I was never supposed to succeed.
- Not according to the doctors who told my parents I’d never live a normal life.
- Not according to the teachers who saw my speech and movements and assumed I couldn’t learn.
- Not according to the employers who rejected me without ever seeing what I could bring to the table.
And yet, here I am.
I have spent my entire life defying a world that was not built for me. I was born with a disability that impacts every part of my physical being. I need assistance with almost everything—except thinking, feeling, and dreaming bigger than anyone expected me to. My body moves differently, and my voice doesn’t always come out the way others are used to. But my mind is sharp, my heart is relentless, and my purpose is unshakable.
This is not just my story—it’s my fight.
From the very beginning, I was underestimated. Teachers questioned whether I belonged in a college classroom. Professors made judgments before I ever spoke a word. They assumed I couldn’t keep up, that I couldn’t think critically, that I wouldn’t finish what I started. But every time I turned in a paper, every time I aced an exam, every time I showed up with more preparation than anyone else, they began to see the truth: I didn’t just belong—I excelled.
Still, the barriers never stopped. I’ve lost jobs, opportunities, and seats at the table—not because I lacked the skills, but because I made people uncomfortable by existing outside their narrow definitions of ability. I’ve been told “no” more times than I can count. Not because I couldn’t do the work, but because I didn’t look or sound like the person they imagined in the role. People with disabilities aren’t just asked to prove ourselves—we’re asked to outperform, to overcompensate, to outshine just to be seen as equals…