I grew up learning how to adapt before I ever understood what stability was supposed to feel like.

My parents separated when I was young, and much of my childhood was shaped by constant change. We moved from place to place, finances were often uncertain, and there were private battles within my family that I was too young to fully understand. I loved my family deeply, but there were seasons when the people around me were fighting struggles of their own, and I did not always know where I fit inside of them.

I grew up in an amazing family with parents who loved me and wanted the best for me. I was the middle child, and even from a young age, I always felt a little different. I had a lot of friends, tons of energy, and I loved being around people, but when it came to school, I could never seem to get myself to focus. Sitting still, paying attention, and learning the traditional way never came naturally to me. I always thought outside the box and saw things differently than most people, but at the time, I didn’t understand that those qualities could eventually become strengths.

For most of my childhood, I believed the only way to become successful was to get good grades, go to college, and follow the traditional path. Because I struggled so much in school, I started to believe there was something wrong with me and that success might not be possible for someone like me. My parents didn’t know what else to do, so they eventually enrolled me in an Alternative Learning Center. I wasn’t a bad kid, but I was lost, impressionable, and searching for a place where I felt like I belonged.