30 before 30: Facts, Lessons Learned, and Accomplishments

Facts

1. I was born in Alaska.

2. My birthday is July 22nd.

3. I am technically ambidextrous. I can write and eat with both hands; writing with my right hand looks best only if I write using a pen.

4. A few months before I started kindergarten my family and I attended a family reunion. There was a tall slide. All of my cousins were going down it, so I got in line for it as well. When I climbed up the ladder to the slide I got scared and wanted to get down, but there was a line behind me. Somehow in the maneuvering of getting off the ladder/slide I fell off the slide and broke my arm.

5. My favorite color is sea green.

6. My favorite food is lasagna or chicken enchiladas with verde sauce.

7. My favorite number is 27. However, I like any number containing 7, is a multiple of 7, or somehow has a connection to the number 7. Example: 43, 4+3=7, so I like the number 43.

8. I've only dyed/colored my hair one color: orange.

9. My favorite musical is 7 Brides for 7 Brothers.

10. One of my ultimate favorite books (and storylines) is The Princess Bride.

Lessons Learned

11. Do the thing. There will be 1,000 reasons not to, but you may learn 1 important lesson or impact 1 person or animal by doing the thing. Just do it.

12. Be unconventional. Sometimes the best experiences and lessons come from it.

13. Say yes. This may seem similar to 'do the thing' and it kinda is. But what I mean is say yes to new experiences, a job you're not quite qualified for, to moving to a new town, to changing your major. If it's something that could have a positive impact on your life why not say yes?

14. Say no. Following up to 'say yes'. If you know that a choice will immediately result in harm, whether it be physical, emotional, psychological, etc. it may be best to say no.

15. Set boundaries.

16. Figure out your coping mechanisms. Whether that be having an emotional support animal, regular visits with a therapist (I highly suggest every person visits a therapist at least once or twice in their life), a journal, a hobby. Find what works for you. It will take some trial and error, but go with it.

17. Find what you're passionate about. It can be a career, a hobby, a lifestyle, something that you dedicate a Pinterest board to, something that you collect, something that you daydream about.

18. Listen.

19. Love. You might be in each other's life for only a short time, but go ahead and take the chance to uplift each other.

Accomplishments

20. I graduated high school when I was 16 (2009).

21. I graduated from LDS Institute classes before I graduated from LDS Seminary classes (but both on the same day) (2009).

22. I moved away to attend college out of state (2011).

23. I graduated college with a certificate in administrative assisting (2012).

24. I completed my LDS mission; served in Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona (2014).

25. I was making 5 figures and got a good raise (2015).

26. Because of previous experience I was offered and accepted a position as a library supervisor (2019).

27. I published my books (2020, 2022).

28. I graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in English, with an emphasis in Creative Writing (2021).

29. I started my Etsy shop and small business (2021).

30. I graduated with a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (2021).