I’ve heard “don’t judge a book by its cover” more times than I can count but honestly, it often feels like no one actually lives by that.

In sports, music, engineering, and even relationships, I’ve been misjudged more times than I care to admit. It’s tough when someone forms a picture of you that isn’t true, especially when that person is in a position of power. Once that image is locked in, it can take years to undo.

I’ve had to fight to prove myself again and again, most recently in my engineering career, where I had to show my value and dedication after someone in leadership made an incorrect assumption.. It’s exhausting, and frankly, no one should have to carry that weight just to be seen clearly.

“The Wrong Lens” is a reminder that you never really know who someone is until you take the time to look deeper. People are more than surface-level impressions and sometimes, the ones who are most overlooked are the ones with the most to give.