rapidarp
08-26-2004, 08:44 PM
You've probably read posts like these before but now it's my turn. I am stuck in a career bind; trying to decide between two different things. Law Enforcement and Computer Network Security/Admin.
I've been into computers since I was 8 years old. I grew up around them so I was always interested in them. Through high school, I tinkered and I tinkered. My senior year, I had a CISCO 1&2 prep class which was awesome. I had a great time setting up networks and stuff. Then when high school ended.....I sort of lost track of my computer days because I was busy trying to follow other leads in life.
Now back during my....early Junior year in high school, my friend talked me into joining this program at our local police department. I was told we were going to be used for like security at school dances and events and stuff like that. It ended up being a program for kids who were interested in Law Enforcement. I, at the time, had no real interest to become a cop. But as the years progressed, I learned a lot about the job and became good at it. Then I started wanting to be a cop. That's all I wanted to do. Sure, I played videogames on the side and tinkered a bit with computer stuff but I wanted to be a cop.
Now, I'm stuck in a bind. I've recently tried getting back into computers. I got hooked on the Information Systems Security bit. Just yesterday, I visited a nearby ITT Tech campus and spoke with a rep about the school and the ISS degree. The school was nice and I'm interested in going there.
Now the question I'm stuck on is....do I be a cop or continue my network security studies? In other words, do I make less money and have lots of fun or make more money and have less fun?
It's like....I don't want to just abondon my computer knowledge and I don't want to abandon my investment with law enforcement (gear and stuff). I could combine the two because there is a thing here in California called the High Tech Crimes Task Force....but in the pics, all the cops that work there are like 45+ years old. It bugs me really. I just don't know what I should do.
Any thoughts or advice?
I've been into computers since I was 8 years old. I grew up around them so I was always interested in them. Through high school, I tinkered and I tinkered. My senior year, I had a CISCO 1&2 prep class which was awesome. I had a great time setting up networks and stuff. Then when high school ended.....I sort of lost track of my computer days because I was busy trying to follow other leads in life.
Now back during my....early Junior year in high school, my friend talked me into joining this program at our local police department. I was told we were going to be used for like security at school dances and events and stuff like that. It ended up being a program for kids who were interested in Law Enforcement. I, at the time, had no real interest to become a cop. But as the years progressed, I learned a lot about the job and became good at it. Then I started wanting to be a cop. That's all I wanted to do. Sure, I played videogames on the side and tinkered a bit with computer stuff but I wanted to be a cop.
Now, I'm stuck in a bind. I've recently tried getting back into computers. I got hooked on the Information Systems Security bit. Just yesterday, I visited a nearby ITT Tech campus and spoke with a rep about the school and the ISS degree. The school was nice and I'm interested in going there.
Now the question I'm stuck on is....do I be a cop or continue my network security studies? In other words, do I make less money and have lots of fun or make more money and have less fun?
It's like....I don't want to just abondon my computer knowledge and I don't want to abandon my investment with law enforcement (gear and stuff). I could combine the two because there is a thing here in California called the High Tech Crimes Task Force....but in the pics, all the cops that work there are like 45+ years old. It bugs me really. I just don't know what I should do.
Any thoughts or advice?