I feel proud that I did not give up on life or myself. I love and accept myself by granting myself permission to fully be me. My heart has been hurt but it is still full of LOVE! I used to hate to look at myself in the mirror and my healing work now lets me see myself and also show up for others and be seen. It makes me happy to please God and love his people. I am proud that I share my journey because speaking saved my life and I know it will help others to allow God’s glory to shine through them.

Seeing the seeds that my husband and I have planted in our daughter come to harvest. Seeds of positivity and being loving toward herself and others. When I watch Cyndal interact with other people and she’s kind, loving and positive and hearing her recite positive affirmations about herself makes me proud. I know that her father and I are doing our part with helping this world be a better place.

I am a leader in the recovery community. My life is dedicated to helping others recover from addiction and live a full and happy life. I’m kept up at night by the people I work with who do not find recovery before incarceration.

I’m proud of the way people see me as a role model. I’m grateful that God has blessed me so that I could make a difference in other’s lives. My commitment to making a difference in my community and my choice of multiple career paths help people feel their best and showcase my passion for uplifting others. I work as an epidemiologist by day, working with data to help leaders make informed public health decisions for the health of Oklahomans. When I’m not doing that, I work as an esthetician. I exemplify a multifaceted approach to improving lives and that makes me the most proud!

To overcome all the odds against me from my past life. I am four years sober and achieved so much I never knew was possible. I am recovered and passionate about helping others with anything that hinders them from obtaining a meaningful, healthy life. I am proud to have a 4.0 GPA and be participating in leadership programs at OSUOKC.

I feel proud when I see the young women on our team step into their talent and excel. And when my teenage son likes my Instagram story. I’m a go-getter who works to live a life of harmony and encourages others to do the same. Diversity and inclusion are important to me personally and professionally and I believe they must be present in education, life and work. I’m passionate about workplace belonging and culture, especially for millennials and Gen Z.

Though in no way did I make it this far on my own, I do believe I worked hard to get where I am today. I have consciously challenged every statistic and expectation that has been spoken about who I was supposed to become, having grown up in an impoverished, single-parent home. I have used my fierce, yet gentle nature to fight for myself and my potential and because of that, I think I have been able to channel that mindset into fighting for the potential in others.

I love to serve my community and people in general. I spent six years working in healthcare prior to transitioning to my current role in urban development and community building. I have a passion for elevating underserved groups whether that be for my job or through the non- profit organization my husband and I founded and lead called Live Full. My family is my biggest motivator and my greatest desire is to see them win and flourish. I believe that life is not just about me and what I can accomplish but more so what God can do through me.

The best advice I’ve ever received is to always have integrity and to become the woman the little girl inside of me would look up to. Following this advice has helped me make the best decisions for the best interest of myself without negatively impacting those around me.

When people land a job or get the resources they need to succeed in life. To be able to brainstorm with business owners and the light bulb comes on, that brings me great joy! I am a master networker. I love connecting people and resources to get people what they need.

I strive to be the best aunt ever. And not just the aunt who lets them stand on my new white sofa or has the best craft projects planned for them (which of course I do) but the aunt who is kind and makes them feel seen and known. Spending time with them recenters me, wears me out and reminds me of what is important.

I feel proud when I get letters from parents telling me what a difference Special Care has made in their lives. I feel proud when children accomplish things that were said to be impossible!

I am proud of the bridges I have built between urban and rural Oklahoma through my work as an academic, member of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, member of the Oklahoma Humanities Council and owner of a medical clinic that seeks to serve rural populations as well. I am particularly proud of being mother to a courageous, confident and resilient 18-year old daughter.

I care more about how I make clients feel than how much I am paid. I listen, soak it all in and execute. I feel like I am a great business owner and my customers actually mean so much to me. Treating people as I desire to be treated may sound cliché but it’s what separates me from others.

I would love for all teachers—because they spend more time with our children than us—to receive a significant salary increase. I would want all children in public schools to have equal access to superb teachers, a fantastic education, supplies/books, sports and extracurriculars and nutritious meals. I do not want food or money to be a barrier for a great education or access to team sports, which strengthens leadership skills, teamwork, confidence and social skills.

The human mind is more powerful than we know. Your subconscious brain doesn’t know the difference in what is real and what isn’t. That’s why our capabilities are truly endless if we believe we are capable.

In marriage, the husband and wife have the power to create the biggest wounds or be the biggest champions for one another. Be careful that you speak only the words that you want to keep around, because they will stay around.

Seeing the people in front of you! It is so easy to be swept away in the busyness of life and not hear one another’s stories. I am also guilty of this, but every time I put my phone down and listen to the beautiful people around me, I hear what they love and what they are passionate about and I’m so grateful I listened. It is such a gift to make connections with others!

I am proud of my healing journey from the traumatic and adverse experiences I have had in life. I’m grateful that in seasons in which I was ready to give up, I continued to persevere. I celebrate that out of an overflow of my healing journey, I can uplift and encourage others in their journey. I am proud of how I live each day to the fullest.

My parents died when I was young and I was on my own at 16. I didn’t learn a lot of coping or life skills. Everything ends up being learned the hard way. But it does give you the ability to just jump in and say let’s do it.