What would you do...

[yellowfever]

What would you do if you went to a high school that the majority of the people in your grade/age act the opposite of what police departments want? ex: drinking, potheads, etc. In my case, i am the opposite of what the majority of the kids are like and want to be a police officer.

[Terminator]

I would not act like them. I would stay to myself, if I couldn't find friends who lived the straight and narrow.

[jmur5074]

First off, as a background, I'm 20 yrs old, and was just hired as a part time peace officer (not yet vreified on this site though, you'll have to take my word I guess). I just got out of high school a few years ago, and was in your same shoes. Here's what I did. I got very active in local law enforcement, through a local reserve unit, and doing A LOT of ride alongs (good way to spend a weekend instead of getting stoned). In addition to that, I didn't hang out with the potheads, or ANY drug users, or dealers. I don't have time for that crap, like most cops, I HATE drugs. And in terms of the drinking, yeah I had a lot of friends that drank, but they knew my position. I wouldn't drink, they didn't give me crap for it. I also made a lot of friends that didn't drink. I wouldn't hang out with my friends who drank when they were drinking. It could've led to trouble. The last thing I want is to be at a party that gets busted, and be embarrassed because the deputy or police officer showing up is a friend of mine. My credibility would've been killed. So, that's the best advise I can give you. Honestly, you don't necessarily have to ditch any friends that drink, but don't hang around them when they're doing it.

[Chautona]

Forgive me for sounding completely without intelligence but what do the stupid choices that the kids in your classroom make have to do with you?

Are you in school to be a 'bud' or to educate yourself in order to have a 'jump start' on your adult life?

Contrary to what many people think, school is for education, not for socialization or to further your social career.

[codered]

Since you use the monikor of 'yellow' and tend to forget to give US any information where you are located, hence, a lack of any basic information.....what is preventing US from giving you RED?

[Welpe]

I would not act like them. I would stay to myself, if I couldn't find friends who lived the straight and narrow.

Well said, I agree completely. I lost many so called "friends" in high school because I finally decided to grow up and stop acting like a misfit. I found some new friends who are still good friends to this day.

There's a supposed Japanese proverb that states "If a man's character is not clear, examine the friends he keeps."

[mobrien316]

What would you do if you went to a high school that the majority of the people in your grade/age act the opposite of what police departments want? ex: drinking, potheads, etc. In my case, i am the opposite of what the majority of the kids are like and want to be a police officer.

This is so simple I can’t believe you needed to post the question on this board.

As all of our parents used to say, if everyone in your school jumped off a cliff does that mean you have to?

No one gets DQ’d from a law enforcement job simply because they went to a school where kids drank a lot and smoked pot. Don’t do those things and you won’t have a problem.

Duh.