My biggest obstacle so far in life is one that unfortunately many other women can relate to. Trying to conceive has been a huge struggle for us, and this has caused a lot of pain and confusion. 

I’ve experienced trauma, made my own mistakes, been someone I don’t want to be, and seen people make mistakes I work daily to avoid. Likewise, I’ve learned lessons, healed, evolved, and succeeded.

I was instrumental in starting the Parent Partner program in OK County and I wrote a Parent Guardian handbook that is used in courthouses around the state to help parents familiarize themselves with the system.

Be present. There is nothing in our life that we can control more than the way we show up in a space and how we interact with the people around us.

My mom has been a big influence in my life. I am one of five kids, and the things my mom did for us when we were young helped shape who I am today. She helped me find my passions and encouraged me when I needed it most. 

I try not to let anything keep me up at night – even though it happens on occasion. Over time, I have learned that the things I lose sleep over are never as significant the next day. 

The single biggest problem in my community that I’d like to solve is being solved right now with the founding and opening of my school: Proud To Partner Leadership Academy. 

At first, I thought I’d talk about being a teen mom, but really, the hardest thing has been moving on after losing my baby sister. It’s been eight years, but the sadness is still there. 

Embracing consistency and incremental progress has become a cornerstone of my success, enabling me to achieve meaningful results and continuous improvement 

Juggling a demanding career, personal growth, and family responsibilities can be challenging, but it has also taught me valuable lessons about time management and prioritization. 

I feel an incredible amount of pressure to provide for my children in a big way and create a legacy for them that sets them up for future success. I want to create more opportunities for them than I had so they can truly create their dream lives.

I’ve learned through the years that the fear of failure is actually worse than failure itself.

Listening is an essential first step in any conversation, professional or personal, and it’s unfortunately too often skipped. No problem has ever been efficiently solved by assuming we already know the answer. 

Know what you want, or someone else will decide for you. 

I hope I am growing old gracefully. That I am still making a positive impact on those around me and that I am able to continue giving back to my church and community. 

So much is expected of working moms. It’s okay to stop and breathe. My heart wants to help people every chance I get. I quickly forget that I need to take care of myself first in order to continue helping others. 

As a Parent Partner at Northcare, I have used my own experience of getting sober to be reunited with my kids so I can help others do the same. It is a heavy job but I am proud of the work I do to help improve things for others. 

To try to help overcome the effect COVID had on the youth in my community through culinary arts exploration and creating opportunities for them to learn skills to be more successfully employed. 

I know that the biggest obstacle was the story I told myself about who I am. I am so much more than my trauma: I am a thousand other stories that are more than that experience. 

I recover out loud, and I try to be an outlet for others who may be silently suffering. I want people to know they don’t have to be silent and don’t have to suffer alone.