No advocate succeeds alone. Behind every step of my journey are mentors, organizations, family members, and community leaders who believed in me and helped shape Giving Grace: Advocating for Caregiving Youth. In this blog, I reflect on the people who inspired me, challenged me, and showed me the power of working together to create change.

What started as a personal experience caring for my grandmother became a mission much bigger than I ever imagined. In 2023, I launched Giving Grace: Advocating for Caregiving Youth to raise awareness, spark conversations, and ensure young caregivers feel seen, supported, and understood. In this blog, I share the story behind Giving Grace and the journey that transformed my experience into a platform for change.

My grandmother's journey with Alzheimer's disease taught me lessons that no classroom ever could. Through moments of confusion, love, patience, and resilience, I learned what true compassion looks like and how small acts of kindness can make a lasting difference. In this blog, I reflect on the lessons Mimi taught me and how they continue to inspire my advocacy for Caregiving Youth.

At 15 years old, I stood before the Austin City Council to advocate for Caregiving Youth—a group of more than 5.4 million children and teens whose contributions often go unrecognized. What began as a single speech became the start of an incredible advocacy journey that led to partnerships with Austin Public Health, The University of Texas at Austin, and community leaders dedicated to supporting young caregivers.

In this blog, I share how one opportunity to use my voice taught me the power of advocacy, collaboration, and perseverance—and how those lessons continue to shape my mission through Giving Grace: Advocating for Caregiving Youth.

My journey to Miss Texas' Teen has been about so much more than preparing for a competition. It has been a journey of finding my voice, discovering my purpose, and learning how to turn personal experiences into meaningful advocacy.

From caring for my grandmother living with Alzheimer's disease to launching Giving Grace: Advocating for Caregiving Youth, every step along the way has shaped who I am today. Earning the title of Miss Metroplex's Teen 2026 gave me an incredible opportunity to amplify the voices of the more than 5.4 million Caregiving Youth across the United States and inspire others to use their own stories to create change.

In this blog, I share the experiences, lessons, and people who have helped shape my path to Miss Texas' Teen and the purpose that continues to guide me every day.