Sophia Pacini

Sophia's Experience at Humber

Please tell us about your time at Humber College. What was the best part of it?

My time at Humber College was one of the most memorable periods of my academic career. When I first came to Humber in 2019, as I entered into the Police Foundations program, I began to truly understand my academic potential. Not only was the course material and plethora of hands-on learning opportunities engaging, but the instructors and faculty members encouraged me to push my academic boundaries, take on new opportunities that I never thought I could achieve, and apply myself in ways that furthered my academic career. The instructors truly established a learning environment where ideas, thoughts, and approaches were listened to, valued, and explored, and it truly made for a holistic learning experience.

Additionally, Humber offered so many great resources and opportunities for students on and off campus, including many relevant work-study opportunities such as becoming a Peer Tutor, volunteer opportunities, and hosting social events. While studying in the Police Foundations program, I was also made aware of several relevant work opportunities for students off campus, which provided me with an avenue to become a Student Border Services Officer with the Canada Border Services Agency.

Please tell us about your experience since graduating.

As my time in the Police Foundations program came to an end, I was encouraged by faculty and instructors to continue my education by bridging into the Bachelor of Social Science, Criminal Justice Degree program at Humber College, which I did. Since graduating from the Police Foundations program and the Criminal Justice degree program, I have gone on to attain a Master of Arts in Sociology and Social Psychology, and I am currently studying to obtain a Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Psychology, specializing in police-based research.

I truly believe that if I had not experienced such a wonderful and opportunistic time while studying at Humber in the Police Foundations program, I would not be where I am today, academically or personally. I have also returned to Humber College, working as the Project Coordinator in the Faculty of Social and Community Services Work-Integrated Learning Centre, and continue to keep in contact with several of the instructors that I engaged with in the Police Foundations program.

What do you find most satisfying about your career choice?

Currently working at Humber College, I am extremely passionate about the work that I do in the Work-Integrated Learning Centre, as I am able to help establish partnerships with external organizations that I know will contribute to the success of Police Foundations students. Specifically, I find it rewarding being able to connect current Police Foundations students with mentors through the program’s Career Mentorship Program, which aids in students making relevant industry connections before they graduate from the program and pursue their professional careers.

Although I am still in school for my doctoral degree, I remain passionate about education and teaching, as I hope to be able to give back to future students in a way that the instructors in the Police Foundations program did for my colleagues and me. One primary takeaway that I have learned since leaving the Police Foundations program is that there are career avenues for everyone who enters into this program, regardless of their interest in becoming a frontline worker or not. Although I have chosen to take a more academic-based career path, my time in the Police Foundations program and the knowledge that I gained from this program continue to shape my academic and professional work.