There’s something truly special about seeing a long-held dream or goal come to life. 

“Everyone has pressure, and life’s not fair.” It sounds odd, but understanding this made life easier for me. It helped me navigate challenges with grace, realizing I’m not special and deserve no more than my neighbor. Gratitude has become the best fuel for my professional and personal acceleration. 

I like who I am right now. In fact, I love her. However, I understand that growth is a forever pursuit, so I hope I have evolved even more into who I was created to be. 

Losing my parents is probably the biggest obstacle in my life so far, but with each loss, I felt compelled to keep pushing forward so that the sacrifices they made were not for nothing. 

The dishes can wait... enjoy your kids while they’re little. 

I believe that the Lord called me to be a leader and has allowed me to be a light to those around me.

I believe the biggest obstacle in my life has been the fight of knowing my value and worth. Believing in myself and my capabilities and loving every version of myself. It is an ongoing battle but one I will conquer some day! 

“Rest, but never give up.”

I think I am exceptional...ly weird. Which is something that we should all embrace about ourselves. Weird is all we get. 

I am proud when a plan comes together and the task is delivered flawlessly. I am proud when my son does all the things for himself to be the man he wants to be in this world. I am proud when my friends and family reach their goals. I am proud to be a Black woman of the X generation who takes on challenges, wins and brings others with her.

My commitment to my family during my teens and 20s and 30s. Also, my unshakable commitment to growth in every area of life. I believe that the day we are born is amazing, but what really counts is the “dash” between the date that we are born and the date that we leave this world. I believen wholeheartedly that I have and will continue to make that “dash” count.

I am proud of my personal and professional journey. Like most people, mine has not been the easiest but it has definitely been worth it. I have been in Oklahoma since 2010, and I consider OKC to be my home now. There is a lot of sacrifice that comes with leaving your country and starting over somewhere new. For me personally, there has been so much gain and growth in that process and I am forever grateful for what this country and Oklahoma City has given me.

My husband and I have gone though some really big health problems. They have forced us to make decisions that we never thought we’d have to make, and we have had to figure out what that means for our lives. It makes you realize what your priorities are and how to adjust expectations for what your life looks like.

I think I am most proud of being a mother! I know it’s cliché, but I don’t think I’ve done anything better in my entire 38 years of life! My oldest daughter was born with cerebral palsy among many other needs and I was her primary caretaker for most of her life while also working. I also have two more sons and then adopted my youngest daughter after fostering her for two years. Advocating and caring for my children has truly been my greatest accomplishment!

First, being a mother to my daughter. It is such a blessing to watch her walk into who God created her to be and showing the love of Jesus to others in her special way. Second, working at Branch15 and having the privilege to empower a woman to find her voice and equip her with truth to walk in freedom and redemption.

I would love for people to truly take the time to get to know themselves on a deeper level and treat themselves with care (mind, body and soul). This includes healing their past wounds and nourishing their bodies with healthy foods and exercise to allow the best version of themselves to transpire. If everyone feels healthy inside and out and are fulfilled within themselves, it will lead to a richer healthier community at large.

I am most proud of the work I do helping children grow and be their best selves. When I was five years old, my mom enrolled me into my first dance class. She made a few sacrifices to ensure I was exposed to the arts. As I have matured into adulthood, I have developed a servant heart and made the decision to help those who are in need. I created a community dance studio that offers dance classes to those who may not have the financial means to enroll in a traditional studio.

My girls. That they are not afraid to be who they are because I always was. They do not apologize for who they are and they are amazing. I am proud of finally being the role model my daughters deserve. After years of addiction, I have overcome so many things including feeling like I need someone else to do hard things for me. Now, I am able to provide for my family and I do that in a role that I believe God truly wrote just for me.

The thing that makes me exceptional is my perspective on life. I survived brain cancer in my late 20s and woke up after an eight hour surgery as a neurodiverse person thanks to a hole in my brain. It was being open to listening to all sorts of people that literally saved my life in the midst of that. So, I now interact with everyone as a person of sacred worth and wisdom who has something to teach me if I am open to listening to them. I’ve also experienced and navigated life both as a neurotypical woman and a neurodiverse one. So, I am a huge advocate of making spaces as accessible and accommodating as possible for the needs of every brain.

I’m proud of the work that I do: empowering others and strengthening democracy. I feel proud when I can make connections with other people or with ideas. I was proud, recently, to be a part of a group of advocates who raised our voices to pass legislation that would help victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The legislation failed to pass this session; however, we made the front page of The Oklahoman. Our voices are resonating, somewhere.