3 answers
Joshua
Student
Lexington, Kentucky
1
Question
Updated
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Will this career I've chosen fulfill my purpose in life When I face this challenge, will I come out of it transformed into something completely different? Wherever life takes me, will there still be enough of who I am now that I would be proud of the person I've become??
My name is Joshua. I am interested in majoring in criminal justice because my family members deal with law enforcement. This is something i’m very excited about and open to becoming in my future.
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3 answers
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
857
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Joshua,
You are asking some amazing questions and the short answer to all of them is YES. You can never really know where a career in criminal justice will take you. There will be several choices that you will need to make. Will you use your degree as a foundation to become a lawyer, police officer, politician, or even a victim's advocate? This is probably one of your first choices after you get your diploma. The answer here will be related to have you see yourself in the category of criminal justice. I think that this is something that will change several times during your studies. Ideally, you will learn about these various roles and one of them (or something else) will feel "right" for you.
I do want to say that you are always going to be you. And only you can determine how proud you will be of yourself. In many ways, I am proud of who I have become since I have been able take care of myself. I have traveled the world. I live in a great place and I am happy. Am I who I thought I would be when I went to college? Not at all! I thought that I would be a journalist. And I found out during college that I am not competitive enough to be a journalist. I didn't find the real me until I started working full time. And it took me a long time. I was in my late 20's before I found the career that I have had for over 25 years.
Best of luck on criminal justice or whatever path you choose to take!
Gloria
You are asking some amazing questions and the short answer to all of them is YES. You can never really know where a career in criminal justice will take you. There will be several choices that you will need to make. Will you use your degree as a foundation to become a lawyer, police officer, politician, or even a victim's advocate? This is probably one of your first choices after you get your diploma. The answer here will be related to have you see yourself in the category of criminal justice. I think that this is something that will change several times during your studies. Ideally, you will learn about these various roles and one of them (or something else) will feel "right" for you.
I do want to say that you are always going to be you. And only you can determine how proud you will be of yourself. In many ways, I am proud of who I have become since I have been able take care of myself. I have traveled the world. I live in a great place and I am happy. Am I who I thought I would be when I went to college? Not at all! I thought that I would be a journalist. And I found out during college that I am not competitive enough to be a journalist. I didn't find the real me until I started working full time. And it took me a long time. I was in my late 20's before I found the career that I have had for over 25 years.
Best of luck on criminal justice or whatever path you choose to take!
Gloria
Steve Sterner
IT Management
55
Answers
Easton, Pennsylvania
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Great question Joshua and congratulations at being so thoughtful and probing at such a young age!
I am going to give you a little bit of advice that is based on my experience as a father more than a student as I have watched and learned as I have tried to help guide my 3 kids, their friends and kids I have coached and mentored through college.
College is a journey where you get to discover who you are and what you want to be. You already have a leg up as in your question you did not pigeon hole yourself into a particular job or identity by saying I want to be a___ but instead I want to work in Criminal justice and have an understanding of why which is important because it leads to your passion. Having passion, having curiosity enough to ask the questions about the future, having pride in who you are and what you will do these are all the building blocks to a successful college student, professional and most of all human being!
As you travel through college have a plan of what you want to do and when you want to accomplish certain things but I would say don't write it in ink. You need to have an idea where you are going and how you can get there at a high level but be flexible to know that in 4 years you are going to be presented with information you don't current have, opportunities you have not anticipated and many other factors that will likely alter you slightly or more than slightly from your path. Be flexible enough to allow them to take you in a different direction if it is right but stay true to who you are. It will not be easy but nothing that is life altering is. Being open for these opportunities and other things to come into your life are the learning moments and the building blocks of personal growth that will turn you from the very impressive young person to a spectacular adult.
The final piece of advice I will give is know your future, your path, your struggles they are exclusively yours. A lot of people will tell you how to do things, how to map them and how the best way to get from here to there is. Listen to the advice but with the understanding that they do not have your background, your mindset, your talents or your problems. You will make some mistakes along the way and they are yours. You will learn from them and grow from them. You will also see others or talk to others who have made mistakes you can learn from them as well (make sure the context matches yours and factor that in appropriately).
Reading your question and the care in which you wrote it I have no doubt you will be successful and someone for you and all of us to be proud of. Go now and write the exciting next chapter of what will be an extraordinary story!
I am going to give you a little bit of advice that is based on my experience as a father more than a student as I have watched and learned as I have tried to help guide my 3 kids, their friends and kids I have coached and mentored through college.
College is a journey where you get to discover who you are and what you want to be. You already have a leg up as in your question you did not pigeon hole yourself into a particular job or identity by saying I want to be a___ but instead I want to work in Criminal justice and have an understanding of why which is important because it leads to your passion. Having passion, having curiosity enough to ask the questions about the future, having pride in who you are and what you will do these are all the building blocks to a successful college student, professional and most of all human being!
As you travel through college have a plan of what you want to do and when you want to accomplish certain things but I would say don't write it in ink. You need to have an idea where you are going and how you can get there at a high level but be flexible to know that in 4 years you are going to be presented with information you don't current have, opportunities you have not anticipated and many other factors that will likely alter you slightly or more than slightly from your path. Be flexible enough to allow them to take you in a different direction if it is right but stay true to who you are. It will not be easy but nothing that is life altering is. Being open for these opportunities and other things to come into your life are the learning moments and the building blocks of personal growth that will turn you from the very impressive young person to a spectacular adult.
The final piece of advice I will give is know your future, your path, your struggles they are exclusively yours. A lot of people will tell you how to do things, how to map them and how the best way to get from here to there is. Listen to the advice but with the understanding that they do not have your background, your mindset, your talents or your problems. You will make some mistakes along the way and they are yours. You will learn from them and grow from them. You will also see others or talk to others who have made mistakes you can learn from them as well (make sure the context matches yours and factor that in appropriately).
Reading your question and the care in which you wrote it I have no doubt you will be successful and someone for you and all of us to be proud of. Go now and write the exciting next chapter of what will be an extraordinary story!
Siva Kann
VP of Products & Technology
31
Answers
Cincinnati, Ohio
Updated
Siva’s Answer
Hi Joshua,
Both Gloria and Steve shared thoughtful guidance shaped by years of experience. I would like to add one perspective that often gets overlooked: "Who you become matters more than the title you hold".
For most people, having a clear life purpose early on is not realistic. What matters more is being clear on your values, strengths, and the kind of impact you want to make. That will be your compass. If the career path you choose aligns with them, it will shape you into someone you can respect irrespective of your role.
Who you are today is a point-in-time snapshot, not a final version. If you can look in the mirror regularly and say you are proud of how you are showing up, or if you can name what you want to improve—you are on the right path.
Wish you the best!
- Siva.
Both Gloria and Steve shared thoughtful guidance shaped by years of experience. I would like to add one perspective that often gets overlooked: "Who you become matters more than the title you hold".
For most people, having a clear life purpose early on is not realistic. What matters more is being clear on your values, strengths, and the kind of impact you want to make. That will be your compass. If the career path you choose aligns with them, it will shape you into someone you can respect irrespective of your role.
Who you are today is a point-in-time snapshot, not a final version. If you can look in the mirror regularly and say you are proud of how you are showing up, or if you can name what you want to improve—you are on the right path.
Wish you the best!
- Siva.