Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Struggles, Growth, and New Beginnings
It’s that time of year again, and I couldn’t be more ready for 2024 to be over. This past year has been a journey of incredible struggle, but I’ve made it through, and in the process, I've gained a clearer vision of what I truly want from life.
I started this year with so much hope. I had just announced my retirement from dancing and had embarked on a new chapter in my life—school. I was determined to change my career trajectory, and I excelled in my classes, graduating as a certified “professional digital marketer.” With my degree in hand, I quickly dove into job hunting mode. I sent out countless resumes, interviewed with two marketing firms, and submitted proposals on freelance platforms. But after all of that effort? Nothing came through.
Here’s what I’ve realized: marketing firms don’t want to take chances on people who are trying to break into the industry. They’re asking for 3+ years of experience even for entry-level positions. On top of that, some companies try to exploit freelancers by paying them the bare minimum for their hard work. And to the two people who pretended to offer me jobs only to ghost me later—thanks for nothing. You’ve left a bad taste in my mouth, and from now on, I won’t entertain interviews unless we have a signed contract. But mark my words: watch me build my own marketing firm and outcompete you both.
After facing the harsh reality of needing to work for free to gain experience, I made the decision to return to dancing. It was a difficult choice, especially after feeling so hopeful about breaking into the marketing world. But dancing is easy for me, and the money is undeniable. Still, I couldn’t help but feel bitter about having to go back to something that once felt like a stepping stone, not a permanent path.
As life tends to go, though, things weren’t smooth sailing. A few months into dancing, my vehicle broke down. (Cue the heavy sigh.) Thankfully, I have a supportive partner who helped me find a second vehicle so I could get back to work and earning money.
Of course, that second vehicle broke down too—just a few weeks later. (Cue the even heavier sigh.) At this point, I was feeling completely defeated, wondering, “What the hell am I doing with my life?” There I was—stuck at home with no vehicle, no job to go to, and feeling completely lost.
How did I fail so hard this year?
Why does it feel like everything is falling apart so aggressively?
Was going back to school a mistake?
What is even going on?
But here’s the thing: I’m not giving up. In fact, I’m changing my focus. I’ve been quietly working behind the scenes with a new business (getting that marketing experience I so desperately needed), and I’m realizing something important—I’m really good at managing other people’s social media.
So, I’m going to use these skills to help my family and friends who are starting their own businesses. And guess what? I’m starting my own business too.
2025 will be the year I finally find my place in this universe. Looking back, I truly believe 2024 was so tough because it was a year of elimination. The things I tried this year weren’t meant for me. I’m not meant to be a stripper for life, and I’m certainly not meant to work for a greedy corporation that exploits workers and scampers people into purchasing things they don’t need.
What I am meant to do is help others grow—whether that’s helping fellow pole dancers elevate their skills, sharing my knowledge with those around me, or helping others start and succeed in their businesses. This is the direction I’m going, and I’m ready to take that leap.
It’s my turn.
