I'm sorry for the pain I just write what is for me. But I guess it will help me and others too if I share the beauty in my life.

I have always had a desire to relate with people. When I was in high school, I got the opportunity to mentor. When I was building my life as an adult, I volunteered at the hospital in the maternity ward and got to see everyday the miracle of life. In college, I tutored. My favorite class I tutored was the learning disabled math class. The look on a person's face when they realize that they can and do understand math is just priceless.

And my own strength in math came about because of one of the few times my dad paid attention to me. I was struggling with my multiplications and my school told my parents they were going to hold me back. So my dad kept me home from school one day, bought multiplication flask cards, and took me to the beach. We practiced all day. He believed in me that I could do it, and I did. And since, I've had a love of math.

When I was homeless, I got to meet so many people from so many different walks of life. I got to meet several veterans and hear stories from their lives. I met other people with mental illness and heard their stories. Some were extremely successful at one point. But all had a lesson, a story to tell.

Because I easily attach to women, I have learned the most from the women in my life. I had a payee who was a tough biker chick. She used to allow me to go around with her to her other clients just to get me out. I learned that she also was homeless at one point. She raised her 2 babies in a friend's parent's garage and often had to steal milk just to provide for them. One of her clients triggered her and when she came back to the car, she was crying. She allowed me to hold her hand and provide her with a little comfort. This tough woman showed me her heart and allowed me to be there for her. It was super special.

I have a love of home architecture. My family loved to go looking at model homes on weekends...just to dream. I would collect all the floor plans. I also used to build homes out of legos and design my dollhouses. One day, my dad bought me architecture software, and my love of designing took off. This is my dream house I designed: Dream House

I love animals. Growing up, we had an array of pets. We had dogs, cats, rats, mice, guinea pigs, chinchillas, a rabbit, birds, fish, frogs, and an iguana.

I actually modeled when I was 5! Little shy me. I had professional pictures taken, did a runway show, and did auditions for commercials. Nothing came of it, but it was definitely an experience.

My happiest memory as a child was me playing in the garage on a warm summer day. I was sitting on my older sister's skateboard with my play-doh kitchen and was making ice cream and cheeseburgers. In the background was the Beach Boy's Kokomo playing. I also loved sneaking into my dad's office when he was working. I would build my own computers out of shoe boxes and construction paper, mimic his typing sounds on a keyboard he gave me, and tried to beat the maze the computer tried to solve (he was designing an air traffic control program). I loved playing outdoors with my dog. I would always "cook" him flowers and leaves (didn't know that dogs weren't supposed to eat the ones I feed him though...)

I may have lost a lot in my life, but I have also been loved a lot. I may have been neglected, but my imagination carried me through. I may suffer from a mental illness, but my intelligence and love are still intact. I have learned that everyone struggles, that everyone feels pain. I learned that the most important thing you can do for someone is believe in them...truly believe in them.