At Shadow Ridge many students embark on the journey of forensic science as their elective each year. Senior Avrie Vohs continued that track through high school and plans on pursuing a career in forensic science. She learned more about the real life of a crime scene investigator by organizing a ride along to truly get a sense of what the life of a CSI is actually like.
“The process to get a ride along was only like a month long. In my forensic science class I had the opportunity to speak to a crime scene analyst and asked her how I could do one. They did a background check and checked if I was 18,” says Vohs.
The ride along was quite the eventful day filled with a full day of all things crime scene investigation.
“So I had to get there at 6am. When I got there they made me go into the holding room and it was kind of scary. Then the guy who I was going to be with all day came up to me and introduced himself and showed me around the entire lab. It was super duper cool. He then showed me pictures of old cases that they had worked on previously, which was also the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. When they got a call I was able to go to the actual scene and I got really close to it. We were there for like 3 hours. When we finished with that they took me to another one where they had to take a guy’s fingerprints. It was really awesome,” says Vohs.
What was a day of fun for Vohs might not sound that appealing to all, however, for her, she loved getting to experience everything that comes with the job.
“I was able to actually see a dead body. I didn’t think that they would take me to an actual crime scene. At first I was kind of scared but after that it ended up really interesting me,” Vohs adds.
This ride along also helped Vohs see that these are just people doing a job too. She also solidified her want for pursuing a career in forensics.
“It made me realize that these people were people too, and it really helped me see just how much fun it is. I think it’s a very difficult and rewarding job. I’d be able to give a family closure on something that happened. I’d be able to help find someone who did something. I’d be a part of something greater than myself,” Vohs says.
Vohs plans on committing herself to bringing closure to families and making sure the job gets done right.
My grandma is an unsolved case, I’ve always wanted to help people, and originally I wanted to be a nurse, but after hearing about her and watching criminal minds, I was automatically hooked. I want to be a crime scene analyst and go on the actual scene. I would be taking evidence and securing it,” Vohs says.
Vohs will be continuing her studies at the college level to begin the stepping stones toward achieving the career.
Vohs says, “I will be going to college at SUU to major in criminal justice and minor in chemistry. This will help me in the lab and know how the justice system works better. I’m so excited for this next chapter of my life, and I can’t wait to start it!”
While her future will be at SUU, it started at Shadow Ridge in the one of a kind forensics science program.
“Taking forensic science helped teach me everything I know. It piqued my interest in ways that I never thought could. Everything about it is amazing to me and the more I learn the more I fall in love with it,” Vohs says.
She advocates for forensic science and encourages students to join if they plan to pursue a career in the field after high school.
“If you’re even the slightest bit interested in the field, I’d 100% recommend forensics. It has helped me realize just how much I love it. Although it can be a lot of work, I think it’s so worth it and so much fun,” says Vohs.
