And this is where it all began. An awesome friend of mine Melissa, was amazing enough to draw me this very realistic cover for my book. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was exactly what I wanted kids to remember when they saw my work on the shelf. This is how I used to look when I was in college. The winding trail I'm walking on represents what life was like before, during, and after college. There were bumps in the road but the path is brightly lit and I'm still walking.
The way I wanted the back cover of my book to look was crucial to the image I wanted to give the youth reading my story. My lovely friend Naomi wrote it for me. I wanted to capture the essence of what my book was all about in a couple of easy sentences. Simple to understand, clear and to the point, but interesting enough to captivate new readers! I wanted to hint that this is a story about the struggle for success, but also about eventually reaching that goal you set for yourself.
This was one of my proudest days as an author. It was my very first time on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and a true landmark in my life. Not to toot my own horn, but comparing how I looked when I was a student to the way I look today has really helped me put into perspective the way I have grasped every opportunity. There was a time where I couldn't even afford a simple suit and now I'm lucky enough to be interviewed in one.
This right here was the peak of my career. The #1 New York Times Bestseller was not only a huge honor, but it really made me realize how far I've come. After my father lost his job, I knew it was up to me to get the future I wanted for myself. I worked hard in college, I networked, I interned wherever I could to gain experience, and when I finished college I felt a little bit more prepared for what the real world would throw at me. I started writing and reaching out to those who could help me, and I ended up here at this very point in my life. The Bestseller title represents one of the single moments that every ounce of hard work has led up to after all these years.