All it took for Chris Jones to set course on his future career was an informational meeting and a quick perusal of a brochure. From the moment he first heard about the opportunity to work with a local police department through the Boy Scouts of America Greater St. Louis Area Council’s Exploring Program when he was 14 years old, Jones knew he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement.

“It was something that I actually enjoyed being able to do in my free time and learn something that I have never seen before, as well as be able to help others in the process,” said Jones, who is gearing up for his sophomore year in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Exploring is a career exploration program that pairs students between the ages of 14 and 20 with local companies and organizations so that they can gain real-world experience in their chosen field. The program is designed so that students can get a sense of whether or not a particular career is right for them while still in high school and college. In Jones’ case, the program only helped solidify his ambitions of becoming a police officer.

“The police officers act as advisors and basically teach you and show you what it’s like to be in law enforcement,” he said. “They’ll tell you stories of things they have experienced and also teach you how to do those things. It teaches you how to be a better person, speak to others and prepares you for a potential career in law...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiQ2h0dHBzOi8vYmxvZ3MudW1zbC5lZHUvbmV3...