Early summer morning, when the birds sang and the grass smelled of rain, I was preparing for something that would change my life: Police Academy. As I departed without my parents, I felt a staggering sense of freedom fill the humid air. Upon arrival, my bubble burst quickly as I looked at the other cadets. They were so eloquent in their footsteps, visibly seasoned. Observing them, I heard screams from the Drill Sergeants, rushing us to the dorms like sheepdogs. Emerging from our rooms in training uniforms, we were divided into 4 phases; I was placed in Phase 1, composed of rookies. Of the 30 people, 4 others including myself were given rank as squad leaders based on our performance during physical training. “Get into a push-up position! Don’t you dare touch the ground!" The physical portion was already challenging, but now I was being stalked by the instructors who knew of my rank. "Quiet!" The whole field, including the singing birds and cicadas, halted, and I knew I was no longer home. The Platoon Leader felt the instructor's eyes as he stood covered in dirt. "You're fired, boy." He stood silently, looking down at his dirty sneakers. "You're the new Platoon Leader.” I heard a voice in front of me. I looked up to see a husky man wearing a large-brim hat. He ushered me to the front of the platoon before I could say no. In a day, I went from admiring my fellow cadets to guiding them through the academy. On day 3, the phases followed the same routine of waking up early, marching down to the wet field for physical training, and having breakfast before splitting up for class. As the Platoon Leader, I was responsible for knowing everyone's location, aligning my squad, and taking them to designated locations. After class, we marched to the cafeteria. Filled with 100 people, the cafeteria felt different; It was dead quiet. We ate our meals, avoiding eye contact as the Sergeants patrolled around us like vultures. "Everyone outside!" We all sprinted outside like antelopes escaping lions. Before I had the opportunity to line up my squad, I heard: "Get to a push-up position!” The food in my stomach churned, and I felt my platoon’s struggle. I was at the front, doing everything from push-ups to jumping jacks, in an attempt to set an example for those behind. “Get to a plank position!” The drill sergeants began walking in between us. While holding the plank, I looked behind me; most of my platoon was on the ground. But what else did I see? I saw all the officers from different posts gather together and encourage us to fight back the pain. We were all full of food and on the verge of tears, but to hear such uplifting statements gave us the motivation we needed to get off the ground. Knowing that you are fighting as a team, which is a key value of law enforcement, brings a feeling of purpose. A good law enforcement officer is someone who puts others before themself, someone who builds a strong bond with their community, someone who inspires. During the 5 days I spent at the Police Academy, I met some of the strongest brothers and sisters who not only carry the integrity of our communities on their backs but give their time to help kids like myself; and because of that, I am pursuing a career in law enforcement.

19,672,268: an absurd number that probably takes a little too long to read. This is the number of people, including my own family, who have applied for the Diversity Visa Program, famously known as the Green Card Lottery. Of the 19,672,268 applicants, only 50,000 are randomly selected. After applying and getting rejected for about three years, my father decided that 2012 would be our breakpoint, at least for now. We lived in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. My father built us a salad green house where my mother prepared traditional dishes like borshch or nalisniki, while my sister and I were busy chasing stray animals outside; we were satisfied. However, the recurring idea of offering my sister and me a stable future plagued my parents’ minds. Thus, the application process began one last time. A few long months walked by, mocking us of our impatience. Click. Tap. Please enter your name and confirmation number. This entry has been selected for further processing; we just became one of the 50,000 applicants accepted. Without taking the risk, no matter how minuscule, we wouldn’t have been on a plane to the United States where my relatives have been waiting for us year after year. I fell head over heels for America's beauty; she's the creator of opportunities. I am lucky. The luck didn’t set in until exactly a decade later. On February 24, 2022, I came downstairs to see my parents watching the news, noticeably stressed. The country where I was born, where I grew up, and where I had family was just invaded by Vladimir Putin. Buildings are still being bombed, families are still being torn apart, innocent civilians are still being killed, and I am here. It is a feeling of guilt that eats me alive to this day. My family and I make an effort to donate clothes, toys, and money to our people; those who couldn't win the dreaded lottery. About 3 years ago, the word “cybersecurity” was introduced to me when I joined my school’s cybersecurity club out of plain curiosity. Initially, I felt intimidated as well as disinterested in cybersecurity, especially as a female in a male-dominated field. However, if there is anything I’d take away from this club, no matter our gender or the experience we had, we were a team. My passion for this field solidified during a mock interview I underwent alongside my Law Enforcement high school program. I was interviewed by a Homeland Security Agent as well as an FBI Agent, an experience that has brought me gratitude, knowing that I have potential to protect and enhance the world at a young age. Later on, my supervisor mentioned that the agents were debating who I should eventually work for, and during that moment, I felt as though I could not only use my passion to secure sensitive information but also spread valuable knowledge to the public in regards to internet safety. While my sister graduated college in 2020, my parents struggled to help her through the years; I don't want them to struggle anymore. Since the war in Ukraine began, my parents have sent money to family back home, and participated in charities to help innocent civilians. I am not writing this to spark a feeling of sadness, but because my parents are my inspiration to never give up. This scholarship will not only be used to continue my education in Cybersecurity Engineering at the University Of Delaware but to save a life, or many. Life is built upon helping others succeed, and I believe that with your kind support, I can continue the domino chain.

In 2020, I was admitted into the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Program at Manalapan High School. During my time in this program, I have been given countless opportunities ranging from Stop the Bleed Training to Active Shooter presentations. My classmates and I visited the Monmouth County Fire Academy, the Newark Homeland Security Office, and the NJ Regional Operations and Intelligence Center. I was also interviewed by an FBI agent and a Homeland Security agent, who both mentioned that my wide range of experience as well as my ability to speak multiple languages will earn me a career in their agencies. During my senior year, I was promoted to Captain, the highest rank in the program. As Captain, my responsibilities ranged from mentoring underclassmen to creating volunteer opportunities for classmates. This position has provided me with a challenge to prepare myself for my future. Senior year, I also decided to challenge myself with the NJ State Police Top Physical Challenge, where we were put through the same physical test as State Troopers. I managed to use my experience from wrestling to receive a 1st place award. LEPS has allowed me to work closely with the NJ State Park Police for the spring semester of my senior year. I have been given presentations on certain K9s such as Bloodhounds, learned about the duties of officers, and looked at different state parks from an officer’s perspective. I have been a Cadet within the Manalapan Cadets for 3 years. We participate in volunteering events, donate to several charities during the holidays, and learn about the law. Through this organization, I participated in a police academy where I earned the rank of Platoon Leader. I led a group of 31 individuals during physical training, drills, and other activities for a week. Upon graduation, I received the 1st place award for leadership, reflecting my passion for this position. At the beginning of my junior year, I was pressured into joining my school's wrestling team by a friend. After the first practice, I dreaded coming back the next day, but I realized that this sport wasn't supposed to be easy. For the next 3 months, we practiced techniques, conditioned, competed in tournaments, and supported each other during the process. Something I learned in my two years of wrestling is that it is extremely difficult, but it has helped me grow into a disciplined and motivated person. I will always be grateful to the friend who opened my eyes to this beautiful sport. About 3 years ago, the word “cybersecurity” was introduced to me when I joined my school’s cybersecurity club out of plain curiosity. Initially, I felt intimidated as well as disinterested in cybersecurity, especially as a female in a male-dominated field. However, if there is anything I’d take away from this club, it is that we were a great team. It didn’t matter what gender we were, what our background was, or how much experience we carried, we were all there for each other. I aspire to be someone’s hero by spreading awareness of this subject to my community. I believe it is my ability to push myself as well as others toward success that has aided me in completing goals that I never would’ve thought of completing at my age, but I know I have time for many more. This Scholarship will not only be used to continue my education in Cybersecurity Engineering but to save a life, or many. Life is built upon helping others succeed, and I believe that with your kind support, I can continue the domino chain.