There have been moments where I genuinely considered walking away from NSBE. Times where I felt unseen, overlooked, or exhausted. Times when I showed up and questioned whether I was actually a part of something—or just a body in the room. And I won’t lie: it would’ve been easier to disappear quietly than to keep showing up. But I didn’t leave.

I stayed.

I stayed because even in those low moments, I loved this org. I loved what it stood for, what it could be, and who I knew it had the potential to support. I stayed because there were people in this chapter who reminded me why I came here in the first place. I found friends who felt like home, people who laughed with me during the hardest weeks, who encouraged me when I doubted myself, and who made leadership feel less lonely. I found mentors—people like our chapter advisor, Johnny Hill—who saw something in me even when I didn’t see it in myself.

He encouraged me when I wanted to give up. He reminded me that my voice mattered. And that mattered more than he probably even knows.

And over time, I started stepping into my own voice—not just as a member, but as a leader. I went from feeling disconnected to helping connect others. I went from questioning my place in the org to being someone who could build space for other people to thrive. That transformation wasn’t perfect. It was messy and sometimes painful. But it was real.

That’s why I’m running.

I’m not running for a title. I’m running because I love this chapter. Even when it frustrates me. Even when things haven’t always felt fair. I love it enough to want better for it—and for the people in it. I want structure. I want sustainability. I want warmth. I want us to stop starting over every year. I want us to build something we’re proud of—and something that actually works.

I want every member to feel like they matter, not just because we say they do, but because our systems, our leadership, and our culture prove it.

This campaign isn’t about me. It’s about you. It’s about the members who are still finding their place. The ones who are unsure if they belong. The ones who’ve thought about leaving. The ones who are ready to step up but don’t know how.

This is for you.

For the faithfuls. By the faithfuls.