One semester in

In one trimester, I’ve found that ARU is indeed the place for me. I don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned that I love my course but hey, let's say it again - I absolutely adore it.

That's probably the main factor that keeps me motivated. As an international student, sometimes it can be hard being away from home. But having a course you love really helps!

Firstly, I’ve realised that studying Crime and Investigative Studies is not only a degree but a profession that one must fully dedicate to. Policing and investigation play a prominent role in our society. The sector must have dedicated individuals to keep the public’s peace of mind when it comes to their efforts and fighting crime. I want to work hard and get high grades to show that I am one of these dedicated people.

In addition, I’ve found that the only way to truly teach a student is to ensure that the module provides both theory and practice (if applicable). I am speaking from experience as my course, luckily, gives us with the opportunity to apply the skills we’ve learned in practice.

For example, my favourite discipline I’ve practised so far is Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA). It’s basically an interpretation of various types of bloodstains that can be found at a crime scene. It can be extremely helpful as in some cases, using BPA can help the investigators determine the following: type of weapon used, victim/suspect height, victim/suspect positioning, to reconstruct sequence of events, etc.

This type of information can be crucial during an investigation. Studying this discipline was interesting and our teachers were committed to helping us understand it all. Of course, in order to really understand the concepts of this discipline, it was necessary to apply what we learned. We had a very interesting practical involving BPA, where we conducted various tests and observed how blood is affected by different angles or heights. It was definitely my favourite practical!

As a student, I realise that there are other important issues such as work, family, friends and most importantly – our wellbeing. However I am also aware that education is such a big privilege. That's why I am going to make sure I make the most of receiving such a good education.