The Soil that Nourishes Me

Throughout my life, I’ve heard the phrase “it takes a village.” As I embark on every new chapter and season of my life, those words prove to be true every time. My village is like the soil that nourishes and grounds roots, providing space to grow through every twist and turn. When I think of my village on this earth, I think of my family, my friends, and the people I’ve met along the way. 

I often find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the support, love, and wisdom that my friends and family have given me over the years. While the world around me undergoes changes, I know that I can depend on them to continue to be true, open, and loving. 

Throughout my experience in business, my family has always been the first to hear about my ideas. I would gain new perspectives, feedback, and advice rooted in faith. In business, I see people proudly wear the “self-made” badge with honor. For me personally, I simply cannot in good faith proclaim this, knowing that my village has supported me in tangible and intangible ways. 

Moments to Remember

From strangers to close friends and family, these are some of the people whose influence still echoes in my life:

• The teacher in middle school who told me that I would become a public speaker. 

• The friend who inspires me with his boldness and confidence in navigating this world.  

• The 4th grader who couldn’t wait to show me the picture he drew of me.  

• The supervisor who reassured me that “even if you don’t see the job for you, it does not mean one can’t be created for you.” 

• The upperclassman who saw the leader within me.

• The officer at my school who drove through a winter storm to take my friend and me to the hospital after a car accident. 

• The 8-year-old boy who constantly tested my patience, but also made me a big sister. 

• The coworker in grad school who provided comfort and realness in a new environment.

• The person who showed me what love embodies.

• The students I supervised who would talk with so much enthusiasm and passion about the things that mattered most to them.

• The amazing faculty and peers in my MPH program who reaffirmed my passion for public health. 

• The person whose emotional vulnerability empowered me to take down some of my walls

• The mom at an event who asked me if I could mentor her daughter. 

• The woman who became a big sister to me in a lot of ways. 

• The 2nd grader who told me she likes learning with me.

• My little god sister, whose innocence and joy brought light to my days in undergrad.

• My therapist in college who told me that even in the midst of leading and being there for others, I also need to take care of myself. Moreover, it’s not selfish when I do.

• My girls, the ones who hold space for me, even when the plot takes unexpected turns.

• My mother, the woman who raised me, and the one I can always count on. As a child, she would tell me, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future."

• My counselor in high school who supplied me with resources to help me thrive. 

• My confidant, the one I know I can share anything with. 

• My godmother who leads by example just by being herself. 

• My grandparents and all the love, prayers, and support they have showered me with. 

• My younger self, who dared to dream big.

Each moment is a testament to the soil that has surrounded me from my childhood to now. The list goes on and on. 

Whether it was for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, these people have all made an impact on my life. This is the true beauty of soil. Regardless of the season and shifting atmospheres, the soil around my roots has truly nourished my mind, body, and soul. 

To those people, I say thank you. Even to the person who made it to the end of my blog, thank you! Trust me, by simply being here, you have impacted me greatly. 

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