A Year of Becoming: The Light I Didn’t Know I Was Walking Toward

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

If you had asked me a year ago where I’d be today, I probably would have laughed, cried, or said, “Honestly… I’m just trying to survive this season.” Because that’s what it felt like, a season of waiting, stretching, pruning, and praying for direction that felt forever out of reach.

But looking back now?
This past year has been overflowing with moments I didn’t even realize God was planting beneath the surface.

Doors Didn’t Just Open, They Aligned

There were months where I begged God for clarity. I questioned my purpose, my pace, and whether my prayers were being heard at all.
But then came the shift.

I stepped into a new career opportunity that not only honored my story but elevated my calling. I defended my dissertation. I stepped forward as Dr. Depre. I stepped into teaching—something that once felt like a far-away dream reserved for “other people.”

And suddenly, everything I had been praying for, crying for, fighting for… clicked into place.
Not by accident. Not by luck.
By divine alignment.

Healing Became More Than Survival

This year wasn’t just about accomplishments, it was about internal victories.
Learning to breathe again.
Learning to trust again.
Learning that rest is productive and that waiting is not punishment—it’s preparation.

I watched my voice grow stronger.
My advocacy deepen.
My purpose sharpen.
I found ways to use my pain as a platform, not a prison.

And somewhere along the way, I realized:
The girl who once fought to survive is now the woman building spaces for others to rise.

Community Was a Miracle All Its Own

From volunteers, students, survivors, and colleagues to my family, my husband, and my kids this year reminded me that I’m surrounded by people who believe in me even on the days I don’t fully believe in myself.

I stood on stages.
I was given opportunities.
I watched strangers become supporters.
I watched supporters become community.

And I realized: purpose isn’t walked alone.
We rise because others lift, push, pray, and cheer with us.

New Dreams Were Born

A podcast.
A blog.
A classroom filled with future criminal justice professionals.
A vision for trauma-informed policing.
A brand built on survivor-centered truth, hope, and impact.

Pieces of me I didn’t even know were waiting to bloom came alive.
God didn’t just open doors….He reminded me that I belong in the rooms I once only dreamed of.

This Year Was Hard. But It Was Holy.

There were challenges.
There were setbacks.
There were moments I wondered if the breakthrough would ever come.

But every second of waiting… mattered.
Every silent prayer… mattered.
Every “Lord, I can’t do this anymore,” was met with, “Daughter, you’re closer than you think.”

And here I am today, stronger, bolder, braver, more rooted, more aligned, and more ready for what’s next than I have ever been.

If you’re reading this, here’s your reminder:

Sometimes the good things grow where you can’t see them yet.
Sometimes God changes your pace before He changes your place.
And sometimes the year that starts in uncertainty ends up becoming the year that transforms everything.

This past year wasn’t just full of positive events
It was full of purpose, promise, healing, and divine setup.

And I can’t wait to see what unfolds next.

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