Hi, My name is Jerad Mullicane. I am a junior, majoring in GEP (Geography and Environmental Planning) at Sonoma State University. I am also a new dad, artist, and husband. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to return to school and complete my degree. While I had worked for several years to support my wife in attaining her Masters, shortly after she graduated we were the victims of a car-jacking in 2017. After the thief had forced my father to the ground and proceeded to back out with my car I jumped on the hood in a futile attempt to stop them. Unfortunately, life is not an action movie. I was quickly thrown from the vehicle during a sharp turn and suffered a traumatic brain injury that left me hospitalized for three days. I am grateful to the quick response of the paramedics and the law enforcement officers that eventually caught the thief. It remains to this day the most absurd event I have ever lived through, and it provided me with a profound sense of purpose. I resolved to return to school and secure a future for myself and my family. Since that incident I have worked hard to get where I am today and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.