ABOUT ME
Embracing Discomfort & Adopting a Growth Mindset
A major challenge I had to overcome in my young adulthood was accepting the reality that I couldn’t drink alcohol and enjoy it. I know - it sounds silly, but it was a major source of frustration and insecurity. I felt like I was sitting on the proverbial sidelines while everyone else got to have fun. I also didn't want people to think I was a square. A blessing in disguise, people would tell me - but navigating college parties and nightlife in my early twenties as a non-drinker felt more like a curse.
Despite my social anxiety, I forced myself to join my friends when they went out to the bars and clubs. Since I couldn’t rely on alcohol as a social lubricant, I had to learn how to cultivate a genuine enthusiasm and openness to connect with uninhibited drunk people. It wasn't easy going out every weekend sober, but I persevered, and all those reps inevitably helped me become very comfortable and confident in social settings. Ultimately, I embraced my identity, found my voice, and developed my unique personality.
Another character defining moment occurred when I moved to San Diego in 2015. I foolishly bought a used 2001 Hyundai off Craigslist that turned out to be an absolute lemon. The car overheated in less than 3 months. To perpetuate the superstition that bad things happen in threes, I was abruptly laid off from my teaching job and got pink eye. Out of frustration, spite, and a desire to be more self sufficient, I impulsively enrolled in a free automotive trade school where I could learn to fix my car. That decision set the stage for a period of intense growth.
I was excited to be back in a classroom, but turning wrenches did not come naturally. My hands were as soft as peaches, and I didn't know how to drive a stick. After a full year of schooling, I landed a job as junior mechanic. I felt like a fish out of water those first few months. I made a ton of mistakes, got chewed out by my boss, and laughed at by my coworkers. It was embarrassing, humbling, but incredibly empowering. Long story short, in 2020 I returned to my former school and taught my first class as an instructor.
My personal development story isn’t just about overcoming social anxiety or learning how to turn a wrench — it’s about what happens when you stop avoiding discomfort and start leaning into growth. If you’re ready to build real confidence and develop dating skills from the inside out, I’d love to help you get there!