When did you know you wanted to be a cop?

I am currently sitting here at 25 (I’ll be 26 this year) after a considerably life changing few months. More like 3-4 years, but nevertheless, I’m sitting here thinking.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a cop. I especially wanted to be a detective and I blame Law and Order for that because I know that’s not reality. When it came time to go to college I wanted to major in criminal justice. My city has a great program and I would have gotten to go for free my first two years, but my dad would not let me. This was a very politically charged time and he didn’t want me to have any involvement. My dad was paying for my college and I lived with him. I was going to do whatever he said. About two years after graduation my dad died.

I also now have a bachelor’s in Public Relations, but I’m a department supervisor at Lowe’s. I don’t use my degree except to deescalate pissed off customers. My job has changed in the four years that I have been there as retail does, and I don’t feel I am making any sort of difference so all days seem to drag. I am just making good money for a single woman with no kids. A friend of mine was also arrested for something that completely shocked me to my core and I never saw coming. Now it’s almost like the desire is personal.

A couple of cousins in my city are cops while another is a sergeant. I am going to reach out to them and see how they fair, but I would love to hear the stories of other people. I don’t want to rush into anything. I am considering going back to school in that same Criminal Justice program I originally intended to take and do that while I go to work.

I’m in the state of Tennessee for context.