Criminal Justice Reflective Report

As I described above, I am very interested in Criminal Justice and the Justice System itself; thus I have formed a belief that if you like the things you are doing, then you possibly will be good at it. My transcript will portray the worthy academic achievements I have earned throughout the Criminal Justice courses; indicating that I understand the material and that I can apply this knowledge outside the classroom. When I applied for universities during my last year in high school, I set myself multiple goals which I tried to accomplish. Personally, I experienced a cultural shock as soon as I arrived to the United States, because of the different culture and approach here at Mercyhurst. I am an international student which makes my whole experience
more engaging, but sometimes difficult due to the amount of money my family has to pay for my education. I come from a very small town in Latvia of ten thousand people, where everyone knows everyone. Young people, including me, are leaving our town, and sometimes country, looking for ways to improve themselves. However, no one even imagines going across the ocean in pursue of their dreams. This dream became my obsession and through hard work on and off school I was accepted at Mercyhurst University, thus I have achieved one of my many goals. I wished to increase my knowledge via different courses that I would take throughout the four years in college. As I am almost culminating my third year in college, I have realized that I have gained a lot of knowledge in Criminal Justice and Political Science. I can freely engage in discussions and be an active member in conversations. I am also able to form my own opinion based on information I have learned form my courses and present specific facts that support my statements. In addition, I can also formulate my own independent response when teachers ask me a question or while engaging in group activities. My knowledge is not limited within campus, but also outside of it; when I go back home and can participate in debates about Justice system or any political question with my parents and peers. Previously, I could not do that because I was unable to compose my ideas in a logical manner that are strong and supported by facts. Especially through Criminal Justice I have learned how to critic news, mainly television, and different information that is presented about crime rates and violence within the United States. Personally, this is a great achievement because I have improved myself in a way I never expected.