How I Came to This Work: A Journey of Story, Struggle, and Healing

As a child, I didn’t always have the words for what I was feeling. Beneath the surface of smiles and compliance, I carried a deep, underlying fear- fear of messing up, of not fitting in, of math, of being called on by the teacher, and of what the evening at home might hold. That fear lived in my body, especially in my belly, and it stayed with me well into adulthood.

But over time, through healing practices, reflection, learning, and the support of others, that fear has been gently tended to. While I haven’t forgotten how deeply it shaped my sense of self, learning, and social-emotional development, I no longer carry it in the same way. That space has been reclaimed!

These early experiences shaped me. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to help children, and the adults who support them, not feel what I had felt for so many years.

This is why I’m beginning to write- because I believe that reading, identity, healing, and justice are not separate strands, but parts of a shared, woven path toward wholeness. When we support children in developing strong reading skills, a love for stories, and a deep sense of self- and when we equip adults, whether parents, educators, or community members, with tools for reflection and growth- we begin to transform the conditions that shape our lives.

This blog will be a space to share insights, strategies, and stories across a range of interconnected topics- from reading development, books and identity formation to DEI and healing centered practices- rooted in the belief that a more compassionate and equitable world begins with how we see, understand, and care for one another, including ourselves.

What stories shaped your learning? I’d love to hear how your journey has unfolded.