Writing has always been an outlet for many situations; escapism, healing, and expression. As stated before, I had a gift of storytelling that was often overlooked and discouraged. But when I chose an elective unknowingly what it was, I found a space for those ideas to flourish, to be nurtured, and to thrive in. There was no such thing as an overactive imagination in writing, all thoughts and ideas I had were encouraged. For the first time in my life, I understood my purpose and felt destined for something. As someone who spent much of her life moving around from state to state, city to city, and school to school stability was not a privilege I was given, but writing gave me that sense of comfort. It became an outlet for many different things. Through writing, I was able to heal aspects of my inner child that were not nurtured or loved, and as I got older it became a way for me to make sense of all the turmoil and pain that had been inflicted on me. As a person who didn't have a safe space to express her emotions growing up, what I couldn't say out loud I could write -- my emotions had a space to be validated and shared even if it was only my eyes that ever read what I wrote, I no longer had to carry those feelings and could release them on paper. But beyond that, writing taught me how meaningful and healing words can be. Writing not only healed myself, but maybe my words could help heal others. I want my words, stories, poems, and books to mean something to others, to help people feel a little less alone, and to help heal those who don't feel heard or understood.