Some days don’t begin softly.

They begin with exhaustion, heavy air, and emotions you didn’t plan on carrying into new spaces. I showed up to my first day of work already tired — not from the job, but from navigating environments that no longer align with who I am becoming. Still, I went. Still, I learned. Still, I chose forward motion.

This season is reminding me how far I’ve come, how much I value peace, and how deeply I desire community. Even when things feel uncomfortable, I trust that God is guiding every step — and I will not allow temporary hardship to interrupt long-term purpose.

I haven’t written in a while—not because I had nothing to say, but because witnessing violence so close to home changes you. This piece is about bearing witness, refusing rewritten narratives, and choosing peace through truth and accountability.

This season of authority is not one I chose lightly. It is a response to a lifelong calling—an invitation to lead with integrity, humility, and peace, guided by faith and the understanding that true authority exists to serve.

This tragedy touches a deeper corner of the American psyche — one that grapples with justice, safety, fear, and compassion. In moments like these, we are invited to reflect on not just what happened, but why it matters, and how collective grief can become a catalyst for change, understanding, and healing.