Happiness is a Journey by Tanika

Happiness is a Journey by Tanika - December 2015 Scholarship Essay

A smile can change a person’s day and bringing happiness to people is what I intend to do ten years from now. I plan on being a Search and Rescue Officer within the K-9 unit. Ten years from now, I imagine myself searching and rescuing a toddler from harm with my partner in crime, my K-9. The one department that has been under a lot of fire lately is the police department. But I believe there is still good in the department and especially within the K-9 unit. I believe K-9s are the most underestimated unit within the police department. Those dogs work just as hard as any officer. They are loyal and will bring smiles to crying toddlers eyes if I cannot. Do you ever go a long time without seeing a family member or someone who means a lot to you? What is the feeling you get? For me, it is a chip off my shoulder and relief off my back, getting that warm feeling after embracing them for the first time. I want to be able to provide that to families in a stressful time.
My education is the only chance I have to be able to join the K-9 unit someday. Without my education I will not get very far. I am enrolled in a forensic science class that is already prepping me for some of the material I will run into in the future. Forensic science is allowing me to “solve crimes” and find out what happened due to forensics. After I graduate high-school, I will be furthering my education at a four-year college majoring in Criminal Justice with an emphasis on Law Enforcement and a minor in Forensic Investigation. While doing that, I hope to get the chance at an internship at a local police department around the campus.
I don’t want to go to a job every day of my life that makes me angry, depressed, or tired all the time because I would be miserable. If you are happy doing something that you love then it doesn’t seem like a job at all. I love solving “crimes” and bringing light to families while they are experiencing a dark place. Criminal Justice and dogs bring me happiness and by that, I hope I can find to continue my journey in that field for the rest of my life. The only way I can do that though is by getting my education, doing more hands on activities, and learning more about a subject I am passionate about. If it brings a smile to my face, then I want to bring one to others around me.