If you want to succeed, put in the work to achieve it. If you want to feel better about yourself, do something to help someone else. These are the words of my middle school principal, Mrs. Hill, that speak to me daily. She has made an impact on my life because she is encouraging, she is supportive, and she continues to hold me accountable to my goals to this day. I know that my community service experiences will help me in my future career in law enforcement. I began my years of community involvement under Mrs. Hill's leadership. She required our middle school to volunteer twice a school year at our city's local mission. We would sort cans, chop vegetables, wash dishes, and serve food. I loved it, and I could not wait to return each time to serve. Serving others became a habit that made me seek other opportunities to serve my city and my school community. I became a youth volunteer coordinator for a local food giveaway organization, I was a new student leader at my high school, and I was a student election worker. I understand what it means to be a leader and I can encourage others to participate in activities that will improve their communities. Deciding to go into the field of law enforcement was a natural decision. I have taken 3 career surveys over the years, and each one recommended a career in law enforcement. I have always been a person who respects rules and I understand that laws are made for a reason. I believe citizens should feel safe in their communities and I know effective law enforcement can help secure that. I pride myself on my integrity, my ability to work cooperatively with others, my ability to stay calm under pressure, and my empathy for the needs of others. These are the qualities that I will bring into my future law enforcement career. As a person of color, I understand that other people of color sometimes have adverse relationships with law enforcement. Their communities are often critical of law enforcement and they feel that their interactions with citizens are exaggerated and frequently unnecessary. I believe having more officers of color who connect with the people in the community can help change these negative viewpoints. I believe the qualities I possess will help me excel in a future law enforcement career, and I am looking forward to protecting and serving my community.