Turning onto the main drive of the hospital, with a fresh poke bowl on the passenger seat of my responder, I see it. There is a white tractor trailer sitting on the main drag up to the emergency departmentment. The giant biohazard symbol embolized on the sides of the truck. If I look closely,there are no refrigeration mechanisms. It’s merely the day that the company comes to take the regulated medical waste out of the hospital I am based at. While my body is physically in Pittsburgh PA in the year 2024, my mind is back in New York, in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. I pull my vehicle to the designated spot in front of the emergency department and take a moment to recenter myself. Fifteen minutes ago, I was starving and ready to dive into my lunch. Now my stomach is churning. It takes a moment, some breathing exercises, a lot of mental back and forth but finally I am able to bring my mind back to Pittsburgh, and continue the rest of my shift as a response medic. Compared to the general public, EMS providers are twice as likely to die by suicide. The traumatic nature of our work plays a factor, as well as the repeated exposure to others unfortunate circumstances. When high ranking government officials downplay the need for EMS pay parity, brushing the work off as “different” it is difficult not to become bitter and jaded. Nurses and doctors were praised, and rightfully so, for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. EMS providers were forgotten about. As a child who suffered from anxiety stemming from at the time, undiagnosed ADHD, choosing a career with a high rate of burnout and mental illness seemed questionable. However, in EMS there is a running joke that having some sort of mental illness is almost a prerequisite. Being in EMS for almost a decade, I can see a clear divide between “old school” and “new school”. While talking with my “old school” colleagues, their mentality is to bottle up everything. As Queen Elsa would say “conceal, don’t feel, don't let them know”. There are calls holding, so hurry up and clean up the ambulance from that two year old that stopped breathing and get back in service. My younger colleagues tend to be more open with their mental health. Our discussions are often swapping information on therapists, medications, and other healthy outlets that have helped us cope with the repeated trauma we deal with on a daily basis. They are the first to check in after a rough call and to offer an ear, or a beer, to decompress. While there is still a stigma in EMS about seeking mental health treatment, it has decreased substantially over the years. The stigma was what initially prevented me from seeking help. My childhood anxiety often got me labeled as a “drama queen” and I quickly learned how to mask for fear of being seen as a burden. This would follow me into adulthood. On the outside I would look calm and collected but I was screaming internally. After years of just “dealing with it” I realized I needed help. It was my friends and their openness with their own mental health struggles that made me realize I was not alone in my battle. I made appointments with a psychiatrist as well as a therapist. Getting my official diagnosis felt like a relief. There were names for what I had experienced: ADHD and PTSD. With a combination of medication and therapy, I became a much better paramedic. I was no longer holding onto feelings of anger and resentment at things beyond my control. I am able to be more present for my patients and fellow providers and I stay ready, with an ear or a beer, for anyone who may need one.

As a female firefighter and a paramedic, I am part of a minority in my field. In the United States, it is estimated that 30 percent of EMS providers are women. Women also make up about nine percent of firefighters as well. I am well accustomed to being the only female in the room. At the beginning of my career, this often intimidated me but as I learned and grew personally and professionally, I embraced it. Being a woman in a male majority field made me persistent as well as resilient which I plan to utilize going forward as I advance my career with post-graduate studies. I am currently pursuing a masters degree in Emergency Management, a relatively new field which is also male majority . My decision to pursue this degree and career path came from working as a paramedic for several years. Through a degree in emergency management, I plan to utilize my professional experience with my newfound academic knowledge to help prepare the communities I will serve to prepare for disasters both natural and man-made. While there have been many events that influenced my career choice, the crash of TWA Flight 800, and the Covid-19 pandemic have had the most significant impact. The impact is twofold. Both of the events that inspired me to pursue this career path came with loss of life. Through Emergency Management, my goal is to work with government officials, from local to federal levels to help create plans and policies to minimize loss of life and property during disaster. The pandemic showed me how ill-prepared New York State, and the rest of the United States were to handle a pandemic of such magnitude. One project I would like to undertake is the more comprehensive utilization of emergency medical services during a pandemic. No matter how much we plan and prepare, loss of life is inevitable. In addition to disaster mitigation, part of my career goals include assisting and creating policies such as the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996. This Act in particular was created in response to the crash of TWA Flight 800, and several others to provide direct relief to the victims' families. In today's day and age disaster, both natural and man-made, is an ever-present threat. It is my hope, and my goal to be able to combine my professional experience along with the knowledge and skills I will gain through my studies. By doing so, be able to mitigate disaster to the best of my ability and provide the resources in the recovery period, to anyone who may need them.

On July 17th, 1996 TWA Flight 800 exploded off the coast of East Moriches New York, twelve minutes after takeoff from JFK Airport. Among the first to respond were the members of East Moriches Volunteer Ambulance and the East Moriches Volunteer Fire Department. These men and women were every day community members, being called on in extraordinary circumstances. It was my dentist, the gentleman we bought Christmas trees from during the holidays, and the local pastor to name a few. While the 230 souls aboard Flight 800 perished, the volunteer firefighters and EMS providers still assisted in the recovery operations. Five years later, the same men and women would donate their time on The Pile at Ground Zero, following the September 11th terrorist attacks. When I joined my local fire department some years later, I had the same motivations as most do when they join. I wanted to help people and I wanted to fight fire. Through my time with the Center Moriches Fire Department, I realized quickly how much of an integral part of the community the fire department was, beyond providing fire and emergency medical services. The firehouse quickly became my home away from home and my fellow firefighters became my second family. I had become a part of something bigger than myself. I remembered why I had become a firefighter in the first place, to honor the dream of my four year old self who didn’t have many female firefighters to look up to. I volunteer for a variety of reasons. It’s fun, I get to hang out with some cool people, I get to learn some incredible skills. Most importantly, I get to provide an important service to my community as a firefighter and I get to be a role model for other young girls who want to be firefighters themselves. Through being a volunteer firefighter, I have been pushed and challenged beyond what I thought I was capable of doing. I was one of the first members of the Center Moriches Fire Department Water Rescue Squad to become a Swiftwater Rescue Technician. For a while, I was the only female SWRT on the team. When I moved from Long Island, New York to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania several years later, the last thing on my mind was joining another volunteer fire department. I had enough on my plate between settling into my new job, in a new place, with a whole new set of EMS protocols. It was also September of 2020, and I was burnt out from the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic which had hit New York particularly hard. After I had been in PA for awhile, I settled into a routine. I reached out, learned how to play ice hockey and made a bunch of new friends both in and out of EMS. There was still something that was missing. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I realized I was missing the camaraderie of being back in a fire department. At work one night, another paramedic and I were chatting and it came up in conversation that I had been a volunteer firefighter in New York. It so happened that he was the Chief at a volunteer fire department that was in need of members. When I mentioned that I had my credentials, albeit from New York, he looked at me like Christmas came early. Two weeks later, I was at the Monroeville Volunteer Fire Department for a ride-along and was immediately welcomed by the other members. I handed in my application that day, and have been riding with Monroeville ever since.

As a child who suffered from anxiety stemming from at the time, undiagnosed ADHD, choosing a career with a high rate of burnout and mental illness seemed questionable. However, in EMS there is a running joke that having some sort of mental illness is almost a prerequisite. Being in EMS for almost a decade, I can see a clear divide between “old school” and “new school”. While talking with my “old school” colleagues, their mentality is to bottle up everything. To them, emotions indicate weakness. There are calls holding, so hurry up and clean up the ambulance from that two year old that stopped breathing and get back in service. My younger colleagues tend to be more open with their mental health. Our discussions are often sharing information on therapists, medications, and other healthy outlets that have helped us cope with the repeated trauma we deal with on a daily basis. They are the first to check in after a rough call and to offer an ear, or a beer, to decompress. While there is still a stigma in EMS about seeking mental health treatment, it has decreased substantially over the years. I am currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management. Through Emergency Management, my goal is to work with government officials, from local to federal levels to help create plans and policies to minimize loss of life and property during disaster. The pandemic showed me how ill-prepared New York State, and the rest of the United States were to handle a pandemic of such magnitude. No matter how much we plan and prepare, loss of life is inevitable. In addition to disaster mitigation, part of my career goals include assisting and creating policies such as the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996; which was created in response to the crash of TWA Flight 800, and several others to provide direct relief to the victims' families. In today's day and age disaster, both natural and man-made, is an ever-present threat. I hope to be able to be an asset to my community through emergency management. By doing so, I hope to be able to mitigate disaster to the best of my ability and provide the resources in the recovery period, to anyone who may need them.

As a female firefighter and paramedic, I am well accustomed to being the only female in the room. At the beginning of my career, this often intimidated me but as I learned and grew personally and professionally, I embraced it. Being a woman in a male majority field made me persistent as well as resilient. I am currently pursing a masters degree in Emergency Management, a relatively new field. My decision to pursue this degree and career path came from working as a paramedic for several years. Through a degree in emergency management, I plan to utilize my professional experience with my newfound academic knowledge to help prepare the communities I will serve prepare for disasters both natural and man-made. While there have been many events that influenced my career choice, the crash of TWA Flight 800, and the Covid-19 pandemic have had the most significant impact. The crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996 occurred in my hometown of East Moriches when I was a young child. Within hours, my small coastal town was thrust into the international spotlight as it became the base of operations for the multijurisdictional response. Among the analytics there was also the human aspect. 230 people lost their lives in the crash and 230 families wanted answers. In my adult life, the Covid-19 pandemic solidified my decision to further my career in public safety. During the pandemic I worked as a paramedic on Long Island, just outside of New York City. Despite not being considered essential by the State of New York, myself and my colleagues continued to provide exceptional care in less than ideal conditions. EMS is often the first and only point of medical care for many individuals. Our skills and knowledge were underutilized during the pandemic. The impact is twofold. Both of the events that inspired me to pursue this career path came with loss of life. Through Emergency Management, my goal is to work with government officials, from local to federal levels to help create plans and policies to minimize loss of life and property during disaster. The pandemic showed me how ill-prepared New York State, and the rest of the United States were to handle a pandemic of such magnitude. No matter how much we plan and prepare, loss of life is inevitable. In addition to disaster mitigation, part of my career goals include assisting and creating policies such as the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996; which was created in response to the crash of TWA Flight 800, and several others to provide direct relief to the victims' families. In today's day and age disaster, both natural and man-made, is an ever-present threat. I hope to be able to be an asset to my community through emergency management. By doing so, I hope to be able to mitigate disaster to the best of my ability and provide the resources in the recovery period, to anyone who may need them.

As a female firefighter and a paramedic, I am part of a minority in my field. In the United States, it is estimated that 30 percent of EMS providers are women. Women also make up about nine percent of firefighters as well. I am well accustomed to being the only female in the room. At the beginning of my career, this often intimidated me but as I learned and grew personally and professionally, I embraced it. Being a woman in a male majority field made me persistent as well as resilient which I plan to utilize going forward as I advance my career with post-graduate studies. I am currently pursing a masters degree in Emergency Management, a relatively new field which is also male majority . My decision to pursue this degree and career path came from working as a paramedic for several years. Through a degree in emergency management, I plan to utilize my professional experience with my newfound academic knowledge to help prepare the communities I will serve prepare for disasters both natural and man-made. While there have been many events that influenced my career choice, the crash of TWA Flight 800, and the Covid-19 pandemic have had the most significant impact. The crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996 occurred in my hometown of East Moriches when I was a young child. Within hours, my small coastal town was thrust into the international spotlight as it became the base of operations for the multijurisdictional response. Among the analytics there was also the human aspect. 230 people lost their lives in the crash and 230 families wanted answers. In my adult life, the Covid-19 pandemic is what solidified my decision to further my career in public safety. During the pandemic I was a boots on the ground worker as a paramedic on Long Island, two hours outside of New York City. Despite not being considered essential by the State of New York, myself and my colleagues continued to provide exceptional patient care in less than ideal conditions. As paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians, we are often the first and only point of medical care for many individuals. Ours skills and knowledge were underutilized during the pandemic. The impact is twofold. Both of the events that inspired me to pursue this career path came with loss of life. Through Emergency Management, my goal is to work with government officials, from local to federal levels to help create plans and policies to minimize loss of life and property during disaster. The pandemic showed me how ill-prepared New York State, and the rest of the United States were to handle a pandemic of such magnitude. One project I would like to undertake is the more comprehensive utilization of emergency medical services during a pandemic. No matter how much we plan and prepare, loss of life is inevitable. In addition to disaster mitigation, part of my career goals include assisting and creating policies such as the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996. This Act in particular was created in response to the crash of TWA Flight 800, and several others to provide direct relief to the victims' families. In today's day and age disaster, both natural and man-made, is an ever-present threat. It is my hope, and my goal to be able to combine my professional experience along with the knowledge and skills I will gain through my studies. In by doing so, be able to mitigate disaster to the best of my ability and provide the resources in the recovery period, to anyone who may need them.

When a Boeing 747 explodes in your backyard, it leaves a lasting impact. On July 17, 1996 TWA Flight 800 left JFK Airport in New York, bound for Paris, France exploded 12 minutes after takeoff about 10 miles of the coast of Long Island. All 230 souls on board perished. The scenic hamlet of East Moriches New York, my hometown, was thrust into an international spotlight as it became the hub of the recovery efforts and the multijurisdictional response to uncover the truth. The tragedy affected my family on an even deeper level, as my parents were friends with a couple that was on the plane. Even though I was a young child, I can clearly remember the aftermath. There were signs on the beaches advising the public to call the police if parts of the aircraft, or the victims, were found on the beach. In the days before social medial, every news station from local to national was covering the tragedy. New York has been subjected to many disasters and tragedies, both natural and man-made, in the past few decades. Avianca Flight 052, TWA Flight 800, September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 587, The Great Blackout of 2003, Miracle on the Hudson, Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy, and Covid-19...to name a few. But as New Yorkers we are resilient people, and we look out for our own. In the words of the late Fred Rogers "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” In 2015, I became one of the helpers. In February of that year, I was sworn in as a probationary EMS member of the Center Moriches Volunteer Fire Department. Here I would serve my community on the ambulance and ride alongside many other incredible men and women. Their knowledge and expertise would allow me to learn and grow into my new role as an emergency medical technician. What had started out as a way to volunteer my time to give back to my community as an EMT, would then turn into my passion and ultimately lay the groundwork for my career. In 2018 I made the decision to return to the classroom to pursue my paramedic certification. Following my successful completion of the paramedic program, New York was then thrown onto the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. Working as a paramedic in the midst of those unprecedented times, further solidified my decision to further my education in Emergency Management. The pandemic highlighted the need for effective communication between EMS agencies, the hospital systems, public health authorities, as well as the general public. I chose to pursue an M.S. in Emergency Management as working as a paramedic, especially in New York during the Covid-19 Pandemic, made me realize my passion lies in public safety. Having worked full time while attending paramedic school, it is difficult to dedicate the time needed to school work while working full time. Through my studies and eventual completion of this degree, I am hoping to combine my newfound knowledge with my professional experience to better prepare for and prevent disaster before it happens.

They say the more things change, the more things stay the same. If I had a time machine, I would go back and tell my younger self that she'll still be watching Bleach all those years later. Only this time, instead of fighting her brothers for the family computer to watch fan-subbed episodes on YouTube in three parts, it'll be in her apartment, with her cat. I was 15 years old when I first found Bleach. At the same time, Naruto was starting to gain popularity in the US, and my friends and I would spend our lunch period discussing the latest episodes. In high school, I had a part-time job at the local library reshelving books. At the end of my shift, I would browse the manga section while I waited for my dad to pick me up. The cover of Bleach caught my eye, with the protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki's image holding his sword. I was instantly hooked upon reading the summary and thumbing through the first few pages. I checked out the first few volumes and read them at home. Unlike Naruto, Ichigo and I were the same age. I related to his struggles as a high school student trying to fit in. As I read the manga, I quickly discovered the corresponding anime. Over the years, Bleach has cemented itself into my personal rotation of comfort shows. As Ichigo goes through the trials and tribulations of learning to be a Soul Reaper, I admired his bravery and determination against all odds. Even though at the time, my biggest challenge was making the volleyball team. As I got older, my interests changed. I would no longer tune in ever week to a new episode. Every once and a while, I rewatch Bleach from the beginning. I fall back in love with the story, the characters, and the complexity of the world that Tite Kubo had built. When I need inspiration for my own stories, I turn to Bleach. It is my reminder to myself that with if you are determined, and stubborn enough, anything is possible.

Over the past several years, I have accomplished a lot in my time as a paramedic. In addition to providing high quality care to patients in need, I am also a preceptor to paramedic students and a field training officer to new paramedics. Being a paramedic is challenging. With an aging population, patients are sicker, their illnesses are becoming more complex, and our protocols are dynamic. Paramedic students are given a myriad of information in a short period of time and expected to know it all. There are few things more nerve-wracking than being presented with a critically ill patient at three o’clock in the morning, and knowing you are the one responsible for getting them to the hospital alive. As a student, the preceptors you work with will shape you into the paramedic you will become and they can make or break your paramedic school experience. The number of people becoming paramedics is dwindling, as is the number of paramedics staying in the field. This is due to a number of reasons, but “eating our young” is definitely one of them. As a preceptor to paramedic students, I make sure to be actively engaged in their journey. They are the future of the profession and in teaching them, I am doing my part to ensure that they grow into competent, capable, and most of all confident paramedics. There is a chance that one day that they could be taking care of me or my family. Even once a student passes their exams and is cleared to practice as a paramedic, the learning is not over. I enjoy working with new paramedics and providing them with a bit of a safety net when things go sideways. It is not helpful to close the ambulance doors on a brand new paramedic with a critical patient and offer no assistance. Nor is it helpful, when the senior medic berates the junior medic on every aspect of their patient care while offering no constructive feedback. Both of these situations have happened to me in my first year as a paramedic. There were many times where I wanted to quit and leave EMS all together because of how I was treated by the senior medics. Several years later, I am the senior medic and I try to be the senior medic I wish I had when I was new. I take great pride when I see students that I’ve precepted grow into the capable and confident providers I know they can be. In a field where we are twice as likely to commit suicide than the general public, ensuring that those that enter the field have the support that they need to keep going. I will routinely check in with my colleagues after calls to make sure they have access to the appropriate resources. Sometimes that means being a listening ear to a colleague in need. EMS serves some of the most vulnerable populations and provides a vital role in getting them healthcare. In a dynamic environment, we have to be on top of our game. As a preceptor, I hope to inspire people to stay in EMS, and be the best providers they can be. They are the future of a career that I worked so hard to excel in and I want to make sure that if someone calls 911, a capable, and confident paramedic shows up to take care of them.

Turning onto the main drive of the hospital, with a fresh poke bowl on the passenger seat of my responder, I see it. There is a white tractor trailer sitting on the main drag up to the emergency department. The giant biohazard symbol embolized on the sides of the truck. If I look closely, there are no refrigeration mechanisms. It’s merely the day that the company comes to take the regulated medical waste out of the hospital I am based at. While my body is physically in Pittsburgh PA in the year 2024, my mind is back in New York, in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. I pull my vehicle to the designated spot in front of the emergency department and take a moment to recenter myself. Fifteen minutes ago, I was starving and ready to dive into my lunch. Now my stomach is churning. It takes a moment, some breathing exercises, a lot of mental back and forth but finally I am able to bring my mind back to Pittsburgh, and continue the rest of my shift as a response medic. Compared to the general public, EMS providers are twice as likely to die by suicide. We are also more likely to mask our symptoms, for fear of being seen as weak, or unable to do the job. The traumatic nature of our work plays a factor, as well as the repeated exposure to others unfortunate circumstances. When high ranking government officials downplay the need for EMS pay parity, brushing the work off as “different” meaning not dangerous, it is difficult not to become bitter and jaded. Nurses and doctors were praised, and rightfully so, for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. EMS providers were forgotten about. Almost everyone knows about the 343 firefighters that perished on September 11, 2001. No one remembers the eight EMS providers that perished along with them. As a child who suffered from anxiety stemming from at the time, undiagnosed ADHD, choosing a career with a high rate of burnout and mental illness seemed questionable. However, in EMS there is a running joke that having some sort of mental illness is almost a prerequisite. Being in EMS for almost a decade, I can see a clear divide between “old school” and “new school”. While talking with my “old school” colleagues, their mentality is to bottle up everything. As Queen Elsa would say “conceal, don’t feel, don't let them know”. There are calls holding, so hurry up and clean up the ambulance from that two year old that stopped breathing and get back in service. My younger colleagues tend to be more open with their mental health. Our discussions are often swapping information on therapists, medications, and other healthy outlets that have helped us cope with the repeated trauma we deal with on a daily basis. They are the first to check in after a rough call and to offer an ear, or a beer, to decompress. While there is still a stigma in EMS about seeking mental health treatment, it has decreased substantially over the years. The stigma was what initially prevented me from seeking help. My childhood anxiety often got me labeled as a “drama queen” and I quickly learned how to mask for fear of being seen as a burden. This would follow me into adulthood. On the outside I would look calm and collected but I was screaming internally. After years of just “dealing with it” I realized I needed help. It was my friends and their openness with their own mental health struggles that made me realize I was not alone in my battle. I made appointments with a psychiatrist as well as a therapist. Getting my official diagnosis felt like a relief. There were names for what I had experienced: ADHD and PTSD. With a combination of medication and therapy, I became a much better paramedic. I was no longer holding onto feelings of anger and resentment at things beyond my control. I am able to be more present for my patients and fellow providers and I stay ready, with an ear or a beer, for anyone who may need one.

In the words of former New York City Mayor Bill DiBlasio, EMS work is “different”. Compared to our colleagues in law enforcement and the fire service, working in emergency medical services does not seem as dangerous. While our work is indeed different, we do face our own unique set of challenges. On March 14, 2020 the Covid-19 Pandemic shut the world down. In the United States, New York City and the surrounding areas were some of the hardest hit areas in the country. I was a brand new paramedic in Suffolk County, New York, two hours east of New York City. While not directly in the city, I would frequently transport patients from hospitals on Long Island, to hospitals in New York City. As the world shut down, we revved up and New York was about to find out how “different” EMS work really was. The early weeks of the pandemic brought upon an eerie calm. The most current data at the time said that Covid-19 symptoms can present up to two weeks past exposure. For two weeks we waited. The waiting room at the Emergency Department remained empty. People were scared to come to the hospital for fear of contracting this unknown virus. Fewer patients were entering the hospital, but the ones that did were incredibly sick. Then two weeks after the initial shutdowns, the floodgates opened. Prior to my completion of my paramedic certification, I had completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology. My studies included work in microbiology and immunology. I had studied the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 and was starting to notice some disturbing trends emerging. Midway through the chaos, NYS released an “official” list of essential workers. Notably missing were EMTs and Paramedics. Despite the 80+ hours I was working, and the additional stress of not having proper PPE, finding out that I was not an essential worker felt like a slap in the face. But I, like my colleagues, continued to show up. We were non-essential workers, doing different work. We were the ones transporting patients from the floors to the ambulatory surgery pavilion which had been converted into a vented covid unit. This unit was essentially a place where people went to die. I have currently been accepted into the Master of Science of Emergency Management at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. While I currently live in Pittsburgh, PA, I grew up in New York and close to New York City. Since I will be pursuing full time graduate studies, I will not be eligible for the in-state tuition rate. I will also be working full time while in graduate school in order to support myself. Having worked full time while attending paramedic school, it is difficult to dedicate the time needed to school work while working full time. I chose to pursue an M.S. in Emergency Management as working as a paramedic, especially in New York during the Covid-19 Pandemic, has highlighted my passion for public safety and my ability to be able to make a difference in times of crisis. Through my studies and eventual completion of this degree, I am hoping to combine my newfound knowledge with my professional experience to better prepare for and prevent disaster before it happens.

As a native Long Islander, I am no stranger to disaster and tragedy. When I was four years old, TWA Flight 800 left JFK airport on July 17, 1996 and exploded off the coast of East Moriches, NY. My hometown was thrust into the international spotlight as it became the base of operations for the multi-jurisdictional response. Five short years later in 2001, New York would become the target of the September 11th terrorist attacks. It would be nearly impossible to know how my life would have turned out had these two defining moments not happened at a formative age. However, these two events, and several others helped shape the career in public safety that I have had for the past decade. In college I joined the swim team. As an accomplished volleyball player in high school, I had no experience swimming competitively. In the words of my captain freshman year, “if you can get in the water and not drown, we’ll take what we can get.” My first practice was abysmal and I could barely make it across the 25 yard pool. By the end of the season, three short months later, I was able to swim 500 yards continuously. This accomplishment allowed me to take a lifeguarding class. What had started as a way to make some extra spending money launched my public safety career. After graduating from the College of New Rochelle, I joined the Center Moriches Fire Department, a volunteer fire department, as an EMS only member. I was able to become an Emergency Medical Technician to ride on the ambulance and assist my community members who were sick and injured. After spending two years as an EMT, I made the decision to further my EMS education and go to paramedic school. Upon completing paramedic school, I served as EMS Vice President for two years. In addition to EMS, I was also able to become a firefighter and a Rescue Swimmer for the department. While I also held a full time job as a paramedic, I would continue to serve my community as a volunteer for the Center Moriches Fire Department. I have currently been accepted into the Master of Science of Emergency Management at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. While I currently live in Pittsburgh, PA, I grew up in New York and close to New York City. Since I will be pursuing full time graduate studies, I will not be eligible for the in-state tuition rate. I will also be working full time while in graduate school in order to support myself. Having worked full time while attending paramedic school, it is difficult to dedicate the time needed to school work while working full time. I chose to pursue an M.S. in Emergency Management as working as a paramedic, especially in New York during the Covid-19 Pandemic, has highlighted my passion for public safety and my ability to be able to make a difference in times of crisis. Through my studies and eventual completion of this degree, I am hoping to combine my newfound knowledge with my professional experience to better prepare for and prevent disaster before it happens.