My story begins in the backdrop of Queens, New York, where my parents grew up and my father was a hardworking laborer in the construction industry, and my immigrant grandparents taught me the values of perseverance and resilience. Watching them struggle through challenging conditions,
I learned early on the importance of standing up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves.
This realization hit home in a profoundly personal way when I was just a child. The chilling phone call that informed us of my brother’s life-threatening car accident is etched in my memory. Witnessing the impact of this event on my family, I understood the devastating ripple effect such incidents can have, not just physically but emotionally and financially.