Every day presents new and familiar challenges; our bodies remain locked in a constant internal battle. Even basic tasks require you to push your body to the limit. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Psoriasis and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, both autoimmune diseases that affect my everyday life. I went undiagnosed for many years because several doctors shrugged off my symptoms, but I continued to advocate for myself. Once diagnosed, I felt like my world was turned upside down because I didn't know how to complete all of my responsibilities with the stress, exhaustion, brain fog, pain, guilt, and constant appointments. Accepting the diagnosis was very hard, but it allowed me to evaluate my life and make necessary changes to become my best self. After my diagnosis, I evaluated every part of my life in detail to improve my overall health. Change is never easy, but it is necessary for personal growth. My diagnosis helped me prioritize my mental health, physical health, and relationships with others. If something wasn't serving me, I needed to eliminate it immediately. I knew I would not surrender to this disease, but I would build the strength to get through the struggles and fulfill my dreams. I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset and dreamed of owning my own business. Through my career journey, I discovered my love for product development. I am passionate about bringing big ideas to life by focusing on the consumer through intelligent storytelling. I am excited to go back to school to further develop my product development skills, specifically in jewelry. After I graduate from the Gemological Insitute of America, I plan to start my own jewelry business that inspires women to be the main character and embrace their uniqueness. The journey of building my own brand will not be easy, but I will not let this disease hold me back. My diagnosis taught me that every little detail of my life does matter, and I should enjoy each moment as much as possible. It is a blessing to wake up with a purpose. This new mindset helped me prioritize goal setting. Setting goals is crucial because it keeps me motivated and eager to face new challenges. When I prioritize personal development through goal setting, I am more energized, successful, and a stronger leader. In addition, I have become more empathetic because I understand turning struggles into strengths. Empathy will help me be a compassionate leader because I will relate to my employees personally and take the time to understand the challenges they are facing. I also share my own experience with others to empower my friends and family to advocate for themselves when something feels off. We only have one life to live, so I choose to focus on making it one to remember. I have learned adversity is not an obstacle that prevents me from reaching my goals rather, it is a bump in the road to my destination. So I am taking one step at a time as I face this reality. I cannot control life's crazy twists and turns, but I will be prepared with a positive attitude to celebrate my accomplishments and passionately pursue my dreams.

In 2020 we learned going viral was more accessible than ever through a new social media platform called Tik Tok. The everyday person could post a video, and millions would see it. However, as more creators joined the app, it became harder to gain a following. It has been amazing to see how creators and brands navigate the space to grow their following and engagement. Tik Tok has opened my eyes and made me look at my personal and professional growth in a new way. Instead of instantly gaining followers from one video, you have to post consistently and cultivate meaningful relationships over time. Tik Tok taught us that growth takes time, and through hard work and dedication, you will reach your goals. We should never become complacent, and we should always strive for more by setting new goals. After I graduate, I would like to start my own jewelry business. I know growing my business will not happen overnight, but I plan to implement small goals to help ensure I get there. Setting goals is important because it keeps me motivated and eager to learn more. Going through change is never easy, but keeping a growth mindset allows me to set new goals and reach my full potential. When I prioritize personal development through goal setting, I am more energized, successful, and a stronger leader. Whether I am 25 or 85, I will continue to strive to be the best person I can be for myself and others to create the life of my dreams. "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - E.E. Cummings

Have you ever wanted something so bad but know it will take a while for it to happen? I have experienced this several times and learned to enjoy the journey of getting there through patience and determination. In today's world, we have everything at our fingertips and are used to being satisfied quickly. However, we must always strive to keep learning and work towards bigger dreams that will teach us lessons along the way. We don't always need to be in a hurry to turn the page, but we should enjoy every detail of the story. Bigger dreams take a while to achieve, so we have to practice patience. Patience is essential because we will run into several obstacles and challenges throughout our journey. When we are in a rush, it is easy to get upset over the little things. Patience allows us to analyze every situation thoroughly and think strategically about the next steps. Through patience, we can evaluate problems with a clear mind and control our feelings to build strong relationships with others. All great leaders must practice patience because it allows them to build strong relationships through better communication. After I graduate, I would like to start my own jewelry business. I know growing my business will not happen overnight, and I will have to enjoy every step of the process through patience. As I hire employees, I will need to be patient while they develop their skills and help guide them along their career paths. Being patient will allow me to focus on my long-term goals to build the best brand with dedicated employees.