Kennedy Leighton is a Central Michigan University student and self-published author from Schoolcraft Michigan whose vulnerable story has uplifted, supported, and encouraged many struggling with grief and loss.  In 2014, Kennedy and her family experienced the tragic loss of her mother. As her role model and the woman she admired most, Kennedy felt at a loss — confused and brokenhearted — as she prepared to start high school. For a brief period, she found herself on the wrong path, with the wrong group of friends.  But a turning point arrived on her sixteenth birthday, in which Kennedy fully realized the potential to transform her life, and the lives of others, by sharing her loss and the tremendous kindness she received from others through writing.  Ultimately, Kennedy self-published two books, Dear Kennedy and Miraculous Every Day, and created an online store called Kennedy Marleen. Kennedy’s story is one of encouragement, vulnerability, and love. Her books and personal experiences are a testament to the notion that refocusing pain for a greater good can lead to an avenue of self-healing and healing for others. Today, Kennedy remains grounded by her faith, the guidance of her father, and her belief that everyone has a story worth sharing.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices