I’m here because I lived, I made mistakes, I learned, and I know what it feels like to need somebody in your corner.
At 16, I was charged with conspiracy after becoming involved in a situation where I was making decisions and playing a part in something I knew I shouldn’t have been involved in.
My story isn’t just about what happens at home. It’s about the people you’re around, the choices you make, wanting to fit in, peer pressure, and not always understanding where certain decisions can lead you.
I created THE RISE PROJECT because I know what it feels like to be young, make decisions you don’t fully understand, be surrounded by the wrong people, and realize that your choices can affect your entire future.
My past decisions taught me something I carry with me every day:
Sometimes you’re not a bad person. Sometimes you’re making bad decisions around the wrong people.
And sometimes, you don’t realize how serious something is until you’re standing there looking at the consequences. I’ve seen how quickly things can change. I’ve seen how one decision, one situation, one person, or one night can affect the direction of someone’s life.
But my story didn’t end at 16.
I was given another opportunity to move forward — and I didn’t take that second chance for granted.
I grew. I learned. I became a mother. I started working. I built my life. And I became someone I don’t think my 16-year-old self could have imagined becoming.
That’s why I created THE RISE PROJECT.
I don’t want young people to look at me and think I’m somebody who has always had everything figured out.
I haven’t.
I want them to look at me and know:
I’ve made mistakes. I’ve been influenced. I’ve made choices I wish I could have made differently. I’ve had to live with consequences. And I’ve changed.
That’s real.
You don't have to be perfect to RISE.
You just have to be willing to grow.