In 1994, 23-year-old Helena Williams arrived at the California Highway Patrol Academy in West Sacramento determined to become one of a handful of female CHP cadets. When the petite, 5-foot-tall, single mother of a spry 18-month-old boy joined the Academy, she knew she couldn’t achieve her goals alone. Supportive of her ambition, her father and other family members took care of her son Billy so she could concentrate on the intense physical training and academic studies required to be a CHP cadet, and eventually officer. Williams knew that before cadet candidates can advance to their written exam, they must pass a Physical Ability Test (PAT) including 19 push-ups in one minute, 25 sit-ups in one minute, completing a 1.5 mile run in under 15 minutes, and a 300-meter run in 70 seconds. After 28-weeks of tough, live-in training, Williams’ grit paid off and she graduated from the CHP Academy and …