Chapter 12: Stormer in a World That Praises Jem

I knew who I was at six years old and it wasn’t the person the world rewards.

This might sound abstract, but stay with me.

When I was six or seven, I used to watch an old cartoon called Jem and the Holograms. It was about two rival bands.

One was polished, admired, everything the world celebrates. The other, The Misfits; were louder, rougher, a little chaotic.

And in that second group, there was one character who didn’t quite fit.

Her name was Stormer.

Stormer was in the “bad” group, but she wasn’t bad.

She was kind. Thoughtful. Soft in a space that didn’t reward any of that.

And somehow, even as a kid, I knew,

That’s me. I'm Stormer.

Because what does it say when at six or seven years old you already recognize your self as the kind one in the wrong crowd?

That’s not something that just develops later.

That’s something that’s been there all along.

I’ve lived a life time of people showing me anything but kindness, anything but decency, anything but respect for humanity,

and I still gave them my best.

I gave grace. I gave patience. I gave kindness even when they deserved none of it.

Not because they earned it. Because that’s who I am.

I’ve worked for everything I have. Two jobs. No rescue. No shortcuts.

Nobody came to save me.

And still… I didn’t let that make me hard.

But here’s what I’m finally understanding,

I’ve been living like Stormer.

Being the one people go to when life gets too heavy. When they need clarity. When they can’t carry it alone.

And I show up.

Every time.

But I don’t give myself that same care.

So I’m changing that.

Because I am nota drive-through convenience window for other people’s pain and suffering.

Just because I can carry it doesn’t mean I should.

I don’t want to be the kind one in the wrong room anymore.

I don’t want to spend my life proving my goodness in spaces that don’t recognize it.

My kindness isn’t weakness.

It’s power.

But it needs direction.

Because I’m not hereto survive misfit environments and make them more bearable.

I’m here to build something that actually reflects who I am.

And maybe that’s the point,

Not to become the polished version the world rewards most easily.

But to outgrow the room entirely.

I’m not here to light one person at a time anymore.

I’m not done being Stormer, I’m just done being her in the wrong room