Ever since I was a little girl, my dream job has been to be a cop, and to this day it is still my aim. I took my first Criminal Justice class through my senior year of high school. AJ50 (said class) was taught by Chief Kinnan, the chief of Auburn Police Department in northern California; this is where I knew that law enforcement was the path that was meant for me, and not just a dream. I knew that I needed to do everything in my power to make my dream a reality. In high school I graduated with honors, while taking college and AP classes, playing two competitive sports, and working two-three different jobs at once. I then transferred to Sierra Community College where I graduated in a year with Honors and an Associates in Criminal Justice. At Sierra I was fortunate enough to make connections with different professionals across the criminal justice system; among them were multiple different probation officers, the Chief Assistant District Attorney of Placer County, and a former homicide detective for Sacramento Sheriffs Office. Through these connections I was able to secure an intern position at Placer County DA's Office with the Victim Advocates over the summer. I was in charge of sending out communication to victims of all different kinds of crime, as well as assisting in shadowing victims in court. I believe my time as a Victim Advocate was incredibly important for my future goals. This position opened my eyes, and allowed me to practice empathy towards a victim. I think so often when we think of crime, we are so focused on the 'whodunnit' aspect we forget that there is a victim, and the emotional toil that can bring. I am currently attending Harding University to obtain my Bachelors in International Business and Finance, and I am on track to graduate in three years with 75% of my MBA completed while maintaining Deans List. After I graduate I will either go into the Academy where I would then go into the FBI, or directly go to the FBI to fight white collar crime at the federal level. I have already begun working on making connections with the FBI office close to my home in Roseville, CA; as well in other areas like Ohio and Arkansas. Not only, do I want to fight white collar crime, I would like to set up defenses within the community itself; my other dream is to set up non-profit organizations in under served communities to educate people in financial literacy and competency to set them up successfully. Service is something that has always been engrained in me since a young age, whether that be volunteering through church or giving money to the homeless on the street. I truly believe that service is something that should be pursued regardless of where we are in life, as an individual it is our moral obligation to help those in need with the gifts that have been bestowed upon us. I do not know why that little five year old girl wanted to be a cop and not a ballerina or princess (though those are cool to). But this I know with all my heart, sometimes dreams are written on our souls from the start, and it is up to us to make them a reality. It has been hard working 2-3 jobs at once, and taking the max amount of credits, and staying up late applying to scholarships. But it has been worth every step of the way, if it means making that dream a reality.

When I was in kindergarten, for my birthday I was supposed to make a poster about me; often talking about trivial things like my favorite and least favorite foods, my family, and things I like to do. It also had a section for a dream job, though most girls said princess and ballerina (because who wouldn't want to be those things) I put police officer. That same little girl, carries that very same dream in her heart, and she has played her cards the best she can to get her there. I took my first college-level criminal justice class my senior year of high school; there I established a connection with Chief Kinann (Chief of Police in Auburn) where he encouraged me and other women to get involved in law enforcement. After high school I transferred to community college where I graduated with honors and an Associates in Criminal Justice in just one year. Through the connection from one of my professors Lori Gregersen (who was a detective for Sacramento Sheriffs office), I was hired by the Placer County DA's Office as a Victim Advocate intern. In this position I was responsible for communicating with victims and shadowing them in court. I now attend Harding University where I am getting a bachelors in International Business and Finance (and a partial MBA) in three years, with hopes of working for the FBI in the white-collar crime unit, I have already established multiple connections via friends and family. A personal goal of mine since high school is to graduate college with little to no debt. I was able to save $15,000 by working 2-3 jobs in high school. I currently continue that path, so that I can hopefully be able to invest that money elsewhere, specifically by starting a non profit organization that teaches financial literacy and competency to underserved communities. Not just because it can give them the tools they need to succeed in life, but also knowing how to avoid being victims of financial crime. I don't know why five-year old Madeline Wilson put down police officer as her dream job. I often joke with my family, blaming my mother and her crime shows that I grew up watching behind the couch, but I truly think that it was a dream put on my heart by the Lord. He works in mysterious ways, and though to this day I do not know why I am so drawn to it, but I do know that there is reason for it. That is why I am working as hard as I can not only to achieve my dream and goal, but to make sure I remember that what I have is because of the Lord; and, it is imperative that I give unto others what has been given to me.

My senior year of high school was probably the lowest point I had been mentally ever in my life. I was taking multiple college classes and AP classes throughout the year, I was team captain of my competitive soccer team, and I was working 2-3 jobs trying to save up as much money as humanly possible for college. Also, as a cherry on top, my old softball coach and mentor had tragically taken her life; just when I thought the storm was over, another cloud rolled in. I was lost, confused, and felt like "butter scraped over too much bread" as JRR Tolkien once wrote. I didn't know what I wanted in life and felt stranded in the sea of life, often crying in the night suffering from extreme intrusive thoughts. On a whim, I took a base-level college class in criminal justice my spring term of my senior year, and it was taught by one of the local chief of police. It was then that I felt like a spark had lighted inside of me. I knew what I wanted to do. Chief Kinnan (the teacher) taught the course and encourage young women like me not to be scared or frightened to join law enforcement. It was in that moment I remember my childhood self, her dreams and her aspirations; I also remembered the birthday poster she made saying her dream job was to be a police officer. Since then there has been no looking back. In just one year I graduated with honors from community college with an Associates degree in Criminal Justice. I then was hired as a Victim Advocate intern; where I learned it's so much more than just catching the bad guy, it is helping the victim. I was in charge of sending out communication and shadowing victims in court making sure not only they felt safe and protected, but that they also knew what was going on in court. I believed this internship is incredibly important because it taught me that crime of all nature has a debilitating affect on an individual. And as someone who plans to join law enforcement, empathy is an incredible tool, that too often is lacking in those kinds of jobs. Currently, I attend Harding where I am getting a degree in International Business and Finance so I can fight white collar crime both here and all over the world. I continue to work multiple jobs in order to keep the cost of college at a minimum; moreover, I'm trying to get an in at Harding University's Public Safety Unit for more hands on experience. I still suffer my bad days. I have my periods of slipping into existential dread and severe anxiety, but that is not what defines me. Each and everyone of us has something in us that has the power to do good in this world, and we cannot slip into cynicism for the sake of others. It is because of this I keep plugging along, I keep the dreams of that sweet little girl in my soul, so that young girls too can have a hope.

Growing up service and volunteering was something that was engrained in the lives of me and my two younger sisters. Whether it be helping run a crab feed for Agape Villages, a foster organization that helps place kids in the homes of loving parents; or, going to the annual Feed My Starving Children, where we help package food for third world countries who struggle with poverty and starvation. Even giving money to the homeless on the street, or cooking a meal for those who are going through a hard time. Whether it was through church or community, my parents always made sure to emphasize helping those in need. To this day that is something that I hold very dear to my heart, and hope to implement in my future. I am currently going to Harding University where I am studying International Business with a concentration in Finance, I also have an Associates in Criminal Justice. I hope to finish my MBA and work for the FBI fighting white collar crime, but more than that, I would love to start a non profit. An organization that helps educate and teach people financial literacy and competency, so that they too can have to tools and knowledge to chase their dreams.I would like to start these programs, specifically in high schools of underserved communities; therefore, when kids graduate they will have the tools they need to navigate the expenses of life and make choices that suit them best. However, to complete this, I have set the goal to minimize as much school debt as possible to I can use the resources elsewhere to start the non profit. All throughout high school (and community college ) I worked 2-3 jobs while juggling competitive sports and college classes, allowing me to save $15,000 towards my college tuition. I continue to work multiple jobs to save every penny I can so that I can accomplish the first step of my dream. I truly believe that we are not on this earth for ourselves, but for others. The quality of a life is never measured by how much someone has done for themselves, but should always be remembered by what was left for the benefit for others. Working jobs and going to school full time isn't easy, but neither is living in poverty. Taking classes for my bachelors and masters is draining, but not nearly as draining as being thrown into the real world head first, with no idea what to do or how to go about life. Perspective is a gift to us all, a gift that can help us identify where we our help with our individual skills are needed.

Two years ago I got a call from one of my old softball team mates, I was perplexed because it had been quite some time since I had talked to anyone on my old travel softball team Rocklin Rebels. I was hoping for a call full of joyful nostalgia; instead I got the call that totally changed my perspective on life. Coach Angie, one of the best coaches, and only female coach I had ever had in my experiences with both competitive soccer and softball, had committed suicide. Heart broke and confused our entire team went to her funeral the next week, all of us totally torn to pieces from the loss of the woman who was most important to us. But despite our pain and sorrow, we came together; and it was at her funeral that her sister(our other coach) told us to live the way she did, Live Like Angie. We would allow the spirit of Coach Angie to live on, by living the way she did. We would work hard and stay positive, never allowing the ebbs and flows of life to falter our steps. Since that day I have done my best to live my life how she would. I buckled down graduating high school with a 4.2 GPA and honors, I worked hard to earn my Associates degree in Criminal Justice in just one year (also with honors), I am now currently attending Harding University studying International Business and Finance, I am projected to graduate in three years with over half of my MBA complete. My determination transcends just school, back at home I intern at the Placer County DA's office so that I can gain experience allowing me to pursue my goal of becoming a FBI agent, I also help coach youth soccer for the same club I grew up playing for. On top of all of this, I have worked 2-3 jobs to save and pay for college. During high school I was able to save $15,000, and I am not done yet. Though myself and my team bore the loss of my Coach heavily, in the despair we were able to plant seeds for our future and life, in which her spirit would live on in the garden of our futures. None of this has been easy, the loss of my coach, juggling advanced classes and jobs; however, its has been worth it. I will continue to push on for her and her memory, loss is a horrible thing, and I do not wish it on anyone. However, what this has taught me is that losing someone who was a light in a dark life is hard, but though they may not be with us, their light will forever linger. It is simply up to us to make sure to feed their flame, and to share their light with others.