Tiny like an ant—that’s how I used to feel, small and invisible next to the big expectations around me. In a noisy world, my voice barely made a sound. Growing up in the islands, surrounded by beauty, I still carried doubts, moving quietly like an ant, unnoticed by most.

But ants are strong, stronger than they look. They carry heavy loads, way bigger than themselves, and never give up. That’s how I lived, too. From the warmth of my island home to the hard lessons of the Marine Corps, I learned to carry not just my dreams but my family’s hopes and my name.

I used to think being small meant being unimportant, but I was wrong. Ants build entire worlds, one tiny piece at a time. I’ve done the same. My words became those little pieces—each poem, each story, each step forward. Slowly, I grew stronger, built something solid, something real.

Now when I look back, I see that tiny version of me and I feel proud, not sad. Even then, I wasn’t just small. I was a builder, a fighter, a dreamer. From small beginnings, I’ve created a life that stands tall.

© Nelly Vee