Finding My Way: A Journey of Friendship, Growth, and Hard Lessons

    The summer of 2007 was a turning point in my life. Leaving Pickerington, Ohio meant saying goodbye to the familiar—a town I had called home for two years, my first jobs at Steak N Shake and Kroger Marketplace, and countless friendships and acquaintances. But the hardest goodbye? Felisha.

    Felisha wasn’t just a friend—she was my best friend. We had built a bond so strong that every weekend felt like an extension of our family lives. If I wasn’t at her house, she was at mine. There were days when we dressed as twins, just because we could. Our friendship was effortless, deep, and meaningful.


    Our senior Prom was supposed to be something we skipped, but we realized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So, we did what made sense—we went together as each other’s date. The night ended at Steak N Shake, filled with laughter and memories that would stay with me forever.

    Felisha’s family became an extension of my own. I went to church with them, spent time in their world, and grew to love her grandmother, G-Unit—a woman whose kindness and spunky personality left an imprint on my heart.


    But then, life happened. I moved to a new state, a new environment, a new set of people. The challenge wasn’t just meeting new friends, but doing so as a teenager navigating adulthood.

A Rocky Path Through Education

    Moving to Virginia came with its own struggles—especially academically. I had to focus on earning my GED after failing the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT), which meant I couldn’t walk with my class or receive my diploma.


    The GED was brutal for me—I wasn’t a reader, nor was I a test taker. I remember passing almost every subject except Reading and History, and I retook those exams four to five times before I finally earned my GED.


    From there, I attended Tidewater Community College, bouncing between majors, never really settling on a clear path. I got bored easily and struggled to find direction. At one point, I had over 30+ credits, none of which aligned with the major I eventually chose. Oops.

    After spending years at TCC, I hit a wall and decided to take a break, sometime around 2012. Then, in July 2013, I enrolled in University of Phoenix, majoring in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources. It was broad enough to open doors in many industries, and it didn’t limit me to just one career path.

The Workforce & Climbing the Ladder

    While sorting through my education, I was also working full-time at Media Communications—a job I started in November 2009. I worked my way up from a Customer Qualification Agent to a Customer Qualification Supervisor.


That promotion meant everything to me—I worked hard to earn it, and it felt like validation that my effort was paying off.

Love, Mistakes, and Lessons Learned

    High school never really involved dating for me. Sure, I had guy friends, but I never pursued relationships. Moving to Virginia changed that—I was desperate to feel loved and wanted, which led me to date people based on attraction rather than true connection.


    It wasn’t the healthiest approach, and some of those relationships hurt. But they also taught me hard lessons—lessons about self-worth, emotional needs, and understanding the impact of my childhood experiences on how I viewed relationships.


    That longing for connection and fear of rejection shaped the way I sought companionship. Looking back, I realize how much I was just trying to fill a void I didn’t fully understand at the time.

Finding Family in Virginia

    Despite all the challenges, one of the most rewarding things about moving to Virginia was that my Nana and Aunt moved up from Florida to be closer to us. Although my Nana was older, this still allowed us kids to spend time with her, create new memories, and continue some of the traditions we had when she lived in Florida. Having them close made the transition easier—it reminded me that even when life changes, family remains a constant source of love and comfort.

Stay Tuned…

    My journey was filled with challenges, growth, and reflection. Some moments were painful, some were rewarding, but all of them played a role in shaping who I am.


There’s still more to tell—so stay tuned for the next chapter. 💫


Felisha and I - Highschool Prom

Felisha and I twins

Felisha - seeing me at work at Donatos. 





Felisha and I in 2019

Felisha and I in 2020

Felisha and I in 2016


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