# @princetonspia on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CAyD-cuhDZR
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/20742471-princetonspia-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/a4c13b2a23.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-05-29T18:42:14.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Princeton SPIA (@princetonspia) — https://gondola.cc/princetonspia

## Caption

#WooWho: “It took me a long time to find the path that led me to Princeton. I grew up in a working-class community that placed a high value on working with your hands. There was this pride that came with being able to make things. I spent a lot of time in the garage growing up and it is where I discovered my love of problem solving. I loved trouble shooting issues with cars and the challenge of designing and fabricating unique solutions. Those values informed my early career choices. After high school, I worked as a tactical aircraft mechanic in the usairforce, and then a land surveyor building high rises in Southern California. These careers really fit who I was and reflected the community pride I had. Then the Great Recession hit, and I watched a lot of friends and family lose their jobs and people lose their homes. There was this feeling of helplessness — it felt like people were being punished for something they had no control over. It felt like no one was looking out for my community. I traded in my construction hat and became the first person in my family to earn a college degree. Since then I’ve worked both in Congress and consulting on issues ranging from military sexual assault to campaigns promoting the expansion of earned income tax credit. It’s been a long road, and I still struggle with feelings of being an outsider in a white-collar world, but I’ve learned to push the discomfort and doubt aside. I know it’s important to represent and advocate for my community. As the Covid-19 pandemic turns the economy upside down, it feels like déjà vu. But now I feel better equipped to make a difference. I hope to use the skills I’ve gained at Princeton and my experience working on the Future of Work Task Force at the njgov Office of Innovation to help governments build better digital solutions to find and support those in need. And I hope to help guide others who want to take a similar path as me after this crisis.” – Joseph DeLaTorre MPA ’20 #Princetagram ***** #WooWho is a Wilson_School Instagram series featuring our community. Want to be featured? Comment/DM us.

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 116
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 6

## Tags

princetagram, woowho

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