08/13/2026
Sometimes the best argument for getting involved and creating opportunity is standing right in front of you.
Yesterday, walking out of court, I ran into a young man I represented a few years ago across the street.
When I first met him, he was young and had made some mistakes. Today, he stopped to tell me how well he was doing. He is working, building a career, and earning a good living as a union worker.
That conversation made my day — but it also reminded me why pathways to good careers matter so much.
We should be expanding those opportunities, not treating them as a second choice.
As State Representative, I want to be a strong advocate for our vocational schools, career and technical education, union apprenticeship programs, and partnerships between schools, employers, and organized labor. We should be helping young people find the path that works for them and making sure Massachusetts has the skilled workforce we need for the future.
My legal career has given me a unique perspective on this as well.
My work on both sides of the courtroom has taught me that accountability matters, but so does opportunity.
No one should be defined forever by the lowest moment of their life. That doesn’t mean ignoring mistakes or minimizing their consequences. It means taking responsibility, learning from experience, and showing through your actions who you have become.
Like anyone, including the young man I spoke with today, there are moments from my teenage years that I see differently today. I was immature, I didn’t listen, and I made mistakes and I take responsibility for that. Growing older has taught me that accountability is not about being defined by the past — it is about learning from it, maturing, and showing through your actions the person you have become.
And seeing that young man today reinforced something I believe strongly: a good job and growth can change the direction of a life.
We should expect people to take responsibility for their choices.
But we also need to make sure there is opportunity on the other side.
Today, I didn’t see the young man I once represented in court.
I saw a skilled worker building a future.
That’s what opportunity looks like — and we need a lot more of it.
