I want to reiterate the fact that we as people never know what someone else is going through! Always be kind and encourage people to go after their dreams. Individually, we have so much power of influence and we can use it to make the world a better place. So grateful to know each of you. To be building a community of people trying to become better is a lifelong dream of mine and I am stoked to have you all along on the journey with me! Share some love today! ❤️

I’ve always been scared of heights, and rock climbing brought that anxiety out BIG TIME. There were moments I wanted to quit, but I kept pushing. And now? I love climbing. What started as me trying to face a fear turned into a hobby I’m obsessed with. I’m even getting a monthly climbing pass—not cheap, but it’s another commitment to pushing myself, getting uncomfortable, and becoming better. I didn’t conquer my fear by waiting for it to disappear. I conquered it by doing it scared. Whatever you’ve been avoiding—GO TRY IT. You might find something on the other side of that fear that you absolutely love. Keep pushing. Let’s keep crushing those fears. 🔥

Today was my 5th time getting to the climbing gym in the last 4 weeks and I can finally feel the progress! Today I crushed a V4 and was able to finish the night off with a greasy 10.d for the first time! A small takeaway from today is not just trying something new or uncomfortably, but being able to do it with people who want you to be better! My buddies that got me into this are very tough on me and it has helped me advance much faster than I would have on my own. As soon as I don’t think I have a good route or my arms are cramping or anything goes crazy, I know I have guys below me that won’t let me fall and won’t let me down until I reach the top! 😂 I’m finding so much joy in being uncomfortable and it is going to be apart of my everyday life for as long as I can!

Back in May, I graduated from the University of Florida with my Master's degree in Public Health (MPH). This accomplishment was the culmination of years of late nights, endless assignments and exams, and maybe a breakdown or two along the way. You might think that discipline and hard work are what got me here, and they certainly helped, but really, the thing that carried me through it all was curiosity. I arrived at college a scared, yet determined, 18-year-old experiencing life for the first time. The moment I stepped into my first collegiate-level chemistry class, I was sure this was the path to my lifelong dream of becoming a physician. So I did all the things a typical pre-med does to get into medical school: organic chemistry, physics, hospital volunteering, clinical experience, leadership on campus — the works. But somewhere in the middle of going through the motions, something in me knew I wanted to make a difference on a larger scale. I didn't quite know what that looked like yet, so I let curiosity take the front seat and signed up for a public health course on the U.S. healthcare system. I fell in love with the content and discovered a side of healthcare I never knew existed. A truth built around a single, uncomfortable truth: a broken system full of unnecessary barriers that only the most wealthy can overcome. I became obsessed with the idea of fixing that system and closing the gaps that leave so many people at the mercy of an industry that too often prioritizes profit over health. I knew it was wrong, and I cared too much to look away. That curiosity is what led me to pursue an MPH, where I focused my studies on how care is delivered and how we fix what's broken. The coursework was hard, and there were plenty of moments that felt overwhelming, but I kept that curiosity in the back of my mind, and it was enough to pull me through and keep me working toward this new passion. I found policy to be the most effective lever for making the change I so desperately wanted to see. I sought out opportunities in health policy reform that were data-driven and actually served people, not just numbers. While finishing my coursework, I started a position with the U.S. House of Representatives, working on healthcare policy at the federal level. I built the skills and knowledge to finally do the work I'd once only dreamed about.

Early in my career, a mentor gave me advice I've never let go of: "If you're the top dawg in every room you enter, you need to find other rooms to be in." I've lived by it ever since. I'm always looking for friends, mentors, and colleagues who can push me to get better in some aspect of my life. Everyone in this group has touched my life in one way or another, and I'm forever grateful to you for it. These 2 guys are great mentors of mine that continuously push me to be better everyday. Cant wait to compete in our first Hyrox together in 18 days! So here's the challenge: always be on the lookout for people accomplishing what you want to be doing, and study them. Then look back, over 6 months, a year, two years, and you'll be amazed at how much you've changed. Growth is good. And it's going to be a little uncomfy.