Adaugo's Practicum, Observation, and Analysis (POA) Essay

I interned in the Forensic Science Division of the Prince George’s Police Department (PGPD) in the Summer of 2023. Specifically, I was at PGPD for about 125 hours, where I learned how forensic science operates in PG County. My direct supervisor was Sergeant Lynn Grant, as well as the director of the division as a whole, Kristen A. Lease. Throughout this internship, I interacted with those working in the Drug and Firearms Lab, where they would identify key information about their respective focus to support a case. For example, in the Drug Lab, they would perform a series of chemical tests to confirm what type of drug a substance was–they also used other tools like the GCMS. For the most part, I would walk in every day and start doing basic administrative tasks. It would mostly consist of me organizing old case files, in preparation for the division’s big move to a different location. Once I was done with that, I would move to the drug lab, where I would be updated on any of the GCMS results from the day before. We would also usually get a new drug every day or so, so we could also perform any chemical tests on what we were given that day. We would also fill out paperwork to be sent to the courts if needed. Otherwise, if I was not doing anything, I would visit the firearms lab and see what projects they were working on that particular day. When looking at the environment around me, I saw one major issue–the employees being overworked due to the sheer amount of cases they were given. PGPD’s division was renowned, but it was also one of the only ones certified at this time. So, this division was not only dealing with the entirety of PG County but also some cases from D.C. And, this became a lot to deal with at some point–but, they always made sure to get it done. They did this by delegating tasks to scientists and running several drug samples at once, with the GCMS. And I saw this in my science labs when we would be working with other group members on an experiment. To do it within that period, we had to separate the work sometimes and help each other throughout some of the processes. I also did see this type of group mentality in the SGC Colloquium, where we would separate into discussion groups, and had to work through questions. We would always divide the work among ourselves. I’ve learned a few things about myself through this internship! The first thing I learned was that I don’t think I would pursue this field. As I was working in the drug lab, I realized that they do not get to interact with a lot of other people outside of their lab. And, I sorta thrive on social interaction, and know I would not enjoy a long-term position in a lab space like that. Additionally, since I’ve changed my major, this side of science doesn’t align too much with what I’m more interested in now–public health. This internship didn’t directly lead me to switch my major, but the lessons I learned from it contributed. I definitely would recommend this opportunity to future SGC students. I was given a lot of new experiences and was able to learn so much, even though I’m not as interested in this field as a career anymore. But, I value all of the experiences I was given through this opportunity. I believe that trying something new is always beneficial, and do not regret my decision to intern here.

Last modified: 05 May 2024