I was raised in the heart of the Midwest, where sports were more than just a pastime—they were a training ground for life. Coaches and mentors poured into me, shaping not just my skills but my character. One lesson they drilled into me early: you’re entitled to nothing—you earn it. That grit carried me all the way to collegiate volleyball, an experience that pushed me both mentally and physically.
The Midwest will always be where I fell in love with a simple, joy-filled way of living—growing up on country music, camping instead of hotel-staying for trips, and spending boat days on the lakes of Indiana and Michigan. Those rhythms of life still feel like home to me today.