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John,
When I was 12, my dad suffered a major traumatic brain injury. It changed him—and it changed my life forever.
Growing up, it was just me and my dad. We faced a lot of challenges, but we took them on together. After the accident, his temper and his mood were never the same - and I realized I was no longer safe.
Between the ages of 14 and 18, I went to four different high schools in four different homes
across multiple states. I tried hard not to be a problem. I took up as little space as I could. I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere.
But I kept going. I finished school. I joined the Navy. I built a life. And somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing myself as a victim. I realized that surviving all of that made me stronger, more resourceful, a problem-solver.
My childhood taught me something that no textbook or resume ever could: how to lead from experience.
Now, when people ask me why I’m running for Congress, I tell them the truth:
I’m running because I’ve lived the policies they argue about in Washington.
Because I’ve been the kid on SSI.
I’ve been the teen deciding between homework and a paycheck. The one who fell through every crack in the system. And I want better for the next kid.
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