I finally passed police academy and was ready to be an officer. Our graduation ceremony was held out in a huge field where we had done a lot of our training, with the fake storefronts and houses on one side and the rappelling tower on the other. Hundreds of people filled the field in folding chairs, fanning themselves in the heat. When I took the stage and shook hands with the lieutenant, and everyone clapped for me, I felt like for once in my life I had finally achieved something. I was going to be a police officer and give back to the community. If my father could have been there, he would have been proud.