I have always been passionate about mathematics. I find the subject truly beautiful because there is so much grace and mystery in it while simultaneously being full of structure, order and logic. Math has made me feel like life can be full of possibility and discovery. My formal education has been stop and start again but returning to school at this point in my life, pursuing a B.A in Mathematics from Harvard University and then a Masters of Finance, I feel like achieving this dream is actually possible. I expect to graduate in 2029. I have a detailed, well-paced plan and the support of my academic advisors, my family and my friends. Most of all I have a belief in myself, a determination to see my vision to the finish line. I feel a deep sense of purpose when I think of the consulting firm I want to open. Northern Star Women’s Wealth gets its name from concept that the North Star is a steadfast marker that can always guide you home. I want to be the guide for other women as they gain control over their financial lives. This is a purpose, a personal mission statement that I can be proud of. Many women have the creativity, drive and passion needed to win in this world, but without the tools, skills and mentorship they cannot take their ideas from concept to reality. I can help bridge the gap. I know I can because of my experience leading teams. With limited resources and no formal education in financial studies, I helped the majority of my staff launch their own businesses. Some were creatives that needed help monetizing their art, a few launched clothing brands, one is now a professional writer for a prestigious magazine, another a professional photographer. All got their start under the umbrella of my mentorship. I know that as I grow my own knowledge, network and certifications I can reach more women. Managing that business taught me to adapt constantly because being flexible as life changes will present me with the greatest opportunities. I learned to have faith in myself. I am more than capable because I am determined to be consistent, always willing to pivot, always wanting to share space with others. Teamwork makes the dream work is literally one of my management philosophies to the point that it has become a call and response catch phrase with my teams. My academic journey has not been easy. I have survived losing multiple pregnancies, financial strain, chronic illness, and housing instability. My son was born in 2020. His birth reignited my academic goals, reinforcing the values I want to model for my children: ambitious drive, determination, resilience, compassion. My daughter will be born in December of this year. I want my children to see their mother as someone who does not abandon her aspirations even when faced with potentially overwhelming challenges. Who I am, who I push myself to become will set the standard for what they believe they can achieve in this life. I will not allow them to believe they deserve anything less than their dreams. My role is to show them through my actions that dreams thrive through hard work, consistency and determination. To be fully engaged in a meaningful work while crafting a life in which I can be fully present for my children, this is my dream. I will found a company that opens doors for women. I will provide empowerment, guidance and trust. Creating generational wealth means giving women back their time and their choices, the true meaning of financial independence.

To me, resilience is the personal choice to push forward even when life’s challenges make the world feel overwhelming and unrecognizable. It is a quiet decision that is based in determination and personal fortitude. Resilience means adaptability, being able to constantly pivot through changing life circumstances. It means not giving into self pity, despite facing hardships and choices you never asked for. Resilience is finding humor in moments when it seems easier to give into despair. It means rebuilding yourself over and over. Ultimately, the daily practice of choosing to be resilient is a practice of choosing to be at peace with your life, choosing faith, hope and discipline. My experience with chronic illness began during the second wave of COVID-19 in New York City. I had just had my first child when I began to feel unwell rapidly descending into violent illness. I lost so much weight so quickly, dropping from 155 pounds to 90 pounds in two months. At the time medical care was restricted as all resources were directed to fighting the pandemic. I went months without being able to see a doctor. Eating was difficult. I could not keep food in me. Walking became painful. I developed large ulcers on my legs. When the city finally reopened medical services, I was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis. Navigating motherhood during this time was the greatest challenge of my life. Quarantine meant that I had no support for either myself or my son. There were days when I could not stand and did not want to get out of bed. But being a mother does not stop. My son needed me to care for his basic needs, to put on a false face of happiness and excitement and shelter him from the reality of my painful experiences. We survived those months together and I learned that not only is resilience a form of endurance, but love in action. Since then, I have experienced two to three flares per year. The flares start slowly and can escalate quickly, often accompanied by erythema nodosum—the softball-sized ulcers on my legs that make walking nearly impossible. Resilience is humor and over the years I have collected beautiful canes to help me walk as I heal providing an interesting spin on my wardrobe and fashion choices. Resilience has meant restarting my education repeatedly and adapting a new perspective. Flares of chronic illness affect my concentration, attendance, and energy. But I am nothing if not determined, always returning to school. Earning my bachelors and masters degrees is a life goal. A while back I had a shift in perspective that allowed me to see a blessing in my illness. Living with chromic illness has cultivated empathy in me. I know how much it takes to simply show up when your body is fighting you. I hope those living with chronic illness who read my story can learn that resilience is not perfection—it is perspective. Happiness is always one shift in perspective away.