Lanika Lee-Escorpiso
Many of us cannot remember every day of our childhood, but there are moments that we remember like they happened yesterday. When I was six, my grandmother asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I can remember naming almost every career made possible to mankind (or at least to my six-year-old imagination). I was going to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, policeman, fireman, and a mommy. Half a decade later, my aspirations left me. I didn’t think I could do or be anything.
Most of my childhood I lived in Los Angeles County, in neighborhoods with lots of gang and drug-related violence and during a time when the relationship between the citizens and the police was like oil and vinegar. The culture I was raised in inspired music artists to write negative songs about the police. There was never anyone with a positive story about the police, and I always questioned why.
I had reached junior high and was placed in honors classes but was not very honored by the notion of being considered a “nerd.” I began failing my classes for no reason, and I begged to be placed back in “normal” classes, and even then I did just enough to pass. I was coming upon my junior high graduation when my vice principal pulled me aside and asked me what I planned on doing with the rest of my life. I didn’t know, didn’t care, and therefore didn’t have an answer for her. Without hesitation, she asked,
“Do you plan on living at home for the rest of your life?”
For me, that was not an option. I may have been uninspired at the time, but I knew I wanted more out of life than living at home. Apparently, she saw something in me I had yet to discover because she took time out of her day to talk with me about my future, and for the first time, I was inspired to do more with my life. I finally wanted to live it!
In high school, I stepped up my game. I knew nothing would be handed to me, but I began to realize everything was within my reach—I just had to work hard and grab it. I didn’t shy away from hard work. It was then that I began to challenge myself more. I attempted to do things that I never saw myself doing, and things that others thought I could never do. I became more active in school and my community. I ran track and cross country, played Junior Varsity football with the boys (yes, all 5’2”, 100 pounds of me), ran for class president, and most importantly improved my grades. My mind was set on going to college.
I continued my education at California State University of Sacramento and graduated with my Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, and like most college graduates, wasn’t quite sure where I wanted my career to go. I knew it had to be a career with lots of opportunities. Two summers after graduation, I was on my way in the gates to watch the US Olympic Track and Field Trials, but I was drawn to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) recruitment booth that was set up just outside the entrance. I was so intrigued by what the recruiter had to say about the Department that I missed the first few races. The recruiter had sparked a new fire within me that inspired my next challenge.
When I told my family about my career choice, it was hard for some of them to accept because of the cultural stigmatism they had about law enforcement. But after doing my research, I knew the CHP stood behind its motto: “Safety, Service and Security.” I recognized that I wasn’t just joining any law enforcement agency. I wanted the best for myself and for my future, and because the CHP was recognized as being the best, I had to be associated with that. Even if it meant sacrificing my family’s support, I applied that summer and was accepted into Cadet Training Class II of 2001.
When I entered the academy, I realized it was going to be the most intense physical and mental challenge I had ever put myself through. But I knew that I could do it. Completing the 26-week academy was not just for me; I was doing it for the naysayers that I had to prove wrong. I had three younger sisters and a brother, along with a niece, nephew, and cousins that I wanted to inspire to want the best out of their lives no matter what path they chose.
I was so excited and proud of myself that it brought tears to my eyes (and still does today), because when I walked across that stage, it was more than graduating from the CHP academy. It was a moment in my life that made me reflect on the day my grandmother asked me what I wanted to be and the day my vice principal gave me a wake-up call. I knew at that very moment I could be anything I set my mind to.
Better yet, the more excited I became about my career choice, so did some of my family, and it changed their thoughts about law enforcement. They recognized that the CHP is not just a law enforcement agency; it has become an extension of my family.
Today, I am almost halfway through my career and look back at how time really does fly when you are having fun. I am married with three kids. Not only do they get to see that I am doing something I love, they have seen me challenge myself along the way.
I have worked from Los Angeles County to Mendocino County, in the State Capital, and for the Executive members of our Department. I have become a crime scene investigator, a crisis negotiator, and promoted to sergeant. When you hear the commercials say,
“Drive a car, ride a bike, or fly a plane,”
that is only the tip of the iceberg for the opportunities that await you at the CHP. And you will be able to work throughout the state of California.
I want not only my children but all children to be inspired, accept a challenge, work hard, and believe in themselves. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead!
