He was always fascinated by trains. Little did Quron know that he would become the conductor of his own path. He and his mother came to New York City from Atlanta, and he found the perfect school for someone with a passion for trains, and commuted three hours daily, doing little but his schoolwork and caring for his mother.

He also created a support network of two close friends to whom he spoke daily. They would describe him as smart, tall, and funny — a gift of lightness he also shares with his mom. It is that humor and optimism that have kept Quron resilient and focused.

He has learned electrical engineering and wiring, and will be part of an MTA internship, where he presumes he will likely be doing office work. “They don’t trust us on the tracks yet.”

On his passion for trains, Quron says, “America is still deeply rooted in its car culture, and people today greatly underestimate the importance of rail. If we are to move forward, the public must understand the benefits of rail travel, or else we’re destined to repeat the same mistakes of the past.”