No one is perfect. Being good comes from your heart, and if you're not truly passionate about that area, you can't be the best. Living in Louisiana I've seen and heard of many crimes, and the good and bad ways that law enforcement has handled them. To be a good law enforcement officer you need to have passion for the field, but you also have to want more. People see wanting more as selfishness but to be great you have to want it. A good law enforcement officer sees an issue and instead of just dealing with it, they resolve it. People think solving the issue ends it, but to truly solve an issue you have to find a favorable solution. Being a good law enforcement officer means you have to be open to other races, beliefs, and situations. The world is an unpredictable place, and having an open mind as a law enforcement officer allows you to get over the uncomfortable and help the community as a whole. To me, a good law enforcement officer has a passionate, optimistic, and open mind when protecting and serving the community. Having seen the positive ways law enforcement dealt with ongoing issues inspires and pushes me to do even better. I've also seen the way law enforcement has negatively impacted communities, and that too motivates me to change and improve the bond between law enforcement and communities. I want to pursue a career in law enforcement because I have a passion for helping others, and I want to do everything in my power to make others feel safe in their communities. Law enforcement in the state of Louisiana has let down so many families, including mine. I will be the person who changes that and brings closure to so many who have not found it. A bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice opens opportunities for me such as the FBI, Criminology, Crime Analogy, and so many more. Knowledge in Criminal Justice will provide me with the necessary skills and vital information that would not only help solve new crimes but even unsolved wonders. I want to be a part of that change because as a Hispanic woman, I was always told to go for a safe job that makes money, like a lawyer or doctor, but it never interested me or caught my eye. A career in Criminal Justice not only excites me, but it makes me proud of who I know I’ll become.

The features of the dream team in Stranger Things can't all be put into three characters, but a specific three characters together can beat a supernatural threat. My triple-threat Stranger Things team would include Eleven, Mike Wheeler, and Jim Hopper. I chose these three as my squad because together they have all the features necessary to fight off a threat. Eleven has amazing abilities and powers that allow her to fight off a supernatural threat physically. Mike is smart and he can predict and figure clues out. That will be necessary for finding and keeping the team safe. Jim Hopper also has detective-like skills that will give the team an extra step in finding and predicting the actions of the supernatural threat. Jim also has fighting skills and weapons to fight off the threat. These three together connect emotionally with one another but also have features that together can overcome any obstacle that they are faced with. The relationship between Eleven and Jim Hopper allows Eleven to fight stronger to protect him, as he is the father-like figure in her life. Mike is one of the smartest in Stranger Things and has a great connection with Eleven because they are in a relationship. This all comes together to prove that the relationship between the squad will be unbreakable and unbeatable. Whatever the triple-threat team is faced with, they can beat it.

In 2019, the Covid-19 lockdown had just begun. The Black Lives Matter Protests began for George Floyd as well. During that year, a lot of police brutality cases and crimes were exposed to the world which shined a light on one of the major but silent issues that was going on throughout the country. The show "When They See Us" had come out to represent a case that happened on April 19, 1989. I began to watch it, and from the start, you see the fun and exciting life that these young boys lived. Heading to the park a large diverse group of boys walked through, not knowing what was truly going on in the forest next to them. There was a female jogger who was assaulted physically and sexually and found later in the night. That same night policemen chased the boys out of the park, hitting one of them across the face, Kevin Richardson, this left him with a swollen eye. The next morning the police were looking for who to blame for the assaults against the female jogger. Five young boys were arrested and charged with the assaults and attempted murder of the female jogger. These boys had absolutely nothing to do with the case but were racially profiled by the police. These boys were scared, guilt-tripped, and coerced into a confession. These 5 boys spent 5-15 years of their life in jail for a crime they did not commit. This show sheds light on the truth behind racism, racial profiling, and police brutality. Seeing this show left me completely speechless. These were children who were at the wrong place at the wrong time and had to pay part of their life for it. "When They See Us" connects with watchers emotionally and physically with people of color. The show gave us an example of how life was in that era, and how being African American or a person of color made you seem. This show was one of the many that inspired me to pursue a career in Criminal Justice. Being Latina, I have also been racially profiled, whether it be in a store, on the street, or in school. Being spoken to in Spanish because I don't look American, being watched by store employees because they think I'd steal, being told to go back to my country. Racial profiling is a major issue in the United States of America and not enough is being done to change that. This is just one of the issues that is discussed throughout the show. Watching this show opened my eyes to the brutal reality of law enforcement and society as a whole. Watching this show will change your perspective on the world, but to not let history repeat itself we have to educate ourselves in it, so don't hesitate to watch. This show will show you the truth and you'll never see law enforcement the same.

Coming from a low-income household and being raised by my mother, I knew that I'd have to earn my way to college. Being so close to my graduation year my mother has gone out of her way to give me nothing but the best. From buying me books to study, a laptop to do my schoolwork, and paying for my extracurriculars, she goes out of her way so that I can do better for my future family. Receiving this scholarship support will be meaningful to me because I can finally prove to my mother that all the sacrifices she made were worth it. I knew since I was a child that I wanted to go to college and my mother has been super supportive. This scholarship will be my way to show her that I am grateful and beyond ecstatic about the road ahead. My dream field of work is within Criminal Justice and Psychology. Getting an education in Criminal Justice and Psychology would allow me to get a job in law enforcement in hopes of changing the justice system not only for people of Hispanic descent but for everyone. I will use my education to pay forward and help hate crimes and racial discrimination cases get the justice that they truly deserve. So many people have been through obstacles, some harder than others, but that doesn't mean that some don't deserve the same amount of attention. Earning my degree and making a change can and will inspire many more to stand up for what's right. I will use my experiences and the experiences of others to show the world that we as people, will not settle for anything short of fair. Criminal Justice will include me in the area of law enforcement which would allow me to connect and help people who have gone through traumatic and complicated experiences. Psychology will allow not only me but also others to understand why those feelings exist and why those feelings are valid. This career choice was not only made through personal experience but also through the experiences others have shared. Going through a lack of confidence is just one of the major obstacles I've had to overcome so far. I've made it this far, and I still have a long way to go. From a young age, I excelled in school, in sports, and with my at-home duties like cooking and cleaning. Soon enough that became an issue because when I needed help, I didn't know how to ask. The more I grew the harder school, sports, and at-home activities got. The schoolwork got more difficult, as did the homework, the cooking became more complex, but I never found the courage to ask. Joining a volleyball team introduced me to many different people and playing gave me the sense of confidence I was missing, so I continued to play. Volleyball taught me that needing help with certain aspects isn't "weak", but necessary for growth. Overcoming that through volleyball has helped me overcome the lack of confidence in real-world situations. I will continue to play volleyball and learn to speak for myself because the only thing stopping me from achieving my full potential is me.

Obstacles are inevitable. Everyone goes through challenges whether small or big. Going through personal experiences is what makes you unique. Your identity is shaped by these experiences and how you overcome them. Going through a lack of confidence and discrimination are just some of the major obstacles I've had to overcome so far. I've made it this far, and I still have a long way to go. I know things won't get easier, but with what I've learned so far in life, I believe I'd be able to handle future challenges better. From a young age, I was always an independent child. I excelled in school, in sports, and with my at-home duties like cooking and cleaning. Soon enough that became an issue because when I needed help, I didn't know how to ask. The more I grew the harder school, sports, and at-home activities got. The schoolwork got more difficult, as did the homework, the cooking became more complex, but I never found the courage to ask. This lack of confidence proved to be one of the biggest obstacles I've faced and continue to face today. Joining a volleyball team introduced me to many different people and playing gave me the sense of confidence I was missing, so I continued to play. Volleyball taught me that needing help with certain aspects isn't "weak", but necessary for growth. Overcoming that through volleyball has helped me overcome the lack of confidence in real-world situations. I will continue to play volleyball and learn to speak for myself because the only thing stopping me from achieving my full potential is me. I was always told I couldn't do certain things as a child. I was a girl, being pushed into certain areas because of it. Being Latina meant I grew up speaking two languages, looking different than the people around me, and having different beliefs. This led to me being told I should speak English, that I was a "cockroach" and that I should go back to my country even though I was born in the U.S., or being profiled and being spoken to only in Spanish because adults thought I wasn't American. I used to let it affect me but as I grew I realized that I am who I am today because of my identity and the experiences that come with it. Going through these experiences as a child and still to this day has made me stronger, and not only motivated me but pushed me to prove to other people just how great I can become. I worked hard to be the top in my class, a good athlete, and a great daughter overall. That in itself is enough to make me want even more for myself. Facing these obstacles has taught me how to persevere and how to be optimistic. Looking at the bright side of things and continuing forward has been one of the most valuable lessons that I've learned from all of this. Now, no matter what the situation is, I have a smile on my face because I know that this is just one of the potholes in the exciting road ahead.

Since a young age, I've always been an independent child. I excelled in school, in sports, and with my at-home duties like cooking and cleaning. I was always pushed to help others who weren't as fast-paced as me. Soon enough this became an issue because when I needed help, I didn't know how to ask. The more I grew the harder school, sports, and at-home activities got. The schoolwork got more difficult, as did the homework, the cooking became more complex, but I never found the courage to ask. My parents and teachers always expected that I understood and knew what I was doing, and that I didn't need help. If I were to ever ask for it, I'd be told I wasn't paying attention or trying hard enough. The question that I wish I'd been asked more often by my parents and teachers is, "Do you need help?" This question started affecting my grades and soon my ability to express my emotions. To this day, I have trouble sharing how I feel in complicated situations. Those four words as a child would have allowed me to be comfortable with failure and complex situations but instead, I was blocked from it. Seeing how it affects me inspires me to learn and try to speak out more, it also influences the career that I've chosen to pursue. My dream field of work is within Criminal Justice and Psychology. These two degrees can help me overcome my problems, and in the future help others with theirs. Criminal Justice will include me in the area of law enforcement which would allow me to connect and help people who have gone through traumatic and complicated experiences. Psychology will allow not only me but also others to understand why those feelings exist and why those feelings are valid. This career choice was not only made through personal experience but also through the experiences others have shared. People who grow up in low-income families usually don't acknowledge their feelings and have never been taught mental health. I want to be able to help those people cope and overcome problems so they can live a life without anything holding them back. Personally going through a traumatic event and not knowing how to communicate how I felt allows me to empathize with people, and hopefully help them through their journey. The question "Do you need help?" is not only necessary but it is vital for the growth of the mind. I will make sure to ask this question to everyone because I want them to know that their feelings are valid, and they aren't alone.

No one is perfect. Being good comes from your heart, and if you're not truly passionate about that area, you can't be the best. Living in Louisiana I've seen and heard of many crimes, and the good and bad ways that law enforcement has handled them. To be a good law enforcement officer you need to have passion for the field, but you also have to want more. People see wanting more as selfishness but to be great you have to want it. A good law enforcement officer sees an issue and instead of just dealing with it, they resolve it. People think solving the issue ends it, but to truly solve an issue you have to find a favorable solution. Being a good law enforcement officer means you have to be open to other races, beliefs, and situations. The world is an unpredictable place, and having an open mind as a law enforcement officer allows you to get over the uncomfortable and help the community as a whole. Law enforcement officers should impact my community positively and with the utmost effort. Officers shouldn't have any association with race, religion, politics, or economics. Having officers in my community who without a doubt would help protect, serve, and resolve any issue is not only a want but a need. Too many officers today aren't passionate about protecting and serving the community as a whole, and that leads to a crack in the trust people have in law enforcement. People look up to law enforcement because it is superior to them, not only through power but also through defense. Law enforcement is the thing people rely on, for the safety of themselves and others. In communities that lack the enforcement of law, people tend to be more chaotic through the fact that whether they break the law or not, they have no consequence. Having officers who strictly enforce the laws and the consequences you get for breaking them would lead to a better relationship between the community and law enforcement. To me, being a good law enforcement officer has a passionate, optimistic, and open mind when protecting and serving the community. Having seen the positive ways law enforcement dealt with ongoing issues inspires and pushes me to do even better. I've also seen the way law enforcement has negatively impacted communities, and that too motivates me to change and improve the bond between law enforcement and communities. I want to pursue a career in law enforcement to one day outweigh what people see as negative aspects with positive ones.