When I was living in Crown Heights stretching across my parents' brown carpet in Kingsboro Houses, I used to watch the @todayshow and listen to @alroker conduct the weather report. This show guided me through homework assignments for weekly current events to reflections of 9/11. Some people dreamt their entire life to be famous; I just wanted people to see me -- the awkward black girl who could blend in for a few minutes before being identified as the 'weirdo.' But in the safety of my living room and around my family, I could dream big for five minutes without fear or ridicule from others. People like me don't tend to see themselves as exceptional and certainly not inspirational. We strive to fit in places like puzzle pieces not fully comprehending that we're either already whole or not crafted to simply fall into place. Just to think: One terrible moment in 2017 changed my entire life. If I chose differently, I don't know where I'd be. Maybe I'd never have the opportunity to grow past potential. My life before becoming an athlete or culinary was social work. I am watching all of these worlds collide and I had no idea on how to make them work. Being able to talk on platforms like the @3rdhourtoday allows me to not only help others see me for who I am but guide future generations in seeing themselves. If we have the audacity to dream big about others and not share even a fraction of our worth within ourselves, we are doing a huge disservice to the beautiful inner weirdo that we all struggle to embrace. To the girl sitting on her mother's counter trying to blend in for her sixth grade classmates to the 70 year old retiree who never seized the opportunity to try something new, I dare you to press forward. I see you; I see us. Thank you to the TODAY Show for allowing me to be more than an #InfluenceHer, an athlete or another title. I am boldly able to be Latoya Shauntay Snell. #runningfatchef #fatrunner #diversitymatters #representationmatters #swiftwick #todayshow #chaseadventure #hokaoneone #timetofly #skratchlabsambassador #womenwhofly #ultrarunner #marathoner #ultimatedirection #selfpropelled #superfithero #plussizeathlete (at The Today Show) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rxv2KnAIF/?igshid=hwfgmhjgsjty