Editor’s Note: Bring Your Own is a nomadic storytelling series that takes place in living rooms, backyards and other intimate spaces within the community. Each month, seven storytellers have 7 minutes to respond to a theme. BYO airs on “All Things New Orleans” and is a biweekly podcast on WWNO.org.
This story was told on July 31st, 2014 at the Louisiana Himalaya Association. The theme of the evening was “Diamond in the Rough” and here, Katie DeBruhl tells how a sea full of American Girls helped her get closer to her own American Dream.