Everyone that knows me knows I am an open skeptic. I can't remember the last time I truly believed in a spirit realm or afterlife. I've always been a little skeptical about my skepticism, but I've mostly denied any belief in spirits. So, when I heard of a Medium that was on the rise and quite praised in my hometown I became curious.

I realized my skepticism had been blind. I didn't have a reason behind it. Other than being Atheist, I had no reason to not believe in spirits. I had a problem where I connected my belief in no gods to my belief in spirits, which I later realized are completely separate.

Next thing I knew I had to meet this woman. I had to see for myself if it was true what people had been saying about her. I wanted to go not only to see if the praises were true, but there were also some people I wanted to contact.

Christmas morning my wish came true. I was gifted a session with the Medium. My mother and I were scheduled to see her the following week. I was excited but didn't think much of it until the night before. That is when I realized I had nothing to ask or say if she was able to contact the deceased. I was so focused on the what if it isn't real, what if it is so vague the reading could be for anyone?

The morning arrived and I went into the Medium's studio with an open mind, I also went in with a box of tissues just in case. Let me tell you it was an experience like no other.

My mother and I sat down at a table. I was so nervous I was surprised I wasn't shaking the whole table. Part of my nerves where due to thinking if she can contact my lost family, what will they say? The other part was because I was nervous she would be able to tell I was a skeptic or something and the reading would flop. Have you ever heard that joke about a hooker walking into a church, it was kind of like that, but a skeptic walking into a Medium's office.

After the Medium saged the room she began the reading. It was slow at first, kind of vague mostly genders and ages were said aloud. I still cried when she got even close to something related to one of my loved ones, but there was really one moment that sold it to me.

This moment didn't really have anything to do with her medium practice, but her psychic practice. She told me she saw that I felt I didn't belong where I currently am. She saw that I had bigger ambitions. I have always said when I graduate I am heading to the city. Philly will be my home. That was part of it, but the part of that whole segment that really made me say "Yes I believe." was when she talked about past lives. She didn't want to get into it too much, but she said she felt the pull of another culture.

Hearing that struck me in the heart. I wrote an article at the beginning of last year telling the story of my heritage and how it is not defined by my genetics. I wrote about my grandfather who was Chinese and how we were love bound, not blood bound.

Now my mom made this appointment and put it under her name and her name only. The medium didn't know my name and could not have searched me. There is only one explanation to how she knew and that explanation was that she was the real deal.

There were many more moments from that point that made me believe. She said so many things that are not available to the public. It shook up my whole world and my belief system. I now can say I truly believe in spirits. I am unclear in what sense specifically, but there is plenty of time to figure it out.