The impact of drugs, especially fentanyl, became real to me when it affected someone in my own family. My uncle’s struggle with addiction changed the way I understood substance abuse and the damage it can cause. Before this, drugs were something I heard about in the news or in school presentations, but watching someone I cared about face the consequences made it personal. It brought fear, confusion, and frustration into our family, and it forced all of us to confront how powerful and destructive these substances can be. Seeing my uncle’s life shift so dramatically because of fentanyl opened my eyes to how quickly addiction can take hold and how deeply it affects the people around the individual who is struggling. This experience shaped my perspective on the criminal justice system and the role it plays in addressing drug‑related issues. I saw firsthand that addiction is not simply a matter of poor choices. It is a complex challenge that involves mental health, environment, access to resources, and the availability of support. My family’s experience made me realize that punishment alone does not solve the problem. People like my uncle need understanding, treatment, and pathways to recovery. Families need support as well, because addiction affects everyone connected to the person who is struggling. These experiences are what motivated me to pursue a degree in criminal justice. I want to be part of a system that recognizes the human side of addiction and works toward solutions that prevent tragedies rather than simply reacting to them. Through my studies, I am learning how law enforcement, courts, and community programs can work together to reduce the harm caused by drugs like fentanyl. I am especially interested in approaches that focus on rehabilitation, early intervention, and education. My goal is to contribute to a justice system that helps people rebuild their lives instead of falling deeper into cycles of addiction and incarceration. As I continue my education, I am committed to using what I learn to make a meaningful difference. I want to help create safer communities, support individuals who are trying to recover, and advocate for policies that address addiction with compassion and evidence‑based strategies. My uncle’s experience was painful, but it also gave me a sense of purpose. It taught me that change is possible when people are willing to understand the problem and work toward real solutions. My criminal justice degree is the foundation that will allow me to be part of that change and help prevent other families from experiencing the same pain mine did.

Growing up with undiagnosed ADHD shaped my life in ways I did not fully understand until much later. As a child and teenager, I often felt like I was running a race that everyone else had been trained for except me. Staying organized, focusing in class, and keeping up with expectations took an enormous amount of effort, yet I could not explain why it felt so difficult. Without a diagnosis, I internalized many of these struggles as personal shortcomings. I was labeled distracted, careless, or unmotivated, and over time those words began to echo in my own mind. Still, I pushed forward and relied on creativity, determination, and instinctive problem‑solving skills to navigate challenges that others seemed to handle with ease. Although those years were frustrating, they also taught me resilience. I learned how to adapt quickly, how to find unconventional solutions, and how to keep trying even when the path was unclear. Understanding later in life that ADHD had shaped these experiences brought a sense of clarity, and it strengthened my commitment to building a future where I can use my strengths intentionally. My long‑term goal is to pursue a career in a field where I can support others, advocate for different ways of thinking, and help create environments where people do not have to struggle in silence the way I once did. Furthering my education is an essential step toward these goals. Now that I understand how I learn and what I need to succeed, I am approaching my academic journey with confidence rather than confusion. Higher education will give me the knowledge, structure, and professional foundation necessary to grow into the person I want to become. It will also provide opportunities such as mentorship, hands‑on experience, and a community of learners that will help me transform the resilience I developed as a child into meaningful impact. Growing up with undiagnosed ADHD was challenging, but it also shaped my determination, empathy, and drive. I am ready to take the next step, not only to build a career but to use my experiences to uplift others and show that different ways of thinking are not obstacles. They are strengths waiting to be understood.

Growing up learning was always a struggle. It was not uncommon for me to be the kid who was behind in class, oftentimes I was daydreaming, my imagination running wild no matter how hard I tried to concentrate. It wasn't until my sophomore year of high school that I realized there was something wrong. I was sleeping through my classes despite getting plenty of sleep the night before, and no matter how hard I tried to listen to my teachers it was like there was something in my mind blocking their words from getting through to me. When I got home from school the first thing I would do was go to my room and fall asleep, I felt like I was lazy and worthless, I could never be successful because I was too dumb. These thoughts constantly weighed over my mind, I was hopeless, there was nothing I could do to make me do better in school. One day while I was in one of these moods I was mindlessly scrolling on my phone, that's when I came across this video about ADHD, and suddenly everything fell into place. Trouble focusing, oversleeping, drastic mood swings, hyperactivity, all symptoms that I had, and considering it runs in my family with my father and both of my siblings being diagnosed it wouldn’t be far fetched. After taking many online diagnosis quizzes and finally working up the courage to tell my mom, I brought up my concerns and she scheduled a doctor's appointment. At the appointment it took the doctor less than ten minutes to conclude that I had ADHD and prescribe me medication for it. The first month or two of being on the medication was hard, of course I was able to focus more and as a result my grades improved drastically, but all of that came with a price, taking the medicine often made me feel like a zombie, like I wasn’t in my own body, but if I didn’t take it then I would either sleep the day away or feel like I was on the verge of exploding due to my intense hyperactivity. As I continued to take the medicine more frequently my mental and physical health started to improve, I was able to stay awake through entire days which gave me time to start working out and surround myself with friends and family, not only that but I was focusing in class and remembering to do my homework afterwards. At the time of my diagnosis I thought that I would never be the same again, and in a way that was true, but not in the way I thought it would be. Dealing with the diagnosis has shown me how strong I am inside and out. After all the negative side effects that I had in the beginning, I pushed through and came out better than ever.