Criminal Justice

Throughout the course of my mentorship program I had the opportunity to meet new people, step out of my comfort zone, and gain many new experiences in the Criminal Justice field. I shadowed officers from Calvert County Sheriff's Office, the Department of Natural Resources, and an investigator from the Hyattsville City Police Department. The knowledge I gained included writing reports, investigating robberies, and even how to properly address a sobriety checkpoint stop from a CCSO officer. Without this program I would have never received the opportunity to improve my education and understanding of these fields.

The program helped me solidify the pathway I wanted to pursue in my future, and which careers I do not with to pursue in the future. I always considered a career as a DNR officer because it paired criminal justice with the outdoors. However, when I shadowed a natural resource officer set up by the mentorship program, I was faced with the requirements of the job that I had not thought of. In particular I tend to get sea sick with rough waters. With the benefits of the mentorship program I was able to narrow my career choices, and focus more on what really grabs my attention and will keep me interested in the long run. The opportunity to shadow an investigator in Hyattsville would not have been possible without the mentorship program. I realized that being an investigator was definitely a job I would like to pursue. The officer was very knowledgeable and was able to understand my interests. He was able to answer my questions and offer advice that will guide me in the right direction.

The mentorship program provided me with an inside look at the jobs I would like to consider and the knowledge on how to get there. On my ride along with the DNR officer I learned about the cadet program after high school, tuition repayment, and even early retirement. All of these facts are extremely important to deciding my future career and I would have not been able to gain this knowledge without the opportunities provided through this program. I am thankful for the people who have helped me along the way and the experiences that I have received. I believe that his program has helped me in more than one way and has undoubtedly been beneficial for my future.