As the only child of a single teenage parent. I spent much of my time in solidarity soaking up any knowledge like a sponge. Observing the behaviors of the adults I was constantly around. As a child, I began to notice my family dynamic was not quite like my peers. My mother was always the youngest parent at school events. On top of that most of my peers didn't live at home with their grandparents. I spent most of my time at home with my elderly grandfather if I wasn’t at school. I read books, I taught my stuffed animals or I would express myself through art. Within our immediate family relationships we had developed an avoidant attachment to each other and the outside world. Problems were never solved with conversations or resolutions, but rather elaborate mind games that came with harm if you lost. Overtime, I learned to study my family's behaviors. I would listen for the slightest change in tone or examine their facial expressions to avoid confrontations and ridicule. My mother began to abuse substances, specifically alcohol and the behaviors became more erratic and unpredictable. In our now dysfunctional family dynamic, I had been labeled the scapegoat. My body and behavior began to revert to a constant flight or fight state. I developed a heavy fear of failure and shame. This fear gave me anxiety and led me to try my best and strive for perfection at everything to avoid the tactics and manipulation. I observed how alcohol played a role in my mothers behaviors and created a wedge within our family. Through my observations and experiences, I also developed a deep empathy for people and a desire to create a safe space for others. When pursuing my undergraduate I decided to double major in Early Education and Sociology. This decision came from my passion for education and curiosity about society, specifically how trauma played a role in our society. My studies in sociology opened a whole new way of thinking for me. This way of thinking and area of study increased my understanding of childhood trauma relating to my own experiences with a dysfunctional family dynamic. With my new lens and understanding of systematic patterns I have faced, I strategically chose coursework in areas relating to children, families, race and education to grasp a better understanding of myself and the population of people I wanted to work with. I didn’t want to become another statistic and I wasn’t going to allow my past to define my future. I am currently enrolled at Northeastern University to pursue a Master’s in Applied Behavioral Analysis in hopes of becoming a BCBA. I work as a specialized paraprofessional in a program geared toward helping children with trauma. Within this position I am expected to be a 1:1 for students in order to help them succeed when it comes to their behaviors. Through my time in this position, I have watched how ABA can be beneficial for children experiencing trauma and I’ve been a part of our students' growth. As a BCBA I will be able to give compassion, empathy and resourcefulness to all individuals in need that I encounter. I have accomplished milestones and unlearned behaviors by gaining knowledge through my experiences. I want to be able to help others do the same and overcome trauma in a way that gives them confidence and empowerment. As someone who grew up not having many people to rely on, I take pride in being reliable to others.

As the only child of a single teenage parent. I spent much of my time in solidarity soaking up any knowledge like a sponge. Observing the behaviors of the adults I was constantly around. As a child, I began to notice my family dynamic was not quite like my peers. My mother was always the youngest parent at school events. On top of that most of my peers didn't live at home with their grandparents. I spent most of my time at home with my elderly grandfather if I wasn’t at school. I read books, I taught my stuffed animals or I would express myself through art. Within our immediate family relationships we had developed an avoidant attachment to each other and the outside world. Problems were never solved with conversations or resolutions, but rather elaborate mind games that came with harm if you lost. Overtime, I learned to study my family's behaviors. I would listen for the slightest change in tone or examine their facial expressions to avoid confrontations and ridicule. My mother began to abuse substances, specifically alcohol and the behaviors became more erratic and unpredictable. In our now dysfunctional family dynamic, I had been labeled the scapegoat. My body and behavior began to revert to a constant flight or fight state. I developed a heavy fear of failure and shame. This fear gave me anxiety and led me to try my best and strive for perfection at everything to avoid the tactics and manipulation. I observed how alcohol played a role in my mothers behaviors and created a wedge within our family. Through my observations and experiences, I also developed a deep empathy for people and a desire to create a safe space for others. When pursuing my undergraduate I decided to double major in Early Education and Sociology. This decision came from my passion for education and curiosity about society, specifically how trauma played a role in our society. My studies in sociology opened a whole new way of thinking for me. This way of thinking and area of study increased my understanding of childhood trauma relating to my own experiences with a dysfunctional family dynamic. With my new lens and understanding of systematic patterns I have faced, I strategically chose coursework in areas relating to children, families, race and education to grasp a better understanding of myself and the population of people I wanted to work with. I didn’t want to become another statistic and I wasn’t going to allow my past to define my future. I am currently enrolled at Northeastern University to pursue a Master’s in Applied Behavioral Analysis in hopes of becoming a BCBA. I work as a specialized paraprofessional in a program geared toward helping children with trauma. Within this position I am expected to be a 1:1 for students in order to help them succeed when it comes to their behaviors. Through my time in this position, I have watched how ABA can be beneficial for children experiencing trauma and I’ve been a part of our students' growth. As a BCBA I will be able to give compassion, empathy and resourcefulness to all individuals in need that I encounter. I have accomplished milestones and unlearned behaviors by gaining knowledge through my experiences. I want to be able to help others do the same and overcome trauma in a way that gives them confidence and empowerment. As someone who grew up not having many people to rely on, I take pride in being reliable to others.

As the only child of a single teenage parent. I spent much of my time in solidarity soaking up any knowledge like a sponge. Overtime, I learned to study my mother’s behaviors. I would listen for the slightest change in tone or examine her facial expressions to avoid confrontations and ridicule. My mother began to abuse substances, specifically alcohol and the behaviors became erratic and unpredictable. In our dysfunctional family dynamic, I had been labeled the scapegoat. My body began to revert to a constant flight or fight state. I developed a heavy fear of failure and shame. This fear gave me anxiety and led me to try my best and strive for perfection at everything to avoid the tactics and manipulation. I observed how alcohol played a role in my mothers behaviors and created a wedge within our family. Through my observations and experiences, I also developed a deep empathy for people and a desire to create a safe space for others. Currently I work in an elementary school as a specialized paraeducator within a program designed to help children with behavioral needs due to trauma. I’ve always loved working with children and being a safe space for them but this program has grown my love for learning about behaviors and how trauma can affect our future. I have an undergraduate in Sociology with a concentration in education. I am currently enrolled at Northeastern University to pursue my Master’s in Applied Behavioral Analysis. I have accomplished many milestones and unlearned behaviors by gaining knowledge through my experiences. I want to help others do the same and overcome trauma in a way that gives them confidence and empowerment. As someone who grew up not having many people to rely on, I take pride in being reliable to others.