My name is Matt Styres and I'm 19 years old. My success story starts with my childhood dream of becoming a cop. When I was 12 years old I decided that I not only wanted to be a cop, I wanted to be part of the S.W.A.T. team. Soon I gained an interest in the army and realized I could earn a living as part of the S.W.A.T. team in the army.

I've been teased for most of my life by people who believed I wouldn't make it into the military or as a cop. Fortunately I had friends to encourage me and even one friend who wanted to join the army with me.

Just before I turned 17, we moved to Six Nations and I began working out every day preparing myself for something, only I wasn't really sure what it was. During the summer of 2000 I looked for a part-time job through the G.R.E.A.T. Student Program. In July I got a tip from the G.R.E.A.T. Student Office that Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (C.C.R.A.) was hiring for the summer. I jumped on the chance and applied. During the next two weeks I had a job interview with C.C.R.A. and I got the job. I worked for them for the summer months and returned to school in the fall.

During the first semester of my last year of school I started making plans for college. I went to the Red Carpet day at Mohawk College and later on applied to their Aboriginal Police Foundation program. The following day, I went to the Grand River Post Secondary Information Day. While I was at the Information Day I met up with a recruiting officer by the name of Sgt. Boufard. Sgt. Boufard provided me with the information I needed and signed me up for the Police Foundation program. From there I had to pass an aptitude test, a medical test, an interview, and finally a physical test. During this process I was asked for which trade or occupation I wanted to apply. I requested the Military Police. A few weeks later I go a phone call from the recruiting office and they told me that I was accepted. I was given all the information I needed and was sworn in the following Thursday.

I am currently in school and training. My future plans include finishing school, joining the army full-time and later, joining the S.W.A.T. team.

For those of you who have dreams or goals and are discouraged from achieving them, there is nothing better than the feeling of success in life; doing what you want to do and proving to everyone that you can do it.