Major: Biological Anthropology
Hometown: Newark, NJ

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I was searching for opportunities on Network Symplicity to gain experience within law enforcement, and I came across this internship with the police department in State College.

Tell us a little bit about your experience.

As an intern with the State College Police Department, I assist the Community Relations/Crime Prevention department with community outreach and training. I am tasked with duties such as setting up meetings, scheduling training, reaching out to various groups, and working with various Law Enforcement Departments. I am also challenged with investigative tasks, when appropriate, and will also be permitted to observe many different patrol and criminal investigation situations including (but not limited to) interviews, written statement analysis, and crime scene/evidence processing.

How did this experience impact you academically?

This experience has allowed me to customize my academic journey. I did not want to graduate from college and run into the issue of explaining my work experience. Reading about law enforcement and investigative work is easy, but actually being able to learn hands-on is such a great and unique advantage. I learn more being with my supervisor on a daily basis and gaining exposure to the different departments. The best part is when I'm thrown into the fire and forced to tap into my what I've been learning and apply it. This experience goes beyond what I would be learning in the classroom.

This experience has allowed me to customize my academic journey.

What are your career goals and plans?  How did this experience impact them?

My career goal is to become an investigator and work for the government. Many government careers seek people who have previous work experience and have gained leadership skills. I look to continue to grow in these facets and ultimately become a notable leader within my field. For now, this internship is helping me toward my goal of working for the government. It is never the same repetitive work when I work at the police department. They give me extra responsibility when it is necessary and are very open minded. This is great because it allows me to flourish. Not only am I gaining career experience, but I am also gaining personal growth that is significant to my career interest.

Would you recommend this experience to other Liberal Arts students?

I would recommend this experience to another Liberal Arts student interested in any field within Law Enforcement. It allows them the opportunity to combine what they are learning in class with an interactive learning experience.