I grew up in a big family and in a rough neighborhood and a rough school. This kind of competition has always made me hungry to succeed and has made me a lot tougher.

Wrestled in the Junior Olympics twice and then 10-years later went back twice as a coach. I also was candidate for soldier of the year. I have completed 12-years of college and earned 7 degrees. I am a teacher consultant for the Connecticut Writing Project out of University of Connecticut and I teach social studies at Connecticut's largest inner-city high school.