My Dad was a small business owner so I got my start in retail back in the 70's and absolutely absolutely hated every minute of it. When he decided to retire, he hoped the kids would buy the business from him & grow it. None of us wanted it. We watched him work his arse off, 80-90 hr weeks, often to just get by. No way, no how. I swore I'd never work like that.
While in college, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. Thank God that didn't work out for me. I now know I would not have enjoyed that career. But it led to my first career.
As a college student, I developed an interest in law enforcement & landed a job as a reserve police officer in a small beach side community in NJ. I knew that was the job for me. My then-sergeant talked me into going south, FLA specifically, where I next landed a full time gig as a flatfoot in a mid-sized city. Spent three decades there moving around the agency and up the ranks, retiring as a captain. Awesome job & zero complaints from that career.
Along the way I completed my bachelors' and then my masters' degrees. After I retired, the degrees led me to my first teaching job at a private college, teaching criminal justice coursework, primarily to fellow LEO's. I really enjoyed that and it expanded my package.
4 years later I landed another gig at a different college, running a large academic division which specializes in law enforcement and corrections training. Finished my doctorate too. Been there for 4 years now & every day I walk in there I'm smiling and every day I leave I'm still smiling.
So yeah, I'm a lucky guy. Have really enjoyed my adult careers and wouldn't change much of anything.
Lee
While in college, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. Thank God that didn't work out for me. I now know I would not have enjoyed that career. But it led to my first career.
As a college student, I developed an interest in law enforcement & landed a job as a reserve police officer in a small beach side community in NJ. I knew that was the job for me. My then-sergeant talked me into going south, FLA specifically, where I next landed a full time gig as a flatfoot in a mid-sized city. Spent three decades there moving around the agency and up the ranks, retiring as a captain. Awesome job & zero complaints from that career.
Along the way I completed my bachelors' and then my masters' degrees. After I retired, the degrees led me to my first teaching job at a private college, teaching criminal justice coursework, primarily to fellow LEO's. I really enjoyed that and it expanded my package.
4 years later I landed another gig at a different college, running a large academic division which specializes in law enforcement and corrections training. Finished my doctorate too. Been there for 4 years now & every day I walk in there I'm smiling and every day I leave I'm still smiling.
So yeah, I'm a lucky guy. Have really enjoyed my adult careers and wouldn't change much of anything.
Lee