It is the seemingly inconsequential moments that have impacted my life in the most lasting of ways. One example of this I always look back fondly on is from my childhood. When I was a young girl, I always thought I would eventually turn my love for coloring and hair styling into a career one day. I stepped into my high school guidance counselor’s office armed with a compelling argument and my never-back-down attitude and presented my case. When I finished, she gathered the papers on her desk then looked at me and said, “Have you ever considered becoming a lawyer instead?” That one question changed my life forever. I never looked back. For the next ten years, I pursued that goal. Along the way, I learned life is not always a straight and simple path. I learned to navigate the major milestones of life while simultaneously chipping away at each small step of my plan to reach my goal. During the toughest parts of the journey, I reminded myself that I had made it this far, and despite what my imposter syndrome might want me to believe – I could survive the hard stuff. With each struggle there came a lesson, and eventually, an evolution. What I’ve learned is that change can be a good thing and showing compassion and empathy for both yourself and those around you is a game changer. I attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. I was always intrigued by what motivated people to make certain choices, and minoring in psychology allowed me to explore the ways our brains are impacted by memories, traumas, childhood development and beyond. Through coursework and research, I learned that the way our brain develops, accompanied by experiences, is what motivates a person. Understanding