Following in the footsteps of her family, Jessica Schuman journeyed to jail. Not to be locked up, of course, but to help keep her community safe.

Schuman is interning at the Randall County Sheriffs’ Department through the “Pursuing Real Opportunities” (PRO) program and participates in the Randall County Student Academy. Schuman’s internship has allowed her to experience many career options law enforcement, child protective services and the judicial system.

“I started out in the jail, and I couldn’t really do much there because I wasn’t 18 and there’s not much a citizen can do hand on there,” Schuman said. “They’re liable if anything was to happen to me. Next I moved to forensics, and I got to do lots of hands on stuff. And now, for the end of the year, I’m where they do all the paperwork.”

Schuman said she plans on going to West Texas A&M University for one to two years then Texas A&M University to study sociology. It is not necessary to have a degree to become a police officer, but income is higher for officers with degrees.

“My mom always tells me that police officers don’t make that much money, but it’s my passion,” Schuman said. “I have lots of family in law enforcement. I have lots of influences that guide me towards that path.”

Schuman said she is encouraged by how others see officers and by the crimes she’s become aware of to pursue this career.

“Sometime I’d like to be in the FBI, something really cool like that, go undercover and all that stuff, but you really have to start small,” Schuman said. “I want to start my career. I think about getting married, but I dream that someday I’ll retire and just live with my family.”