law enforcemenT
programs are offered In 73 Texas
JunIor and senIor colleges.
crime scene investigation, felony traffic
stops, and emergency first aid. Other
cReATe a career
competitive events build skills in such
PoRTfolio
honing skills
areas as leadership, public speaking,
In places where field experiences are not
and teamwork.
One valuable tool that can help you get
available, students can still demonstrate
Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training
ready for college and beyond is a career
attainment of skills through extended learning.
Corps) is another good place to hone your skills.
portfolio—a collection of items that
SkillsUSA (www.txskillsusa.org) sponsors
Because police and fire departments practice
document your achievements both in
competitions at the state and national levels
military discipline and organization, Junior
and out of school, assembled in one
in categories such as firefighting, criminal
ROTC can help you prepare for the Law, Public
convenient package.
justice theory, law enforcement technology,
Safety, Corrections & Security area.
A career portfolio is not simply
a resume, although it can certainly
include one. So what should go in a
S P o T L I G H T
career portfolio? A variety of things,
depending on your own personal
experiences. It could include transcripts
and grades; writing samples; letters
LAW ENFoRCEMENt EXPLoRERS
of recommendation from teachers,
Learning for Life in law
mentors, or employers; awards you’ve
received; and items that document
L
earning for life is an organization that mobilizes other activities, such as internships and
business and community leaders to support job shadowing experiences.
programs in character and career development. “You need to be specific—dates, how
Its “exploring” program is worksite-based many years, any awards, what they
and takes young people into the field to get meant, and who you received them
hands-on experience working with professionals from,” says Grace Brauchle, who helps
on the job. exploring teams up with a variety of students put their portfolios together
organizations—such as police, fire and emergency as the career center coordinator for
service departments, high schools, and colleges—to Lehman High School in Kyle.
offer students a number of hands-on, out-of-class Brauchle says portfolios come in
experiences. handy when students apply for jobs or
Jim kaminski is the national director of exploring admission to college. “First impressions
programs in both law enforcement and fire and There are also are a very big thing,” she says, “and
emergency services. annual national law you want to be the one whose papers
“In our law enforcement program, young adults do enforcement exploring get passed around the office. You want
anything a police officer does—except arrest people,” leadership academies held to be the one where the admissions
says kaminski. students have the opportunity to learn in partnership with the fBI, the counselors say, ‘Wow, look at this one!’”
skills that can include hostage negotiation, firearms, dea, the u.s. marshals service, And a portfolio doesn’t have to be
and search and seizure. “It’s the same with our fire and the u.s. military. simply a collection of papers. Artists
service program,” says kaminski, “except they focus “exploring is a way for youth to decide if a specific and photographers use their portfolios
on fire and emergency services.” career is right for them,” kaminski says. “In the end, to provide visual examples of their
exploring holds annual national skill competitions students who decide to go into law enforcement or work, and so can you. Do you have
and offers numerous awards and thousands of dollars fire services have a head start on any other applicant photos of someone giving you an
in scholarships. The law enforcement program alone coming through the door.” award? Put them in. How about a video
provides the opportunity to compete for six different for information about learning for life of a performance? Include it on a DVD.
scholarships and earn seven different awards, such programs in your area, call 972-580-2433 Do you have experience in Web design?
as the drug enforcement agency (dea) drug abuse or visit www.learning-for-life.com/exploring/ Make an online portfolio to showcase
prevention service award. lawenforcement/index.html. what you can do.
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