I don’t know what it is about banned things that make people want them all the more. Maybe it's our inability to be told the word “no” or our constant desire to prove people wrong. All I know is, if you want someone to stay away from something, do not ban it. From an early age, I was banned from wanting to become a police officer. I was told that careers in law enforcement were for men and I didn’t have the street smarts to become a cop. However, like telling a child they can’t have sugar before dinner, I ignored the advice and stuck my hand in the cookie jar. I joined the Riverside Police Explorer program when I was 14 years old. At 14 I decided to go against everything that had been forced upon me and made my first own decision. I started the program as a very timid young girl, someone that was okay with barely scraping by and hiding in the shadows of others. However, within a few weeks of being an explorer, I could no longer stand around and watch as others progressed, leaving me behind. I’d be lying if I said making the decision to challenge myself was easy, it was actually one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But, once I had made that initial choice to challenge myself, I was on a roll. Week after week I was volunteering to lead my academy class and help others adapt to the challenges the advisors would give us. Eventually when my academy class graduated, I was chosen to give a speech in front of the Chief of Police, command staff, and parents of the explorers. And I didn’t stop there, I continued to do scary things in hopes of bettering myself. I eventually earned a leadership position in the explorer program which is when a major shift in others ensued. When I became a leader, I noticed that the people who were once so supportive of me started to ignore me. I was the first female leader in the program and many people felt that because of it, they were able to not listen to my instructions. It hurt knowing that people thought lower of me because of my gender, regardless of how hard I worked or how much passion I had for the program. It felt that no matter what I did, others undermined my leadership and didn’t respect me like they respected males in my position. It took me a long time to realize that other people’s perception of me shouldn’t dictate the way I carried myself. Only when I stopped worrying so much about the thoughts of others, did I truly feel like I had power and confidence. Being a female in a male-dominated field, there will always be some people that look down upon you, but it is important to rise above their opinions in order to encourage people in similar shoes. I was promoted again to explorer lieutenant and currently serve as one of two majors leaders in the program. I consistently lead the program and have accomplished several goals while being an explorer. However, the achievement I love most is being able to say that I have inspired other females in this program. Through the hardships I’ve endured, I have shown young girls that gender is not a cap nor an ailment. I am dedicated to serving my life, inspiring others and encouraging them to venture to the list of “banned” things. After all, we should never be satisfied with taking no for an answer.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to become a doctor. I was never obsessed with the idea of taking a patient's temperature or doing blood tests; I fell in love with the idea of helping people. At the age of five, I decided that becoming a doctor was the only way that I could achieve that goal. However, being a part of the Riverside Police Department Explorer program has redefined that idea. My older brother was a part of the explorer program for four months before I decided to join. Listening to the stories he brought home with him after every Wednesday meeting would intrigue me, and when I saw him in his explorer uniform for the first time, I knew I had to join. From the second my feet hit the grinder on recruitment day, I was sure I had made the right choice. I have been a part of the Explorer program for around three years now, and I can confidently say that I have found my passion and realized what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to be a law enforcement officer with the Riverside Police Department. I believe that law enforcement is one of the most noble professions. Police officers dedicate their lives to saving others and making them feel safe. They understand that their vow to serve their community means that they might not come home one day, yet they still put on that heavy badge in hopes of making this world a better place. Seeing others pursue such a prestigious and respectable occupation was utterly eye-opening. It was truly inspiring to see how impactful law enforcement jobs are. During my time in the Explorer program I have been fortunate enough to meet several outstanding and inspiring police officers. They have truly taught me what it means to be a great police officer. Integrity, righteousness, and the unwavering desire to help others are all qualities that make a good police officer. However, some police officers exceed that standard and change people's lives. Detective Greenhalgh is one of the officers. When I joined the police explorer program in September of 2021, I was a timid 14-year-old girl. I watched as rank members and senior explorers took the lead and wondered if I would ever reach that level of confidence and leadership. That wonder slowly became a desire, and I started putting myself out there. I took charge of police scenarios and gave several speeches to the police chief and command staff. When rank interviews opened up, Detective Greenhalgh pulled me aside and told me he saw my dedication and love for the program. I had never felt so supported and seen. I was so grateful that a police officer recognized the hard work I had been pouring into the program, and his kind words inspired me to apply for a rank position. A few weeks later, I was promoted to explorer sergeant. I could never thank Detective Greenhalgh enough for the amount of confidence he instilled into me at the time and continued to instill throughout my years in the program. There are countless amazing police officers around the world who impact people every day. Officers should impact their community the same way Detective Greenhalgh did, by uplifting people. Great officers are humble and truly love helping others. They provide justice, security, and peace. In the future, I hope to become an influential police officer and change the lives of others.