Ready?! I was born into a whirlwind of circumstances that would shape the very core of my being. My mother, merely 16 years old, welcomed me into the world, and despite the challenges of teenage parenthood, my parents were committed to each other and our family's future. My father, a dedicated worker at the local steel mill and my mother embraced her roles as both wife and mother with loyalty and love. They worked tirelessly, sacrificing and striving until they could proudly buy our first family home. Tragedy struck when my father died at the young age of 33 in a work accident. I was 14. 

Our home transformed into a stronghold of feminine power. My shy and quiet mother, widowed at 30, navigated the complexities of single parenthood raising my two sisters and I while modeling independence. This experience instilled in me the strength and resilience of women, a theme that would shape my life. I also lived with women's empowerment at school. I went to the last public all-girls high school in my area. There, I watched passive, quiet girls participate in classes by sharing their ideas and thoughts, and I was always part of cool leadership opportunities. On the flip side, when Cathedral Girls High School became co-ed, I watched my introverted friends stop sharing their ideas, and overnight there were mirrors hung up in all our lockers, including mine. I quickly became aware of how women are conditioned to be quiet, beautiful people pleasers. It changed me to my core.

My journey took an unexpected turn at 18 when I sought help for an eating disorder and other struggles. Being part of a bereavement group in high school had already opened my eyes to the intricacies of the human mind, but it was the sessions with my therapist that truly saved me. I learned that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but courage and resilience.