Throughout my life, one thing I’ve learned for sure is this: nothing has ever come easily for me. I don’t say that with bitterness—it’s just the truth. I wasn’t the fastest learner. I wasn’t the one people naturally gravitated toward and said, “That person’s got it.” I wasn’t labeled gifted. I didn’t stand out in a room full of talent. In fact, for most of my journey, I felt like I was running behind—trying to catch up to some invisible standard I couldn’t quite define. But s