Student Experiences

“What I like about law enforcement is that no day is the same as another. There is constant interaction with various people and cultures and that’s what makes it both so interesting and so challenging.”

“Most of my fellow students in the police academy were career-changers like me. The difficult part was getting back to studying and retaining information, and I had to work extremely hard in the beginning. But it was worth it because I love what I’m doing.”

“My experience at Dallas College ​has been great. The difference in college now and 30 years ago is amazing — when I graduated from college, we didn’t have laptops or cell phones. And all my Criminal Justice professors have had experience in the real world.”

“If you’re interested in police work, I’d recommend the Criminal Justice Training Center and Criminal Justice degree program. They’re going to make sure you’ve got the background to go out and get a good job.”

“My kids keep me motivated and keep me going. Now, they are seeing first-hand that you can achieve your goals and dreams no matter how old you are. I want my three daughters to know they can support themselves without depending on anyone else.”

“And my advice for working and going back to school If you’re going to work full-time and go back to school, always have a good support system in place – it makes it all easier. When you have a dream or a goal, press for it. Don’t just put it on the back burner.”

“I’ve got to say, I always wanted to be in criminal justice but I wasn’t sure in what capacity: FBI, SWAT team, what? Being in Bill Drake’s class is the best! He’s the best teacher and he inspires me to think about career possibilities, beyond what I was originally thinking.”

“My experience in the program has been great. We just started the Criminal Justice Club and I’m the vice president. We’re going to focus on helping each other, tutoring, looking for jobs and visiting universities with transfer programs.”