Most of my life I have been the underdog, but I leverage that as my secret weapon. I was a small petite spunky young lady and had big dreams in life. In high school I wasn't the straight A student, but I had grit, was charismatic, and had determination. I remember I wanted to attend a specific marketing class that was only for seniors, but I convinced the teacher as a junior to give me the opportunity and please allow me in. She did and I excelled in the class so much, I won the most outstanding student award which was designated for only the seniors. Senior year, I was on the Homecoming court. I was in the running for being Homecoming queen, but I wasn't in the popular kids group. I did play sports and in general, I was nice to everyone. Again, in the underdog scenario, not being in the popular kids group how would I win? I remember the days leading up to homecoming some of the kids from the popular group I would run into in the hallway. They were so mean, and rude. They would say you're not going to win so don't get your hopes up. So I prepared my expectations low and kept being my optimistic, kind, smiling self and went about my day. It was the big day, and we had the Homecoming game against Franklin county. I will remember this day forever because the way it unfolded was so perfectly awesome. I couldn't have ever dreamed it to unfold this way. It was half time, and they were announcing the Homecoming court. My dad had to escort me out onto the field, and I remember how embarrassed he was to walk out in front of this big crowd. I was so nervous, I remember thinking please don't let me trip in the heels as I was walking down the grass field. Well, it was down to the last two people, and they made the final announcement. I heard- your Homecoming queen is ...Jacqueline Biggio. I was so shocked, as was my dad. The crowd cheered so loud, it was not expected. I remember my friend jumping out of the stands and came running down to the field. Then my friends from the gymnastics team came jumping on the field, then the soccer team. Cheerleaders joined in and half the field was filled with kids congratulating me. The underdog won! As I looked at the crowd on the field, it was a mix of kids from all different groups. My dad stepped a side because so many were coming over. What a life moment, all groups, were one. Now skip forward to end of the school year and what was next for me. I wanted to attend college, but there were barriers to that dream. I remember my mom having an end of year teacher conference and I had stepped out of the room for a minute and on my way back in I overheard them tell me not to set my expectations high for continuing my education. My heart sunk - my legs felts heavy and happiness was poof - gone. My parents didn't go to college so that didn't bother them at all, but for me - no way. I was getting out of that town and going to be somebody. I came from humble means, and my parents didn't save any money for me to attend college. I would have to figure out the barrier of financial means, not knowing what to do to get into college, and not having anyone in the family to guide me. I was so determined to attend college, so I reached out to my friends who were already attending school. I had a very close friend Jamie, attending Virginia Tech and we would talk all the time about what I would need to do, how to apply, what step am I going to take. This is an important life lesson. If you want something you have to take the first step. There are those who say they are going to do something and there are those who DO something. So here I go - I took the first step. Pondering for days I decided to sign up for some classes at the local community college. I asked my parents for some help paying for the classes which they contributed what they could, and I paid for the rest. Over time, I made some friends in the college and one of them worked in the financial aid department. Kent was amazing at guiding me on all the aid that is out there for a first-born child of a Army disabled Veteran. Now I started to really believe in my dream of going to college because a new door opened for me. I had a path to financial means, now which classes to take and how do I transfer to college? I made a plan. If I take some of the general education classes at community college it would save me money, I could ease into college life and start applying to bigger colleges. YES - if there is a will there is a way. I was going to make it happen! I was accepted to a few different colleges and make my final decision to attend Radford. Life will happen, people will try to put you in a box, obstacles will come your way. Stay focused on your dream, don't let anyone stop you. From there you will succeed.

Anytime I have an idea I always follow through. Some might say I do not know of that will work or challenge me and I just say "I will never live my life with fear, what is the worst that can happen-never give up on your dreams".

A few years ago, I shared an idea that felt bold and true to me: I wanted to write a book and eventually produce it as a film. I had already published books, but had no produced movies. When I told my significant other, his response was "no." He had a different vision for my time and energy, one centered on helping grow his business, and while I did that, my own dream was quietly put on hold by the very person who was supposed to support it. Years later, after we went our separate ways, that experience became unexpected fuel. It gave me the clarity and creative insight I needed to finish my novel, 'Hot Tea and Mercy', which was picked up and published by the Thought Catalog Book Boutique. The following year, I launched my boutique media consulting company, Rae Lashea Inc., then wrote the screenplay "We're Not Married?", which my company produced into a film now streaming on Tubi. While the film wasn't an adaptation of the book, it opened the door fully, and for movie lovers, 'Hot Tea and Mercy' is now becoming a screenplay too.