A Little About Me

Hi, friends!

However you've ended up here-- whether you're a friend, a coworker, a classmate, or a random someone who arrived by accident-- welcome!! I'm so happy to have you here. <3

I have a lot of different visions for where this blog will go, but the over-arching goal is to share joy and encouragement along the way. So bear with me while I get the wheels turning. It won't be perfect, but I can promise you that it will be real... and maybe even fun!

Roots

I grew up in a very small town in East Tennessee. Though it has seen a bit of recent growth and economic opportunity, it is still one of the most impoverished counties in the state, with its most recent poverty rate at an astounding 23.1%. (Just for reference, the

national average poverty rate currently sits at 10.1%). Without having to over-explain, people

who live in areas like this face significant physical barriers, such as proximity to reliable healthcare, access to resources, job insecurity, lack of educational opportunity... the list goes on and on. Beyond this, and something I have been exploring over the past six years as I moved away, are the mental barriers they face as well. Growing up, you don't even realize how much the unique, rural Appalachian way of life becomes part of your identity. I think we all tend to carry in us the places that raise us, and that's something I had always been proud of. What I was disheartened to learn later on, though, was that people from other regions or areas see places like my hometown as "uneducated", "less than", or "systematically broken". There are so many unfair, negative stereotypes attached to these areas and, if you aren't careful, you allow them to become attached to you, too. I was blessed enough to have family, teachers, and mentors who encouraged me to not let this identity define me, and to go where I felt called.

After graduating high school in 2020, I packed up my things and moved to Nashville to study political science at Belmont University. The initial culture shock was paralyzing. I carried my hometown stereotypes around with me for years, allowing it to define me and striving to prove myself as someone who wasn't "uneducated" or "less than". It was such an exhausting endeavor.

During my 3.5 years at Belmont, I was able to overcome the idea that I had to prove myself just because of where I was from. Sure, I had to work hard to catch up to the other students who grew up in areas that had more educational resources and opportunities, but that eventually became something I was proud of. After letting that go, I really leaned into my time there. I became very involved in Student Government, completed some independent research on Central Appalachian Poverty, completed a few internships, attended sporting events, and met so many people that brought such positivity into my life.

I enjoyed every moment at Belmont and am still relatively involved in the alumni network and provide occasional mentoring to current students. I'm so grateful for everything I learned and all the opportunities I was given during my time there, as it set me up for success in my career and adult life.

I am currently an Executive Assistant for Policy and Research in the Tennessee House of Representatives. If you would have asked me five years ago where I wanted to be by now, my answer would be very closely aligned with where I am now. For some reason, I have always been fascinated with the world of state government and I have been so blessed to explore multiple different angles of it.

In 2021, when I was 19 years old, I interned in the Governor's Office, and that's where my journey at the State Capitol began. I have been here since, interning in the legislature, clerking for the House, serving as a Legislative Assistant, and doing what I do now. I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I've enjoyed every step and how much I have grown in both a personal and professional manner. The people I've met and the things I have gotten to do here have shaped me into who I am.

My faith has always played a pretty big role in my life. I was raised in church and knew all the hymns and verses, but my relationship with God has grown so vastly as an adult. I have faced many unexpected challenges in recent years regarding my physical and mental health, but there hasn't been a single day that I have felt abandoned by God. I have felt His presence in the midst of the difficulty, which has enabled me to feel true joy in the chaos. It's the steady kind of joy you can only find through Him.

I have so much to share around the topic of mental health-- it's kind of what inspired me starting this blog journey. I think that we all struggle with something, whether we are open about it or not. I spent years of my life ignoring an issue that ended up compromising my physical health and my ability to live my life. Opening up about my struggle was the single best thing I could do to heal from what I thought had broken me.

I plan to delve more into the topic of mental health and share more of my own story here in the near future. Until then, just remember that there is purpose in every battle you face.

From Here

I'm not quite sure what my plans are for this blog, but I plan to share all the things I've learned along the way regarding mental health, joy through chaos, self-growth, navigating being a 20-something girl in this crazy world, encouragement, graduate school, and so much more. I also have far too many Nashville coffee shop and music recommendations to keep to myself, so maybe you'll find some of that here too! I appreciate the time you've spent reading this silly introduction and hope that you will stick around for more!

Lastly, remember that you are deeply loved, fully known, and never alone. <3