Get to Know Me

In October 2021, I created this blog for my personal growth. No one, other than a handful of close friends and family, knew about it. Being vulnerable on the internet was something I was not ready to face, and so I wrote for two or three people. On June 13th, 2022, I wrote "Not All Sunshine and Rainbows". The entry is about the importance of mental health and my experience relating to it. Isn't it ironic how I feared being vulnerable on the internet, and then the first blog entry I promoted was about one of the deepest topics to share with the public? I wanted to share it due to the importance of mental health; to spread awareness and remind others that they are never alone. I became motivated to write more from the ample amount of feedback I received.

My morals are all throughout my blog--what I believe in and how I want to grow as a person, but what I have come to realize is that many do not know the smaller aspects. The smaller aspects are my music type, what I do in my spare time, my education, etc. There is so much more to a person than their beliefs. I can write thousands of blog entries sharing advice and character development stories, and yes, you can get the idea of who I am as a person. However, I have had this blog for a year and I never truly introduced myself--I jumped right into the deep stuff. Better late than never, right?

5 Fun Facts

• My favorite season is Fall; the changing weather, the colors, the pumpkin patches, and cider mills, along with the warm clothing, inspire me to start anew and make some changes in my life.

• I value all music, but R&B is my favorite (you can never go wrong with throwback music, either).

• My car's name is Winnie--she is a fan fav amongst my friends (kind of).

• I have the biggest fear of vomit; bridges over water come second.

• I am 5'8 (5'8 1/2 on a good day).

Education

I attended Catholic school from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. After, I attended a public school for high school. Currently, I am in college working towards a bachelor's degree in professional technical writing with a minor in marketing.

Top 3 Hobbies

• Working out

• Writing

• Hanging with friends

My Faith

Everyone has certain topics they could discuss endlessly, and for me, that topic is religion. I’m Catholic—I was baptized at six months old and raised in the Church. For a long time, I was hesitant to talk about my faith because I feared rejection or being judged for my beliefs. I kept that part of myself private, unsure how others would respond. It wasn’t until I attended public school that I truly became comfortable sharing my faith. I found friends who were genuinely curious about what it means to be Catholic and who listened and engaged in thoughtful conversations.

I participated in a youth group at my church back home. We went on mission trips to places like Cincinnati and conferences in Detroit, created wellness bags for the homeless, listened to inspirational speakers who shared their testimonies, etc. It was an amazing opportunity to be surrounded by faith-driven people, and it helped me grow in my religion.

Traveling

One of the biggest aspects of life that I am passionate about is traveling. Something about experiencing new places and all that the world offers makes life thrilling. I have been obsessed with traveling since I was young due to my mother's goal. She wanted my brother and I to hit all 50 states before we turned 18, but Covid-19 got in the way, unfortunately. I have been to 30, and plan to still visit the other 20. Some of my favorite memories: being levitated in Missouri, hiking Bryce Canyon in Utah, standing in four states at once at the Four Corners landmark (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah), and riding down the Alpine Slide in the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee. There is so much more, and I wish I could go into detail, but this entry would be way too long.

Why do I write?

When I was eight, I wrote my first "book". I put the book in quotations because it was probably the worst piece of work I have ever created; I have no urge to go back and find it because I know I will cringe after every sentence. I was eight, though, so I do not expect anything less. It was a mystery book, and I put all my time and dedication into it for about a month. Every day after school, I would sit in my chair and write on my mini red Dell computer. After I wrote my mystery book, I slowly started different projects. I created a kids' book about a butterfly, I wrote multiple pieces of work that never got anywhere, and I went through a little poetry phase, too. In eighth grade, I wrote my second book, which consisted of thirty chapters, and published it; it ended up getting quite the attention, but I took it down around sophomore year for the same reason: it was sloppy. I knew that I enjoyed writing, but my writing techniques were a mess.

In 2021, I decided to bring this blog to life, and it was easily one of my best decisions I have made. I did research, brainstormed the first few topics, played around with the tools, and made it personal. I kept it to myself for the longest time, and when June 2022 rolled around, I shared it with the public. Why did I keep it a secret?

Vulnerability definitely plays a role—it’s not always easy to open up about deep or personal topics. Still, that wasn’t the main reason I didn’t promote Leah: In Progress more. I write for myself. I write because I love it, because it eases my stress, and because it grounds me. Writing has always been my escape. Whenever something weighs heavily on my mind, I need to journal or type it out. In past posts, I’ve talked about how I used to crave validation, but writing was never about that for me. I never needed anyone to tell me it was “good enough,” because perfection wasn’t the goal—peace of mind was. Do I appreciate feedback? Of course. Whether it’s positive or constructive, I value every message and take it to heart. But ultimately, I write because it’s how I express who I am.

I have so many ideas for the future. I have been addicted to writing for the past ten years, and I am just now sharing it with the public. Everyone has their thing that makes life a tad easier: sports, music/instruments, food, exercise, etc. Writing is mine. However, I will forever dislike writing essays...

There’s so much more to a person than just their beliefs. Yes, morals play a huge role in shaping who someone is, but so do their style, favorite foods, hobbies, and all the little things that make them unique. Take the time to learn both the big and small details about someone—they all matter. This post is a bit more casual than my usual entries, but it feels fitting since Leah: In Progress turns one this month, and I realized I’ve never properly introduced myself.

Here are a few pictures that scream: "Leah" :)