I have never had a “normal” life. Moving from Lake Tahoe, to Reno, to Oakland, and finally to Sacramento County forced me to adapt to changes that were out of my control. That skill has led me to where I am now. I chose biochemistry as my major to provide me the flexibility to choose between the several different healthcare careers that are available. None of them really interested me, and one day I noticed a flier on the biology department’s bulletin board for an internship at the Sacramento County’s Environmental Management Department (EMD). My ability to adapt has led me on a wild ride from being a Water Quality and Control intern, to an Environmental Specialist, and now an Economic Development Specialist. As an Environmental Specialist, and even as an intern, my role was mainly to be a regulator. Enforce the regulations and ordinances. The career was straightforward. I reiterated regulations and ordinances for the normal masses to understand, and what I said was essentially final. It was a feeling in my life that I had not experienced because I had control, and it gave me a sense of pride to be one of the unsung heroes of my community. I guaranteed your water quality, I prevented future superfund sites, I enforced bad actors, and I helped to the best ability that I could in my position. However, I realized I enjoyed helping business owners and people more than enforcing, and that is why I am now an Economic Development Specialist. This position has allowed me to work closer with the community to ensure that their business succeeds and our community succeeds, and who better to guide people through hurdles than a former regulator.