My dream as a kid has always been to join the Federal bureau of Investigation. I mean honestly whose isn’t, I don’t think I have ever met someone that would turn down working for the FBI if offered.

My professor told the class about the FBI Teen Academy and how hard it was to get into, but obviously thrilled with the thought of joining the FBI Teen Academy, we all started brainstorming ways to make our essays better than one another’s. I remember thinking, “why am I even going to try I am not going to get in” – “it is such a waste of time” but I was thrilled with the thought of learning more about my dream profession and also furthering my knowledge on something I am already passionate about. There is this knot in my stomach, because all that is running through my head is “there are already thirty students in my class writing essays to get in, it’s useless there’s no way you’ll get in.”

It’s a stormy day—lightly raining, but it is projected to rain heavily later on in the day. Although for some reason rain always gives me better luck, and today I could use that luck. It’s acceptance day. I know I’m not getting in so I’m reminding myself to not get my hopes up. I am pacing back in fourth feeling my feet drag across the soft carpet and knots in my stomach. Finally, I hear “Bing” it’s an email. Not just any email, it’s the email! I have this sense of dread like if I don’t get accepted than what? So, I open it… and I read “we are pleased to inform you” it felt like the weight of the world lifted of my chest Like everything I had previously felt was gone, the panic, gut wrenching feeling. I felt electrified (could have been from sliding across the carpet) but none the less electrified.

October 19, 2018 the day I have been waiting for so anxiously, the day I finally get to step foot into the FBI building. I have never been more excited for anything in my short life before, I felt like I was finally getting closer to pursuing my dream. I get to attend something most people never get to in their life. Walking toward the building I will always remember the architecture, the building has so many different attachments all different sizes, I remember the thick windows you couldn’t really see in, but definitely could see out, the surrounding luscious neatly trimmed grass, the American flag flying so high in the sky, and the crazy security required to even step foot on the sidewalk before entering the building.

Walking in I remember smelling fresh lemon and how naturally bright it was, like the sun shines just to light up that building, I have never been so excited to be somewhere in my life. I vividly remember being so grateful for even having the opportunity to be inside the building. The fact that I got to meet such amazing courageous people was truly inspiring. Once everyone accepted was inside, we were led into a huge conference room that smelled so clean with perfect tables and chairs, surrounded by sandwich’s and table tops with our names on them we all stood there in shock looking at how perfect the room was. Eventually everyone got to the seats with their name are where were met with an itinerary for the day. Looking over the itinerary was so invigorating seeing all the new things I would learn from the smartest people in the county. A woman came in as greeted us, she explained briefly about what we were going to start with.

We had FBI agents teach us about the terrorism task force, active shooter scenarios, law and civil rights investigations, bomb tech scenarios, and last, but definitely not least, crime scene investigation.

The Crime Scene Investigation was the most interesting to me because we were taken to a large room where there was a car and blood splatter on the floor surrounded by “CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS” we were handed hair nets, gloves, shoe covers, and a lot of evidence bags where We were instructed to grab anything we felt could be used as evidence. The FBI Agent working with us was very clear that we need to treat this as a real crime scene.

The car was a Blue Prius with blood splattered on the outside as well as the interior, it looked like someone had ransacked the car, stuff was everywhere: papers with bloody fingerprints, cash with little specs of blood splatter, notebooks with pages missing, two shot gun shells.

I picked up the notebook I try and grab all of the missing pages, I felt so enthusiastic, but so anxious because of the pressure put on me to find all the evidence. It felt so surreal like I was actually doing the job I have dreamt of for so long. Joining the FBI academy really solidified the career path I’ve chosen for myself in Forensic Science. To think it was all because I had tried so hard on an essay of all things. On October 19, 2018 I left knowing two things: how much literacy truly has an impact on your life, not only do you utilize literacy on a daily bias but if you become a strong writer you can use it to your advantage in a career aspect as well as an academically. Second, that I was going to do everything in my power to someday join the Federal Bureau of Investigation.