When I was growing up, I had no clue what I wanted to do for a career. I liked helping people, but I also knew that I wanted an exciting job in which I didn’t have to be dressed in a suit each day! I heard about DEA from a friend and I applied as an intern. It was there that I met the DEA Agents who told me stories about the bad people and criminals that they had put in jail. They explained to me how drugs affect everyone – parents, brothers, sisters. I had always thought that DEA Agents were big burly guys – but I leaned they come in all shapes and sizes. I admired them for all they did to make the world a better place, and I decided to apply to be an agent. I went through physical and written tests and had a panel interview. When I was accepted as a Basic Agent I went to the DEA Academy. It was there that I learned how to interview people, write reports, shoot a gun, and use handcuffs.

The neat thing about being a DEA Agent is that we come from different backgrounds and we use it to our advantage. Some DEA Agents used to be teachers, some used to be accountants, and some were cops. Together, working as a group, we target and investigate all types of drug traffickers. To do this, we set up undercover meetings, we follow people in cars, and my personal specialty - “foot surveillance” -where I follow the bad guys around the city without them knowing! As Agents, we work with Intelligence Analysts who help us “dig up information” on people. We also work with Chemists who help us do drug analysis and fingerprint tracing. Together as a “DEA Team” we work together and build the evidence against the bad guys. Then comes my favorite time… when we get to put handcuffs on people!

As fun as my job is, I can’t tell you all our secret tricks, but I would say that you would never suspect us! In fact, next time you go out with your friends I might be right next to you, so be careful and remember – stay strong and tough and say no to drugs!