[QUOTE=3moose1;2862341]I like to help people. I thought about social work or becoming a psychologist, but I don’t have the touchy-feely stuff in me.
Being a police officer seems like the best way for me to help people. It seems to be in line with my skill set. Again, I’m not sure what I want to do, I’m trying to figure that out.
As far as balancing work or school, I’m currently a combat instructor. I work 100+ hours a week, and still managed to get school done. I would obviously wait until my schedule calmed down before resuming classes.
I’m really good at math and science, too.
(To the cops)
As for being a cop, how rewarding is it? Do you get a sense of fulfillment from it? Why did you become a cop? What are some things that aren’t apparent from the outside?[/QUOTE]
Some people love it, some people hate it. Some start out loving it and then end up hating it. All are never the same before they joined as they are after. Most people I know who were married before they were a cop are divorced. Sense of fulfillment? Not really. You can get a sense of fulfillment from about anything. Like building a bird house. Most of the time people hate you for no reason, don’t thank you for what you do, and will expect you to do more than you should because it’s what they perceive as “your job”.
If you want to be a cop, be a cop. You won’t know what it’s like until you are in it, doing it. You will go through your new cock phase (I hate new cocks) and then hopefully level out after that. If you get tired of working a 12 hour shift only to have to go strait to court to sit in the court room waiting to defend a traffic ticket, only to find out the dude you wrote the ticket on didn’t show then you will be living the dream. Then you get to go home and try to get a few hours sleep in the day time while your wife is awake and wondering why you don’t spend time with her any more. Hope she doesn’t find some other guy to bitch to. But it is what it is.
[QUOTE=3moose1;2862356]I like being able to influence people through my example.[/QUOTE]
You can do that without being a cop.
Best thing you can do is find a ride along program somewhere. Most everyone does them. You will learn pretty quick if it’s your deal. If it is, go for it. It’s not all fun all the time. The best thing about being a cop is your brothers. The brotherhood you develop that only comes with being in the trenches with others who where there with you. Those are the guys you will hand out with, get drunk with, and bitch too. The job, is the job. Good points and bad points. Just depends on your personality.
Good luck to you.