The art of showing up

There’s always been a part of me that wanted to do something meaningful – something bigger than the life I was handed. But for a long time, I had no idea what that was supposed to look like. I felt lost. I watched other people chase their dreams, tick boxes, follow the path laid out for them—and I kept asking myself, Where do I fit in? What’s my purpose?

Maybe you’ve asked yourself that too. Maybe you’ve come from a background where survival mattered more than dreams. Maybe you’ve spent years trying to be what others wanted you to be, just to feel seen or accepted. I want to tell you something that took me years to learn:

You are not behind. You are not broken. You are not too late.

Lie doesn’t come with a map. Especially not for people like us—people who have had to figure things out the hard way. I didn’t grow up with endless support or clear direction. I came from a foster home where no one really asked what I wanted, and I spent a lot of time trying to shrink myself to fit into other people’s expectations.

But I’m here now – not because I had it all figured out, but because I kept choosing to rise, even when no one was watching.

We hear things like “never give up” all the time – but let’s be real: sometimes giving up feels easier. Sometimes the weight of it all feels too heavy. But here’s the truth no one tells you: strength doesn’t always look like confidence or loud motivation. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s getting out of bed when your mind tells you not to. Sometimes it’s showing up, even if your hands are shaking.

I wanted to be a doctor once. I even dreamed of going to Cambridge. I had the ambition. I had the drive. But I didn’t have the resources – and eventually, I had to let that dream go. Not because I wasn’t capable, but because I had to take care of my mental health, I had to work, I had to survive. At 18, I left care and was suddenly on my own, navigating adulthood without a manual. And that broke me in ways I didn’t know I could be broken.

But here’s the thing: life has this strange, powerful way of reshaping our dreams – if we let it. I didn’t become a scientist. But I found a path in mathematics that I love. I found purpose in places I didn’t expect. I built a life, piece by piece, not by chasing perfection, but by showing up – again and again.

And that’s what I want for you.

Don’t chase someone else’s idea of success. Don’t waste your time trying to fit in when you were born to stand out. Whether you’re stacking shelves, wiping tables, or studying for exams no one believes you’ll pass – do it with pride. Every experience is building you. Every setback is shaping you.

You don’t need permission to dream big. You just need to start where you are, with what you have, and trust that it’s enough. Because it is enough. You are enough.

So if no one has told you this lately: you are allowed to take your time. You are allowed to fail. You are allowed to grow at your own pace. And even if your voice trembles, speak your truth. Even if your path changes, keep walking. You’re not lost – you’re becoming.