The most rewarding part of being a mom is seeing the impact I have on my children. One wants to become a firefighter like me—drawn to the courage and purpose in that role. The other sees me working hard as a doctoral student and now dreams of becoming a doctor. Watching them find inspiration in my journey is incredibly humbling and fulfilling. It reminds me that motherhood isn’t just about guiding your children, it’s about becoming someone worth following.

A memory that sticks with me is when I was expecting my third child. We decided to keep the baby's gender a surprise until birth, and my daughters were totally divided on what they wanted. My oldest, Boston, hoped for a girl, while my second daughter, Dakota, wanted a baby boy. But when we finally brought our son home, all those preferences disappeared. They were so thrilled to have him that the whole gender “debate” didn’t matter anymore; they just loved him for who he was.

If I were to receive the $20K prize, I would pledge $10K to my 501(c)(3) nonprofit org, Beacon -Be the One to Light the Way. This would allow me to provide necessities to individuals with housing and food insecurities. Additionally, I would donate $5K to my annual prom grant program. This would allow me to cover expenses for 5 girls for 5 years. Finally, I would use the remaining $5K for a family trip to Massachusetts so my children can visit their great-grandparents.