When I first started cutting hair, I was averaging about 80 customers a day from my house in Woodside. Back then I was a household name. Everyone was talking about the Filipino kid that opened up a shop at his mom’s basement.
I enrolled in Voyages South Transfer High School to make a change in my life. My friends were graduating all around me, and I was still many credits away.
As an architect, I used to design projects in my country, Dominican Republic. I never considered moving to the United States, but one day, I was robbed at gunpoint in my house. Nothing was the same after that. This, and other details, led me to travel all over the US.
I was born in Iraq and earned my degree in Electronic Engineering in Israel. Then I moved to New York to begin my career. I worked in engineering for many years.
I am the primary caregiver for my mom, who has short-term dementia and my brother, who has vision trouble and can’t care for himself. Caring for everyone is in my nature. It can be overwhelming sometimes, but my family needs me.
I’ve been teaching art classes at Queens Community House for roughly 13 years. Working with older adults means a lot to me because I’m getting up in age, myself. I see folks out there that have always wanted to pursue art, but never had the time.
I was a professor of Audiology and Speech Pathology at Brooklyn College for many years. I got my degree at NYU and my doctorate at Columbia University. I was always interested in how people express themselves and how they meet challenges.
It was always my dream to open up a daycare center. Challenges stood in my way for so many years, but I’m determined. Last year, with the support of my friends and family, I finally opened up my own in-home daycare.
