Thirty Years On A Late Bloomer's Life

My name is Paul Mendoza. I am one of you. And this is my story. I wasn't born into wealth, fame, or political power. But mine is a story that I think is still very much worthy of being told even in an environment dominated by out-of-touch celebrity lifestyles. You might ask: Isn't it time for a story that we can actually relate to, written by someone we can actually relate with? Well, I hope this is close to what you're looking for . . . Mine has been a simple life filtered through the complexities of reality: emotional highs and lows, school and work, the struggle to fit in and find my voice in an uncertain world. Adding to the usual challenges was my late start on the normal parts of life: beginning my professional career at age 25, getting my driver's license at age 27, going out on first dates and socializing long after I finished school, the list goes on and on . . . Through it all, despite facing bullies in grade school, social awkwardness in college, troubles on the home front, hitting a cement ceiling in my career, and the struggles of becoming a published author and a political voice, I have made it to today, and thirty years on, I can finally look back on my life and wonder where I am headed next. That is, if I can find the path forward. It wasn't easy for me to write my story. It was harder for me to live it. But the hard parts are over now, and my story-the story of a late bloomer-can really and truly begin . . .