My journey to become a notary public truly feels like it began long before I did.

My aspiration started simply enough in 2015 while I was living in Virginia. I had been commissioned and was excited to begin a notary signing course when life intervened. A phone call about my father's serious health issues prompted an immediate move home to Pennsylvania. Ten months later, my father passed away, and my dream was respectfully deferred.

Five years later, the opportunity finally returned. I was able to study, receive my Pennsylvania commission, and immediately went on to achieve certification as a notary signing agent.

But where does the "before conception" part come in?

It wasn't until January 2023 that I discovered I come from a lineage of notaries. My grandfather, my great-uncle, and three others from generations before them were all notary publics with thriving businesses in South Carolina.

It seems the path of being a business owner in this field was literally in my bloodline. My commission wasn't just a choice; it was destiny.