I grew up in Joliet, Illinois, in a blue-collar household where hard work, character, and responsibility were important from an early age. I was always inquisitive and constantly asking questions about the world around me—a habit that has followed me well into adulthood. Growing up as the youngest in my family also exposed me to an mature perspective early in life and helped shape the independence and curiosity I still carry today.
Many of the interests I have today started when I was young. Computers and technology fascinated me, and I was often the one helping my parents figure out the family computer. I enjoyed working with my hands, building model cars, and eventually maintaining and modifying my own vehicles. Sports were also a major part of my childhood, from years of baseball and competitive bowling to a lifelong interest in golf. One interest, however, became especially important to me: roller coasters and theme parks. Growing up with Six Flags Great America as my home park introduced me to a world that continues to inspire me today.
By high school, I knew that I wanted to serve my country. I considered pursuing mechanical engineering, but ultimately chose the Marine Corps because I wanted to challenge myself and prove that I could overcome something difficult. During my time in service, I worked as a diesel mechanic, which gave me early exposure to troubleshooting complex mechanical systems, working with my hands, and understanding how individual components work together as part of a larger machine. Just as importantly, the Marine Corps strengthened my discipline, work ethic, perseverance, and ability to perform under pressure and as part of a team. Those experiences would later become an important foundation for my future in engineering, giving me both the mechanical curiosity and the mindset to take on difficult problems without backing away from them.
After leaving the military, I returned home and began working at Allways Precision, a company specializing in the remanufacturing of centerless grinders. I started as a general laborer and gradually worked my way into machining and mechanical assembly. That experience gave me the opportunity to work directly with machinery, technical drawings, precision components, and automation systems. More importantly, it reinforced how much I enjoyed working with my hands, learning how things operate, and turning ideas or drawings into something physical.
Engineering had always been an interest of mine, but my path toward it was anything but direct. From an early age, I was naturally curious about machines, technology, and how things worked, but pursuing engineering was not something I was able to do right away. Instead, life took me through experiences that would ultimately prepare me for it in ways I could not have predicted. My time as a diesel mechanic in the Marine Corps gave me a strong mechanical foundation, while my years working around machining, technical drawings, and mechanical assembly strengthened my appreciation for precision, craftsmanship, and problem-solving. When the opportunity eventually came to return to school, pursuing mechanical engineering felt less like starting over and more like building on everything I had already learned. Today, I am a senior Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Houston, continuing to develop the analytical side of the hands-on skills and curiosity that have followed me throughout my life.
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