My name is Stephanie Murillo, and I am a high school senior attending Phillip O. Berry. I am the first generation in my family to attend college. I plan to attend the University of North Carolina-Charlotte for four years and major in criminal justice. I have always had a passion for forensics, investigative work, and police work. Every night, my mom and I would watch crime series while cuddled up on the couch with popcorn and Coca-Cola in hand, trying to solve the case before it was over. We would compete against one another, and the winner would be the one who solved the case just before it was revealed. We even bought a Forensic File game called Unsolved Case Files to solve together, and she would often say, "It's like putting together a puzzle; you have all the pieces; all you have to do now is piece it together. I want to work as a crime scene investigator because I enjoy problem-solving, assessing situations, and piecing together evidence to put together a bigger picture.
I attended a week-long program at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, CMPD High School Academy, to learn more about being an officer and the criminal justice system. I got to know Officer Alvarez. He is a homicide detective for the CMPD. I asked him about CSI and homicide work, and he suggested he could take me along for a ride-along one day so I could learn more about it. I also attended a weeklong summer program at George Mason University in Virginia about CSI and law called NYLF Law & CSI in 2022. I was nominated to attend this program, and I enjoyed it. We had guest speakers coming from all around the world, including John E. Douglas, the FBI’s criminal profiler. It was a great experience, and talking to John E. Douglas expanded my knowledge in the forensic science field. He talked about his cases, including Dennis Rader (a BTK killer) and David Berkowitz (the son of Sam).
Finding the truth, obtaining justice, and providing the victims' families with closure are the main objectives of my future career. Finding the missing pieces of a puzzle by carefully gathering, examining, and interpreting information is a mentally and emotionally exciting reward. Looking ahead, I'm enthusiastic about having the opportunity to expand my education and gain professional forensic educational experience.
I witnessed, while growing up, the sacrifices my family made for me to have the opportunities that they never had. I have a great work ethic and a strong determination to succeed because of their determination and resilience. My parents are both from Honduras and migrated to the U.S. to chase their dreams. They went through many obstacles and challenges to make my life simpler than what they had growing up. They made sure I had everything I needed to succeed, and without them, I wouldn’t have made it to the point I am at right now. My identity as a first-generation Latin American student has impacted my future goals. It's hard being a first-generation student because my parents didn’t know how to help me apply for FAFSA or apply to colleges.
My identity as a first-generation Latin American student motivates me to change the world. It motivates me to put in more effort at work, push for changes, and encourage others to follow their passions despite any obstacles they may encounter.
I aspire to appear as a role model for other students from similar backgrounds, demonstrating to them that it's possible to follow their passions and succeed in professions that are usually underrepresented by minorities.