A moment of Gratitude: Attending @barnardcollege for my undergraduate education was a dream. The guidance and support of the dynamic women on campus taught us daily that we not only can achieve greatness, but we can be the catalysts (and disturbers) to ignite real change. After losing my corporate job due to the recession, I turned to bartending as a means to merely make fast money and cover bills. I was often asked what my next career steps would be and how soon I would get out from behind the bar. I must admit, having attending a university of my stature - not many graduates end up in the beverage sector (especially slinging drinks). There was an initial bit of shame and a feeling “less than” for sticking to this line of work. And yet here I was: young, ambitious, bright eyed, and seeing an industry overrun by men in the spotlight. It was my time to be the disruptor. Barnard College prepared me for this. I did just that. I went into the spaces not meant for me. I pushed my way into conversations, venues, competitions, articles, and places where I knew women had a place. I was mocked (publicly) by men in my industry and slighted by those who were threatened by my presence. Come at me - I’m resilient. I’ve traveled around the world, taught hundreds of thousands of people how to mix a great drink, met some of my idols, and forged lifelong friendships through this journey. It’s not been perfect, I’ve fumbled and failed at times. But I committed myself to always moving forward and being better than the day before. Here I am last night, asked to create and serve up a signature cocktail for the Barnard annual gala. It’s only a small detail of the evening, and yet this request by my alma mater brought me full circle. I felt so seen. I made it. There is a place and reverence for the unconventional. The path looks different for all of us, and the and the best thing we can do is recognize someone walking in their truth and asking if (and how) we can walk alongside them. Because with that support, they will soar. Thank you Barnard College for this honor. 💙💙💙 And now I can say that I truly put the “BAR” in Barnard ✨✨✨