I would have to say I owe the majority of where I am today to my parents. I’ve been extremely lucky to have a family who has continued to push me to do things out of my comfort zone, like join the Department of Sanitation. Sometimes you have to take paths in life that weren’t what you planned (or went to college for) and they can turn out to be life changing.

I’m most proud of where I am today in my career. As I learned about the job I began to see all the opportunities I would be able to achieve. Becoming a supervisor was one goal I was able to accomplish, with many more things to cross off my list. I am proud of taking the opportunities and roles placed before me and giving my very all to them.

To be confident, positive, and ambitious. It may seem intimidating at first but everything always is when it’s something new. Don’t let the stereotypes scare you away. Working for “New York’s Strongest” is a privilege.

I was born and raised in Staten Island, worked in Manhattan, and went to college in Queens, where I now reside with my husband. I think I realized I was a “New Yorker ” when I would travel outside of the city and realized there isn’t a Deli or Pizzeria on every street corner. We forget how lucky we are to have so many resources and amazing food no matter where you are in the city. There is nothing like a New York Slice or Bagel.

In three words: perseverance, determination, and open-mindedness. As a Native New Yorker, working in the field of counterterrorism/intelligence for the NYPD was my dream job—and it took me almost ten years, lots of out-of-the-box thinking, and a few detours to finally get here. But I never gave up—I always kept my eye on my goal and my heart open to the choices that felt right for me along the way. Having support from family and friends helped to keep me grounded (and smiling!), but ultimately, we each have to walk ourselves across the finish line.

The relationships I’ve formed over the years are definitely my most meaningful accomplishments. And I don’t mean networking—which is also very important and you should definitely do that, too! I’m talking about the authentic friendships I’ve created along the way because at the end of the day, friendship is what makes both our personal and professional lives richer in so many ways.

Never give up, be humble, and get creative. If that means taking an unpaid, part-time internship in this field in order to build your resume—yes, even with a graduate degree—then do it. Do whatever you need to do to stay on your path and don’t get discouraged. Another thing that I think is incredibly sacrosanct in this field is to remain unbiased and to leave your personal opinions at the door. So, be sure to stay informed on what’s going on in the world through a variety of verified sources, and make sure that you spend enough time consuming content from sources that tend to provide perspectives, angles, and opinions that differ from your own.

I was born and raised in New York City so I have always felt profoundly connected to the City and to my identity as a New Yorker. I feel very lucky to have grown up in such a dynamic and diverse environment, to be the product of New York City public schooling, and to now be paying it all forward by serving the city that I love and call home.