I grew up in two separate households — one was with a single father who was a union steelworker and the other was with a single mother whose family was made up of firefighters and EMTs. To say that neither side was a stranger to only making ends meet is an understatement since many times we had to make do with what we had or go without completely. This is the reality, though, for many people in Missouri.

Even into my adult life, I faced hardships that are all too common to many people in our state. An example is not being able to afford a college education because of financial insecurity. I had to watch as my dream of becoming the first college graduate in my family was put on pause for almost a decade. It wasn’t until 2020 when I was able to restart this journey and begin classes at St. Louis University where I now study Greek & Latin languages, Classical Studies, and American Studies.

We are a cumulative of our own experiences but there are common threads we all share. I’m here running for State Representative of House District 81 because I understand what our community faces. I understand struggle and the painful emotions that come with it. In short, I understand because I am the people I represent.