A Dreamer's Story
Growing up as a child, I often dreamt of being an actress, a singer, a lawyer, a doctor, or maybe even an FBI agent turned beauty queen. I always devoured movies where the underdog prospered through the obstacles and came out on top prosperous. I truly believed based on these fictional stories that maybe one day I’d be living my own Cinderella story. A simple girl with dreams too big for a small town, I resolved that I’d be all of those things only in my daydreams. I could often be found daydreaming about living life like in the movies I’d grown to love. Sometimes, even escaping my own reality by diving into a new Meg Cabot or Stephenie Meyer novel. I grew up sheltered and saw the world through childlike eyes, even as an adult. I gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, I carried my heart on my sleeve, and I often felt empathy so deeply it shook my core when someone I loved was in pain. And unfortunately, I watched someone who meant everything to me endure pain daily. My mom fought he...