When It comes to criminal justice, I have a relatively unique background. Although it mainly pertains to law enforcement, I believe that it helped to spark an interest in me and that interest is to help others who have experienced the sort of trauma that I have. I came to the determination that criminal justice would be my avenue and here's why. When I was 12 (2018), my 14-year-old brother Jack committed suicide in the room next to me. I was asleep and only awoke to the commotion of law enforcement and medical personnel rushing through the house screaming and yelling. As you can imagine this could not have been scarier for a 12-year-old. Unknown to me at the time, this was the last time I would ever see my brother alive. At 14 years old he had somehow deemed himself damaged enough to shoot himself and take his own life. The law enforcement on scene was visibly upset and with such unbelievable news, I was practically incapable of feeling this way. However, I was able to question, as a 12-year-old does, to an endless extent. Law enforcement on the other hand, simply didn't have the capability to provide these answers and I didn't blame them. To this day we have not figured out why my brother chose to commit suicide. It was during this challenging time that I thought about my future and what I could do with the rest of my life. I was forever scared of images that my brain had conjured up of my brother and his condition. And for a while, I truly struggled to see past this. It was then that I realized what my purpose was. In some way, shape, or form, through criminology, I was going to provide answers for families that so desperately needed them as I did. I could help to provide closure and a conclusion for what many have experienced in both violent crime and suicide. This was my purpose. Following this realization, I instantly dove into true crime in every avenue and media. Whether it was podcasts like Crime Junkie or T.V. shows like NCIS, CSI, and Criminal Minds, I yearned to understand the human mind. It definitely helps that my mom has been a lawyer for nearly 30 years. She even spent time as a prosecutor in sex crimes in both Hendricks and Marion County. I greatly respect her and all the work that she has done. My overall interest in the subject drastically grew and to this day I am driven to accomplish my goals of having a career in this field. My high school even offered a Forensics class and I absolutely loved it! In summary, the suicide of my brother damaged me more than you know, but it also brought me to a career field that allowed me to give others answers for similar traumas. I am so glad that I have been offered the opportunity to help others like me and to provide justice and answers for those in need.

Throughout my life, there have been many events that prompted personal growth. Although mostly positive experiences, some, like my mother's battle with cancer, left me struggling to understand myself and my beliefs. The most significant of these events was the suicide of my brother when I was 12. Such an event is almost incomprehensible for a 12-year-old, yet I managed to grasp the impact it had on both me and my family. However, I want to focus on the period that followed. When my brother Jack committed suicide on September 1st, 2017, my family and I were left to pick up the pieces of our shattered household. For a while, that's all we managed to do. I withdrew from talking to anyone, and like most of my family, I blamed myself. Petty arguments I used to have with my brother suddenly fueled a self-destructive mindset centered on self-blame. However, after many years and the healing of my traumatized psyche, I transformed into someone who firmly believed that I could overcome anything life threw at me. I just needed to prove it to myself. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic and the academic challenges of high school. These provided the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that my identity wasn't defined by my brother's suicide. So I embarked on this journey. I initially struggled but was far from ready to give up. I was determined to prove to myself and others that I wouldn't be held back by the trauma and pain I experienced at a young age. I was singularly focused on success and was willing to do whatever it took to achieve it. This attitude soon became infectious and began impacting other aspects of my life, including athletics and work. Whenever I set a goal for myself, I was unwavering in my determination to achieve it. As a freshman, I earned a spot on the varsity wrestling team, which was exceptionally talented, ultimately resulting in our school's first-ever state championship and my own sectional championship. Next, I set my sights on purchasing the car of my dreams, and during the summer of my sophomore year, while working 40 hours a week, I bought that very car. My commitment to excellence also extended to my academics. I finished the second semester of my sophomore year with a 4.0 GPA, and the next two semesters of my junior year followed, concluding with a 4.243 and then a 4.417 GPA. In conclusion, it was my brother who ignited my tenacity during our daily squabbles and backyard competitions. He was an insatiable competitor who propelled me toward success in the short time he spent on this earth. His death served as a catalyst and wake-up call, urging me to support my family and those around me to the best of my abilities while relentlessly striving to excel in every aspect of my life. Jack was a multifaceted brother, a competitor who cared for me until the end. It is his memory and his passing that transformed me into a goal-oriented, hardworking, and determined brother and friend.