Career Roadmap
Cynthia's work combines: Law, Government, and Helping People
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
GED
Bachelor's Degree
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
University of Phoenix-Baton Rouge
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Correctional Officers and Jailers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I dropped out of high school in the 11th grade after I became pregnant with my son at the age of 15.
2.
Then it wasn't until ten years later I finally decided to get my GED and go back to school.
3.
I enrolled at Remington College in 2008 pursuing a degree in criminal justice and graduated in 2010.
4.
Two years later I decided to go back to school for my bachelors degree in criminal justice.
5.
Working as a sheriff deputy in the county jail, I learned a lot about how the justice system works.
6.
In those moments working at the jail, I realized I needed to help affect change in some way.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
How in the world can you work in a prison" "I don't see how you do it, I couldn't do it" "Aren't you scared and fear for your life in there?
How I responded:
I just ignore the noise and tell them that this job isn't for everyone. And I can understand peoples' concerns about the job as a corrections officer but it is a job that has to be done and someone has to do it just like any other job. I tune out the noise and continue to strive at being the best corrections officer I can be because the work I do does make a difference in the lives of the people I work with as well as the offenders I supervise.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I struggled financially as a teenager and as a young adult trying to raise a baby. Minimum wage jobs one after the other contributed to my ongoing financial struggle. I had to change my situation so I decided to go back to school.