But for Newtown High School senior Hannah Kiernan, 16, the reality is a lot more rewarding than the image.

The “icing on the cake,” she said, of her involvement in this past summer’s eight-day Connecticut State Police Academy Youth Week program was winning a $1,000 scholarship for her essay on her experience.

Hannah was among approximately 50 peers statewide who received an intensive introduction to policing at the academy’s Meriden base, combining academic seminars on topics including crime scene investigation with self-defense courses and off-site visits to shooting ranges and other sites.

The program is co-sponsored with the American Legion.

“It was more than I ever could have expected,” said Hannah. “It was a truly awesome experience.”

Hannah first became interested in the criminal justice filed when she took a course on the subject during her junior year of high school.

She learned about the state police program through the class.

“All I had to do was fill out an application, write a personal statement on why I wanted to participate, and submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member,” said Hannah. “It was also required that I was a junior.”

In her personal statement, Hannah said she felt “there is satisfaction found in knowing that you are capable of providing a sense of security to those around you.”

While, she wrote, she understood “that law enforcement is a challenging career,” she believed that “an individual with perseverance and a strong character” was capable of “achieving that which is expected of them.”

“I was really excited when I was accepted,” she said.

Upon arriving at the Meriden site, Hannah saw that she was among only about a dozen young women in the program. Likewise, she said, most of the officers she worked with during the program were male.

“A lot of the guys in the program were the sons of state troopers or something like that,” said Hannah. “It’s interesting how law enforcement [personnel] seem to run in families.”

Of the women, she said, she and another girl were definitely into the wider possibilities of the criminal justice field.

“I don’t specifically know what aspect [of criminal justice] I would like to pursue at this point,” she said. “I thought about becoming a detective. To be one, you have to be a police officer first. We’ll see.”

Hannah remarked on the intense “boot-camplike” atmosphere of the program.

“We got up every morning at 5:15 am and didn’t go to bed until 10:30 or 11 pm,” she said. “Our days were packed. We spent a lot of time in the classroom, but also off-site.”

Several of the simulated activities “cadets” engaged in included a visit to a driving track.

“We got to experience what it felt like to follow a speeding car during a police chase,” she said. “Then, through a video game, we were able to experience what it felt like to maneuver around curves at high speeds. We learned how to best keep safe during this moments — like letting up on the gas around curves, things like that.”

One of Hannah’s favorite memories was exploring simulations of crime scenes, including ones that took place at old buildings at night.

“The scenario would be a burglary or police chase, something like that,” she said. “We had to stick together to learn how to best navigate ahead.”

Hannah said she bonded quickly with just about all 50 of her peers.

“By the end of the program we were all exchanging phone numbers and emails,” she said.

In addition to being together “all the time,” their activities were videotaped and later shown to the cadets at graduation.

“It was great to see it all come together,” she said. “There will also be an annual alumni picnic for us, so we can all catch up again.”

This sense of camaraderie, she said, inspired the theme of the essay she was required to write summarizing her experience.

In her essay, she wrote, “We began our experience as 50 individuals, but together we became one team. We learned the importance of supporting each other, because, after all, that is the only way to survive.”

She continued, “I was continually reminded of the difference between a job and a career.”

While a job is about making money, she said, a career is about turning dreams into a reality.

She said her family has always been very supportive of her.

“They definitely want me to find that career — not just a job,” she said.

Winning the $1,000 first place scholarship for the essay was shocking, she said. “I wasn’t expecting it all,” she said.

The second place essay scholarship was $500.

Along with her fellow cadets, Hannah also received a certificate of completion for the program.

“I would really just encourage anyone who would like to learn more about the [law enforcement] field to consider this program,” said Hannah. “It’s an excellent opportunity. Just go for it!”