Playlist of Transformation III

Rhythm of Life

By Macey Nelson

February 20, 2024

Welcome back to the ever-evolving symphony of my life! If you’re still with me, major kudos –you are keeping up better than my Spotify playlist on shuffle.

Today’s verse is going to stray away from the others. It’s time to tell you a little more about me. But you may want to turn down your Spotify playlist to follow along—just like you turn down the radio navigating in a city you are unfamiliar with. Why do we do that? Silly.

From what you know, I am just a gal in this world with a diverse range of interests from music, sports, military, mental health, blogging, and my newest desire, data. But I am so much more than those things.

I am Macey.

Macey Nelson.

#FightSong—Rachel Platten

I am strong.

I am independent.

I am [you can fill in any other adjectives I embody].

So here is my #FightSong

First, I was born in Russia into a family that did not have the funds to give me the life I was destined to have. I spent the first five years of my life in an orphanage. Not one that was lavish or nourishing, but it was filled with love and curiosity.

It was also filled with 60 children, two nurses, a doctor, and a kitchen staff located across the road. Let me emphasize, 60 children that were five and below. I shared a bed with two other children, shared a wardrobe, had one single wooden swing to soar on our playground, and a big ole sandbox. Let’s say I have spent my time avoiding sand at all costs since then, which is hard to do living in Florida—not so hard in the Russian winters.

Mealtime was my favorite. Kasha was iconic—still my favorite pastime.

Oh, and I am still a foodie.

I share this not for pity; it is insight for you to understand who I am and where I come from, and hopefully, connect with you on a deeper level.

#Happier— Marshmello, Bastille

It was a nice, sunny day in Russia when I met my adoptive parents—to me, they are my only parents. And let’s be honest, I have no idea if it was nice that day, or even sunny for that matter, but my parents brought light with them.

They lit up my world, and I did not even know it yet. What’s the happiest song you know? Cause it is even #Happier than that!

I was brought to the United States just a month or so later.

A world filled with the love of two parents and a brother, a stable roof, a dog, and a cat. An absolute dream. Of course, there was more than just those couple of things, but that is the foundation.

#WelcomeToAmerica— Common Tribe

In America, I had an 8-year-old brother devoted to teaching me English because how can you play Legos, Air Hockey, Rock Band, and ride scooters and bikes with a foreign girl? To say the least, I adjusted quickly. I wanted to learn as badly as he wanted to dress up as Tarzan when he was a young boy. Sorry bro, I had to out you.

I had teachers that were fascinated by “my story.” But this was my life. I did not know differently. Friends came rolling in, sports became life, and Russia became a distant memory.

A memory that has shaped me.

A memory that embodies perseverance.

And I persevered.

#PartyIntheUSA—Miley Cyrus

I did not get to choose my parents, my circumstances, or even my math teacher, but I am so grateful that the cards lined up the way they did. In retrospect, the math was mathing.

I navigated through school—with the help of an English tutor because English is hard, man. I still was determined to get good grades because my brother was a genius in my eyes; he still is. I had to keep up the family name.

I tried every sport in the book: soccer, dance, gymnastics, basketball, lacrosse, softball, you name it. Obviously, my passion for music did not translate to my dance skills; otherwise, I may have forfeited my military career to back up dance Usher in Superbowl 58. But I did make a partial scholarship for softball. It was a grind—a fast-tempo disco song—of practice, working out, and hitting off a makeshift tee in the garage… until I broke the water heater and flooded the entire garage. Still feel bad about that one.

I graduated with honors in high school and college—shoutout to all my University of Nebraska Kearney study buddies, professors, teammates, and friends.

And then I joined the Air Force.

Without approval, but with support.

#AmericanSoldier (must pay some respect to Toby Keith)

I am an American. I may not have been born in America, nor have American blood. But America is home. It is the only place I have ever known family. It is the place that gave me an opportunity to excel in school and sports. It gave me opportunities to flourish—99% of the credit goes to my parents for picking me as their chosen one, and 1% of the credit goes to me for taking up the opportunities that were placed in front of me.

Some moments were harder than others. There will always be debates about whether I did or am doing the right things. But I am happy. I do not think you can ask for more than that. Happiness is good; it is great.

So, I joined the Air Force, what better way to give back to your country than serve. I am thankful and humbled for the opportunity.

#DreamOn—Aerosmith

And the opportunities continue. I #DreamOn—even post-military.

I decided data is the pathway because it makes sense. In a world full of unknowns, math has a solution. It may not be a solution you want to solve, but with hard work, education, and dedication, you can find the answer. With data analytics, you analyze historical data to identify trends, assess the impact of decisions, and support business intelligence… like life.

Life is unpredictable. Things happen that might make you sad, angry, and frustrated, but there is light. As cliché as it is, you learn from the dark. It molds you. It is not straight forward and not every day was great, but each day I brings something new. You use tools and techniques to process and analyze the data to make an informed decision. The tools for life aren’t statistics, data visualization, or even basic machine learning; it is living.

I am living for each day. Living for the people who have picked me up on those hard days but living for myself. If my story tells you anything, it tells you that you can make your story your own.

My story may be unconventional, but it is me.

Macey.

Macey Nelson.

Song List:

Fight Song by Rachel Platten

Happier by Marshmello, Bastille

Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus

Welcome to America by Common Tribe

American Soldier by Toby Keith

Dream On by Aerosmith