The best part of my days are the hugs and cuddles when my daughter insists on “mama” for bedtime. Whether she’s sick or simply needs extra love, I’m always there, and she truly feels that. I’m her safe place. Sometimes she catches me off guard, holding my face and saying, “Mama, you’re my person,” and every time, it brings quiet tears to my eyes.

The control we think we have in life quickly fades when negotiating with a toddler. I often joke that I’m a part-time hostage negotiator, though sometimes I’m not sure who the hostage really is. 😂 It’s a humbling reminder that control is an illusion, and sometimes the best thing we can do is let go and let life unfold as it will. “Let go and let life.”

I want to eliminate my student debt while continuing to grow in the salon industry through ongoing education, especially in healing-focused techniques. I’ve created a calming, plant-filled salon space my clients call a “greenhouse,” and I aspire to one day own and manage a salon of my own. My ultimate goal is to save for a home for my daughter and show her that with focus and determination, anything is possible.