Darran Cherep Remembrance Scholarship

2023 was the year it all became clear. Sitting in a movie theater July 5th that year, waiting for a movie to start, I had no idea how my life was about to change. As the film began rolling and the screen was filled with heart wrenching scenes, I suddenly knew exactly where my life was headed. Crazy enough, my path had already been laid out in the direction I would need to go. Before this moment, I had no idea exactly which fork I would take when I would someday need to make further choices. After watching this movie, I now know exactly which road I will be taking. As Robert Frost so eloquently put it, I will choose to take “the road less traveled.” For the past three years, my mind has been made up about the career I wanted to pursue. Criminal Justice or Criminology was a no-brainer for me. My love of mysteries along with a deep interest in science and forensics, seemed to be the perfect combination for a career in law enforcement. No one else held my attention like Sherlock Holmes and his loyal partner, Watson. And just try to pull me away from the television when true crimes were being investigated. As I researched the career path, I realized it wasn’t just the investigative piece that drew me in. Maybe I’d be well-suited as a police officer, seeking to keep our streets safe. I have always greatly appreciated and admired the men and women who put themselves in harms way for the benefit of others. Perhaps I would make a greater difference as a District Attorney. I have to admit, I was in awe as I walked into a courthouse for the first time, when we adopted my sister! I was full of questions about how the judicial process worked and who were the ones “on the side of the good guys.” Intelligence, Forensics, Criminal Psychology, Corrections… they all pique my interest. Fast forward to a year and a half ago, when I saw this life-changing movie. No words could describe the feeling in the pit of my stomach as I sat in a recliner in the air conditioned comfort of an AMC theater, watching children being kidnapped and sold as slaves. Nothing would ever be the same knowing this was a true story about real and horrific things happening in our world. Not just in other countries either, or even other states, but in our own neighborhoods. This could be happening right under our noses and we may not even notice. How could there be such ugliness in hearts that people could steal children from their families, and force them to do unspeakable things, for money of all things? The Sound of Freedom was an eye-opening film that solidified my life’s purpose. Already knowing I was going to major in Criminology had to be more than just coincidence. Not having a clue which area of Criminal Justice I would want to settle into is probably typical. Yet, at 16 years old, a day at the movies gave me all of the clarity I needed to figure out exactly what my fate would be . Of course, there will be building blocks along the way that may shift my plans to the left or to the right. There is one thing for certain, however. It will be my life’s mission to put an end to human trafficking.