West County CERT’s own Jessica Costescu has been selected to attend the FBI National Academy Associates prestigious 2018 Youth Leadership Program (YLP) in June.

The National Academy’s YLP is an 8-day program for students ages 14-16 and is held at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The program features classroom study, physical challenges, guest lectures, and leadership development. Only sixty applicants worldwide are accepted each year to attend this program after an extensive process with an initial application followed by an essay on leadership and a rigorous interview process.

Costescu is a Cypress High School Sophomore at with a 4.1 GPA and a member of the Cypress Police Explorer program. Her family immigrated to the United States from Romania when she was eight, but her experience in Romania has left a profound mark on her.

Jessica read the essay from her YLP application to the Team at our April meeting. It was moving as she described the governmental and societal corruption and oppression in she experienced in Romania.

“The Romanian government was very corrupt, to the point where it even infiltrated into the educational system. Even to a child, it seemed as if their politics were just fun and games, with the wealthy dictating the rules.”

“My early childhood experience and desire to lead by example has shaped how I live my life. I try to positively influence and inspire others to live up to their utmost potential. It is my desire to be the voice for the voiceless and ensure justice for the mistreated. These moral aspirations have influenced my dream of someday working for the FBI.”

And Jessica concluded, “I am convinced that the definition of a good leader is to put others first. I try to be a leader every time I either interact or am surrounded by people. The work put into making a positive impact on others is nowhere near how great the reward is.”

And if you have had the chance to speak with Jessica or watch her work with CERT members and the public, you can see that she is working to be the leader that has defined. Reliable, dependable, and more than anything else, helpful in all her interactions. Jessica exemplifies the very best in all of us.

Congratulations to Jessica Costescu for attaining this incredible opportunity. We can’t wait for you to share your experiences with us when you return.