Antoinette Alcazar is a patrol officer with the Chicago Police Department. Officer Alcazar moved to the U.S. when she was 11 years old as a political refugee from Chile. Later in life, she struggled as a mom in a bad marriage and survived cancer. She told Start TV, "I got to a point in my life ... where I felt I needed to be stronger, be more independent." Now, she's reached a goal she set for herself when she decided to join the police department at that pivotal moment, "... I wanted to be able to help individuals who couldn't help themselves." 

A self-taught artist, Alcazar also enjoys expressing herself through her painting. She told Start TV that the best way to manage what life throws at you is to power through: "Just stay strong and resilient and positive."

Watch Antoinette Alcazar discuss finding direction when dealing with adversity:


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