Military Rank: U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal (retired)
Current Job: Military & Veteran Services Work Study Student
Major: Criminal Justice
Programs: Military & Veteran Services
Mentors: Military & Veteran Services Director Richard Pusateri; Military and Veteran Services Advisor Alexis Pistone
Hometown: New Rochelle, NY
Career Aspiration: Crime Scene Investigator

What was life like before John Jay?
Both of my parents are from Mexico. I was their first child born in the United States and the oldest daughter. I’m a lot of “firsts” in my family—the first one to go to college and the first to join the military. I take a lot of pride in that. Since my parents were not English speakers, I had many responsibilities at a young age. I was expected to help translate everything—bills, paperwork from doctors, and my younger sister’s homework assignments. I’m a natural people pleaser and I wanted to help, but it was so much to handle. At 17 years old, I needed to escape that reality and I decided to join the military.

What was it like joining the military at such a young age?
I knew I wanted to go to college, and that I wanted to attend John Jay, but I also knew I wasn’t ready for college at that point in my life. I felt like there was something else I needed to do before college. In April of 2019, my best friend and I decided that we were going to join the military and we walked right into the recruiter’s office. We did the Marine Buddy Program, which allowed us to enlist and go through training together. We did everything side-by-side, from boot camp all the way to graduation. It was great having the moral support of my best friend. We knew we were doing something for a cause that was bigger than us. 

What was your role while on active duty?
I was a motor transport operator, working alongside trucks and convoys. I was in a non-deployable unit, so I did most of my work on the West Coast. I got to see a lot of the country I’d never seen before—California, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Missouri for training. At first, I wanted to be a military police officer, but unfortunately, I was too short. So, I learned a new skill and became a military truck driver. 

What was the most rewarding aspect of being a Marine?
The camaraderie. You can’t push forward in your mission without trusting the person to your left and right. You correctly execute what you need to do because you care about the people working around you. In the military, I learned to never let outside relationships interfere with my work. Before the military, I was super quiet and didn’t really talk to other students, but being a Marine taught me how to speak up and work with a group. Even now, as a John Jay student, I use those skills in group projects and the classroom.

Why John Jay?
It’s such a well-rounded school in terms of justice issues. From a young age, I knew that I wanted a career that focused on helping people. I wanted to be part of a bigger organization dedicated to justice and service. Other colleges may have a program that includes criminal justice, but it’s not the same as an entire school that’s driven by it. After I left the military, I started to delve into John Jay and was impressed with the veteran services that the college offers.

How have your mentors and the Military & Veteran Services Center helped you?
The College is extremely veteran-friendly and there’s a strong veterans’ community. I have veteran friends going to other colleges and they don’t get nearly the support we do. I ended up passing along knowledge that Mr. Richard (Richard Pusateri, Military & Veteran Services Director) gives me and other John Jay veterans. When I’m picking out my classes, one of the first things I do is go to Mr. Richard and Alexis (Alexis Pistone, Military and Veteran Services Advisor) and they always give me advice that not only helps me reach my goal but also gives me happiness and a purpose in life.

Alexis also recommended that I join the veterans’ women’s group. Being a part of that group is my form of self-care. It’s the intersectionality of being around not only veterans but women veterans that’s been particularly helpful for me. I didn’t know about John Jay’s Children’s Center until I spoke with another veteran in the women’s group. I have a son, Mateo, who’s two years old and finding out about the Children’s Center completely changed my experience at John Jay.

What’s it like being a student-parent at John Jay?
Before I found the Children’s Center, I was always rushing back home to be with Mateo but now, knowing he’s right downstairs, I’ve been able to be a fully engaged student and parent. The Children’s Center has also really helped me financially in terms of childcare. When it comes to the Center, students get priority. Also, you can see the care and encouragement the staff has for each child.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Being in the military gave me so much and I want to give back to that community. In the future, I hope to work as a contractor for the military. I’d also really love to work as a crime scene investigator for the government. I can see myself in a “marshmallow suit” collecting blood samples or bullet shell casings in the hopes of serving justice.