On Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, I participated in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Los Angeles Field Office 2019 Teen Academy. Ever since I was little, I wanted to pursue a job in law enforcement. My interest specifically in the FBI and criminology and forensics was heightened from the One Schoolhouse online course I am taking this semester in Forensic Science.

I was selected as one of 60 Los Angeles area teens to participate in the day-long Teen Academy program. The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office’s Teen Academy allows high school students to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI in a one-day block of instruction and demonstrations. According to the event website, “participants were provided several presentations on topics including FBI recruitment, firearms instruction, Internet safety, Chief Divisional Counsel, crimes against children, terrorism, cyber, public corruption, polygraph exams, evidence response, SWAT and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office.”

I have never learned so much about firearms, STEM used in law enforcement, and women in law enforcement. Something that has inspired me was a woman (unnamed) who spoke about her time at the Quantico headquarters training in Virginia. She was the only woman at the time during her training session to become a secret agent but through facing adversity, she overcame this challenge and is now a very successful agent in a predominantly male workplace. This story inspired me to not give up on my dream and to continue to work towards overcoming challenges.