Balancing cadet program and college life
I’m 19, and a volunteer police cadet in a college town in Oregon. I’ve been doing it for 3 years and I love being a cadet, it’s given me structure, and I’m grateful for all the mentorship I’ve received from officers.
I’m finishing up my first year of college right now, and it’s been going well, but one thing I’ve struggled with is not really being able to do the same stuff that my peers do because I am a cadet. Feels like all my friends everyone I went to high school with is in the party scene at the local college or using weed, both of which I’m technically prohibited from doing under the cadet code of conduct. I guess I’m just struggling because I want to do ‘normal’ college stuff, a lot of it, especially highly visible stuff like partying doesn’t feel right while being w cadet. Even a couple advisors who were cadets previously, have talked about drinking in college, and said that pretty much everyone including cops did it. On one of my first ride alongs the officer even told me “don’t let this program stop you from having fun.”
Anyone have any advice or navigate college while being in cadets/explorers? Should I just loosen up and have fun while being smart about it? Should I find friends who are into different stuff? If it matters I’m not dead set on going into law enforcement, and if I do I’m considering only doing it after working a few years in education. Any perspective is appreciated.