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!​​​