At 21 years of age, I became a therapeutic mentor while completing my bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Columbia College of Missouri. In 2006, I was hired as a juvenile probation officer for McHenry County, IL, with a focus on community service/victim services. I eventually became an investigator for the department and wrote social history investigations for the Court. I have over 14 years of experience as a probation officer and therapeutic mentor. I helped hundreds of families navigate through some of their most difficult times. Throughout those years, I continued to develop and become a leader in the field. My role became that as an officer, mediator, therapist, crisis worker, advocate, trainer, investigator, writer, and legal assistant - I was someone who had the ability to perform to the highest standard under any circumstance. In 2022, I became the grants specialist at McHenry County College. I continue to use my research and writing skills to find grant opportunities and complete applications. I track reporting deadlines, edit reports, create budgets, and ensure the college's compliance with grant regulations.