I have always been passionate about children and felt a special connection with them. In 2019, I completed my Child Development Associate (CDA) credential through the national credentialing program. It was through that process that I truly began to understand just how critical the early childhood years are. Research shows that by age five, nearly 90% of a child’s brain development has occurred. That realization was powerful for me.

It means there is tremendous opportunity during those years, opportunity to either compromise development or to enhance it in ways that positively shape a child’s future.

That was the moment when my passion aligned with my purpose.

I was excited to take everything I had learned and apply it in my classroom. Then COVID-19 hit, and the preschool where I was working shut down. During those uncertain months, I felt a calling to open my own childcare center. It took tremendous faith and trust in God, but I decided to take the leap.

In 2021, that leap of faith became reality when I opened my childcare center, helping to bridge the childcare gap for families throughout Sedgwick County. The need was overwhelming, and we filled quickly.

One moment that deeply impacted me happened shortly after opening. A single mother of two came in crying and desperate for childcare so she could work and provide for her children. Her daycare had suddenly closed, and she had nowhere to turn. My heart broke as I had to tell her we didn’t have space available. Thankfully, I was able to connect her with Child Care Aware of Kansas, where she could find licensed childcare providers with openings.

That experience changed me. It was the moment I realized my role extended beyond operating a center, I needed to use my voice to advocate for children, families, and educators in the early childhood field.

That advocacy is what led me to the Miss Kansas Organization. Through this platform, I have been able to educate others about the importance of early childhood and the critical role it plays in shaping our communities and our future. It has also helped me grow personally, giving me the confidence to speak in front of groups and advocate boldly for those who cannot speak for themselves.

It is time that Kansas puts Kansas kids and families first. We have the opportunity to lead the nation by recognizing early childhood for what it truly is: essential, transformational, and foundational.

My call to action is simple—see early childhood for what it truly is. When we invest in early childhood, Kansas wins. Children win. Families win. Our economy wins.

That is why I aspire to serve as Miss Kansas, because early childhood deserves a platform that places it at the forefront. But regardless of the outcome, the advocacy will not stop. The work will not stop.

Together, we are making a difference.