What I Carry Forward

By Mitch Lartigue

I’ve lived through things that tested my strength far beyond the physical. Moments that shook my reputation, my direction, and even my sense of self. I’ve felt what it’s like to be judged by people who never knew the truth. I’ve sat in silence when my name was spoken wrongly. I’ve had to rebuild not just my life, but my belief in it.

And still, I rise. Not out of pride, but out of purpose.

Because I’ve realized something: experience is only as powerful as what you choose to do with it.

Every challenge I’ve faced, every hard-earned lesson has taught me how to listen more deeply, lead with humility, and meet others with compassion. It’s shown me how systems can fail people, and how people can rise anyway. It’s given me a lens not just for protecting lives, but for understanding them.

That’s what I carry forward into my career.

Whether I’m working in emergency management, public health, or team leadership, I bring more than technical skill. I bring lived experience. I bring clarity in crisis. Empathy for the overlooked. Accountability rooted in action, not just intention.

I no longer ask whether people see me as “enough.” I ask whether I’m doing the work to build something that matters, something grounded in truth, service, and connection.

The past will always be part of my story, but it’s not my destination. My future is being built on the tools I’ve earned: resilience, perspective, and the unwavering decision to grow, even when no one’s watching.

And that growth? It’s mine to own—and mine to offer.