My Journey: From Pain to Healing to Impact
I was sixteen when I first realized how quickly life can shift beneath your feet. Overnight, I became a mother, suddenly responsible for another human being and thrust into a world that felt unprepared for me. I navigated classrooms while changing diapers, juggled college applications with baby wellness visits, and carried the weight of my own unhealed wounds as I tried to provide stability for myself and my child. Those early years were marked by exhaustion, fear, and a longing for something I couldn’t yet name. I felt powerless in a system that wasn’t built for a teenage mom, and grief settled into the essence of me as I watched friends drift away and opportunities vanish.
Every day, toxic patterns and unhealthy relationships chipped away at my sense of self. I was losing more and more access to who I truly was until I realized that, to reclaim my voice, I’d have to let parts of me die and be reborn. How many times was I willing to endure that cycle, and at what cost?
Still, in that deep uncertainty, something unexpected flickered inside me: Determination. I refused to let my circumstances define my worth. With no safety net, no mentors pointing the way, no programs to lean on, I faced every setback alone. Each bill I couldn’t pay and every dismissive glance became a lesson in resilience. I’m learning that healing begins the moment you name your pain rather than pretend it doesn’t exist. I tell myself to speak my truth, to demand what I needed even when no one else offered it, and how to rebuild a sense of self from the broken pieces. Piece by piece, I forged a path forward, relying on an inner strength I never knew I had to activate.
Over time, my healing evolved into a calling to extend that same lifeline to other women. I saw how a lack of access to education, community, and spaces where we could be ourselves, stifled potential and kept wounds from ever closing. That realization became the spark for Her Impact. So I’m building a space where every woman and girl could access the resources and support I once needed: a classroom that believed in her dreams; a circle that honored her story; a mentor who saw her quiet strength. My journey has taught me that true renewal begins when barriers fall away.
Today, Her Impact is a testament to that journey—the painful moments, the breakthroughs in healing, and the ripples of change that happen when one woman is given access. When I look out at our programs—storytelling workshops that breathe life into silent voices, wellness circles that honor emotional healing, leadership cohorts that teach girls to lead with compassion, I know everyone who walks through our door is taking a step toward her fullest self.
This blog is my invitation to you: stay awhile, read these stories, and discover how our shared pain can forge healing pathways and, ultimately, impact. Because when one woman finds her voice and purpose, she lights the way for everyone who follows.