I PASSED!

Hey everyone,

So I was scheduled for a physical test at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy in South Phoenix for last Wednesday.

I have been training for the test for a few weeks now with running, doing countless push-ups, and sit-ups. However, there was only one thing holding me back: the 6 foot wall. As hard as I tried, I just couldn't do it. Then I finally did it barely, two times in a row, and then couldn't do it again to save my life. So I gave up practicing and just went to sleep since my test was the next day.

Well I showed up to my test 20-25 minutes early out of nervousness, and the feeling of being on academy grounds was indescribable. I just felt like I belonged there. Our instructor was late to my surprise. We started with the push-ups (which I was not looking forward to because I failed this part of my police physical for Scottsdale last month). The minimum number of push-ups was 15, I ended up doing 20. Passed. Next up was the sit-ups. The minimum was 34, and I did 36. Passed. Next I was hoping we'd do the wall since I knew I'd be tired from the run and won't be able to do it all at. But no, we did the 1.5 mile run next. You'd think that playing soccer since I can walk would make me like running by now, but nope, I still hate it so much. The minimum run time for my age group is 15:05, I finished in 13:30. One thing left to do: the dreaded 6 foot wall. I wanted to go last. All the guys just hopped right up and jumped over. The only other woman there was a late 50's former triathlete with a fused wrist and she was second to last to go, and she went up and couldn't do it on the first try, so she told me to go. In my head I'm thinking "awww f***, there goes all my hard work." So I run up and I hook my arm and I'm struggling to get my foot up and all my fellow "recruits" just started cheering me on "you can do this!" and "you got this!" and "almost there, come on!" started flying at me and I flung my foot up and lifted myself up on the wall! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE ABOUT SOMETHING. I climbed the wall on the first try! Then the former triathlete went again and she finally got up! I was so excited for her (even though she beat me by 11 seconds on the run). Only 2 guys didn't pass the physical.

Then we went into the classroom and talked about the background investigation process and received our paperwork. So that's the next step in my journey to becoming a police officer.

This part is the hardest because you have to list every job you've ever held, every single bad thing you did whether or not you were caught, every ticket you got...it's overwhelming. But so worth it!

I'll keep you all posted!

Below is a picture of the bruise from jumping over the wall.

(Possible) new internship in the works!

Hey everyone,

So I've been wanting to join the police force for a very long time now, and now that I'm 21, I will finally get a chance to apply and see if I'm right for the job.

I applied to the Phoenix Police Reserves because I feel like that's a great place to start since I will become AZ Post certified after the 9 month academy so I'll graduate hopefully by summer of 2014. My physical testing is Wednesday the 25th...so next week! I've been working out a lot and practicing pushups, situps, and the run. With the Phoenix Police Department, they require jumping over a 6 foot wall...well that's been a tad difficult. I've done it twice now and I've got a few scratches and bruises from it.

I went to a Q&A with police officers last night to talk about the qualifications, benefits, and departments.

My goal is to work in international law enforcement with human trafficking so this would be a great start to that career.

(EXTREMELY LATE) Introduction

Hi everyone,

My name is Albina Hidic, I am a senior studying Public Service and Public Policy with then intent of going into law enforcement. My main focus will be human trafficking once I get into the field. I actually have police exams coming up on October 5th in Seattle, WA, so I am training and studying for that currently. 

My background: I have been living in Phoenix ever since I moved here from Bosnia in November 1999. I grew up during a war in Bosnia and from stories my parents have told me, I've been shot at as a little kid. An interesting bit there for you. I still am fluent in my foreign language. It took me a short 6 months to fully learn English as not speaking or understanding the language made things difficult for me academically as well as socially. I think that having a foreign background will help me to succeed in life because I am very knowledgable in two different cultures and traditions and I know two languages, which is a great asset to possess. 

Right now, I am taking 28 credits while working a full-time job which worked out perfectly because I did an internship my freshman year and all the way into my sophomore year which I will elaborate more on in the following few paragraphs. 

I was a freshman living in Taylor Place when my community assistant's friend and then Undergraduate Student Government President Christian Vasquez informed me of a thing called "Lobby Con." I had to no idea what that even was, but being a freshman and wanting to get involved, I ended up going. Lobby Con ended being a conference where you can learn how to lobby and talk to State Legislators about higher education and how important it is to our society. There I met students from the three major universities who were passionate about their education and making it available to more students than it already was. The organization behind all of this? Arizona Students' Association. 

ASA: The organization was founded in 1974 by the presidents of the three major universities in Arizona. The organization started because the presidents wanted to give a voice to the students and figure out how to make a college education more affordable (we all want that, right?!). Up until 1998, ASA was funded by the Arizona Board of Regents, but the students decided to take a vote so that students would fund this organization with a mandatory $2 fee that is totally refundable per school year ($1 per semester). More information can be found at www.azstudents.org

My internship with them consisted of phone banking, class presentations, recruitment, and reaching out to political leaders in Arizona. I met students from all three state universities and even from all over the country.