CINCINNATI, Ohio — A group of Ohio teens is learning what it means to ‘protect and serve’ by taking part in the Cincinnati Police Cadet Program.
Seventeen-year-old Sondra Farrell is one of those cadets. She’s one of nearly 40 Cincinnati police cadets in the program.
“I’m thinking about going into law enforcement and I want to work with juveniles so I thought it would be a good experience,” Farrell said.
She said she has enjoyed the program so far, but there have been some challenges along the way.
“I thought the exercising was hard but the more I get encouraged the easier it’s getting to sink in and I can do it,” she said.
It’s not only challenging her muscles but also her mind as she’s learning new things about herself.
“It’s already starting to help my confidence, my speaking skills and I’m already making some friends,” she said.
Not only is she developing these important skills, but she’s also receiving recognition for her essay about resilience. It’s an entry she wrote for a contest sponsored by the Hamilton County Juvenile Court.
“I wrote about how I was with my mom who I don’t live with anymore, but I wrote about all the struggles I had with her and being with her so it really inspired me,” she said.
Out of all the entries, Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Melissa Powers said she chose Farrell as the winner of the courage award because of her compelling story about overcoming adversity.
“My past is usually something I don’t talk about so writing it down I had a lot to talk about with it,” she said.
Sondra said she’s honored to receive this recognition and grateful to the cadet program for preparing her for the real deal when she graduates from high school next year.
“If anybody else has any interest or anything they should try it because it’s actually fun,” she said.
