When Oxford resident Julie Kesselring, 17, attended the Michigan Student State Trooper program in Lansing three weeks ago, she went through the toughest, most physically and mentally enduring week of her life.
And she loved every minute of it.
Kesselring, who will be a senior this fall at Oxford High School, joined 42 other teenagers from around the state for five days of intense training at the Michigan State Police Training Academy.
‘It was really hard because there were so many different things we had to do in so little time,? she said.
Kesselring’s day began bright and early at five o’clock with physical training, like running, push-ups and jumping jacks.
This also included running up and down the stairs of the seven-floor academy without acknowledging the pain.
Kesselring said the students weren’t allowed to wipe their perspiration because in real-life circumstances, that movement gives the suspect an opportunity to take advantage of the police officer.
‘You’re just pouring sweat. It’s in your eyes, it’s in your mouth and you can’t do anything,? she said.
After breakfast, Kesselring attended various classes on narcotics, canine training, patrolling, S.W.A.T. classes and even shooting handguns.
She was the third best in her class after shooting a bull’s-eye on a paper target 25 yards away.
Kesselring said she had only shot a gun three times before then. Her uncle works for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department and got her interested in the field.
‘When you have a gun in your hand, you’re the one in charge,? she said.
Every day students were set up in simulations and either acted as a police officer or the suspect.
The academy has a fake house on campus to stage these simulations.
One of Kesselrings tasks involved a man with a gun who appeared to have injured another man.
‘I ‘shot? him,? she said. ‘He pointed his gun at one of the officers and that’s what I had to do.?
She even got to play the criminal and steal a police car.
‘It was pretty cool,? Kesselring said.
Aside from the daily classes and activities, students were required to handle specific chores. Kesselring had linen and bathroom detail.
Bathtubs had to be spotless, sinks clean and toilets scrubbed ’till they shined.
‘We even had to fold the toilet paper a certain way like a diamond,? she said.
Their beds had to be folded tightly and neatly and had to mirror their roommates bed.
‘You just learn after a few mistakes to get it right,? she said.
Some students couldn’t quite handle the pressure of the training program though.
Kesselring said two girls ‘chickened out,? one guy got hurt and another guy got sick and had to leave.
A large sign at the academy which said ‘If you think you can, you will. If you think you can’t, you’re right? helped Kesselring get through the week.
‘I knew that if I could pass physical training, I could get through the rest of the day,? she said.
Although the officers were ‘tough? on them, Kesselring said they also had personal sides when they weren’t training.
‘The first day I got there, there was this one officer that was always on my case,? she said. ‘He was so mean to me. But the next day, he was onto somebody else. They just try to see how much you can take.?
Kesselring said she wasn’t intimidated by the officers when she first got to the academy, but said she was just a little nervous.
After a day full of classes, the students ended training at five p.m. and sometimes got to have dances and even ice cream binges.
She said she applied for the program because she likes helping people.
‘I mean, I could be a doctor or something, but that’s not something I would really want to do,? she said. ‘I like helping people in dangerous situations.?
After the week-long program, students participated in a graduation ceremony and received certificates of completion.
Kesselring’s mother, Nancy, said her daughters stamina throughout the week makes her proud.
‘I think it’s good for a child to be that focused in what she wants to do,? she said. ‘She did very well.?
Kesselring plans to join the military when she gets out of high school to ‘explore her options? and travel.
After that, she’ll work her way up and she eventually wants to be on a S.W.A.T. team.
‘When I get older, I would want to become a detective or something or work in the labs like on C.S.I.,? Kesselring said.
Her advice for anyone interested in participating in the Michigan Student State Trooper program?
‘Be physically in shape. If you think you can’t do it, don’t,? she said. ‘You have to be mentally stable too.?