I met Uncle Randy a little over three years ago, when Lamb of God came to Manila for the second time. It was almost Randy’s birthday, and I came with a drawing I made for him (which we talk about in the third episode of Growing Up with Randy Blythe where you could see me feel the feels).

He got up to hug me, and I thought that was gonna be the highlight of my evening. But it wasn’t just yet. During the show—four songs into their set—Randy gave me a shout out saying, “This one’s for my friend, Kara. Thanks for the present.” and went on to play, “Now You’ve Got Something to Die For.”

I literally broke into tears, and I began questioning why I was crying at a metal show until I started laughing about it. It was in that evening that my hero, my Uncle Randy Blythe—though he didn’t know it then—made sure that I was on the right path to becoming the person I was meant to be in this lifetime.

With that single gesture he made onstage, this man made me want to change for the better. After that night, I found my way and steered right into course.