I began my career in Southern California, where I was born and raised, working for the San Manuel Fire Department (Highland,CA) over the span of 3 years. I moved Eastward and was hired by the New Haven Fire Department in 2011 as a Firefighter Paramedic. For the last two years I have worked in the rank of Battalion Chief, assigned in the East Battalion.

I have been a camp counselor for over 8 years at the Arthur C. Luf Children’s Burn Camp and have been involved with volunteering for the camp for over 10. Additionally, I serve on the Human Resources team for the camp to assist in identifying and on-boarding volunteers who share the same passion I have in assisting burn survivors.

Volunteering at Camp through the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation can sometimes feel like a selfish endeavor. The “work” myself and every other volunteer, is repaid many times over in return seeing the happiness and joy it brings to every camper there through their positive experiences. Watching a young burn survivor climb a rock wall with undaunted determination, cheered on by their peers below and erupt into pure joy at reaching the peak gives a feeling unlike any other. The perseverance and resiliency exhibited by each camper is provides all of the motivation to return year after year, putting in consistent effort to ensure that we can make Camp available for who all who seek to attend.

The time and effort through the year immediately pays off the moment camp starts. Watching each camper light up when they see their friends arrive, and smile they give to each counselor provides an immediate uplifting feeling. Watching year after year, young campers maturing and graduating into counselors themselves, you understand the impact that contributing a bit of yourself to something bigger, has a profound impact.

The Burn Camp family is composed of the most thoughtful, caring, and beautiful people you can imagine. The type of person who will bend over backwards to help you, then thank YOU for letting them help. The campers & counselors alike are an all-star cast of people from all backgrounds & professions, and each one of them will humbly tell you how LUCKY they are to be able volunteer in service to Burn Camp.

I’m proud to be a Burn Camp counselor, and I’ll never be able to repay what each camper has given to me through motivation, perspective, and joy over my time there. I’m truly grateful and blessed to be a very small part of it all.