I am a woman who is always hard on herself -- a woman who wakes up early and goes to bed late just so that I can make sure that my long list of daily tasks is done. Being a young professional woman is something that I love with a passion. I take my work very seriously, and I hold myself to extremely high standards. But I wasn't always this way...

As a young mom, I’ve faced unfair criticisms and judgement since I was sixteen. My peers made fun of me in high school, my friends' parents wouldn’t allow them to spend time with me, and even some of my family was convinced I was going down a terrible path that lead only to failure. It felt like everyone that I came into contact with had already written me off, even if some of them tried to comfort me with phrases like, “You can still fix this” and “It is what it is.”

For a very long time, I felt that I was the only one who truly believed I could still make something of myself. For several years, I let everyone else’s twisted perception of my life become a reality. I gave in to their stereotypical claims, and I used my setbacks as excuses. I changed jobs frequently because I couldn't find anything I was truly passionate about. I started nursing school, and stopped half way through because I realized that I really had no interest in becoming a nurse. I was flighty and unreliable, and everyone knew it. I knew I needed to change, so I did. I'm not exactly sure what brought on the drastic change, but I'd like to think that I finally just grew up and committed to changing my bad habits. My husband, my biggest supporter, played a large role in helping me rediscover who I was always meant to be. He served as a constant reminder that I was worth the effort it would take to change my life.

My story is full of failures and small successes. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t learned to pick myself up every time I fell. Today, I am a full time property manager of a 400-unit apartment complex in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. I am enrolled full time at Southern New Hampshire University, so that I can obtain my bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in sports management. I am a mom of two beautiful redheaded children that I am so unbelievably proud of. I’m happily married to their father, my high school sweetheart of seven years. Recently, I became a writer for The Odyssey Online. I know how to maintain a household, budget, take care of my children and build a solid foundation for my family’s future. My days are busy and tightly scheduled but I have become a machine that is fueled by chaos and success. I want to become so much more than anyone ever expected I could be, including myself.

For everyone that doubted me, I don’t blame you. Once upon a time, I was a girl who didn’t know how to be strong and stand up for herself. I was a girl that lacked motivation and was too lazy to do anything with my life. I was lost in the criticism that I had brought upon myself, and it took me entirely too long to regain control of my life. I will always be grateful for the lessons that my mistakes taught me, and the confidence that my doubters gave me when they told me I was only destined for failure.

At the end of the day, I’m not the girl everyone thought I would be. I’m the woman I always knew I could become.