The Education of Doing Hard Things

Finishing my paramedic training was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

It wasn’t just the long hours, the physical tests, or the relentless studying.
It was the humility of learning something new in a language that isn’t mine. The class was in Spanish, and my Spanish is… not great—especially under stress. And this was fucking stressful.



Most days, I sat in class completely lost. I’d take photos of the slides and translate them to English on the spot. Then I’d go home, review the lesson in my English textbook, and watch hours of YouTube videos just to hang on by my toenails.

Some weeks, my saint of a husband had to help me get my shoes on and find my uniform because my desire to keep going was that low.

Every class, I felt stretched—mentally, emotionally, linguistically.
Some weeks, I cried in the car on the way home.
Every single week, I wanted to quit.

Most of the time, I felt small, confused, out of my depth.
And that’s exactly why I had to keep going.

Why I Did It

On the surface, I did it because my community needs care.
We live in a small town in Baja, and every trained responder matters.

But underneath that—on the level that really matters—I did it because I needed to remember what it feels like to be a beginner again.
To be humbled.
To fail and try again.
To do something I wasn’t sure I could do.

That’s a muscle I never want to lose.

Because the truth is, it’s easy to talk about courage when you’re comfortable. It’s another thing entirely to live it when everything in you wants to stop.

Continuing Education of the Soul

I take continuing education for my coaching practice seriously. This has been my continuing education for the last fifteen months, and it might be the best investment I’ve ever made.

Not because it made me a paramedic—though I’m proud of that.
But because it made me a better coach.

Coaching isn’t about sitting above someone and offering insight. It’s about walking beside them when they hit their own edges. It’s about remembering what courage actually feels like in your body, so when you sit across from someone who’s afraid, you know what that feels like—not in theory, but in your bones.

Crossing the Threshold

So yes, I finished, even when I didn’t think I would.
I think I’m now a certified paramedic in Mexico (we’re still waiting for official results).

But more than that, I’m someone who remembers what it feels like to reach the other side of something hard—and what’s waiting there when you do.

If you’re standing at your own edge right now—in the middle of a hard season, a reinvention, or a calling that feels too big—know this:
You’re in training.
And the version of you that’s waiting on the other side is worth it.

✨ If you’re in a moment where you need someone to walk beside you through that edge—to help you hold the line, breathe through the fear, and find your way forward—that’s what I do.
You can learn more about my coaching work here or just reach out.