There are so many factors that affect how our lives turn out, but one of the most interesting is how our backgrounds give us unique strengths and perspectives that affect who we are as adults. We asked rising stars from the community to tell us about their backgrou

Allyson (ally) Blankenburg | Photographer

I was born in Louisiana and moved here with my family when I was 3. My parents chose to leave their family and jobs and move to texas because they felt like there was a better opportunity for them and for us, long term. They took a big chance and used all of their savings to start a self employment business. My mom worked with my dad and did not take a paycheck for years. Read more>>

Katrina Howarth | Artist

I was born in Scotland. We lived in England too. I studied in Edinburgh and received a BA honors in Design at the late Glasgow School of Art. From living in the Scottish countryside on a small farm, an English sunny rose filled village in Elton and the stunning Highlands of Scotland I really believe these environments impacted me greatly as did the love and support from my artistic parents. My Mum a watercolourist, draughtsperson and incredibly gardener and Dad an engineer and bridge, railway designer and planner. Read more>>

Patricia Foster | Owner & Certified Trainer at RockBox Fitness in Cypress, Tx

I was born and raised in Dallas, Tx. For the majority of my childhood, I grew up in a suburb just east of Dallas proper, called Garland. I am the daughter of two addicts. My mother, an alcoholic, and my father, a recovering drug addict. As you can imagine, this did not lead to the most stable of childhood environments. So, without going further, I’d like to remind the readers that my story is one I tell with pride. Do not feel sorry for me! I was blessed with the strength and had the right people in my life to help me “break the cycle” so to speak. Not very many children have the opportunity or strength to do so. Read more>>

Rachel Malik | Realtor & Entrepreneur

I was born in Pakistan, in the bustling and charming city of Peshawar. Not long after, at a mere 3 years old, my family and I moved to the UAE. That’s really where my story begins. I started going to work with my father at a very young age and, in turn, discovered my passion for entrepreneurship! Growing up in such an empowering environment, with a parental figure who gained immense success in building his business empire from the ground up, I knew I had big shoes to fill, and I couldn’t be more excited. Read more>>

Stéphanie McGuirt | Blog Strategist + Copywriter

I was born in France and moved to the US at four years old. During the summer, I visited family overseas — sprinkled from Northwestern to the South of France. Experiencing multiple cultures first-hand shaped me in ways I am still learning. I always felt fascinated by the different lifestyles and outlooks I met along the way. This early exposure to different traditions and lifestyles encouraged my curiosity and creativity while nourishing my desire to explore my surroundings and write, write, write. Read more>>