Samantha Sanchez '25 Studies Human Trafficking in Denmark

Major: Criminal Justice
Graduate Study: John Jay International Crime & Justice MA
Internships: New Jersey Attorney General's Office, Hudson County Prosecutor's Office
Career Aspiration: FBI Human Trafficking Task Force

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?

I was raised in New Jersey with my mother, father, and little sister. My mother is from Peru and my father is from Puerto Rico and I have been fortunate enough to travel to both places many times. This grew my love for traveling so much that for my 16th birthday, I traveled to Paris, Venice, and Rome with my family. It was a surreal experience, and it drove me to want to travel the world. Before starting at John Jay, my main goal was to study abroad, especially while learning more about my topics of interest. 

What was it about John Jay College that made you want to come here?

John Jay is known as one of the best criminal justice schools in the country. My career goal is to work in the FBI’s Human Trafficking Task Force. I gravitated to this topic mainly because it's, unfortunately, one of the most common forms of violence against individuals, particularly women and children. I have always been one to help and give to others no matter who they are, and this is definitely a way to help others at a bigger scale. 

How did you learn about the study abroad program?

The moment I was accepted into John Jay college, I was researching the study abroad website. I met with study abroad advisor, Daniel Braslavsky, who guided me to the right program for my topics of interest. I had many questions involving credits and tuition, but luckily, I was able to receive some major credit for the courses I took along with receiving a study abroad scholarship to help with the cost.

How did your study abroad experience align with your career goals?

I studied abroad with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) and took four courses: Human Trafficking at a Global Context, Prostitution and the Sex Trade, Criminology and Criminal Justice in Scandinavia, and Psychology of Crisis. Although the course load was very rigorous, I learned so much. The human trafficking course was one of the reasons I wanted to study with DIS. We covered modern slavery and different forms of trafficking and smuggling across the world. This, and my other courses, truly helped me understand how different every part of the world is and at the same time taught me how many of these areas in the world are struggling in similar ways. 

What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself?

I have always tried my best to be as independent as possible. Being able to study abroad put my skills to the test and I was stunned at how self-reliant I can truly be. I had a room, kitchen, and bathroom/shower all to myself. I was able to do what I wanted, when I wanted, and how I wanted. I was able to buy my own groceries, go on weekend trips to different countries on my own. I am very appreciative that I had this freedom that I know most don’t have. I came across someone who told me that they were too scared to be alone in a foreign country, but I felt completely different. Yes, you do get homesick at times but being able to explore and learn in a completely different environment than what you are used to is refreshing, relaxing, and rewarding. 

What was your most memorable experience?

All of it. I think about every single moment every single day. From the good ones to the bad ones, I have every memory rolling through my head at least once a day. It was the best experience of my life and if I could go abroad again, I wouldn’t come back until graduation day. I was able to visit other countries, try new cuisine, go to museums, learn so much, enjoy Copenhagen’s nightlife and so much more. From when my plane took off for Denmark to to when my plane landed in the US was the most memorable experience anyone could have ever asked for. I feel as if I left a piece of my heart in Denmark and a piece of Denmark came back with me. 

What would you say to a student curious about studying abroad?

I would probably tell a student many things I learned from my time abroad, but the number one thing is to always have fun. In the blink of an eye, I was already coming home. Don't be scared to be on your own. Not only will being by yourself in a foreign country teach you life skills that will be beneficial in the future, but it also helps us learn more about other cultures and how we can improve as individuals and take this improvement back with us and view things with a new perspective. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In an ideal world, I hope to be an FBI agent on the Human Trafficking Task Force. I also want to move to Europe, preferably the Netherlands, while working for the FBI or Interpol on human trafficking. I will work my absolute hardest to make this happen. I hope I can follow Mark Twain's advice -- “Find a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life.”