LANSING -- Out of the 38 recruits chosen to be part of the 122nd Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit School, only three are from the U.P.  But while Kyle Kelley, Chris Gerard, and Alex Zamarron share the same dream of becoming a Michigan State Police Trooper, they all took different paths to get here.

Kelley is a native of Gladstone and just graduated from Finlandia in December.  His father is a retired lieutenant with the state police, and Kyle knew at a young age he wanted to follow in his footsteps.

"Everybody in the agency, they all know each other.  You can go anywhere and you see a trooper from, say, Gladstone where I'm from, and they know troopers from down state,” said Kelley.  “They're very well trained and very professional.  It's just very impressive to me."

Others, like Baraga native Chris Gerard, spent time in law enforcement before coming to the academy.  He said the physical and mental training is unlike anything he's experienced, but he finds a way to push on.

"There are times where I don't think I can go,” said Gerard.  “I don't think I can do one more push up or I can't stay in the down position without hitting the deck or I can't climb the rope and touch the rafters, but somehow you do it."    

Alex Zamarron worked for the Alger County Sheriff's Department near his hometown of Munising before coming to the academy.  While being a state trooper has always been a goal, it has also been an adjustment from working at the sheriff's department.

"To jump right back in and then somewhere they demand everything out of you from day one [is tough],” said Zamarron.  “We're held accountable for everything we do.  If we're told to do something, we're expected to know it."

Recruits train both physically and mentally around 17 hours per day.

Now nearing the halfway point of the 20- week academy, recruits know it will only get more difficult from here.  But the three recruits from the U.P. say they are here to stay.

"I don't have any doubt,” Gerard said.  “I'm going to keep fighting and clawing and doing whatever I have to do."

“From this point forward, it's all in my hands, and I'm going to make sure I do everything possible to succeed," Zamarron said.

"There's no doubt in my mind,” Kelly said.  “I have to do it.  I'm not quitting."

You can follow the recruits' weekly progress on a blog set up by the recruit school.

The 20-week academy wraps up in May.

To see Part 1 of "Pushing the Limit," click here.