I’m someone who has spent a lifetime unlearning the patterns I was born into—and learning to recognize the ones others overlook. Raised in an environment where love was conditional and control was currency, I had to become responsible for more than just myself from an early age. I carried the burden of caretaking a twin who mirrored the very dysfunction I fought against and grew up in the cracks of neglect. Yet, even in the middle of all that, I always had a quiet sense that something unseen was guiding me, keeping me safe when everything suggested I shouldn’t be.

It wasn’t until adulthood that I discovered I’m autistic, with ADHD layered on top—a diagnosis that finally gave me the words to describe the way I experience the world. Autism is my superpower: I see patterns, connections, and meaning where others might see only chaos. It’s what has allowed me to untangle the cycles of my family’s past and chart my own course forward. What I once thought were weaknesses were actually my greatest strengths.

I’ve thrived in spaces I wasn’t “meant” to enter—joining the military as a cop, navigating male-dominated careers, and building security programs at some of the largest companies in the world. I’ve proven, time and again, that I belong exactly where I choose to be, even when the odds said otherwise.

This space, like me, is a work in progress. It’s where I reflect on the chaos I’ve weathered and the calm I’ve found on the other side. I share these stories not just to document my journey but to offer others a reminder: You don’t have to follow the path laid out for you. You can rewrite the story—and rise above the waves.