💫 Finding Your Why

When people ask me what inspired Leading a Lifetime of Life Skills, I always smile because my “why” didn’t start with a big idea. It started with real life.

I learned life skills from the ground up. In middle school, I remember standing in my Family and Consumer Sciences classroom learning how to make a stromboli from scratch. At the time, it just felt like a fun project, but looking back, that moment planted a seed. It showed me how capable I could be when I learned something new.

Fast forward a few years to college, and those lessons mattered more than ever. I was paying for school while working three jobs, trying to balance classes, rehearsals, and reality. I learned how to hem my own pants before a presentation, how to ride public transportation to get to the store for supplies, and how to save enough meal swipes to make it through the weekend. I learned how to manage my time, do my own laundry, and eventually, how to help my friends figure it out too.

None of it was easy, but every challenge taught me something that couldn’t be found in a textbook. I realized that life skills are the foundation for confidence, stability, and independence. They’re what get you through the hard days and help you celebrate the good ones.

That’s my why. It’s why I became a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher. It’s why I created my initiative, Leading a Lifetime of Life Skills. And it’s why I serve as Miss Central Jersey Coastline. Because I know firsthand that learning these skills changes lives. It certainly changed mine.

Now I get to help others build that same foundation for themselves — students, families, and community members who deserve to feel prepared, capable, and proud of their growth.

My why is simple. Life skills gave me the confidence to build the life I dreamed of, and now I get to teach others to do the same.

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