My father could never get the Army quite out of his system, so I guess that's why it was always in my mind growing up. It may have been for that reason, that I found myself on active duty shortly after the 9/11 tragedy in September 2001. I felt it was something she just had to do. Oddly enough, I was actually pretty good as a soldier.

As a military print journalist and still photographer, I wrote hundreds of stories on military missions and communities all over the world particularly Afghanistan and missions to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. My commander took notice of her work and nominated me for the annual inter-service journalism competition. I won Rising Star of the Year and the Thomas Jefferson print journalism awards for the Armed Forces, which I received at the Pentagon.

In effort to combine my passion for community and media relations, with my military and government experience, I obtained my Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and Military Science from Northwestern State University in 2006. I decided to further my career in the military and become an officer. I was commissioned in the Army National Guard in 2006 and accepted a reserve officer position with a Military Intelligence Battalion in Miami, FL. Since then I have been juggling military, civilian and family life and trying find that perfect balance.

I've held various positions since then in marketing, business management and even as an investigator for a short time while trying to find the right fit for myself. My current position at Full Sail University allows me to work with service members and veterans, through assisting them in finding their way after the military. My duties consist of counseling, directing and facilitating their needs to effectively pursue an education outside the military. I also help facilitate and coordinate community events for the veteran students on campus. I am currently completing my masters degree in public relations.