I'm a woman going into a mostly man dominating field and so far loving every minute. I'm currently in school at Eastern Maine Community College to become a residential electrician. I love working with my hands, I always have. I've always known that I was going to go into a profession that requires me to work with my hands; it was the only way for me. I love learning how things operate, I love being outdoors, I find it fascinating the way the current travels, and as I'm learning more about this trade I'm developing a great appreciation for being apart of it. I grew up in a poor traditional mindset kind of family, where I was taught just because you're poor doesn't mean you need to look or act like it. I've had to overcome a lot in my life. My mother suffers from a Bipolar disorder and is unable to develop a strong sense of independence, I have had abusive boyfriends, I worked in high school to help pay the bills for my family and have been homeless before as a consequence. In a lot of ways, it was just me and my little brother growing up. I understand the value of family and how much a dollar is worth. I have worked hard to get where I am through cutting unhealthy people out of my life, working 2 jobs, therapy and having help from friends and family. I have spent the past year and a half working on myself and my traumas. I'm working on building a new life and developing goals, aspirations and a strong sense of self, I didn't allow myself before for the simple truth that I didn't feel safe enough to have them. Through all I have overcome, more than some and less than others, I do have a dream. I have a dream of owning property and having low rent to help good honest families like mine grow up and not have to worry. If I can help one family in the midst of this rent increased trend, especially where I live in Maine, I would consider myself successful. Becoming an electrician isn't the answer for this dream, but it's a step in the right direction, to become apart of the community. I want to learn what I can from people who know what they're doing. I want to learn the right way. It's important to me to do something greater than what is expected, to give back in some small way and this is my small way of doing that. Thank you for the consideration of this opportunity, regardless I'm grateful. - Alexandra Duplisea