“I grew up in St. Augustine, Florida. My mother was a single parent of my brother and me, doing the best she could with what she had. We were poor, on welfare and food stamps. Often our electricity was cut off and we’d run a long, thick orange extension cord from our house to our cousin’s house until my mom could scrape together enough money to pay the electric bill. There were always sounds and evidence of physical and verbal abuse, mostly toward women and children, including me and my mother. I felt there was no escape. My life would forever consist of welfare, food stamps, orange extension cords, yelling, fighting, black eyes, and bruises and pains in places no one should endure … especially little girls. I knew deep in my heart I had to leave St. Augustine, but I couldn’t afford college. In the summer of 1984, I walked by an Army recruiting station and enlisted.

As a young soldier I never talked about my upbringing because I was ashamed and embarrassed. Now, I’ve accepted my experiences and continue to share them with the hopes of inspiring others to know they can overcome their circumstances. I was honored to be given the responsibility of serving my country.”