger. Into someone softer. Into someone who finally knows her worth. I haven't had the worst life…far from it…I have a lot to be thankful for but I've definitely had to learn how to turn lemons into lemonade. You can't always win or get your way. You have to see things for how they are. I no longer shrink myself or undervalue myself. I no longer dim my light. I no longer carry things that were never mine to hold. That… is freedom.

I took on work that didn't have a clear path—building systems and figuring things out in real time without knowing exactly how it would come together. That's when I realized waiting to feel ready wasn't going to get me anywhere. Progress came from stepping in, taking ownership, and building as I went.

The moment I stopped waiting to feel completely ready was the moment everything began to change. For so long, I believed I needed to have every answer, every qualification, and every detail figured out before taking the next step. But some of the biggest opportunities in my life and career came when I chose progress over perfection and trusted myself enough to begin anyway. Whether it was stepping into leadership, using my voice more confidently, or building something of my own, I learned that growth does not come from waiting until you feel ready. It comes from taking the next step, learning as you go, and believing that you are capable even before you have all the proof.

When you're serving youth and families, you quickly see that waiting for the perfect time, funding or plan doesn't exist so you have to start when you have the drive to. Moments where a young person needed guidance, a family needed support, or a program needed to exist even if it wasn't fully polished are what push you to act anyway. Those experiences tend to teach a clear lesson: progress matters more than perfection. Showing up, trying, adjusting, and learning in real time often creates more impact than waiting until everything looks "right" on paper. So the shift usually happens when action starts changing lives even in small ways and you realize that imperfect effort is still powerful.

My academic journey began in 2004 when I set out to earn a dual major in Healthcare Administration and Organizational Management. I was young, motivated, and determined to build a future rooted in service and leadership. I worked hard and pushed through every challenge, but when I reached my final four classes, I faced a barrier I could not overcome at the time...I ran out of money. With no financial support and no way to pay out of pocket, I had to make the heartbreaking decision to leave school. Life moved forward, and my focus shifted to raising my three boys. Motherhood became my priority, and although I poured myself into my family, the unfinished degree never stopped weighing on my heart. I always knew I wanted to finish what I started, and the dream never left me. In 2020, I married a retired veteran who supported my goals and encouraged me to return to school. With renewed strength and a clearer vision for my future, I made the decision to go back. In 2023, nearly two decades after I first began, I restarted my educational journey with determination and faith guiding every step. In April 2024, I proudly completed my dual bachelor's degrees, a moment that represented not just academic achievement, but redemption, resilience, and the fulfillment of a long-delayed promise to myself. After taking six months to breathe and reflect, I stepped into the next chapter: pursuing my Master of Human Resource Management. Now, on May 31, 2026, my birthday, I will walk across the stage and receive my master's degree. Summa Cum Laude. This milestone is more than a credential; it is a testament to perseverance, faith, and the power of returning to your purpose no matter how much time has passed. I am living proof that when you put God first, hold onto your vision, and create a plan, nothing can stop you from accomplishing your goals. My journey has not been easy, but it has been worth every step. And I stand today as a reminder that delayed does not mean denied and your dreams are still possible.