Letter of Introduction:
After high school I jumped into the college world with no direction. I took business classes because I thought business somehow applied to all jobs. I quickly discovered this is not what interested me. Nor did my general education classes inspire me towards any careers. Finally, at Clark College, I took medical classes where I enjoyed learning the science and workings of the human body. I began seeing the medical field as a possible career option, and in the same time frame, my cousin shared with me he was going to join the Army. After years of wandering in academia, the military held serious appeal. It sounded like an experience where all of your energy and your whole focus had to be on your work; it’s not a job, it’s your life. I joined the Army as a Combat Medic in November of 2006. This experience has changed me into a person who can communicate across ideological differences, a well-rounded thinker who has developed an insightful perspective on diversity, and a leader who can navigate complex issues with foresight and diligence. With these skills and a passion for building an environmentally sustainable future, I now seek admission to the Community, Environment, and Planning Department where I hope to use these strengths to make significant contributions to the the field of Urban Planning in the Pacific Northwest.
The military was an instant catalyst for my personal and professional growth. All the positions I held from Emergency Room shift leader in Iraq, to Aid Station Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), to Senior Line Medic and Master Driver in Afghanistan, to Combat Lifesaver Instructor and Acting Platoon Sergeant at Fort Lewis held their own unique challenges and responsibilities. Perhaps none more so than my time working as an Aid Station NCO in Afghanistan where I developed my sense of what it means to be a fair leader who needed to effectively communicate across the levels of command. I was responsible for mediating between the upper level leadership’s vision and the soldier’s needs as they carried out operations on the floor. By listening to the soldier’s needs, and bringing these issues up to the leadership in ways that compelled change, I was able to administer a system of creative problem solving that promoted a culture of teamwork and efficiency. I seek to enter the field of Urban Planning to utilize this ability to communicate between different levels of status and authority, advocate for those with less power, and promote understanding across differences.
The U.S. Military is one of the most diverse work forces that one can find in America and as my career developed from private to specialist, to sergeant, I had the privilege to work with, learn from, and have my eyes opened to a diverse range of life experiences. I worked with superiors, peers, and subordinates from all races, cultures, religions, regions, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual identities, politics, and perspectives. The military promotes equal opportunity and I had superiors who were Hispanic, Black, and women. Unfortunately, this range of diversity throughout the chain of command is not commonly reflected in America’s civil communities, businesses, and politics. Seeing this discrepancy helped shed light on the pervasiveness of existing socialized normatives of white male privilege in American culture. I learned things can be different, and saw what that looks like; I developed a sharper eye for identifying
racial, gender, and sexual orientation prejudices, inside and outside of one’s self. The military is far from perfect, but having this alternative experience helps me see the inequities that are present in my community today. I seek to enter the field of Urban Planning to be a catalyst for change and to support communities that exemplify a value for diversity.
Finally, one of the most important skills that the military gave me was the ability to be a forward thinking, independent leader who utilizes foresight to think three steps ahead and be prepared for any situation. As the Senior Line Medic in Kandahar, I worked “on an island”; ultimately all medical responsibilities fell on me. In this position, it was critical that I planned ahead with detailed foresight to ensure all my juniors were prepared for their missions, all necessary medical equipment was operational and present on vehicles and soldiers for every mission, and that all 120 soldiers were up to date on their immunizations and that their individual medical needs were met. Being a sergeant for almost five years, and two deployments demanded foresight and I seek to enter the field of Urban Planning where I will bring that level of vision and critical thinking to help create a sense of responsibility to future generations.
By the time I left the Army in July of 2013, I had been assigned to seven different duty stations and lived in four countries. I went back to school with a new sense of discipline, focus, and a passion for environmental issues, stewardship, and community building. I volunteered with the Environmental Working Group, CarbonWA, and EarthCorps since getting out and I now seek admission to the CEP Program to follow through with my ambitions to be an Urban Planner.
My ability to communicate across differences will help bring together key players and policymakers to build greener communities. My unique experience with diversity helps me to be conscious of how environmental issues impact diverse communities in different ways and gives me the drive to utilize the strengths of all community members to build a greener and healthier community. Lastly, the skill of foresight that I gained in the Army has brought me to Seattle, UW, and the CEP Department. Seattle is a leader in the environmental movement in the U.S. and I want to help build the template of environmentally sustainable practices within the urban landscape that other cities will use into the future.
After high school I jumped into the college world with no direction. I took business classes because I thought business somehow applied to all jobs. I quickly discovered this is not what interested me. Nor did my general education classes inspire me towards any careers. Finally, at Clark College, I took medical classes where I enjoyed learning the science and workings of the human body. I began seeing the medical field as a possible career option, and in the same time frame, my cousin shared with me he was going to join the Army. After years of wandering in academia, the military held serious appeal. It sounded like an experience where all of your energy and your whole focus had to be on your work; it’s not a job, it’s your life. I joined the Army as a Combat Medic in November of 2006. This experience has changed me into a person who can communicate across ideological differences, a well-rounded thinker who has developed an insightful perspective on diversity, and a leader who can navigate complex issues with foresight and diligence. With these skills and a passion for building an environmentally sustainable future, I now seek admission to the Community, Environment, and Planning Department where I hope to use these strengths to make significant contributions to the the field of Urban Planning in the Pacific Northwest.
The military was an instant catalyst for my personal and professional growth. All the positions I held from Emergency Room shift leader in Iraq, to Aid Station Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), to Senior Line Medic and Master Driver in Afghanistan, to Combat Lifesaver Instructor and Acting Platoon Sergeant at Fort Lewis held their own unique challenges and responsibilities. Perhaps none more so than my time working as an Aid Station NCO in Afghanistan where I developed my sense of what it means to be a fair leader who needed to effectively communicate across the levels of command. I was responsible for mediating between the upper level leadership’s vision and the soldier’s needs as they carried out operations on the floor. By listening to the soldier’s needs, and bringing these issues up to the leadership in ways that compelled change, I was able to administer a system of creative problem solving that promoted a culture of teamwork and efficiency. I seek to enter the field of Urban Planning to utilize this ability to communicate between different levels of status and authority, advocate for those with less power, and promote understanding across differences.
The U.S. Military is one of the most diverse work forces that one can find in America and as my career developed from private to specialist, to sergeant, I had the privilege to work with, learn from, and have my eyes opened to a diverse range of life experiences. I worked with superiors, peers, and subordinates from all races, cultures, religions, regions, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual identities, politics, and perspectives. The military promotes equal opportunity and I had superiors who were Hispanic, Black, and women. Unfortunately, this range of diversity throughout the chain of command is not commonly reflected in America’s civil communities, businesses, and politics. Seeing this discrepancy helped shed light on the pervasiveness of existing socialized normatives of white male privilege in American culture. I learned things can be different, and saw what that looks like; I developed a sharper eye for identifying
racial, gender, and sexual orientation prejudices, inside and outside of one’s self. The military is far from perfect, but having this alternative experience helps me see the inequities that are present in my community today. I seek to enter the field of Urban Planning to be a catalyst for change and to support communities that exemplify a value for diversity.
Finally, one of the most important skills that the military gave me was the ability to be a forward thinking, independent leader who utilizes foresight to think three steps ahead and be prepared for any situation. As the Senior Line Medic in Kandahar, I worked “on an island”; ultimately all medical responsibilities fell on me. In this position, it was critical that I planned ahead with detailed foresight to ensure all my juniors were prepared for their missions, all necessary medical equipment was operational and present on vehicles and soldiers for every mission, and that all 120 soldiers were up to date on their immunizations and that their individual medical needs were met. Being a sergeant for almost five years, and two deployments demanded foresight and I seek to enter the field of Urban Planning where I will bring that level of vision and critical thinking to help create a sense of responsibility to future generations.
By the time I left the Army in July of 2013, I had been assigned to seven different duty stations and lived in four countries. I went back to school with a new sense of discipline, focus, and a passion for environmental issues, stewardship, and community building. I volunteered with the Environmental Working Group, CarbonWA, and EarthCorps since getting out and I now seek admission to the CEP Program to follow through with my ambitions to be an Urban Planner.
My ability to communicate across differences will help bring together key players and policymakers to build greener communities. My unique experience with diversity helps me to be conscious of how environmental issues impact diverse communities in different ways and gives me the drive to utilize the strengths of all community members to build a greener and healthier community. Lastly, the skill of foresight that I gained in the Army has brought me to Seattle, UW, and the CEP Department. Seattle is a leader in the environmental movement in the U.S. and I want to help build the template of environmentally sustainable practices within the urban landscape that other cities will use into the future.