My Road to Forensics by Layla

My Road to Forensics by Layla - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

I have chosen to pursue a major in criminal justice with a specialization in forensic investigations. This decision came about through a number of personal experiences I have had in the past few years. The opportunities I was given in high school were what had the strongest influence on my choice of major.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I decided to take an introductory class on forensic science. At the time, I did not really know what this field involved or what jobs could come out of it. But even just a couple weeks into the semester, I knew that this was calling to me and it was something that I wanted to pursue more in the future. I had never before felt so inspired by a class. Every day I listened to my teacher’s lectures with rapt attention and took detailed notes on everything we learned. With every chapter I grew more fascinated with the entire field and yearned for more information. This class was the first stepping stone for my decision to pursue a major relating to the field of forensics.
What I found most intriguing and what excited me the most about this topic was the area of forensic investigations. I could picture myself having a job in this arena and did my own research outside of class to learn more about it. The fact that a forensic investigator can take many small pieces of evidence and together be able to paint a picture of exactly what took place blows my mind. I hope that through my chosen major, I can learn exactly how this is done and what it takes to gain the skills needed for this. Forensic investigators are essential to the work that goes into solving every crime. It is such an important job to hold and one I hope that I will be able to pursue in the future. The excitement I felt from discovering this field of work helped me immensely in deciding what I wanted to do once I began college.
My teacher herself was also a huge help in my decision to study forensic investigations. She contacted me a year after having taken her class to invite me on a field trip to a local college demonstrating aspects of their forensic science and criminal justice courses. This is what truly solidified my decision. I was able to see in person exactly what I would be learning once I attended college. In addition, I was given a glimpse into what a forensic investigator does, so I was able to see what I could be doing once I made it through college and into my working life. This had a strong impact on my decision, because it allowed me to actually envision myself as a forensic investigator. I am so grateful for being offered this opportunity and shown what my life in college could be like. This experience my teacher gave me truly made me confident in my ideas of going into forensic investigations.
The experiences I had in high school relating to the field of forensic science were what made the most difference in my decision of a major. Without these, I do not think I would have ever discovered my true passion and calling for college and beyond.