“Finish what you started. Often the blessing isn’t in the start, it’s in the finish.”
A year ago, those words hit me like a lightning bolt during my hour-long commute home. They weren’t just a passing thought—they were a command. And I knew exactly what they meant.
They were about Oakland Hills, Milwaukee Rivers—a book I had started 4.5 years earlier, but hadn’t finished. I always knew I wanted to share my story, but I didn’t know what the outcome would be beyond getting it into the world.
What I’ve learned since has been humbling.
Over the past year, I’ve been invited into spaces—book clubs in churches, groups of students, teams of employees—where people have seen their own journeys reflected in my words. They’ve connected with the struggles, the healing, the lessons, and the resilience woven throughout my life’s story.
Just this past week, I met with a group of First-Generation Students and Staff who explored the first edition (what I now call the legacy edition). Their sincerity, their vulnerability, their thoughtful questions—it all reminded me that this book was never just for me.
It was for us.
Every time I share, I’m reminded of my “why.” That voice telling me to finish wasn’t just about completing a manuscript—it was about unlocking conversations, validation, and transformation for so many others walking their own paths.
Now, with the Second Edition in the world, I can only imagine the continued discovery, reflection, and healing that’s ahead. And my heart is full.
Because sometimes, obedience to a calling doesn’t just change your life—it changes others, too.