Iliana Schiffelbein – Colorado
Photography by Everyday Moments Photography Hi my name is Iliana Schiffelbein and I am a member of Inspiring Teens Magazine issue 68. My parents have both worked in the field of criminal justice my entire life. Because of this I have always been interested in things regarding law and investigations but the area that appeals to me the most is forensic science, which is the use of scientific principles to testify and provide evidence in a court setting. Some examples of forensic science include DNA analysis, blood-stain pattern analysis, and taking fingerprints. All of the data gathered can give an investigator an idea of what happened at a crime scene. I have interviewed investigators in the past about this topic including a 12 year homicide detective who explained it as a puzzle where all the pieces are there but you don’t know what the picture looks like so you just have to go through everything meticulously and try and fit information together. Every piece of information is critical to a case so we need exact processes and science to help a person to collect everything and make sure that nothing is overlooked. For example if we are investigating a robbery and we miss one set of fingerprints we may miss out on the fact that there were two suspects involved. It is also important to have a scientific basis in court cases because people have the ability to lie but when done right the science will never. Unfortunately, sometimes details can be missed and a large cause of this is confirmation bias, which is where a person thinks one thing happened and will subconsciously only look for the information that applies to this scenario. Because of this it is always a good idea to have multiple people look over the same scene. Forensic Science is also highly debated in court as it pertains to its accuracy. The information at the scene will always paint an accurate picture but user error does occur like in everything. A CSI that I previously interviewed talked about how experience and proper procedures help to minimize these errors but courts also must be aware that these people are only human and making one mistake does not deem everything as faulty evidence. Regarding experience, forensic science has gained a bad reputation in the past because of the people that have been chosen to testify as an expert. To gain this title one only has to know more than the average person which means that, technically, I could testify which I personally do not think makes much sense. If we have more people with more training and certifications as witnesses maybe forensics would not have such a bad reputation. It is also very important to understand how the media portrays forensic science as well as criminal investigations and how this differs from what actually happens in real life. Sometimes TV shows technology that does not technically exist in real life leading juries to be confused or even suspicious of investigators on occasion. Jobs, such as a CSI and detective, are also very taxing and people tend to go in with a false idea of what they will be doing, leading to high job turnover and overworked employees. As it pertains to me, I have done a couple studies about forensic science. One of these was about bloodstain pattern analysis and how different angles affect the way that a blood stain appears. The other was a report on how the general public perceives investigations and forensic science, particularly regarding media portrayal. I would love to do something in this field as an adult and love that it is something that I can connect with my family over. Thank you Inspiring Teens Magazine for allowing me to share this topic that I love so much!
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Alexis Szemplinski – New York
Photography by Sandy Szemplinski Hi, my name is Alexis Szemplinski and I am a member of Inspiring Teens issue 68. If I were to sit down and have a conversation with my peers, what I would want to talk to them about is the importance of kindness. From a very early age, I was taught to help those who cannot help themselves and to stand up for people who need it the most. As kids we are surrounded by the pressures of school, our peers, social media, and just simply navigating the many challenges associated with growing up. I think there is definitely room for improvement in what I see and witness in high school as it relates to how students treat each other. A child going to school should be in a safe environment for learning and flourishing their mind; opening them up to the unlimited possibilities that exist for them, but unfortunately for some it is a breeding ground for unwanted and harsh treatment by their peers. Kindness starts at home however. Kids are watching and learning from their families how to treat each other. Sadly, bullying doesn't only occur in schools, but also can happen when social media is used for this purpose. With devices at nearly everyone's disposal at any hour of the day, kids can be targeted, making it difficult to shift their focus to things that they enjoy and that make them happy. Social media when used negatively creates a platform for unnecessary exposure to bullying. Wouldn't it be great to someday see courses provided in schools that teach and encourage basic human decency and how we treat each other. We don't lift ourselves up by tearing others down. We are not defined by what others think of us. We are all valuable and have the potential to do great things in this lifetime. It's often said that people who are mean and bully others have more of a problem with themselves than the actual target of their anger and hatred. Most of us can probably say that they too have been on the receiving end of unwanted or hurtful behavior. My advice to anyone who is experiencing bullying of any kind is to please tell someone. You can tell a parent, sibling, or you can talk to a teacher you trust. Not speaking up is not the answer because when you do this you are making a choice to protect the bullies and allowing things to continue. I was very lucky in this regard as I knew I had teachers that were paying close attention to their students. I am personally grateful for them noticing when I needed them the most. I want kids to remember you will never be sorry for being kind. You will never regret random acts of kindness. Kindness has a ripple effect. When we are kind to others it leaves an impact. A person will never forget when someone made them feel good or helped them with something they were struggling with. When thinking about this they are more likely to want to carry out the same kind of kindness that they were shown to someone else. Learning to pay attention to others is a step in the right direction towards creating a more empathetic environment. Small actions can make a huge difference. The person sitting alone at the lunch table, sit with them. You may find that you have more in common with them than you realized. The kid crying in the bathroom, talk to them. You may just be lending them the listening ear they so badly needed. The boy or girl threatening to hurt themselves, take them seriously and tell a trusted adult. Your actions could potentially save a life. The kids you hear being mean to someone, stop them by letting them know that you don't condone their behavior. Treat others the way we want to be treated. Lead by example, create your own path, and never follow the crowd. If I can instill just one thought in kids, it is to know that you will never be sorry for being kind and that kindness always wins. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2023
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