My journey to becoming an acupuncturist was not a straightforward one. When I first chose this career path, I wanted to become a herbalist because I loved the fact that the everyday plants I walked past could be used medicinally. I grew up in upstate New York where there was some wildlife sprinkled between the suburban houses. In 2011, I started school at East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota, Florida. They have a combination program for acupuncture and herbal medicine. It wasn't long into my school career that I realized I enjoyed the acupuncture component more than the herbal classes. I learned I could help people with my own skills and knowledge and decided to dedicate myself to honing those skills. During my schooling, I interned at a post-surgical rehabilitation hospital and was certified in injection courses. I graduated in 2014 with a Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In 2015, I moved to Portland, Oregon to further my studies. When I first got to Portland, life was difficult and I had to put aside my career path as an acupuncturist and work in retail to survive. It took me three years to get back on my feet and I was so far removed from acupuncture that I decided to go back to school. In 2018, I enrolled for the doctorate program at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Towards the end of my program, I was blessed with my first son in 2020 and I put my schooling on hold. When I had my second son in 2022 I decided to move back to my home state where I obtained a license to practice and have been working as an acupuncturist since. I had worked in two different clinics between 2022-2025 where I gained the experience to treat a wide range of symptoms and complaints. In 2026, I will be opening my own clinic to use my skills and knowledge to help and treat people in my community.