Her room tells a story of color and comfort, the Winnie the Pooh pajama pants, a small reminder not to take life too seriously. “I think we forget that peace doesn’t have to be fancy,” she added. “Sometimes it’s just feeling at home in your skin after years of not.”

Now, every little thing in her space carries meaning: the flag, the laughter, the quiet confidence in her posture. “I’m learning that i'm much more than just my studies" she said. “It’s about coming back to the parts of you that never stopped shining.”