We read about prophets in religious scriptures, seemingly guided to speak words from a higher power. Who are these kinds of people? What makes them think God can talk to them? Though I have read several prophetic writings, I have never found a story of the development of a prophet. A contributing reason for this may be the fact that most prophets are false and don't have much to back up their claim of identity. 
So I decided to come forward and share my own story. 

Thank you for joining me on my journey from aspiring to be perfect to aspiring to be real.  

In this chapter, I share from my teenage and college years messages that seemed to have a mysterious connection, and I name some things that contributed to the development of my mindset and values. I tell of how I moved halfway across a nation on my own and what I learned through the experience.