Working for the NHL and Lockheed Martin. Who would've thought that both were possible? Go figure. Lockheed Martin’s flexible schedule and great work-life balance has been a great part of why I get to pursue more than just one of my passions.
I started figure skating at the ripe old age of 12. It quickly became one of my biggest passions aside from academics. As an adult, I wasn't ready to give up my love for the sport, so I became a Learn to Skate instructor while finishing up my undergraduate degree.
I truly hoped I could keep skating once I graduated. Everywhere I moved, I made sure to find a rink nearby. When I moved to Denver, I had the most pleasant surprise of not only having three rinks within driving distance but also having an NHL team that skated at the same rink I liked to practice at.
At that point, I remembered one of my high school classmates had been a dancer for a minor league hockey team and decided to see if any of the professional hockey teams here had something similar. I came across the Colorado Avalanche Ice Patrol and decided to try out. Unfortunately, I had to wait two years to do so because of the pandemic.
Once I was able to, I went in with the most positive mindset, and my goal was just to have fun. I was convinced I did not make it past the first round as I tripped over the most basic element of going forward. To my surprise, however, I made the team!
I’m coming up on the end of the regular season, as the Avalanche are currently in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I’ve had an amazing time and don’t want it to end. There have been so many wonderful experiences, and I’m honored to be a part of one of the best NHL teams in our country.
Some of my favorite experiences from working for the NHL include participating in community outreach and being a part of Military Night. This event means a lot to me — not only do I get to work to help the warfighter with Lockheed Martin for work during the day, but I also get to help honor veterans at night during games.
It’s been extremely gratifying to pursue both my career goals and passions outside of work. As a woman in STEM and a member of the Hispanic community, I love being able to represent different groups in the sport of hockey. I’ve even met other Lockheed Martin employees through skating as well as other talented engineers. There are no limits to what you can do when you have a supportive company and community, and I couldn’t have done this without the amazing work life balance that Lockheed Martin gives us. Go Avs!