Brandy Licona-Tello is Building a Future With Purpose
By Briley Mellon, Marketing Intern
Brandy Licona-Tello is a senior at Cleveland Early College High School, where she鈥檚 working toward receiving her high school diploma, Associate in Arts, and Criminal Justice Certificate simultaneously. She has dreamed of helping others since she was little and has done her due diligence in community service and anything law enforcement-related that she can get her hands on. Brandy is a part of her school鈥檚 Junior Civitan club, National Beta club, National Honor Society, and her school鈥檚 Hispanic Heritage planning committee. All of these clubs are service based, supporting her school and local community.
Brandy is one of those outstanding students who astounds you by her dedication and care for her community at such a young age. At 91快播, Brandy is an active member of the criminal justice club and holds an internship with Aaron Vassey, leader of the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program. Outside of school, Brandy is a member of the Gastonia Police Department鈥檚 youth cadet program and plans to start ride-alongs with the department. She has also been in contact with the State Trooper academy, where she has been reserved a spot to be a student trooper over the summer.
Brandy was inspired to get involved in law enforcement last year and has worked tirelessly to build a bright future toward that dream. Last year, she saw a female police officer in public and was taken aback by her stature. Looking at the woman was like looking in a mirror. She was short and petite like Brandy, but you could tell she was passionate about her work. 鈥淪omething in me just sparked in that moment. Asking a female as a female, because I know it is a male-dominated field… I felt in that moment she gave me lots of courage, lots of hope, like if this is what I really want – then don鈥檛 be afraid to do it.鈥�
Brandy works hard to achieve her goals because she wants to be a source of motivation for those around her. Beyond her intrinsic motivation to influence others, she says her father is a major inspiration for her. Brandy said watching her dad start his own landscaping business from the ground up and progressing so far over the years to support his family has showed her to never give up. Brandy鈥檚 father鈥檚 desire to provide her with things he never had, gives her the drive to do everything she wants in life. 鈥淎nd honestly, all those accomplishments that I鈥檝e been able to get or to be able to accomplish is for them.鈥�
Brandy is grateful for her family and the community connections she has made through the help of her school. After learning about her interest in law enforcement, Mrs. Edie Greenlee, a teacher at Cleveland Early College High School, helped Brandy get involved with the Shelby Police Department.
Brandy also looks up to Aaron Vassey at 91快播 because of the encouragement he gives her to pursue what she wants to do. During her BLET internship, she has been able to experience early morning roll call, training scenarios, a visit from a state trooper, and a trip to the gun range. Brandy鈥檚 main goal is to become a state trooper; her internship makes this dream feel real.
Becoming a state trooper will not be just a dream for long. Brandy has a plan. After high school graduation, she plans to join the National Guard for the experience and to help pay for college. Then she will enroll in Belmont Abbey鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminology program. Brandy is known for always striving to help her family and peers around her; you can tell she鈥檚 in it for all the right reasons. “In general, I just feel like I鈥檝e always had that drive to help others and to hopefully make a difference in the world. I hope, later in my life, that I get to be an example to other females or be able to help others change lives.鈥�