My name is Heather Baldwin. I am a student at Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I am in a 3+1 program there for Criminal Justice Technology/Forensics, where I will complete 3 years at Fayetteville Technical and transfer to Fayetteville State University and complete one year. Entering into the field of Criminal Justice has always been a passion of mine. I was once in the program at another local college years ago, but unfortunately had to quit due to not having support with babysitting and having to gain employment to be able to provide for my children. I went from job to job trying to find suitable employment and I have now been at my job for the past 13 years. And now, being that my children are grown, I have re-entered college to obtain the dream I had to let go of back then. My professional goals are to graduate and become employed within a forensics lab. Whether I enter straight into this area or have to work my way up, I am willing to do that. Achieving these goals will not only make my children and grandchildren proud of me, but make me proud of myself. I want to be able to show my children and grandchildren that dreams can be fulfilled at any age, as long as you continue to strive for it and always know that a setback doesn't define what you can become. I have put three children through college and to not have completed that myself was heartbreaking to me. I often thought about why I had not went back to obtain this for myself and decided that it was time! My ultimate goal is to use my degree and education to assist with solving crimes because there are so many bad people doing bad things and to help with getting these types of people off of the streets and away from innocent adults and children by using evidence is what I want to do. Criminal Justice is a field that can be rewarding and it is much needed. I want to be able to give back to not only my community, but to society as a whole by helping to keep them safe. Criminal Justice is a profession that hire individuals to serve and protect and I want more than anything to be a part of that world. Being awarded this scholarship, or any scholarship, would help me to continue to make steps in this direction. Previously, from my other time at my local college, I had used most of the lifetime Pell grant and now have a small amount to use to make this dream a reality. If I have to pay out of pocket, that is something that I am willing to do, but would greatly appreciate and be so thankful of the help in doing so. Thank you for considering me.