I did something many immigrant parents, like mine, work endlessly to make possible - I bought a home.

While leading a team in the world of marketing tech, I did what any thrill-seeking, eldest daughter would do: I grabbed a power tool and decided I’d renovate our home myself to keep costs low.

I knew navigating homeownership without a blueprint would be an adventure. But after surviving the loss of my mom and experiencing housing insecurity as a kid, I also knew that nothing that tried to break me had succeeded so the odds seemed good enough.

Life, of course, threw more curveballs: a difficult diagnosis, losing my dad, and learning to live with grief in all its forms.

But my story isn’t rooted in sadness. It’s a testament to grit and creativity. I turned hardship into my hero origin story. I am proof that any beginning, no matter how tough, can turn into something powerful.

I’m glad you’re here. Whatever shenanigans come our way, we’re in it together.