I grew up in the small town of Ahoskie, North Carolina, in the eastern part of the state. After I finished high school, I studied architecture at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. I developed an interest in aesthetics, form, proportion, and design. All these things are instrumental in my law practice, which, I believe, are to my clients' advantage. After finishing college, I moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where I spent several years doing freelance architectural renderings and enjoying the beauty of the Lowcountry. After living in Charleston, I shifted gears to attend law school. I saw the law as an empowering opportunity to help others better their lives. I moved back to my native North Carolina to attend law school at the University of North Carolina. While there, I developed a particular interest in federal taxation, bankruptcy, and family law. I discovered how much statutes, codes, and regulations fulfilled my need for order and exactitude. Following my graduation from UNC, I worked in the chambers of the Honorable Linda Stephens with the North Carolina Court of Appeals. I particularly enjoyed the academic nature of the appellate court. After my stint with Judge Stephens, I clerked for the Honorable Randy Doub with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina. My work with the state and federal courts prepared me for my work in the private practice context where I have done exclusively family law.