In 2019, I was waiting tables, juggling college, bills, and the day-to-day pressures of making ends meet. One afternoon at Target, my daughter asked me for a small toy. After a rough shift with almost no tips, I couldn’t afford it. Telling her “no” and watching her cry was a moment that changed everything for me. I knew I never wanted to feel that powerless again.
A few days later, I walked into the local community college’s trade school and noticed the electrical lineworker program. I didn’t know much about the field, but I knew it offered stability, purpose, and a chance to build something better for my family. I enrolled, pushed through, graduated—and I’ve never looked back.
Today, I have a career I’m proud of, one that challenges me and rewards me. Most importantly, it’s given me a beautiful life and the ability to give my daughter the security I once struggled to provide.