Hello, my name is Kahlea, and I am a female graduate student who chose Forensic Science as a field of study. Ever since I was young, I've loved both mysteries, and aiding others. I've always had a love for Scooby Doo, Cam Jensen books, and Nancy Drew stories. I developed this love into puzzles, more in the form of escape rooms, sudoku, and any word puzzles. I went on to discover the world of forensics through Hollywood shows such as Criminal Minds and NCIS. Through more searching, I started watching crime documentaries, and I had my mind set on Forensic Science. I have already graduated with a bachelor's, but I will be attending school to pursue a master's in the Fall. I have chosen Forensic Technology, which will set me on the path to either becoming a crime scene investigator, or a medicolegal/death investigator. Currently, I am working with the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner as a Mortuary Technician as a way to earn some money before returning to school, as well as boosting my resume for the future. I graduated university with Magna Cum Laude and a 3.73 GPA. During my second year of undergraduate school, I had a professor whom everyone despised. He was a harsh grader, and he would often not want to answer questions that students had, saying that we had the answers in the books and videos provided to us. Students would always tell others not to take his class, to avoid him at all costs, etc. Though I did find some of this to be true, I also had an appreciation for him. In the beginning of the semester, he told us that yes, he was a harsh grader, but it was because he cared. Forensic science is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for the lazy. Normally, people think we only deal with the dead. We provide evidence and proof for the victims. But this isn't the whole picture. We also have to ensure that the right people are being put away for crimes. Bad forensics exists, and it exists with individuals who don't care for the work they do, who cut corners, and are doing it for churning out lab numbers. But as forensic scientists, we are dealing with lives; both passed and alive. Bad forensics leads to wrongful convictions, and ruined livelihoods. My professor's words stuck with me ever since. I have tried to work very hard in all areas of life to ensure I am performing "good forensics."

Representation matters. We as a community see this repeatedly throughout history, where different races in media allow children to see themselves and look up to a character in a story. As an Asian-American, the only Disney character I could look up to who looked just like me was Mulan. While argued that Mulan isn't a princess, but the wife to a General, in my heart, Mulan is absolutely royalty. "Disney Princesses" umbrellas the fairytales and stories that are created by the company to appeal to a younger audience. Mulan looked like me. While Cinderella had the classic damsel in distress story and a classic fairytale ending, she didn't look like me. While Ariel had a beautiful voice and a mermaid tail, she didn't look like me. While Rapunzel was selfless, artistic, and patient, she didn't look like me. They were all white Europeans. Mulan was family-oriented, resilient, and strong-willed. And she looked like me. Mulan's story felt like a reflection (no pun intended) of my life. As a young Asian-American, I was taught that family is everything. Family bonds are the strongest bonds. Asian culture is vastly different than Western culture, where the greater good is for the community, rather than your singular values. Mulan went to fight for her country, sacrificing her own life to save her father's. It was empowering to see that a "princess" with the same features that I have didn't succumb to the "damsel in distress" story, needing to be rescued by a stronger man. It was empowering to see that a "princess" could go against what was deemed "normal" or "feminine" by society and succeed to the highest limit to the point where she was recognized for her abilities. She didn't just need to sit and look pretty to gain the attention of a man either, it was just an added plus for being as badass as she was. Mulan not only looked like me, but she had a powerful story that came along with it.

Aural capabilities are a privilege to all who are lucky enough to have them. To be able to hear the beauty of laughter, music, and just plain conversation, it's gratifying to know that I'm fortunate enough to experience and understand the sensation of listening. As a student of LaGuardia High School in New York City, I am taught music, in vocal and instrumental capacities, both of which are occurrences that require the ability to listen. I'm trained by professionals to listen to the quality of music we create, to the fullness of certain sounds, like a full choir singing in harmony, or a soloist who projects their sound with the right amount of power. I've learned that to those without training, it's quite hard to hear the difference between notes slightly out of tune, or being able to hear a certain rhythm and melodic sequence and be able to sing it back. Just minimal amounts of listening create the wondrous sensations we enjoy when we listen to music. As a friend, I've learned that one of the most key factors of relationships is listening. To be able to hear and understand what people are saying is important to maintaining healthy relationships. You listen to your friends talk about the highlight of their day, to your best friend cry about something that happened, and to criticisms that allow you to become a better person. Listening works hand in hand with understanding. We take listening for granted. We're constantly surrounded by auditory stimuli, whether it be the cars humming past, the trees rustling in the wind, or the footfalls of people walking to work. Taking the time to appreciate my auditory capacities has become an important factor that I implement into my daily life, by just sitting quietly and listening.