Cheyenne Franks, 20, is not the typical college student.

She’s driven, motivated, focused and has a strong passion for justice above all else.

The East Carolina University sophomore, from Bath, said she has these characteristics because of her parents, who always encourage her to be her best self.

“My father basically motivated me to work harder,” Franks said. “He really is the big, big reason why I want to go to law school. … I do everything because they (her parents) work hard.”

It hasn’t always been easy. In seventh grade, Franks was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which hindered her ability to concentrate and gave her recurring joint pain.

Since then, she’s had to work harder, studying more to remember information and learning to cope with stressful situations. But in all this, Franks has learned to just keep pushing forward.

That mentality has gotten her far. She’s now a double major in criminal justice and forensic science and has plans to attend law school after she graduates. She’s also a member of prestigious groups: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key International Honor Society and Sigma Alpha Lambda, a leadership organization.

Franks is involved in raising morale for ECU’s dance marathon to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network and works in the college’s Office of Continuing Studies.

The youngest, with five older brothers, Franks said her family’s law enforcement ties run deep, just in different ways. Her father used to have ties to law enforcement, four of her brothers are military veterans and one brother is now a sheriff. She plans on taking the courtroom approach.

“You basically have someone’s life in your hands and that’s a very big deal to me because I want to make sure that everyone is getting equal treatment,” Franks said. “I think the law is important in general. … I just love the atmosphere of the courtroom.”

She’s made sure to get hands-on experience, as well, working with Detective Glen Webb in Greenville and the District Attorney’s office in Beaufort County. Franks said she’s experienced anything from murder trials to processing warrants.

“I do want to study criminal law, but having the forensics background, that’s the best part of it,” she said.  “I want to make sure that innocent people are not going to jail.”