Over the course of my career and education, I’ve made a concerted effort to pursue new opportunities in fields that excite me while holding tightly onto the things that I care about. At the University of North Texas, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the country's first Emergency Management degree program, IAEM and Latina grad stole over my shoulders. During my time with the Tarrant County, Texas, Office of Emergency Management, I focused on applying academic knowledge to real-world experiences by regularly volunteering, including supporting multiple full-scale exercises, and participating in response and recovery efforts following floods, tornadoes, and other emergencies. At the County, my skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and ability to concisely present data were recognized and utilized by elected officials, colleagues, and constituents alike. I now join The Olson Group, Ltd. to apply my knowledge alongside diverse and experienced team members while learning more about the field I am deeply passionate about. The wide breadth of projects, opportunities for training, and chance to work on the cutting edge of how we handle disasters allows me hone my skills and continue contributions towards prepared and resilient communities. I am driven by curiosity, the desire to understand, and a compulsion to express myself with clarity and precision.As a second-generation EADP major, I’ve always been conscious of the world around us and the possibility of it changing in an instant. As an especially inquisitive child, I’ve been told my first word was “Why?” This is now my second favorite question, after “What if?” The desire to understand how things work, to know what the plan is, and to see if anyone has viewed an issue from a different perspective are all part of why I’m drawn to this field.