A Life That Could Have Gone a Different Way

If you had met me in my late teens or early twenties, you might have assumed I was headed toward a life in the spotlight. Modeling came naturally to me, and I loved the beauty industry. I trained in cosmetology, learned how to highlight cheekbones and boost confidence with a simple hairstyle, and I even considered a long-term career in fashion or entertainment. I thrived in spaces where creativity and image were celebrated.

But while the lights were bright and the attention exciting, something always felt a little off. A voice in my heart kept asking: Is this it? Is this what I’m meant to do?

It wasn’t until I stepped into a classroom that I realized what had been missing all along—purpose.

Teaching Taught Me Who I Am

When I began working with students, I felt something click. It wasn’t just the satisfaction of seeing a lesson land or a student succeed, it was the deep joy that came from knowing I was making a real difference.

Teaching demanded patience, compassion, flexibility, and strength. It called on all the best parts of me and made me better. It wasn’t about how I looked or how many followers I had. It was about showing up every day, being consistent, and giving young people the belief that they mattered, because they do.

Through teaching, I learned that service is its own kind of spotlight. It may not get headlines or glamorous photos, but it shines a light in places that desperately need it.

Choosing Purpose Over Perception

There’s a myth that we all need to “find our passion,” but what I’ve learned is sometimes your passion finds you. And when it does, it usually doesn’t look the way you expected.

I didn’t expect to fall in love with education, but I did. I didn’t see myself becoming a community leader, but here I am. I didn’t think I’d ever trade in a curling iron for a lesson plan or a business strategy, but I did, and I’ve never looked back.

This choice didn’t come from giving up on something. It came from growing into something more. I started to see my skills—my empathy, my organization, my ability to connect—as tools that could be used for something bigger than myself.

The Calling Expanded

As my career in education deepened, so did my commitment to service. I began to see that helping people wasn’t just limited to the classroom.

That’s what led me into real estate. At first glance, teaching and real estate might seem worlds apart. But they share something powerful: both are about helping people make meaningful life decisions. Whether it’s buying a home or building a future through education, my role is to guide, to empower, and to support.

Real estate gave me a new avenue to serve my community. It also allowed me to bring a teacher’s heart into a business space: to explain, to walk people through complex processes, to celebrate their wins, and help them through challenges.

I didn’t leave education. I expanded on it. I still mentor. I still advocate. I still uplift. The classroom just looks different now.

My Greatest Achievement Isn’t a Title

People sometimes ask what I’m most proud of, what I’d consider my biggest accomplishment. It’s not a career milestone or a personal award. It’s this: that I listened to the quiet voice inside that told me I was meant for more than applause.

I’m proud that I chose to build a life around service. I’m proud that I leaned into purpose over popularity. And I’m proud that the young people who look up to me: my students, my community, and especially my own family, see someone who isn’t afraid to change direction in the name of something meaningful.

For Anyone Wondering What’s Next

If you’re reading this and wondering where your own path is leading, I’ll say this: don’t be afraid to pivot. Don’t be afraid to walk away from something that looks good on the outside if it doesn’t feel right on the inside.

You may have trained for one thing, dreamed about another, and still find yourself being pulled somewhere entirely unexpected. That’s okay. Sometimes, the best journeys start that way.

I didn’t lose my passion. I redirected it. And in doing so, I gained something that no stage or spotlight could offer; a life of meaning, connection, and deep-rooted joy.

Today, I wear many hats: educator, real estate professional, mentor, mother, community advocate. But more than any title, I’m someone who chose purpose.

And that, to me, will always be the most beautiful choice I’ve made.

Let your passion find you, and when it does, be ready to follow it, even if it leads you far from where you started. The path of service might not always be glamorous, but I promise you, it’s worth it.