Anxiety sucks — especially stage anxiety. And when your dream is to be a touring musician, it can feel like the ultimate contradiction. I’ve come a long way from where I started, but I know not everyone is that lucky. So here’s my story.

I grew up in the ‘stranger danger’ era of the ’90s. Trust didn’t come easy, and being around people I didn’t know made me uncomfortable for a long time.

I still remember hiding behind my parents when they dropped me off at pre-school. In elementary school, I’d get overwhelmed around big groups of kids. The school play? Terrifying. I felt like I was being thrown into the lion’s den.

Looking back, I grew up in a bubble — same small group of classmates, same sports teams, same extracurriculars. It wasn’t until college that I was truly pushed outside of that comfort zone. Thrown to the wolves, as they say. I didn’t exactly thrive socially at first, but at least the fear began to fade.

Even as an adult in the workforce, though, I still couldn’t shake the nerves. Presenting at a meeting? My heart would pound like it was trying to escape my chest.

They say everyone has an a-ha moment when it comes to breaking through a major fear. For me, that moment didn’t come overnight — it was built over time, through music, experience, and constantly forcing myself to show up despite the fear.

That journey inspired my song “Out of My Shell.” It’s about finally stepping into who you are — even if it takes years to get there.