My origin story: why I’m hooked on forensic science

I’ve known I wanted to be in forensic science since I was middle school-aged. My parents are both responders and never shied away from talking about blood and guts at the dinner table (you know, the things that make us human!). When school was out, my dad would take me to work with him and I’d walk around downtown DC, try to get into the FBI building, or sit in the Emergency Department and watch it hum. One day, EMS rolled in a patient who attempted suicide by ingesting a toxic seed – with him, they brought a thick packet of research he prepared in order to end his life. I was stunned! All that time and effort could have gone to anything, and this guy chose to spend it on how to best kill himself?! My mind was blown and I was hooked on “the abnormal.” What in the world is this death thing? Why don’t we know more about it? Why are we scared of it? Why do people do the things they do? Why don’t we all do those things?