I absolutely love my job with a passion and I can't ever see myself doing anything else, funny thing is I wanted to be criminal law solicitor when I was younger.
When I was doing my GCSE's and had to regularly see a careers adviser I always wanted to be a criminal law solicitor - must be something to do with the fact that I like a good old argument. I remember telling the careers adviser I wanted to be a solicitor only to be told - 'Your grades for GCSE won't be good enough'. I thought oh well, I'll think of something else then. I had family who were police officers and so thought I'd like to do something like that. Problem was, I was a bit of a wimp, facing criminals and having to be brave on a daily basis, Could You? I couldn't, what can I do instead. My sister suggested Criminology - I had no idea what it was but yes, I want to be a Criminologist.
I did my GCSE's, I got 8 A*-C grades, it was enough to allow me to stay on in sixth form and do my A-Levels. I chose English Literature, Biology, Maths and General Studies. The first year went OK, It was hard but I was getting through. I chose my University options, Northampton was my top choice, I needed 3 C's to get on my course to do a Degree in Criminology. My second year was not so good, I was 17, I got myself a boyfriend, started to learn to drive and started going out. I lost my way doing my A-Levels, I dropped English Literature - Too many books to read, I failed Maths - Maths A-Level is hard!! I also failed General Studies - I didn't think it was possible to fail General Studies. I got an E in Biology.
Armed with my E, N (General Studies) and U (Maths) I approached my head of year to find out if I had got my place at Northampton University - it didn't look promising. They said the best they could do was to defer me for a year for me to do re-takes. I agreed knowing full well I wasn't going to do re-takes, why would I when I had a boyfriend and I could drive. Oh how your priorities are all wrong as a teenager.
I spent the next two years working in admin, yes I worked my way up from £9k a year to £14.5k a year over that time, but I was better than that, I wanted to be a Criminologist! I reapplied for university, this time I applied for a Higher National Diploma and I got in. I would spend the next two years of my life working part time jobs and completing a Higher National Diploma in Forensic Science, Criminology and Law.
I eventually passed my diploma with a distinction, my priorities had changed and I was ready to work hard. Only problem now, I hated the Criminology part if the course - even to this day I don't quite understand what Criminology is. What I had enjoyed about the course was Crime Scene Investigation - now I want to be a CSI.
I now start applying for all Forensic related jobs, Trainee Scene of Crime Officer, Fingerprint Assistant, Forensic Vehicle Examiner - I haven't got enough experience. I see a job for an administration officer within a Fingerprint Bureau called a 'Tenprint Officer' - no idea what it is but its in a 'Fingerprint Bureau' so therefore slightly related to Forensics. I apply and get the job: starting salary £14k....what?!! £14k!! I was on £14.5 before I started my university course! I started the job in January 2005, by May 2005 I had applied internally and got a job as a Fingerprint Assistant, I was working my way up. The pay rise was a nice one. After some training I started my new role in October 2005.
I shall do a full blog on the training of a Fingerprint Expert next, but for this part all you need to know is that part of Fingerprint Training involves a 2 week attachment with a CSI. It was a brilliant 2 weeks but I had that same old problem that you had to be brave, be on the front line, face things daily that are upsetting, sometimes disturbing, you had to go to burglary scenes, rape scenes, murder scenes...the mortuary, Could You? I couldn't. Returning to the Fingerprint Bureau was where I wanted to be, I want to be a Fingerprint Expert.
7 years later, here I am, I've been a qualified Fingerprint Expert for just over 1 year. I love it. I guess everything pans out for a reason, I thought after failing my A'Levels I wouldn't get anywhere but I did. I wish I could explain to teenagers doing their A-Levels how important they are, especially as the world of Forensics is now so competitive. I got in just in time.
Until my next blog xx