I came to harbor school in 2011 when it was still a very young school in development, over the years I've been part of many of the changes that you feel today. during my freshman year Ann and Jeremy taught the "introduction to New York Harbor" (Field) class where as freshman we saw many of the places that I would come to work and volunteer in the future. I enrolled in the Marine Systems technology program hoping to become an auto mechanic, but I soon fell in love with Marine Engineering and it wasn't long before I made it into a career. I excelled in the program spending ungodly hours working and volunteering with the school where I learned the true value of a 16 hour day. My proudest achievement at the harbor school would have to be getting my American Boat and Yacht Counsel Marine Technician Certification, when I graduated I was the only student in School History to have received that cert and may still be today. (ask Brendan to find out more) All these experiences in the school allowed me a significant edge in industry, I landed my first job at New York Water Taxi at age 16 where (either Luis or myself have the title of youngest company employee ever, we don't know because our birthdays are close) there I worked hard to gain the trust of the other deckhands, engineers, captains, and port captains where soon I was called in to work special charters such as weddings and VIP cruises. That however was only a small portion of my career in school since leaving the school.  While I wont give my entire resume, I've done hard dirty work like being and engineer on a 200 Ton tug boat, ran the mechanical systems on a floating barge bar in Brooklyn, worked in marine construction, and started a moderately successful marine contracting operation, with plans of starting a marine construction and engineering business with the help of Harbor School Alum Joseph Roberto 15' and Syed Hoque 15'. However I've continued to work the deck as well, I've raced and captained hundred thousand dollar sailboats, raced on the fasted sailboat in the world, worked aloft and in the engine room of numerous Tall Ships. Back inline with harbor school I have continued to stay active in the school and believe it is very important that all alumni do. while I have raced in the Regatta, worked as a substitute for Brendan and worked for the billion oyster project, it was when I became a part of the Professional Advisory Committee that I saw the biggest fault of the school, our Alumni Presence.  I founded the Harbor School Alumni Association in 2016 with hopes to bring all the alumni together and increase the quality of the vocational training at the school while increasing the amount of post secondary job placement of graduating seniors. I've acted as the association president since it's inception and while we have a long way to go I have met with the professional advisory committee PAC about such job placement, met with councilmen and councilwoman for in facilities for the school and many more things that happen behind the scenes.  I should also mention I am a senior at SUNY Maritime, I have held numerous leadership positions since attending the school, such as chief engine squad leader, waterfront dock master, and regional deputy senator for the national society of black engineers NSBE, while running community outreach programs such as a joint tutoring program with south Bronx non for profit Rocking the Boat, organizing food drives for Puerto Rico and visiting schools to teach students about maritime careers.