Hi, I’m Kira. I’ve never allowed my circumstances to define my potential. I know I can overcome whatever life throws at me, and life has definitely thrown a lot my way.

This week, I took a leap of faith and enrolled in Ascension Leadership Academy (ALA), a powerful leadership program, to help me continue fighting for myself.

I was recently introduced to ALA by people close to me, people I truly admire and respect, who say it has changed their lives in profound ways.

Hearing their experiences stirred something inside me. It felt like hope? Like possibility? Like a reminder that growth is still available to me, even after seasons in my life that have felt heavy and limiting. I believe this opportunity could help me shift my mindset, strengthen my emotional resilience, and finally step into the life I have been trying so hard to build for myself.

I live with an autoimmune disease called lupus, and it affects my life in every single way imaginable. But I refuse to let it limit my vision.

There are days when I look completely fine on the outside, but inside I am navigating exhaustion, brain fog, pain, amongst other symptoms I can’t predict or even sometimes control. Living with this illness has challenged my confidence, seemingly slowed my progress (in life), and deeply impacted my mental and emotional well being.

There have been moments when I have felt stuck in place, aware that I am meant for more, yet unsure how to move forward when my own body sometimes feels like it is working against me. It is a quiet and invisible kind of struggle that is hard to explain unless you have lived it.

While I don't currently have the funds to cover the full cost of ALA tuition, I am choosing to believe the universe has my back. And while I don’t like asking for help, this is forcing me to get support from my community.

Being this honest is not easy for me. Creating a GoFundMe is something I never imagined I would do, because I have always believed in handling things on my own. But I am learning that vulnerability is not failure. Sometimes it is an act of courage.

I am asking for an opportunity. An opportunity to grow, to heal, and to become the person I know I am capable of being. And if you feel moved to support, or even share this, please know your kindness truly means more to me than I could ever fully express.

Thank you for seeing me, for believing in me, and for being part of this moment in my journey to the greatest version of myself. I have so much to offer this world and just need a little support. Thank you.