I was born in the Midwest and grew up surrounded by cornfields and dairy farms. I'm the youngest of four siblings, and my parents were high school sweethearts who always believed that family came first. As a result, we had our fair share of family gatherings, holidays, and vacations spent together. However, as much as I loved spending time with them, it was often suffocating for me. The pressure to conform to certain expectations, the constant scrutiny – sometimes it felt like they were trying to mold me into their idea of perfection rather than allowing me to be myself.

When I was 19, my parents decided to relocate to California in search of better job opportunities. We packed up our belongings and moved across the country, leaving behind everything familiar – family friends, old haunts, even our beloved farm animals. It wasn't easy adjusting to city life; it took some time for me to get used to the noise, pollution, and fast-paced lifestyle that came with living in a big metropolis. But we all worked together as a team, supporting each other through this massive change.

After completing college, I landed an entry-level marketing position at a mid-sized startup. It wasn't my dream job by any means – but it paid the bills and allowed me to gain valuable work experience while exploring LA's nightlife scene on weekends. My favorite part of working there? It gave me ample opportunities to network with industry professionals who shared similar interests. We'd often grab drinks after hours