When I found courage in a moment of total uncertainty, it wasn't a single moment, it was a pattern woven throughout my life. There have been seasons where my back was against the wall, and I was quietly fighting battles no one could see. As a leader, a mother, and a wife, I often carried pressure that lived behind the scenes personal challenges, financial stress, emotional exhaustion, and moments where life felt overwhelmingly heavy. Yet every day, I still had to show up for others. I worked and continued my education throughout feeling depleted. I kept leading when I was unsure of my own next step. I poured into others while quietly navigating storms of my own. One of the biggest turning points came when leaving the comfort and security of my executive roles to continue to build Educators Empowered and create The RILEY Approach™. It required stepping forward without clarity or guarantees, with only my belief in the work and the purpose God placed on my life. There was no safety net. No promise that it would work. No certainty only conviction. I managed the fear by anchoring myself in purpose. I reminded myself that the educators, children, and families I serve deserved someone willing to push through adversity, someone willing to build systems stronger than the ones I had to navigate. And even when the weight of life felt overwhelming, I kept moving—for my family, my mission, and the educators who needed support. What unfolded changed everything. Educators Empowered became a national support system. The RILEY Approach™ became a holistic model embraced by teachers and leaders. And I became the kind of woman who understands that courage isn't loud—it's the quiet decision to rise again, even when no one knows what you're fighting. Those battles didn't define me. They refined me. And they became the foundation for the work, the impact, and the purpose I walk in today.