I Found Myself

Prologue

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I've always been a little bit of a mess. A little too much drama, a little too much chaos, and a lot of confusion about what I wanted to do with my life. But here I am—about to become a lawyer. A lawyer. I mean, who would've thought? I sure as hell would have never imagined that would have been my outcome.

If you had asked me as a kid what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer definitely wouldn't have been "lawyer." At that time, I was more likely to tell you I wanted to be a unicorn, or maybe a professional napper (hey, it's a talent). But life has a way of throwing curveballs at you, and some of us, well, we swing and miss a lot before we finally hit something solid.

Growing up, my family's story wasn't exactly a Hallmark movie. My mom, the strongest woman I know, fought through so many battles—mostly ones no one ever saw behind closed doors and shut curtains. There were days when it felt like the world was built to crush her, and yet, she stood tall. She fought through physical abuse, hardship, and a system that didn't seem to care. But through it all, she was the one who taught me the most important lesson of my life: resilience. She never quit, even when everything seemed to be stacked against her. If I'm being honest, I think she might be part superhero.

For years, I watched my mom fight for our family, often with nothing but sheer willpower and determination to keep us going. And while I admired her strength, I also began to feel a nagging anger—anger at the injustice, anger at the silence, and anger at the fact that men and women like my mom don't always get the help they deserve. That was when I realized I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. I had to do something. I had to become someone who could help men and women like her who are uncertain if they'll live through the night to see the next sunrise. That's when the idea of law school started taking root, even if I didn't acknowledge this until later in my adult life.

But here's the thing: deciding to become a lawyer was not some grand moment of clarity. Oh no. It was more like a long, drawn-out existential crisis that spanned years and several careers. First, I was going to be a welder. Then, maybe a veterinarian technician. I even thought about working in a morgue at one point (I mean, hell, the bodies don't complain about customer service, right). But none of those things felt right. I kept coming back to one idea: I needed to fight for justice.

So, after trying out about three different careers and realizing none of them were going to make me feel like I was doing something important, I finally concluded that law school was the only place I was supposed to be. But let's be real—it wasn't easy coming to this conclusion. There were moments when I thought, "Maybe I should just go back to petting dogs," or "Do lawyers even get to wear cool capes?" But I stuck with it.

This book is my way of sharing that messy, chaotic, and often ridiculous journey with you. It's not just about becoming a lawyer—it's about learning to fight. It's about the battles you fight within yourself, the obstacles that seem insurmountable, and the moments when you think you might just throw in the towel (or physically throw up because man...anxiety is no joke).

But it's also about resilience. About how you get knocked down, over and over, and still find a way to stand back up. About how every setback, every failure, and every moment of doubt teaches you something you didn't know you needed to learn. So if you've ever felt like giving up on your dreams or wondered if you have what it takes to change your life, I'm here to tell you: You absolutely do.

This book is for anyone who's ever fought for something—whether it's for yourself, for your family, or for something bigger than you can even imagine. If you've ever wondered if your story matters, if you've ever felt like your journey was too messy or complicated to be worth telling, this is for you.

Because if I can go from a chaotic mess to a future law school student (who still occasionally Googles "what's the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'?"), then I'm pretty sure you can do anything, too.