I still remember the feeling—walking into Starz Entertainment on my first day, thinking, “Momma, I made it.” It was surreal. Just getting there was an adventure—my interview was my first-ever plane ride. My family never traveled beyond a car ride, so stepping onto that plane felt like stepping into a new world. I had no idea that world was about to throw me straight into the deep end.

I failed. A lot. So much that I had no choice but to get good—good at what? Creative.

Where I thrived was in the work—just me and a movie to promote. The people part? That came later. Back then, I was still saying things like, "Raise the window down." (Yeah, I know.) But failure became my greatest teacher. I learned to embrace discomfort because growth doesn’t come with comfort. Every morning, I reminded myself: 

Because I knew that would be the last time I’d hear it that day.