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How I Got Here
1. Carrying More Than My Backpack
I grew up in the hood with a lot of family challenges—my mom & brothers struggled with addiction, there was conflict amongst siblings, and there were mental health struggles in the household. I was made responsible for my younger nieces and nephews while still a child myself, learning early how to care for others and manage responsibility.
Even though life was hard, I loved being creative. I wrote songs to express feelings I couldn’t share, and I made my own toys when I didn’t have what I wanted. Teachers noticed my skills in English, art, and poetry, and I won awards for creativity, even though financial challenges kept me from fully participating in summer programs or trips.
I also realized early that I was intuitive and empathic. I could sense when tensions were rising or when something wasn’t right. That awareness helped me navigate difficult situations and became a skill I would later use to support others in both personal and professional spaces.
2. Navigating the Middle
Middle school was challenging at home. My mom and brother’s struggles with addiction led to police raids and CPS visits, and I couldn’t talk to teachers or family about what was happening.
Thankfully, my talents were noticed and introduced to and afterschool program called Urban Art Beat. This gave me a chance to step out of my bedroom and share my music.
Because of this experience, I knew I wanted to be a singer-songwriter, but my brother told me it wasn’t a real career and I should keep music as a hobby. Another brother, who struggled with addiction but was also artistic, encouraged me to pursue my dreams and never give up.
I balanced both paths by continuing my studies while exploring music seriously. I performed at Urban Art Beat every year, working through my stage fright little by little, and eventually auditioned for Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music—and got in.
3. The Great Lost
High school was a bit intense. I thought it would be like High School Musical, but it was focused classical training. I felt insecure because so many singers were amazing and I felt inadequate. But despite my worries, I auditioned for the Women’s Choir and got in.
I worked hard, ranked high in vocals and sight reading, and had a big plan: go to college, sing at the Met, become famous, get my mom out of the hood, and prove my brother wrong.
Then, on December 3rd, 2012, my mom died of an overdose. Everything I had planned was buried with her. For a while, I felt like a shell of myself. Music helped me survive through that. The choir that year, was amazing, and the support from my choir sisters helped me hold on. They prayed at every show and honored my mom. That year is one I will never forget.
The next year, the choir changed, and school felt draining. Even though I was in AP English, I stopped pursuing the “expected path” because it didn’t feel right. Counselors didn’t understand and stopped supporting me. By senior year, I was 18, rebelling by skipping college prep, partying, and exploring new relationships. I met my child’s father, and that marked the beginning of a very challenging chapter in my life.
4. Overwhelmed & Still Trying
After high school, I got my first job at Hale and Hearty Soups. I was thrown in without much training but learned quickly. I mastered the front stations, stayed organized, and realized I had a knack for reading people’s emotions. I used this to help customers and to support coworkers when needed.
I got pregnant and gave birth to my son at 20. I struggled with guilt because I wanted to be with him, but I had to work. Domestic violence and isolation made things even harder, and I was afraid to leave the situation because I didn’t want to do it all alone.
During this time, I discovered numerology. It gave me my sense of self back and helped me find the courage to walk away. I got obsessed, took a numerology course, and became a Level 2 certified numerologist.
I reconnected with a friend I had abandoned for my child’s father, trying to catch up on lost time. I also took a job at NYP, hoping to become a homeopathic specialist, but I stayed because it paid well. To cope with stress, I started drinking and smoking weed.
Despite challenges, I excelled at every position. Patients trusted me, and coworkers relied on me to keep everything running smoothly. I became a space holder, a secret keeper, and someone people could lean on emotionally.
Co-parenting with my son’s father was difficult because of his mental health, and the courts didn’t support me. At the same time, my tendency to people-please grew. I moved in with my friend, hoping for a fresh start, but old emotions resurfaced, and the situation became toxic.
I entered a romantic relationship even though I wasn’t ready. It ended because I wasn’t able to be fully present. Work demanded I choose between my values and my career after COVID, and I chose myself. I lost my job, faced financial stress, and had to cover rent and bills on my own.
During this time, I poured energy into HONI (then just HON) and created a digital numerology-based planner for business owners. Eventually, unresolved emotions with my friend made living together unbearable, and I left the house with nearly $40,000 in rental arrears.
5. Finding the Pieces
I went back to my dad’s house and faced the reality that everything I had built was gone. I had taken on too much, and I had to sit with that truth. Miraculously, my debt was cleared in full, which felt like a reset.
My ex suggested dog walking as a way to make money while I rebuilt. I specialized in working with high-anxiety dogs 1:1. I undercharged at first out of insecurity, but I was gaining valuable experience and learning to value my time.
I also started working at Creative Expressions as a creative admin. I had no prior experience, so I treated it like an internship for three years. I used this time to experiment, applying metaphysical tools, emotional intelligence, and tech skills to excel. I eventually took on multiple roles, building skills I now use in HONI.
Having a flexible schedule gave me space to heal and get creative. I perfected my crochet skills, creating the pieces now on my website. I made my first physical numerology-based planner on Amazon KDP. I also began recording songs on my MacBook using Audacity, later moving to GarageBand, which helped me regain confidence in my voice.
I started posting on TikTok, answering questions about numerology and joining trends. I took a course on astrology (almost finished!) and strengthened my tarot skills, learning how to combine these tools to help with social media strategy and creative guidance.
Eventually, dog walking became physically demanding and unstable as clients moved away. Creative Expressions also slowed down—output was high, but paid opportunities were limited. I realized the founder and I were on parallel journeys, and CE had become more about the company than about nurturing our creativity. It was time to step into my own path.
6. The Visionary Moves
I decided to pour everything I had learned and all my skills into building HONI. I created a brand deck, a website, a photoshoot for my crochet pieces, numerology-based brand guidelines, an Astrology Brand Strategy, logos, clarity codes, and found tools like Notion and Setmore & more to help me run things.
Tapping into this work accelerated my emotional healing, strengthened my intuition, and boosted my confidence. People didn’t even recognize me sometimes because of the changes they saw. I also won my court case against my child’s father, which felt like a huge personal victory.
In these first six months since launching HONI on May 26, 2025, I mostly tested my products and services with my community instead of focusing on income. In doing so, I learned about my resilience, my ability to set personal and professional boundaries, and how effective my spiritual and practical approach can be. My intuition is on point now, helping me see people clearly and make better decisions.
I also learned from the wins and challenges. Some partnerships didn’t go as expected, and I had to set caps with love or walk away completely. I learned not to take others’ processing personally and to honor my truth, even when there was pushback.
I’ve put myself out there, doing things on my own that scared me, and some things didn’t go as planned—but the insights I gained were invaluable. I now have a SoundCloud playlist of songs I recorded myself, some with beats I made or guitar I learned to play.
Through HONI, I see how I can help others feel empowered to chase their creative dreams, just by showing what’s possible when you honor your skills, intuition, and truth.
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