For most of my life, I believed in a very specific formula: work hard in school, build a strong résumé, study abroad , learn languages, get a master's degree, and be globally aware. I studied journalism and media, and I leaned into storytelling early on. I spent time abroad multiple times in Rome, Florence, Kuwait, and Scotland. I learned how to navigate new cultures, new systems, and new expectations. I became fluent in spaces that were not designed for a first-generation student like me.