Doing something that is totally inconsistent with previous behavior and runs counter to personal philosophical and spiritual beliefs can nonetheless free one to live in a more positive and healthful manner. It's not a cure-all, but it gave me the tools to overcome stigma, live authentically in service to others, and not see myself as a victim.

Here's to the best year of your life, filled with lots of answers from your heart, trust and magic.

Ultimately, our social constructions of post-secondary education and professional development should be reevaluated and reconsidered within the United States.

In retrospect it's easy to brush off decisions made earlier in life as unimportant or uninformed -- but one writer remembers turning 25 as a pivotal part of her life. It's where small decisions seemed big, and forward-thinking began to show itself.