Dear Teenage Me... Growing Up in Real Estate

Dear Younger Me: You Needed Those Mistakes

If I could sit down for coffee with my teenage self, I wouldn’t. Not because I don’t love her, not because I don’t wish I could save her from some of the mistakes she made—but because I know she needed them. She had to take the risks, learn things the hard way, and stumble through life to get us here. And if I’m being honest? I wouldn’t have listened to myself anyway.

Like a lot of teenagers, I thought I had things figured out. I had dreams, plans, and a clear idea of where I thought life was going. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life has a funny way of leading us exactly where we’re meant to be—even when we don’t see it at the time.

Growing Up in Real Estate, But Not Seeing It for Myself

I come from a family of real estate professionals. It was always around me—conversations about the market at family dinners, talk of listings and contracts, stories about clients and closings. But if you had told my younger self that I’d one day follow in those footsteps, I would have laughed. That wasn’t the plan.

I wanted to carve out my own path, do things differently, and figure out success on my own terms. And that’s exactly what I did. I made choices that led me in different directions, took on jobs that weren’t the right fit, and learned through experience what I did—and didn’t—want for my future. Every step, even the missteps, taught me something.

The Detours That Led Me Here

There’s something powerful about looking back and seeing how all the puzzle pieces fit together. At the time, some of the choices I made felt like failures. The moments where I struggled, doubted myself, or had to start over were tough. But now, I can see that every single one of those experiences built me into the person I am today.

Those jobs that weren’t the right fit? They taught me what I truly valued in a career. The financial struggles? They gave me an understanding of what homeownership and stability really mean. The risks I took? They showed me how resilient I could be.

And eventually, all those lessons led me right back to real estate.

Embracing the Path That Found Me

When I finally stepped into real estate, something clicked. I wasn’t just following in my family’s footsteps—I was walking my own path, built on all the experiences that had shaped me. And suddenly, everything made sense.

Real estate isn’t just about buying and selling houses. It’s about guiding people through some of the biggest decisions of their lives. It’s about helping them find stability, security, and a place to call home. It’s about taking all those lessons I learned—about resilience, about taking risks, about figuring things out as you go—and using them to help others on their journeys.

And I love it.

No Regrets, Only Gratitude

So no, I wouldn’t go back and have coffee with my teenage self. I wouldn’t warn her about the mistakes or try to change her path. Because she needed every single one of those experiences to get us here.

And if I did sit down with her? I’d just smile and say, “You’re going to be okay.”

Because I know now that she was always on the right path—even when she couldn’t see it.