I had a video interview for my dream job in publishing when my stepmom barged into my room and told the recruiter not to hire me. I was mortified, convinced everything was ruined. But two days later, I got an email inviting me to the final round.
Publishing had been my dream since I was a kid, so I poured months into preparing. During the final panel interview, I spoke from the heart about how stories had saved me, and a week later, I got the offer: Assistant Editor at Riverlight Publishing. My dad was overjoyed. My stepmom? Barely acknowledged it.
Months later, the recruiter confessed that my stepmom’s sabotage actually showed them my resilience—that I stayed calm under pressure. That moment I thought destroyed me was the reason they hired me.
Now, I’ve co-edited books, mentored young writers, and even published my own story, which reached thousands of readers. I also discovered I wasn’t the only one my stepmom tried to tear down—her former stepdaughter reached out to tell me the same.
What I once thought was the worst moment of my life became the start of everything. Sometimes, the people who try to break you are the reason others finally see your true worth.
