Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, but I’ve called East New York in Brooklyn home since 2007. I moved here to live with my father during one of the darkest periods in my life. I was struggling with addiction, the aftermath of the trauma caused by losing my twin sons. My father stepped in, gave me a much-needed place to heal, and helped me to begin my journey toward recovery. I’ve now been sober for over a decade and have worked hard during this period to rebuild my life from the ground up.

Congrats on recently graduating from NYSCAS! What are your next steps planned?

My love of learning started early as my mother taught me to read when I was just three. While that may seem young to some, she understood that one of the only ways to be successful was to have a strong educational foundation and always reinforced that to me.

My first job was working as a paralegal for a few years, and it was the first experience I had where I could help others. While I enjoyed it and knew the skills would be transferable to pretty much any other field, I wanted to do more to serve as a support system to others in need. On my own path to healing from trauma and through several courses at Touro, I realized that I wanted to work in the psychology field.  I plan to stay at NYSCAS as a I work to obtain my bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Psychology and History. From there, I hope to become either a therapist or psychologist. I want to help others who feel invisible, stuck, or hopeless. My dream is to provide a safe, understanding space for people to rediscover their worth, while offering a listening ear and vital advice through my personal lived experience.

How has your experience at Touro NYSCAS shaped you?

NYSCAS has been a source of unwavering support through the many ups and downs in my life. From professors who believed in me to key figures like Dean Ortega and Lorinda Moore, who helped me navigate financial and personal hardships, I’ve always felt seen and heard here. I’m especially grateful for the compassion and empathy I felt at times when I had to pause my education. Every step of the way, Touro has encouraged me not to give up.

How do you manage being a student with other life responsibilities?

My husband is incredibly supportive, and I take my education very seriously. I wake up at 6 a.m. every day—even on weekends—to get ahead on assignments. I don’t like to cram, instead I prefer to break big projects into smaller parts. Planning and prioritizing tasks as much as possible and staying organized helps me achieve my educational goals, even when life feels unpredictable.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I’d tell myself to stop waiting until the last minute for major projects! Cramming creates unnecessary stress. I’d also regularly remind myself that I’m worthy of the life I’m working so hard to create and while I may not always be aware of it, the reason that I’ve encountered so many challenges is so I can help others dealing with similar situations. Every breath is a gift, and I would remind myself to never take it for granted and always keep pushing forward because with determination comes success.