About me
Connecting with others has always been my passion — whether through storytelling or conversation, I thrive when I am building relationships. Initially, I believed that loving your work was a privilege. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I realized professional drive should be fueled by passion.
As high school progressed, I frequently faced the inevitable question: “What do you want to do?” — a question I dreaded because, for a long time, I didn’t know the answer. Entering my junior year, I needed to take a science class to fill my schedule. Knowing that natural sciences had always been a challenge for me, I chose a forensics class, thinking it might be easier — not realizing it would vastly influence my future.
Going to school had always been mostly a social endeavor for me. But during my junior year, I found myself thoroughly engaged in my forensics class, captivated for an hour and a half every other day. The first case we studied was the O.J. Simpson trial, and we learned how the mishandling of evidence contributed to his acquittal. Studying this case sparked something in me. I started going home every day, scouring the news for more cases, reading about trials, and diving into everything I could find. For the first time in my life, I was choosing to read, and I absolutely loved it.
This passion for criminology led me to explore various legal cases, analyze trial proceedings, and dive deeper into the intricacies of human behavior that lead to criminal actions. My journey through studying forensic science and legal processes has deepened my commitment to understanding the complexities of crime and justice, and I am eager to contribute to improvements in the field to help prevent future miscarriages of justice.
Outside of my academic and career goals, I’m someone who values connection, community, and creativity. I grew up in a family that encouraged curiosity, conversation, and hard work, lessons that have shaped who I am today. When I’m not studying or working on projects, you can usually find me line dancing with friends, practicing martial arts, spending time with my friends. I believe that life is about both purpose and joy, and I strive to bring that mindset into everything I do whether that’s through my future career in criminology or in the way I build relationships with the people around me.