I was born 2 months early, 3 lbs 4 oz with lungs that were not fully developed. After 18 days in the NIC unit under the care of some very dedicated nurses and doctors I was released to go home. The time I had spent in my mother's womb with my twin brother fighting for space forced my hips into an unnatural position which was corrected at the age of 8 months by a spica cast which held my hips in a wide spread position. My doctor told my mom I would be behind in learning to walk and would develop slower than my brother. My parents did not treat me any differently than my brother and encouraged me to keep trying when I would fall and struggle to get up. I did learn to walk while wearing my cast and was able to keep up with my brother. Once the cast was removed and I was able to walk freely my walking turned into running and running led me to my first love. Soccer! I excelled at soccer but was struggling in school. Learning to read was extremely difficult and I had difficulty pronouncing certain letters and sounds. My mom would encourage me to keep trying by promising I could stay at soccer practice later if I worked hard at learning to read. My teachers worked tirelessly with me and with my work ethic and the promise of more soccer time I became a reader and learned my multiplication tables and began meeting all the educational goals set for me. Throughout this time I would tell my teachers that when I grew up I would be a police officer so I could help people like they had helped me. The promise I made to my teachers at the age of 8 stayed with me throughout my educational career. As a Junior in high school I made the decision to join the Suffolk County Explorers (2nd Precinct) so I could begin giving back to a community that had given to me. Through my volunteer work with the Explorers I learned valuable skills, worked alongside peers who have the same mindset as me and had the opportunity to compete against them and come out on top in physical challenges. I am now preparing for the next step in my journey to becoming a law enforcement officer. I was recently notified I have been accepted to my number one school choice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice where I will be pursuing my goal of a double major in Psychology and Criminology. I was born a fighter and will continue my fight to give back to my community that has given me so much.